Chapter 156

Kieran's POV:

My lips trembled.

His eyes didn’t waver. There was no fear in them. No regret. Just quiet strength, and something deeper, something that had nothing to do with the crown or the war between blood and desire.

I pressed my forehead to his again. “You don’t deserve this.”

He smiled, faint but real. “Maybe not. But I want you. And if chaos is part of the deal, I will take it.”

I let out a soft, shaky laugh.

He kissed me then, slow, comforting. Not hungry like the night before. Not desperate. Just… steady. Grounding. His lips moved against mine like a promise, and I held on like I would drown if I let go.

When we finally parted, he kept his arms around me.

I leaned into his shoulder, the side of my face pressed to his skin.

“You think I messed everything up?”

“It will be fine,” he said, brushing his fingers through my hair, “you finally told the truth.”

My throat burned.

I tightened my arms around him, holding him like I was afraid he would vanish.

“Promise me you