Her expression shuttered. “What about him?”
“He asked you to marry him again.” It wasn’t a question.
She didn’t bother denying it. “He did.”
“And what did you say?”
Her brow rose. “What do you think I said?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “You have a tendency to surprise me.”
“I said no.”
Relief, bright and foolish, flashed through me before Icould stop it. I masked it with a low sound that might have been a laugh. “Good.”
Her brow arched. “Good? Is that all?”
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
“And you do?”
The directness in her gaze squeezed my chest. She was daring me to declare myself.
“Not me,” I said, stepping closer despite my words. “But that doesn’t stop me from wanting you.”
Her breath caught. The space between us felt suddenly fragile. “What if I don’t want you to stop?”
I could have kissed her then. Iwantedto. Every inch of restraint I’d built around myself cracked under the weight of wanting to. Her eyes searched mine, daring me, pleading, burning.
I gave in.
Her mouth met mine, and the world stopped. Fire and shadow collided, the kind of kiss that rewrote every oath I’d ever sworn. Her fingers found the collar of my jacket, gripping like she meant to anchor herself to me. On her lips, I tasted flame and sunshine and everything I wasn’t supposed to want.
When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard. The night felt different now—alive, trembling.
“Rydian,” she whispered, and I knew what she was asking. Knew it and hated myself for the answer.
I touched my forehead to hers, eyes closing. “I can’t.”
Her hands tightened. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not a match for you.”
She drew back enough to look at me. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. The courts?—”
“It’s not about them,” I said. “It’s about me. About what I am meant for.”
Her eyes softened, confusion threading through the hurt. “You think being the Midnight heir makes you somehow unworthy?”
I blinked, stunned.
Her mouth curved. “Your secrets are unraveling faster than you think, Your Highness.”
“When did you know?”
“I suspected at the cabin, but our visit Beneath confirmed it. Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“It’s complicated.”
