A lump rises in my throat, but with it comes an overwhelming sense of peace. He’s right. My father wanted me to have his fortune.Me. I’m the reason he stood up to Mrs. Coleman. I never even knew he saw her cruelty, and yet, he defied his own wife to defend me. To protect me. To assure my well-being. It might take time for me to truly accept the truth and heal from the guilt I’ve carried for three years, but I think it’s something I can do. “All right,” I say. “I’ll accept it. For now.”
His grin spreads wide as he leans closer. “You do deserve it, Em. I hope you believe that. You deserve everything wonderful.”
My gaze falls on his lips and I shift myself toward him. “Does that include you?”
“If you’ll have me.”
I lean in and claim his mouth with mine. His lips are soft and warm, and his hands come to frame my face. Tugging the collar of his shirt, I lean back and pull him to me. We lose ourselves in each other’s arms and lips, breaking away before things get too heated.
“Then there’s the matter of us,” he whispers, running a hand over my arm. “I have every intention of publicly courting you from now on.”
My heart flips, but logic dampens my joy. “I don’t know, Franco. I don’t even exist in the public eye. To the people, you’ve been falling in love with Princess Maisie, not some unknown commoner. We should weave a story to explain why things didn’t work out with Maisie so no one thinks you slighted her. Then, with time, we can go public with our courtship. Besides, I never told you the truth about Maisie. I don’t know why she left. She never said she eloped. In fact, she acted like she was in danger.” My pulse quickens at the thought. It dawns on me that I’ll now have to deal with the repercussions of our bargain, something I hadn’t anticipated. I grimace. “I thought I’d be long gone by the time anyone realized Maisie had run away.”
“We’ll deal with that together. Perhaps I’ll send a discreet message to King Ronan.”
“It must beverydiscreet. I’m worried about her.”
“I’ll make sure of it. But…about the other things you said.” He takes one of my hands and brings it to his lips. After planting a kiss on my knuckles, he says, “Ember, I’m tired of pretending. I never want to spend a moment faking anything with you ever again, not even for the sake of public opinion. I want it to be real. I want to show everyonethisis real.”
“You’ll risk a lot of gossip. Your reputation could very well be destroyed.”
“Then I’ll tell the truth to anyone who will listen. Besides, I’m not afraid of facing my reputation this time. I’m ready to show my court who I really am. Even if it terrifies me. Even if they reject me.”
Trepidation ties my stomach in knots, making my pulse pound.
He must sense it, for he furrows his brow and holds my gaze with intensity. “What about you? Are you ready to show the court whoyoureally are? The half-fae, half-human woman I love? One with dangerous, beautiful magic? One with blue hair and eyes to match and a heart as wide as the moon?”
Warmth floods my chest, but fear sends my heart skittering. For so long, I thought I wanted a life of no attachments. No bonds. Love seemed dangerous. Something that either left too soon or made people into monsters. Something that either caused me pain or killed those I cared for. Intimate relationships seemed no better than a bargain.
But now that I’ve let myself experience love, it isn’t as restrictive as I thought it would be. It’s freeing.
But with Franco, love brings responsibility too.
Attention.
Renown.
Judgment.
For three years, I’ve been invisible. Forced to cover my hair in a bonnet, hide my heritage. Stay quiet. Don’t show off. Don’t spark notice.
Being Franco’s mate will change all of that.
It will change…everything.
The thought is both agonizing and thrilling. His question echoes in my ears. Am I ready? Am I? My answer teeters on a ledge over a dark chasm. On one side is familiar obscurity I’ve always known. On the other side are vast possibilities I can’t begin to comprehend. Terror and excitement battle for supremacy.
But which melody should I follow? Which song calls my heart?
Always be wild.Promise me.
I press my hand to Franco’s chest, thinking of his newly formed tattoo. Like that tattoo, our love developed by surprise and our new lives will take shape the same way. Emerging. Shifting. Growing.
“I don’t know if I’m ready,” I say, speaking the truth. I lean in. Brush my lips against his. Wrap my arms around his neck. Feel his heart pound against mine, a new rhythm for this new endeavor. One we will journey together. A duet. A harmony. I pull away just slightly. “But I can’t wait to find out.”
Epilogue - One Year Later
EMBER
