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She exhales.

“I’ve never loved anyone.”

“Not even in all those centuries?”

“No.”

I brush my thumb over her knuckles.

“I understood desire. I inspired it. I commanded it. I watched mortals surrender themselves to it night after night.”

I lift her hand.

“But I’d never experienced it myself.”

She gives me a small smile.

“Until me?”

I grin.

“Unfortunately.”

She laughs.

“Unfortunately?”

“Darling, you’ve been an absolute catastrophe for my peace of mind.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’ve gone from commanding entire dream realms to arguing about laundry detergent.”

“And losing.”

“Repeatedly.”

She laughs again.

The sound fills the room.

I would surrender a thousand kingdoms to hear it every day.

“But the priestess?” she asks softly.

I shake my head.

“I didn’t love her. I simply couldn’t allow an innocent woman to suffer because I lacked the courage to defy my father.”

Calla looks at me for a long moment.

Then she reaches up and touches my face.

My breath catches.

Her palm rests against my cheek.

Warm.