“And what? That’s what I’m trying to say. I’m not perfect.”
He seemed so serious.
I had to laugh.
“It’s not funny.” His words dripped with that icy venom only Marcus used. And he didn’t seem pleased when I laughed even harder.
“Oh stop. I love you. But come on. No one’s perfect.”
“But I’m so far from it,” he said. His expression softened when I’d told him, once more, that I loved him.
“I could have told you that from day one. You’re bossy, conceited, and too free with your affections. But that’s stopped now, so I’ll let that one go.”
He glared at me, but I saw him trying to bite back a smile. When I continued his vast litany of faults, he sighed in defeat. “Okay. That may have come out wrong.”
“No, it didn’t. You don’t have to be perfect all the time, Marcus.” I filled him in on a secret I’d been keeping. “Your father told me all about you months ago. I thought it was all a dream at the time since I’d spent so much time at work fantasizing and disliking you. But now that I think about it, with everything that happened, it might not have been a dream after all.”
“You saw my father?” He swallowed audibly.
“His name is Faustus, and you have the same shaped face, the same chin. He’s very proud of you.”
“I know.” Marcus gave me a wobbly smile. “I used to think I’d never be good enough to be king, to be even a fraction as good as my father. But I know better now.” He hugged me. “You make me whole, Tessa. With you I can be me, just Marcus. I don’t have to pretend.”
I pulled back and shook my head, so in love with the guy, it wasn’t funny. “Oh Marcus. At first, I used to think you were an arrogant jerk because you believed yourself better than everyone. But as we grew closer, I could see you used that ‘kingly’ tone—see what I did there?”
“Ha ha.”
I smirked. “You used that tone as a front. Don’t you know I love you because of your many flaws?”
“I wouldn’t say many.” He sounded defensive. “Maybe one or two, perhaps.”
I laughed. “Well, just two then.”
He flipped me onto my back and kissed me.
When we parted, we were both breathing hard. And my princely lover was ready to go again. Talk about a royal, rocking body.
“You talk too much.” I kissed him back. “If it weren’t for my brother’s advice to go with you to Tanselm and be deliriously happy for the rest of my life, I’d leave you in a minute.”
Tom had left that message a while ago on my phone, but I’d been too busy investigating at Temita to call him back.
“Is that right? Well, how about another kiss then?”
MARCUS
After we snuggled back to sleep, I lay in bed, my arms around my affai, and thanked the Light for all that had happened.
Tessa knew me, the real me, and she accepted all that I was, and all that I lacked.
Together, we’d protect the kingdom. And I had a feeling she’d be shaking things up at home, all for the better.
I stared at her, so peaceful in sleep, so loving, and wondered what I’d done to deserve to be sent to this place to find my heart in a world with a surprising magic I’d found with Tessa.
With or without Tanselm, my life finally felt complete.
Chapter 40
Aerolus
