His hands trembled as they hovered over Finn’s skin, as if afraid to touch.
“Your words…” A painful inhale before Cedric continued, “they reached me, even when nothing else could.” He hesitated, then whispered, “When you said you loved me, that you forgave me…”
Finn reached up, cupping Cedric’s face in his hands, feeling the softness of his skin beneath his fingertips, the warmth of his cheek against his palm. “I meant every word,” he said firmly, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you, Cedric. And I forgive you, not because I have to, but because there is nothing to forgive. Because I know you.” He stroked his thumb along Cedric’s cheek, feeling the way his jaw clenched, like he was holding back something painful. “What happened wasn’t your fault. Unless you’re telling me you wanted to crush me like a bug.”
Cedric huffed a tired, disbelieving breath. “Of course not.”
The prince’s breath hitched. His shoulders sagged, tension bleeding from his frame as his eyes slid shut. For a moment, he stayed there, pressing just a little closer, like he needed the contact to anchor himself. Like he was holding onto Finn to keep from breaking apart.
Then, slowly, his breath evened. His lashes fluttered, and his eyes opened again, still glassy, still tired. Still carrying that weight.
“I love you too,” he whispered. “More than I ever thought possible. And that’s the problem.” He blew out a long breath, shaking his head. “I—I can’t do this. I can’t risk this happening again. I can’t—” His breath stuttered, his voice barely holding together. “I almost lost you. And not just to Darius. To me.”
The anguish was so raw in his voice, Finn knew Cedric was one heartbeat from shutting him out again. Not allowed. Not after the hell they’d just been through.
“If you think I’m going to let you walk away now, you have another thing coming.” Finn paused. “Or fly away. Whatever.”
Cedric stared at him with a gaze that held the same fear as when he’d kept his secret from Finn. As if he was terrified their feelings would make the situation worse.
“And you’re afraid for me? Good. That means everything between us is real.” Finn didn’t rein in the possessive satisfaction lacing his tone. “I’m a knight, Ced. I don’t give up easily. I’ll chase you if I must, but gods, I’d rather just have you here.”
His words stirred something in Cedric. The prince snapped out of whatever darkness he’d fallen into. He drew in a long breath, then whispered, “Mine.”
“Damn right,” Finn muttered. He leaned in, eyes blazing with conviction. “I swore myself to you in front of Darius.”
A beat of silence as Cedric’s eyebrows shot up.
Finn let out a breath. “Which, in hindsight, was probably a bad survival strategy.”
Cedric blinked once. “Finn.”
Then something cracked in Cedric’s expression. He exhaled, shaky, like his body had just remembered how to breathe. “You’re an idiot.”
Finn huffed a soft laugh. “You’re calling me the idiot? That’s rich.”
“Of all the royals you could pledge yourself to,” Cedric went on, shaking his head, “you chose the supposedly-dead-but-really-a-monster prince.”
“I said what I said.” Finn ignored the fire in his ribs and leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Cedric’s lips. Not a kiss of passion, but a promise. A vow.
When they parted, Cedric smiled again. Soft, but real. Then his expression turned serious. “Darius has Gwenna.”
“With luck, he won’t live to regret that.” Finn nudged Cedric’s hand with his own.
Cedric’s brows flew up. “What do you mean?”
Finn grinned. “Your sister hit me with a rock to protect you. A woman like that won’t be the submissive wife someone like Darius wants.”
Cedric considered this for a moment, lips pursed, his brow furrowed in thought. “You’re not wrong. And for any other woman stuck with someone like Darius, that might be dangerous for her.” He paused, still thinking, his gaze unfocused. “But Darius obviously wants or needs her for something. So Gwenna should be safe, at least for a while.”
Maybe long enough for Finn and Cedric to figure out a way to save her.
But Gwenna wasn’t the only one who needed saving. And Finn didn’t want to say what came next, but...
“Cedric, you have to take the crown.” The words felt like lead on his tongue.
Cedric stiffened. His eyes widened, and for a second, he just looked at Finn, as if he couldn’t quite believe he’d said it. “I don’t... I can’t...” He trailed off, shaking his head as panic brewed.
Finn swallowed. He should have waited for this conversation. Given Cedric time to breathe, to recover. But there wasn’t time. “You think being a dragon half the day disqualifies you?”
