“The Great War was fought for the love of a woman, something I never understood until you. I would let every person in this city die if it meant you were safe and with me.”
He wouldn’t because he was far too honorable and too good of a king, but it meant so much to me that he would say it.
His gaze flickered off to the side. “A part of me feels that I don’t deserve your love. I failed you.”
“You didn’t fail me. I made a choice. And no onedeserveslove,” I said before kissing his cheek gently. “We’re all flawed, broken creatures. We love in spite of what we deserve. And I see you, just as you see me. I know and love every part of you, Alexandros of Ilion. The good and the bad. The dark and the light. And I will love every side of you, every facet, every piece, no matter what.”
The knot in his throat bobbed, and he said, “We should get out. I’ll be right back.”
He quickly stood and got out of the pool, dripping water all over the tile. He went into our bedroom.
A few minutes later he was back, in dry clothing, and I was very disappointed. He held out a linen for me to use to dry off with. I stood up and walked toward him. He kept his gaze on my face.
Then he wrapped the linen around me and used a different one to dry off my hair.
When he was done, he led me out to our room and had me get into bed. He kissed me on the forehead and said, “I’ll be right outside.”
He was nearly to the door when I finally registered what he had said. “You’re leaving me?”
“I’m not going far.”
“No. I want you to stay.”
“Lia—”
“Xander, I want you to stay and make me your wife in more than just name.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
“You just died,” my husband pointed out.
“All the more reason to seize the day. Because now I’m alive and I feel good.” Better than good.
He began to walk toward me hesitantly, almost as if he didn’t intend to do so. “Your vow.”
“The goddess told me that no such vow exists. Lysimache did it to prevent priestesses from becoming pregnant. She thought it would give them more power.”
His eyes darkened at this information. I saw the way his chest began to move more rapidly as his breathing turned shallow.
“I came back for you. Because then, now, I always love you,” I told him. I stood up, using one hand to hold on to the linen. “And you have me. All of me. My heart, my mind, my soul. And now I want you to have my body.”
His hands involuntarily went to my shoulders, and I heard the stifled groan he made in the back of his throat. I reached up with my free hand to run my fingers along the contours of his face. “Yield to me, Xander.”
I felt his fingers digging into my skin and the pressure was delicious. He didn’t say anything to my invitation, didn’t move.
“The last time I saw you speechless was when I told you I could do magic,” I said.
“Youare magic.” The words broke free from his chest, rumbling and deep. “I have been under your spell since the day I met you.”
“Xander . . .”
I saw him shudder in response. “It shatters me every time you use my name.”
Leaning up, I pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw and said, “I seem to recall you telling me that I would be calling it out over and over again.”
Golden flames burned in his eyes. “I think I should make good on my promise.”
Now I was the one trembling. “I do, too. I wouldn’t want you to be an oath-breaker.”
