Then, the wings that had just started to lift my heart snapped, and I fell from the sky. His cold eyes met mine, and his words came out even colder. “You were sent here to betray me, but I willnotallow this.” Emrys’s voice rang with finality. “You will not admit any failures or guilt to them. You have brought about the successful transition of power to a foreign kingdom all on your own. You will not fling yourself upon his mercy or rely on the cursed Assembly for anythingeveragain. I forbid it!” It was the first time he’d ever gotten close to raising his voice at me.
His nostrils flared. “Not when it was they who put you in this situation. Not when they aim to…” He growled, making me flinch. “… to use you like they’ve used me.” He ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. The anger in his eyes lessened.
I waited to hear him out, relieved that his outrage wasn’t for me.
His voice, still shaking with his temper, drifted down slowly. “Isca, the truth broke something inside me…”
I stopped breathing, anticipating the knife of his words to settle between two ribs.
“But I think it was something that needed to be broken. You’ve done more to save me than anyone ever has.”
The laces on my gown were too tight. I would fall over before I pulled a full breath in.
Light flared, and the letter in his hand turned to ash that scattered between us and drifted to the floor. He held my gaze, face a mask of stone as he fought the curse. Every word I’d written to apologize, to diminish myself, was gone.
“You think this has ruined us because I am a foolish, irritable man, with worries I can’t always release churning within me. You came here for the Assembly. But you defied them. And you stayed for me, for Darreth.” He swallowed. “I see that now.”
He drew in a slow, unsteady breath, like he was bracing to peel his heart open.
“For nearly two decades I’ve lived expecting abandonment. Expecting to be used. Expecting pain. And then you came into my life and rewrote all of it by trying, bystayingeven when I made it difficult.
“I kept pushing you away because wanting you felt too dangerous. Because I knew I wouldn’t survive it if I let myself have you and then lost you.”
His hand tightened around mine.
“Isca, I fooled myself into thinking your mission confirmed every fear I’ve carried since the curse took root. That it proved I was nothing more than a weapon to everyone…even to you.”
“Never,” I whispered.
“All the truth did was expose how much I already needed you. And once I finally doused my insecurities, I could see what you risked forus.”
“I didn’t want to lie to you.”
“You didn’t when it counted.” He moved his hands up to hold my arms. “Cariad, I couldneverstop loving you. I love you so deeply it terrifies me.”
He leaned in and rested his forehead on mine. His skin was warm from the exertion of moving furniture and breaking open, but not shattering, more doors.
“I’m sorry for not telling you all this sooner. My weakness has put us both through agony.”
I exhaled on a choked sob. “I’m so sorry, Emrys. Please forgive me.”
His gaze locked on mine with his characteristic intensity. “You want redemption? Then stay. Love me.”
The world around us stilled. “What?” I whispered, barely believing what I was hearing.
Stay? He wanted me to stay? I couldn’t hold back my tears for another moment. They fell out of me like a spring rain, ready to bring new life to all they touched.
“I’m steady when you’re near. I’m made better by you—and not just because of your magic.You. Your cunning mind, endless well of compassion and kindness, your bright smile—all of it could only bring abundance to Darreth, to me.Stay.Because I’d rather learn to be a good ruler the hard way with you than be safe without you for a moment longer.”
Magic still vibrated faintly around him. His power, his quiet certainty, stole my breath.
He kneeled then. A prince who would soon be king bent on one knee before a peasant girl wearing borrowed clothing and a borrowed title. He had no crown on his head and no scepter in his hand, but he still carried the weight of choice, of trust, of love.
“You’ve seen my monster and stayed,” he said, his lips grazing my knuckles in a soft kiss. “Now stay for the man. I’ll always keep you safe, Isca. You protect…you complete my soul. Rule with me, keep me steady while I fight my weakness. Be my queen.”
“You can’t mean… Emrys, after everything—after what I did—”
“None of that matters. You were put in an impossible position and did everything you could to fight them. Now I want you to fight them with me.”
