“Mm, yeah, those,” he said, entirely uncaring and completely distracted as his lips skimmed her breasts.
She bit her lip, and when he noticed, a low sound escaped him. He pressed his thumb over her mouth then appeared to reconsider before instead scolding her with a nipping tug of his teeth.
“Morgen?”
He pulled back just enough to look at her. His irises were a deep amber-gold, eclipsed by the dark spread of his pupils, and his expression was hungry but open. He wasn’t trying to hide anything from her, not anymore.
“Yes, Nya?”
“I love you.”
The gold of his eyes flared bright, and his lips twitched. He nudged his nose against hers. “I really thought you would never let me say it.”
She kissed him, but he stopped her. He laughed shakily, nothing but warmth in his eyes when he told her, “I have never loved anything in my entire life. Nothing except for you. I love you so much, I sometimes think it will break me. It nearly did, and I don’t even care.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and he kissed it away. His lips were salty when they met hers.
She had never wanted anything more than to imagine a future with him without fearing the cost. She could, now, she realized, and it was enough to make her chest ache with joy.
“Let’s make some heirs,” she said, meaning to joke but failing when her voice broke.
He didn’t flinch or shy away at her words or the unfettered emotion in voice. He only smiled and agreed before kissing her again.
Chapter
Thirty
Sora,
I am returning to Cion, to be with her in her final days. After her time has passed, I will not force you or Nya to relive the pain of the past by seeing me. I will haunt the memories for you both, so you may forget and finally live in peace, as you have always wished. As you deserve.
—Ana
A few weeks later,for the first time ever, Nya stepped into the palace where the former king of the gods, Kronos, once ruled. This was the place where her parents suffered unimaginable horror and loss, where countless mortal women lost their lives, and where Morgen had been tortured and abused by a father who was supposed to have loved and protected him above all others.
The interior of the palace was underwhelming. A little tacky. Too much gold in all the wrong places.
She lifted her chin high at the ridiculous, gaudy décor, and Morgen’s hand tightened where it wrapped around hers. He had paused at the threshold of the main entrance, then again at theenormous arch signaling they were entering the throne room, the curved doors thrown open to welcome them. She stopped with him both times, allowing him every pause he needed.
Carus trailed behind them with a small group of guards from Morgen’s army. Some of them had left now that the threat of conflict was diminished, but most had remained. Today, they would line the throne room as she and Morgen were crowned king and queen of Arcadia.
“They fixed the ceiling,” Morgen muttered, his eyes sweeping upwards to the glass dome.
Nya furrowed her brow. “What?”
His eyes stayed fixed above. “Your mother and Thessilnn destroyed it when they came after your father. She blew out the stained glass on the walls too, though I see Sol altered the panels when they repaired them.” He cleared his throat, finally looking away. “It’s strange to see it all intact again.”
Nya tightened her grip on his hand, more for her sake than his now. Sometimes, when he spoke of that day, she felt like she was hearing about strangers, not her parents. She vowed silently, then and there, to herself and all others, that she would never let anyone live in such fear again.
“Morgen,” Carus said from behind them. “You two should probably get ready.”
Morgen didn’t reply at first. His throat worked, and then he gave a curt nod and turned swiftly, letting go of Nya’s hand. She watched, lips pinched, as he strode out of the throne room.
Carus glanced at her. He looked sad. “Give him time, Nya. I think…this is much more difficult for him than either of us can fully comprehend.”
“I know that,” she said. “But he doesn’t need to bear it alone either.”
She didn’t wait for his response before hurrying after Morgen.
