Millie’s hitched breath never released as she stared up at me in shock. Mistrustful shock, I noted.
“I’ve been a fool. A blind fool,” I confessed. “I made a choice that I thought would best serve the Kaalium, but it turned out to be the worst decision of my life. I see that now. There will not be a single day where I don’t regret it, even if you choose to forgive me. Because I see now thatyouare what’s best for the Kaalium.”
“You’re wrong,” she said, though it was fear that made her bottom lip tremble. “I’m just a human. I have no great ancestry I can trace back generations. Not a drop of Kylorr blood in my veins. I have less than three thousand credits to my name.”
Had I really make her doubtthismuch? I wondered, every word she spoke like a whip strike.
“You are what’s best for the Kaalium because you are what’s best for me,” I told her. “And if you give me another chance,sasiral, I will prove that I am what’s best for you. No other male will love you like I do. No other male will protect you, will cherish you as much as I will.”
She didn’t believe me, I realized with a sharp pang. It would take time to earn back her trust.
“You asked me why I call yousasiralonce,” I said softly. “I told you it was because I admired your strength, your will, your determination. And that was all true.”
I stepped closer, reaching out to trace her soft cheek.
“What I didn’t tell you was that I call you my fallen star because you landed right in my hands,” I said, my tone gruff, filled with longing. Her lips parted. “A gift from the universe—a beautiful, bright treasure, unlike anything I’d ever known before. You landed on Krynn, and against all odds, we found one another.”
“Kythel…” she said, her voice strained.
“I intend to care for you as one would care for a rare gift from the gods. Because that is what you are to me. I won’t let you forget that. Never again,sasiral.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.
“I love you, Millie Seren,” I said, the words landing softly. Words I’d never said to a lover before. A small gasp left her. “My biggest regret is that I didn’t tell you that night at the cottage. I knew even before you gave me the universe.” That dinner and the special meaning behind it, I would never forget. “But I’m telling you now that I love you. That I want you—and only you—as my wife, as theKylairaof Erzos. There will be no one else for me,sasiral. You are everything I’ve ever wanted. You are everything I’ve everneeded. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to realize it.”
“Why are you doing thisnow? You’re not being fair,” she breathed, crying again, tracks of clear tears tracing down her cheeks.
“I know,” I said, my tone ragged, my throat tight. I pressed a kiss to her cheek, tasting the saltiness of her tears. Against her temple, I admitted, “I cannot promise that I will be fair as I try to reclaim your love, Millie. But I will promise to be patient.”
When I leaned away, her hazel eyes were luminous. Sad. Confused. But I thought I saw the lingerings ofhope. Or maybe I just wanted to see it.
“I’ll be patient,” I vowed. My eyes slid to the cottage. “And while I would prefer if you remained at the keep, you’re free to live wherever you please. If you wish to live with your friend, however, I will be posting a guard rotation here at all hours of the day and night.”
A compromise. But I couldn’t tie her to me. Millie wouldn’t like to be bound and tethered.
“I’d like to stay with Grace,” she decided.
Disappointment speared through the ever-present ache in my chest, but I hid it well and nodded.
“I’ll have your things brought over tonight,” I promised her.
“Thank you,” she whispered. Sliding me a careful, hesitant look, she asked, “What…what are you going to do about House Arada?”
“What would you like me to do?” I asked.
Her brow furrowed. “Me?”
I nodded again. She said nothing about my confession. Taking a step away, I knew that she didn’t want to discuss us.This.That would come with time, I hoped. For now, I’d decided to keep nothing from her. Azur had told me that Gemma had only wanted the truth from him.
Millie deserved the truth, and she could make her decision about House Arada’s fate.
“House Arada controls the Three Guardians,” I told her. “You know it?”
She nodded. “The mountain range to the north. Filled withdrava.”
“It was a gift to their family from my great-grandfather. They were loyal to House Kaalium during the winter wars against the Kaazor, long ago.”
Millie watched me carefully.
