Alaric’s gaze softened, and the roughness in his expression eased into something achingly gentle. “You belong with me.”
The words stole my breath. They were said so simply, as if the truth had always been waiting there between us.
I shook my head, not to disagree but to keep myself from falling into that truth. “I’m tired of hiding,” I murmured. “I’m ready to face Sereth. To go with you. To… stop running from what happened.”
Something in his shoulders shifted. Relief, maybe, or the weight of years easing just a little. But I didn’t say I was going with himforhim. And he knew it.
I stepped back before he could close the space between us. “I should pack my things.”
For a moment, he only looked at me, like he was memorizing every line, every shadow of my face. Then he moved closer, his hand brushing my cheek. His thumb traced the curve of my jaw with a tenderness that made my throat ache.
“I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he said.
“I know.” My voice was soft as seafoam. “Thank you.” I squeezed his hand.
And then, before I could move away, he kissed me.
It wasn’t wild or desperate. It was slow. Anchored. A promise without words. His lips moved over mine with reverence, as though I were something rare, something worth keeping. I kissed him back, my hands sliding into his hair, and for a moment I let myself believe in a world where I could stay.
When we broke apart, our foreheads rested together. My breath trembled against his skin.
“Don’t leave,” I whispered.
His voice was hoarse when he answered. “Not even the sea could drag me.”
And yet we both knew… when I turned to pack my bags, I wasn’t really asking him to stay. I was just asking him to help me get through this next trial with Sereth.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ALARIC
She was ready to face her past.
But not ready to be with me.
She never said the word I ached to hear.
Never told me to stay with her.
But I wanted this. Her. A life. Marriage. A future. I wanted to believe staying could be enough.
Still… if I wanted her, but she didn’t want me–due to my profession–what could I do?
The thought hollowed me out.
Not to forget the fact she was a princess.
How?
I sat on the front step, my thoughts churning like seawater as she packed her bags.
Was she somehow related to Sereth?
Was she related to Elias?
Can’t be.They looked nothing alike, and she had that mysterious Black Star whaling necklace…
“I’m ready.” Malia sat next to me on the step.
