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“Really?” There was such hope in his voice. I could only lace my fingers through his and nod, praying that he trusted my word. He let out a relieved breath. “I have to admit I did fear them coming for us, but I couldn’t fight our bond anymore. And I chose to be selfish. I wanted you and only you. I felt bad for bringing you into danger like that.”

“If you’d only stayed with me, you would’ve learned all of this much sooner,” I reminded him. It felt like a scolding, and it sort of was. The lingering hurt was still there, reminding me of how long it had taken us to get to this part.

He sighed. “I know. I wish I could take all the months back where I watched you from afar.”

I sat up straighter, needing to know. “How long have you known I was your fated mate?”

“Since month two,” he admitted, looking down at his lap at our laced hands. “I felt so drawn to you. I couldn’t stop watching you after that.”

“And I never knew,” I whispered, hating I hadn’t noticed him.

“I wish you’d known sooner,” he whispered, too. “Then you’d likely have made me see reason much sooner.”

I laughed. “No way. You’d just hurry to your room and stay there, leaving me to hunt you down each day.”

He laughed as well. “That’s very likely!”

My light then flared, letting me know I had to get going. Arthur was seeing his light too, sighing as we both got out of bed. “I hate that we aren’t allowed to just cuddle all day,” I grumbled.

He smiled at me, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “You can just imagine what you want to do to me tonight. Should make the day pass faster that way.”

I groaned. He giggled.

My mate was out to kill me.

“Yeah, I’m totally digging this,” Myve declared loudly as she sat down, a mountain of pancakes on her plate, jiggling dangerously but never crashing down.

“What are you digging?” Jamie asked, joining us. His gaze then landed on Arthur and his eyes widened. “Finally!”

We all startled, making Jamie smile sheepishly at us.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Arthur said, holding out his hand.

“Likewise!” Jamie grinned. “Welcome to the family.”

Arthur beamed at that, looking a mix of shy and proud as we all started eating. I’d feared they would interrogate him, but I should’ve known better. That would happen as soon as Arthur was elsewhere, and I was happy for that.

“So…” Myve grinned. “Does this mean you’re fully mated? Or is this a courting sort of thing?”

I snorted at that, then tugged Arthur closer to me, inhaling his addicting scent. “He’s mine, Myve.”

She beamed. “I’m so happy for you both! I just didn’t want to assume anything.”

Hans rolled his eyes at that. “She’s been talking my ear off all night. She’s like crazy invested.”

She batted her mate’s arm. “Hey! You told me you agreed!”

He nodded, “Yes, dear.”

Ryn, Nym, Jamie, and I all snickered.

“So,” Casey said, smiling at Arthur. “Are you going to move in with the rest of us?” That was likely Casey’s way of asking if I’d told my mate I was a prince.

“I am,” he nodded.

Jamie beamed. “Thank gods! I was worried for a second that we’d lose Nazuss.”

I rolled my eyes at that, then leaned in to whisper loudly in Arthur’s ear. “The others just assumed their mates would move in with them. Can you believe that?”