Page 125

She huffs loudly but complies, and I can’t help but smile. After cleaning the mess between her legs, I climb back into bed next to her. We lie on our sides, naked, while the fire crackles in the hearth, casting a warm glow on the goddess-blessed beauty beside me.

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” I ask.

“I was just thinking…” She hesitates, looking unsure. “That… that was fun,” she lies.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Reckless. Don’t lie to me.”

She sighs. “I was just thinking that I am so unbelievably in love with you, Luke.”

My heart swells, feeling full, healed by her words.

Her voice is a melodious ballad. Her eyes, my favorite hues. Her hair, the sweetest intoxicating scent. Her heartbeat is my purpose, and her love is the cure for my tainted soul and unworthy heart. “I’m undeserving of someone like you, of your love, Reign.” I run my hand over her cheek, and she scrunches her brows.

“Why would you say that? I am the one from the Drifts and the Hollows.”

“I am a monster at heart. My childhood will always haunt me and trouble me. I am a man turned beast. I have done horrible things in my life.” I sigh at the confession.

“I have also done horrible things, Luke. If you are the monster under the bed, then I will climb under there with you, and love every broken piece of you until one day, you feel whole again and know that you are worthy of love.” Her words nearly make me emotional, and I swallow hard against the rising feelings. “Does… does that mean you don’t love me back?”

“My world has always been dark. Dark and meaningless, doused in shades of black and morbidity—until you showed up. You brightened up my life with hues of lavender.” I clear my throat. “You thawed my icy heart, Reign.” I cup her face, dropping all my masks as I stare deeply into her eyes, revealing the vast amounts of love I hold for her.

“You’re the first thing on my mind when I wake, the last thing I think of before I fall asleep, and all the time in between is filled with visions of you. You haunt my every thought with those purple eyes I want to drown in.” I lean in and kiss her softly.

“There are not words discovered yet for what I feel for you. They say love is never jealous, but what I feel for you paints love with the color of envy.” I wipe away a single tear that trails down her cheek with my thumb.

“So, to put it simply, yes, Reign. I love you. The moment I saw you smile after getting punched in the Hollows, I knew you would rattle my world. And you have. You make me look forward to the future I never cared about. I look forward to a future with you. You give me hope, give me purpose.”

Reaching behind my neck, I undo my mother’s necklace. “Please wear this. It makes me happy to see my mother’s necklace on you.” She nods as we both sit up, and I clasp it around her neck.

“While we are on the topic of confessions, have anything else you want to get off your chest?” She looks at me guilty but says no.

“Do you…”

“I was there… the night of the first trial with Larah. I killed the Arachnar but seconds too late. I am so sorry I couldn’t save her. I tried. I killed the one behind you too. I cleaned you both up, so you didn’t have to see her like that.” Tears are flowing down her face. “I saw your nightmares too. I showed up at the end. If I would have known what they were doing to you, I would have ended it before it happened.” I lean over and kiss each of her crying eyes. “Like I said, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Reign. I’d take a dagger straight through the heart for you.”

Her eyes go wide, and I think she is going to confess something. “Luke, I don’t want to have children.”

A smile escapes my lips at the panic in her words. “I never wanted children, until I met you. Maybe one day I would want one with you, but today is not that day. I’ll go get Dola to mix us up something. I’ll be right back.”

Dolaand I enter the room to find Reign sitting by the fire, her leg bouncing anxiously as she rolls her lip between her fingers, lost in thought. The flickering flames cast playful shadows across her delicate features, highlighting the uncertainty etched on her brow.

Dola sets a chalice and several vials on the table next to Reign, pouring water into it before adding the contents of the vials. She turns to me, her expression serious. “I need both your blood.”

I frown in confusion. “You never needed blood for the contraception tonics before.” Suspicion laces my words as I cross my arms, a protective instinct rising within me.

“Do you trust me, Prince Lukene?” Dola asks, tilting her head, her gaze piercing and unwavering. “Have I not kept your secrets and you mine?” I glance nervously at Reign, then back at Dola, weighing the gravity of her request.

“Of course I trust you.”

She withdraws a dagger with steady hands, its blade gleaming in the firelight. I offer my palm, and she slices it open, letting my blood pour into the chalice with a practiced ease. She repeats the process with Reign, cutting her palm and allowing a few drops to fall into the mix, a quiet intensity in her movements.

Dola brings the cup to her lips, murmuring words I don’t understand—ancient and foreign. She hands the chalice to Reign, who accepts it with trembling hands, uncertainty flickering in her violet eyes.

“Only drink half. Prince Lukene, you will drink the rest.” Reign takes a hesitant sip from the chalice, her eyes wide with uncertainty, then hands it to me. I stare at the concoction, trepidation curling in my stomach. Something feels off, but I’ve always trusted Dola. We both have too much to lose if we don’t. With a resigned sigh, I down the rest of the chalice, its contents swirling with an unfamiliar taste.

“Good, get some sleep.” Dola dabs some liquid on our palms before heading out the door, her departure leaving an air of uncertainty behind.

“That was…” Reign begins, standing slowly and looking after Dola.