“You stepped down as commander… Was that for me?”
I shake my head, an incredulous laugh breaking out. “No? That was for me.”
She nods. “You could’ve told me.”
“Was I supposed to?”
She steps closer, raising her chin. “As your girlfriend, I have a right to know. Why’d you do it? I thought you cared more about the title than about me.”
Is she for real? I thought she wanted me to have the title so we could be together, and she’d be proud of me. All this time, I thought I had to prove myself to her. To everyone. “My girlfriend?”
She nods, daring me to protest with her intense stare. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to be my boyfriend. I’ve already told everyone at the party you are, so if I go back alone, I’ve got a lot of explaining to do. But if you’re going to let me down, please do it gently.”
I blink. She told people about us?
“I wasn’t ashamed of you; I was ashamed of myself and stuck in the past. Not to mention, selfish with your heart. Will you forgive me?” Sol’s voice almost sounds childlike.
Stillness stretches between us. Above, warm station lights flicker. Everything I thought I knew was wrong. Isolde didn’t want me to be Wilder. The world didn’t stop spinning because I said no to my father, and now, she’s asking for my forgiveness, giving me the choice to refuse her when she’s all I ever wanted.
“Please?” she whispers, and my heart fucking breaks.
I pull her close, and the press of my mouth against hers muffles her gasp. She melts into me, grabbing on tightly andkissing me back with all the wild longing I have desired from her for years. I remember the first time I saw her, the first time she kissed me, and that firstI love you.
Gods, she feels like home.
I want this. I want her for the rest of my life. I want her beside me, every damn night and morning. I want her,always.
“I love you, Isolde Faez,” I mutter softly against her mouth. “Do you love me, too? Even if I am nothing special?”
She parts her lips, tongue flicking against mine.
“You are special to me,” she whispers.
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” Her nails bite my shoulders. “I fucking love you.”
I groan, drunk on emotion. “We should get out of here before they lock us in.”
“Or”—she grins—“we could fool around in one of the empty train cars.”
My pulse thunders. “What if we get caught? It would be awkward for two Blades to get arrested.”
She laughs, the low, sultry sound sending shivers down my spine. She grabs my hand. “Come on, before I change my mind.”
“Too late. All sales are final.”
Isolde glances back as she climbs the steps into the first empty train car, eyes gleaming with challenge. She pulls me up with her, then drags me against her for a deep, rough kiss that leaves me dizzier than nicotine.
“Don’t worry,” she whispers against my lips. I hold her close, unwilling to let her go now that I have her. She’s mine, and I won’t accept anything less. Finally, my world feels right. “This time, I’m all in.”
“Ready?”
I don’t get to answer. Wilder hoists me up, bridal style. I gasp, tightening my grip around his neck. He gently kicks open the bedroom door, carrying me over the threshold into our darkened suite. I’m still in my wedding dress, and I’m itching to get out of it. My cheeks are flushed from dancing. A smile stretches across my face.
I can’t fucking believe it. We are married.
“Let’s get some lights on in here,” Wilder says.
