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“Are you injured anywhere else?” I scrutinized her, scanning her for hidden wounds.

She shook her head, reaching for the satchel at her waist. “No, just this head wound. I’ll be okay.” She withdrew a few lime green leaves, then popped them in her mouth. Her eyes closed, her brow creasing as she chewed and swallowed. After a moment, her expression cleared, and she exhaled. “That’s better. Sweetroot leaves really do work wonders.” Her eyes opened, and she glanced warily at Geraldine’s motionless body. “Is she⁠—”

“Yes,” I said grimly. “She’s dead.”

Cerise let out a strangled sound, something between a laugh and a sob. “Oh, gods. She… was trying to tear my magic out of me. The spell would have killed me.” She swallowed hard and gazed up at me, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. “You—you saved me. You’re here.”

My lips quirked upward, and my arms tightened on her waist. “I’m here.”

She offered me a hesitant smile, her hands resting against my chest. “Alaric.” Her gaze dropped to the gold fastener at my collarbone, and her eyebrows lifted. “What is all this?” She gestured to my cape and toga, then eyed my sandals with a raised eyebrow. Her eyes fell to the crown and circlet on the ground a few paces away, and she went perfectly still. Her breath hitched, and her pulse spiked. When she looked up at me again, her eyes were even wider.

I swallowed hard. Gods, she didn’t even know. I hadn’t told her. Hadn’t told anyone.

“I am the new Mage King.” My voice was strained and uncertain. I wished I sounded firm and resolute, as a king should. Instead I sounded like someone feeble. Someone unrecognizable.

Cerise’s lips parted, the color draining from her face. “Mage King?” she repeated in a strained voice. “That’s… Wow, that’s…” She broke off, breathing heavily. Her fingers absently fiddled with the edge of my gold fastener.

But she did not draw away from me.

“I didn’t realize you were the heir,” she said softly.

“I wasn’t. It’s a distant, convoluted connection that honestly doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. But I was the only one. I was just coronated.”

“King Nolan didn’t have any children?”

“He had a son, but he died long ago. No one expected Nolan to pass away so suddenly.”

Cerise nodded and wet her lips. Something primal stirred inside me at the sight of her tongue. I had to remind myself she’d almost been killed. This was not the moment for heated thoughts.

“I’m so confused.” She looked up at me, emerald eyes practically glowing. “I heard you… in my head.”

“I know.”

“You heard me, too?”

I chuckled. “Yes, I did.”

She shook her head. “I don’t understand. What does this mean? How is this happening?”

“I’m not sure.” I thought of the Soulbound connection that Dulsa had told me about. Was that what this was? It was the only explanation I could think of.

But on top of revealing I was the new king, I was hesitant to announce Cerise and I were Soulbound. It was too much.

And right now, with Cerise’s warm body pressed to my own, all I could think about was that she was here. She was alive.

“Does it frighten you?” I asked softly.

She gazed up at me, warmth stirring in her eyes. “It should. But no. It doesn’t.”

A lock of red hair fell in her face, and I gently swept it away and tucked it behind her ear. Her pulse spiked, and she drew in a shaky breath. For a moment, she said nothing. Then, her voice barely a whisper, she said, “Thank you. For coming when I called, and… for saving my life.”

My blood heated at the look in her eyes, the way she held my gaze as if I were her prisoner. I lifted a hand, running the pad of my thumb along her jaw. She shivered but kept her eyes fixed on mine.

My hand cupped the back of her head as I drew closer, our faces only a breath apart. I waited for her to withdraw like she had in the bunker.

But she didn’t. Her eyes burned, beckoning me forward.

I closed the distance between us, my mouth capturing hers. A small hum escaped her. Her lips were smooth and soft as they roved over mine slowly, exploring. Tasting. Savoring. My lips parted, and my tongue slid inside her mouth. She sighed, leaning into me, and I came undone.