by Kelly Moran
Easing out of Brady’s arms, she leaned forward and flipped open the box’s lid. She extracted the ring and examined it. The band was gold with thinly etched designs around the slightly raised center stone. Not quite a princess cut, but close. There was a pentagram under the sapphire that could be viewed through the gem. It was quite beautiful and very unique.
“This was Celeste’s, I assume?” she asked Aunt Mara.
“Aye, and mine. It’s been in the Galloway line since before I was born. We brought it with us on the voyage from our homeland, along with two others. Ceara and Fiona have one in their boxes.”
She nodded. “I wonder if I’m supposed to do something with it.”
“A mere gift. It’s not enchanted and no harm will come to you if it’s worn. Knowing her, I believe she just wanted you to have a piece of her.”
“I like that idea.” She smiled. “Maybe I will put it on, after all.”
“Or you could allow me.” Brady cleared his throat. “Maybe it’s not for you to do something with, but for me instead.”
He took the ring and dropped to one knee in front of her.
Heart pounding, she gasped. She pressed a palm to her chest, but it did nothing to stop the boom, boom, boom thundering. He couldn’t possibly be...
No. He wasn’t going to propose. Oh criminy, he was, judging by the lopsided aw-shucks grin. He used to give her the same one in their dreams before kissing her.
“The past month, I’ve been looking everywhere for the right ring, but none of them fit. They weren’t you. This?” He held up Celeste’s gift between his thumb and forefinger. “This is perfect. It’s a piece of your heritage and has a symbol of your craft. You have the same flecks of blue in your eyes as the sapphire.”
He took her hand in his, lacing their fingers. “I may be a smart guy, but the only knowledge I’ll ever need is that this world is lonely and miserable without you in it. I almost lost you once, and it won’t happen again. Where you go, I go. Always.”
Mossy green eyes gazed into hers, an eternity of devotion and acceptance in their depths. “I love you more than my heart can hold.” He exhaled an uneven breath. “Marry me?”
She frantically nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line to keep her sob in. She wouldn’t cry, absolutely would not in this beautiful moment.
Heck, who was she kidding? “Where you go, I go,” she repeated, her eyes hot and her cheeks wet. “Yes.” She cupped his jaw, rough with dark stubble, and drew him in for a kiss. “Always, yes,” she said against his mouth. “I love you.”
Wasting no time, he tilted his head and deepened the kiss while the others, their family, cheered and hooted and clapped.
On a chuckle, he eased away and dropped his attention to their joined hands. He slid the ring on her fourth finger and brushed his thumb across her knuckles. “Now that’s magick, sweetheart.”
He went to kiss her again, but a loud snap cracked behind him and he froze. She glanced over his shoulder as he craned around to check the noise.
The box she’d left open was now closed. No one had moved from their seats except Brady, and he was a good two feet from the table. Her pulse tripped, and he squeezed her fingers as if to acknowledge her surprise with his own.
Before anyone could say a word, the box vanished in a puff of white smoke.
“Well,” Aunt Mara said after a long pause. “I guess that means Celeste approves.”
Look for the rest of the Fated series coming soon…
www.AuthorKellyMoran.com
Enchanting ever-afters...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kelly Moran is a best-selling & award-winning romance author of enchanting ever-afters. She is a Catherine Award-Winner, RITA Finalist, RONE Finalist, Readers’ Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, and a 2014 Award of Excellence Finalist through RWA. She’s also landed on the “10 Best Reads” and “Must Read” lists from USA TODAY’s blog. Kelly’s been known to say she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there’s always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. Her interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet coffee junkie and chocoholic, but don’t tell anyone. She’s originally from Wisconsin, but she resides in South Carolina with her three sons and her hound dog. She loves connecting with her readers.
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