Jasyn shrugged. “I think they’re just relieved their final child is still alive.”
“It must help that you won the Heart.”
He nodded, and both were silent after that. Iskra let herself assess Jasyn. He had a large bruise along his cheek, and she instinctively reached out at the bandages on his neck. She wondered how many injuries she was directly responsible for.
“Don’t blame yourself.”
Iskra snapped her attention to Jasyn’s face. “I hurt you,” Iskra said plainly.
“I think you saved me,” Jasyn responded. “I read your letter.”
Iskra’s face heated. “I know it was inappropriate for me to write that, especially given the circumstances.
“I’m glad I came out of the Undertaking alive to read it.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t know if you remember anything from the Undertaking, but I love you, Iskra. I’ve loved you for a long time now, but I was scared to admit it, especially since I was falling for someone different than I thought. It terrified me when I learned you weren’t Esi, because that meant I wouldn’t be marrying the person who made my heart glow.”
As if on command, his body burst with light. Iskra looked through her tinted eyeglasses in adoration before she had to quickly turn away from the light, her eyes watering.
“You showed me what kind of king I could be, how my version of leading may be different but just as worthy. You showed me how to appreciate living again.”
Iskra felt a hot tear run down her cheek. Jasyn was there, wiping it with his thumb, and then he was leaning his forehead against hers. She shut her eyes with how overwhelmed she was.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
She felt him shudder, and she finally wrapped her arms around him. He fell on top of her, but she didn’t care. The weight of him was comforting. He adjusted himself and climbed under the silk sheets with her, trailing his finger along her shoulder. “How do your eyes feel?”
Iskra blinked, a bit shocked by the question, but then she remembered the new addition to her face. She took the eyeglasses off and immediately regretted it. She squinted as she put them back on.
“I’m sorry,” Jasyn said. “I blasted light directly in your eyes, and I think that may have impacted your vision. Looks like there is some sensitivity, like we guessed.”
“I must look ridiculous.” She pouted.
“You’re still as beautiful as the sun.”
“I thought I was prettier than the sun.”
Jasyn snorted, and then a wild laugh escaped his lips, and Iskra laughed, too. It was an adjustment, no doubt, but...
“I’m alive because of you. I get to keep living, perhaps see more of the continent, because of you. I can live with having to wear these.”
Jasyn smiled, but it didn’t fill his face this time. “I think it’s only in the daytime. We’ll eventually tint the glass of the castle so you can walk around without them.”
Iskra’s face slackened. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll get out of your way, especially with your coronation coming up.”
Jasyn pulled her in, and she fit perfectly against him. “You’re not leaving me, Sundrop. Wherever you go, I follow.”
“But—”
“Shh. Right now, you need rest, and this bed is too comfortable not to take advantage.”
Iskra snorted, but he was right. Her body was tired.
“It’ll be night soon.”
“You haven’t shifted since the Undertaking,” Jasyn mumbled into her skin.
