“No, I won’t let you go.”
“Then marry me,” he blurted.
She froze, and Aerina fell silent. “What?”
Flushing, he smiled at her. “I know this is all ever untoward. Truth be told, I was waiting for your hand to be free, and if it is, am I mistaken to ask? I have every intention of retrieving my father, but if you don’t want me to stay in Red Highland, give me reason to return, my lady.”
Dyna stared at him, at a loss for words. He meant it. Sometime during their pretend courtship, it ceased to be a guise to him anymore. Gods, this wasn’t meant to happen. Her friends were standing at the doors, watching with silent shock. This was so unexpected she wasn’t sure how to react or what to think.
Aerina walked over to them hesitantly, her eyes wide. “Raiden…”
He glanced bashfully at his mother. “If I am already promised to another, I cannot be forced into a marriage I do not want. This one … I do want.”
Aerina smiled tearily. She removed her emerald ring and handed it to him. “Then I suppose you should ask her properly, son.”
Dyna struggled for air, her mind spinning. The last thing she wanted was to be married again. But what gave her pause was the fact Raiden wouldn’t be taken from his family if she accepted.
Before she could say a word, Raiden took his mother’s ring and knelt in front of her. Her heart leaped into her throat.
“Dynalya, I know we have not known each other long, but when I look at you, I see a beautiful and valiant woman to face every tomorrow to come. Therefore I, Raiden Norrlen, the firstborn son of Rawn Norrlen, the Lord of Sellav, would beg for your hand in marriage under the eye of the God of Urn. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
Dyna took a gasping breath. Every fiber of her being was against this. She couldn’t speak the word that would have been a lie. But in her satchel, rested Fair’s ashes. It was her fault Rawn lost his horse. She owed it to him to protect his son.
It didn’t have to be real. She could continue the ruse and accept the engagement until both were safe in Sellav. But her voice caught on hertongue. It took several seconds before Dyna could work up the nerve to speak.
“Yes…” she said, so faint it was barely a whisper.
A smile lit Raiden’s face, and he slipped the emerald ring onto her finger. It was a little tight and a little cold.
It looked wrong.
Motion on her left drew her to meet Cassiel’s eyes standing at another set of doors. He stood motionless. Silent.
He looked as if his soul had been pulled from him
Dyna almost blurted that it wasn’t what it looked like, but she stopped herself because she had to. The bond trembled inside of her, and it took everything not to break down in front of him. They couldn’t be together, no matter how much she wished for it. She couldn’t bear it if her mate died simply for loving her.
Noticing him, Raiden stood. “I will give you a moment.”
He and Aerina quickly left the grand hall through the set doors her friends stood at, leaving her with Cassiel.
His silver eyes lifted to hers. They were dull, as if all the light had left them. After a breath, he came to her. For a moment, he said nothing. His brows curled, and he rubbed his mouth, shifting a step. His fingers tightened around the folded parchment in his hand. “So … this is what you want?”
Dyna meant to answer firmly, but no words came out, so all she managed was a weak nod.
His throat bobbed. “I see...”
Dyna couldn’t look at him. Her hands shook as she made sure her shield was in place, hiding the way her heart was breaking all over again. She told herself this was a good thing. Now he could move on with his life, and she could go on with hers, no matter how much it was breaking her apart.
“I’m glad.” Cassiel offered her a feeble smile. One that was trapped between pain and acceptance. Clearing his throat, he handed her the folded parchment. “TheghetI mentioned. A contract of annulment. Once you sign it, our marriage is dissolved, and you are free to marry again.”
Dyna’s eyes stung with unshed tears as she took it, masking the great effort needed to swallow the lump lodged in her throat. As the parchment passed into her hands, she felt the moment Cassiel gave up on the possibility they could ever recover what they had lost. In its place was regret and sorrow, but beneath it lingered a relief that she would be all right now.
His gaze lowered to her new ring. “Can I ask only one thing of you?” he asked quietly. “Don’t go on in life merely existing. Promise me you will live.”
His voice cracked on that last word, and it made her vision blur. Standing on her toes, Dyna pulled him into her arms and held him tight. She needed one last embrace.
And so did he.
