It took more effort than she’d hoped, but after a few tries, she was able to peel her eyes open. Bright, spring-green irises met hers, and she watched as tears began to stream down his cheeks.
Every movement exerted more energy than she had, but she managed to lift her hand to cradle his cheek. When he leaned into it, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. It shouldn’t have been possible. She’d given every drop of power she had to take out Davina. Had felt her body fade and welcome the darkness as it consumed her. She’d made peace with her fate…and yet…
“Daemon,” she breathed through a choked sob.
“Hello, my star.”
His lips met hers with an urgency she couldn’t answer fast enough. She wasn’t sure how or why, but it seemed Fate had given them another chance, and it was one she wasn’t going to take for granted. When they parted, Daemon rested his brow on hers, and she breathed him in. His signature scent of sandalwood and salty ocean air was present even among the acrid smell of a battle long since past.
“Daemon.”
“Yes, my star?” he asked, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes.
“Marry me. I don’t care what it means for our reigns; I just know I don’t want to live without you. I don’t want to waste—”
Daemon’s lips descended upon hers, cutting off her words and every train of thought in the process. When he pulled away, his telltale smirk graced his lips, and her heart leaped in her chest.
“I thought you told me to ask you?”
“Is that a no, then?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as his smirk grew.
“Auraelia, you are the love of my life. Fate might have linked us, but I would have chosen you in this life and every life thereafter. You are the reason my heart beats and for the air in my lungs. I am yours. Wholly and completely.”
“So, it’s ayes, then?”
His laugh boomed through the room, his brow falling to rest upon hers once more. “It’s a yes, my star. In every way possible. And I can’t wait to see what our forever has in store.”
Daemon’s hands cradled her face as tears streamed from her eyes, a series of gasps filtering into the room as his lips met hers.
“Auraelia?” Piper’s shock was palpable and penetrated every syllable of her name. A collection of “Oh my goddess” and “Thank the heavens” swarmed the space as more and more people filled the quiet of her room.
She felt Daemon chuckle against her lips and couldn’t help but smile in return.
“I guess the secret’s out.”
Daemon pushed into a sitting position and gently pulled her with him. Everything ached, but as his shadows drifted into nothing around them, she welcomed the firm embrace of her friend.
“I thought you died,” Piper sobbed into her neck, her hold tightening painfully.
“So did I.” Auraelia returned the embrace, tears streaming down her face in rivulets that soaked into the fabric of Piper’s dress.
“Rae?” Xander’s voice was low—tentative—like he wasn’t sure what he was seeing was real.
Peeking over her friend’s shoulder, she met his gaze, and as soon as their eyes locked, tears soaked his cheeks, and a watery smile pulled on the corners of his lips.
Auraelia maintained her hold on Piper as she reached out her hand toward her brother, smiling and mouthing, “Thank you.”
He inclined his head slightly, but sorrow filled his gaze as his eyes flicked to her friend before they returned to her own. Squeezing her hand gently, he said, “I’ll come see you later,”
Nodding, she returned the gesture, then dropped his hand. But as he began to walk away, she called out his name, waiting until he turned to say, “I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’ll send for Ser Aeron and some food, okay?”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes, and as he turned for the door, a million questions filtered into her mind over what could have happened between her brother and her friend. But before she could voice them, Piper pulled away, her eyes bloodshot as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“I’ll clear everyone out so you two can clean up. You’ve been lying there for over two weeks, and no offense, Rae? But you smell. Bad. Like, really bad. You both do.” Piper scrunched her nose as she backed away, and a laugh tumbled from both of their lips.
“Thank you, Piper.”
