"I don't want a quiet life." I squeezed his hand. "I want a life with you. And if that life includes you training the next generation of Alliance warriors? I'd be proud to be the mate of the Master of Arms."
The emotion that flooded through the bond was overwhelming. Love and gratitude and something deeper—the bone-deep certainty that we were right together.
That this was what we were meant to do.
Ahrick turned back to Ako.
"I accept."
Ako's smile was genuine. Warm.
"Excellent. I'll have the formal paperwork drawn up. You'll start in a month—that should give you time to visit Vaktaire and settle your affairs. Report to Calpa on the first of next month, and we'll begin the transition."
"Understood."
"Good." Ako glanced between us. "I'm glad this worked out. The Alliance is better with you in it, Ahrick. Both of you."
The meeting wrapped up quickly after that—details about housing on Calpa, salary, benefits. The practical matters that came with accepting a position like this.
But I barely heard it.
I was too focused on the feeling flowing through the bond. Ahrick's hope. His excitement. The sense that maybe, finally, he was getting a chance to be more than the sum of his mistakes.
When Ako's projection finally faded, leaving us alone in the conference room, Ahrick pulled me into his arms.
"Thank you," he said against my hair.
"For what?"
"For believing in me. For seeing something worth saving."
I pulled back enough to look at him. "You saved yourself, Ahrick. I just... I just got to be there for it."
He kissed me then—deep and claiming and full of promise.
And through the bond, I felt everything he couldn't put into words.
Love. Devotion. Forever.
Our quarters onHistoriawere temporary—just a small suite in the diplomatic wing, meant for short-term stays.
But they were clean and private and ours.
And right now, that was all that mattered.
Ahrick closed the door behind us and locked it with a finality that made my pulse quicken. The bond hummed between us, carrying his desire, his need, his absolute certainty that I was his.
"Come here," he said quietly.
I went.
His hands found my waist, pulling me against him. I felt his heartbeat through his chest—steady and strong and perfectly synced with mine.
"I love you," he said. "I don't think I've said it enough. But I love you, Merrilee. More than I thought I could love anyone."
"I love you too." I reached up to cup his face. "And you're going to be amazing as Master of Arms."
He smiled—that rare, genuine smile that transformed his whole face.
