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Rook smiled weakly. “Yes, perhaps now you shall.”

The door opened with a loud creak, and Rook’s hand remained around mine as Regan stepped into the chamber. He regarded us both critically for a moment before he moved to the bedside, his hand clasped behind his back.

“You’re awake then, Your Highness,” he said.

“You don’t need to sound so thrilled, Regan,” I replied.

“I am more than relieved you’re alive,” he retorted, frowning. “Merely wondering how much longer you think you can last.”

Rook tensed noticeably, the fire returning to his glowing eyes. He lifted his chin as he turned to face Regan, his shoulders rolling back as he straightened. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

Regan lifted his hands with a sigh. “I am concerned for the Princess, nothing more.”

“I hope that Theron will honor his word,” I said. “I was supposed to earn back my home, and now that it is destroyed, does he hope to terrorize me with the remainders of the other kingdoms?”

Regan’s mouth twitched, and I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or concerned. “I will let His Majesty know you’re awake, and will arrange for you to be moved back to your chambers to recover there in comfort.”

“Thank you.”

Regan’s eyes moved back to mine and Rook’s entwined fingers. “Norahi, perhaps you should go and rest. You’ve been here all this time, surely you’re exhausted.”

“I’ll leave her once she’s safely back in her chambers,” Rook replied in a low voice. “Until then, I do not leave her side.”

“Norahi, you know this cannot -”

“I’m not leaving her.” Rook’s eyes flamed as he looked back down at me. “Ever.”

Regan pursed his lips, as though considering his next words. Instead of saying anything further, he merely turned on his heel and left the room.

I raised my eyebrows as soon as the door fell closed. “Ever?” I clasped onto his hand. “Is that a promise?”

“An oath, princess.” He lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me gently, tentatively so as not to cause me any more pain. “I love you, Elara.”

“I know.” I winced as I lifted my right arm, but the pain was not so bad that I couldn’t lay my hand on the back of his neck, drawing him down to me again. “I know.”

* * *

Rook held his oath, staying with me as long as the guards would allow, every day after I was returned to my chamber. The Hadrian Wolves had left me with an arm of black scars, and I tried not to despair whenever I looked in the mirror. My body was now riddled with the marks of battle.

None of this bothered Rook in the slightest. He kissed every single scar, and told me every day how beautiful, how perfect I was. He would sneak back into my room after dark, to simply hold me, to tell me stories of Isambard, to tell me how it felt to fly. I would fall asleep to the sound of his voice, my cheek on his warm chest, and woke to his knock at my door every morning right after dawn.

He wasn’t shy about caring for me, even in front of Drusilla. A shift had occurred, a new freedom in how we expressed our devotion and love for each other. It was almost as though we anticipated that any day now Theron would grant me my freedom. I still didn’t know how to convince him to let Rook go with me. I’d considered telling him of the Bond, appealing to his good nature, but then I reminded myself who I was thinking about - Theron had no heart nor good nature to appeal to.

But I was determined to find a way. Somehow, I would walk out of Veles with Rook by my side. I was never going to leave him. I would die first.

A week after I left the infirmary, I was healed and able to move without any pain. Drusilla tutted as she looked at my arm after my bath.

“Those bloody wolves,” she said, shaking her head. “They certainly got you.”

“At least I still have my arm.”

“Yes, well,” she said, rolling her eyes and sighing. “I suppose we must count our blessings.” She put my robe around me, and followed me out into the chamber.

Rook was sitting in the armchair in front of the fireplace, his eyes roving over me. “Hello, love.”

Drusilla let out an exasperated sigh. “You two may as well announce your engagement, like a pair of lovesick younglings.”

Rook grinned as he rose to his feet. “Perhaps we should do that.” He moved towards me, putting an arm around my waist. “Care to be my wife?”