Chapter 10 - A New Horizon
The wind off Lake Michigan was cool but gentle, carrying the promise of summer.
Silas stood beside Ren, his arm draped over her shoulders, keeping her warm. At their feet, Earl the basset hound lay on a custom-made velvet dog bed, chewing contentedly on a large marrow bone.
"I have a confession to make," Silas said, looking out at the city.
"Oh?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Another secret account?"
"No," Silas smiled, turning to face her. He took both of her hands in his. "Six months ago, when I told Reed you were nobody to me... it wasn't just to protect you from my enemies. It was to protect me from you."
Ren looked at him, her eyes softening. "What do you mean?"
"I was terrified, Ren," Silas admitted softly. "I had spent my whole life building walls, thinking that love was a weakness. I thought that if I admitted—even to myself—how much I needed you, I would lose my edge. I would lose my control."
"And did you?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Silas whispered, a breathtakingly warm smile breaking across his face. "I lost it completely. And it was the best thing that ever happened to me. You didn't just save my life, Ren. You saved my soul."
Silas reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He opened it to reveal a stunning, vintage emerald ring surrounded by delicate diamonds, glowing warmly in the afternoon sun.
"Ren Aldis," Silas said, his voice thick with emotion as he sank to one knee. "You are my partner, my protector, and my absolute everything. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Tears welled in Ren’s eyes, bright and beautiful. The girl who had spent her life trying to be invisible, trying to hide her soft heart from a cold world, had found her home in the arms of Chicago's fiercest protector.
She didn't hesitate. She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him up into a deep, joyous kiss.
May you like
"Yes, Silas," she gasped against his lips. "A thousand times, yes."
Below them, the city of Chicago bustled with life, no longer a battleground of shadows and fear, but a canvas of endless possibilities for the king and his brilliant queen.
