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But the other part remembered her lost friend.

To his credit, he restrained himself. He let her kiss him at her own pace, and while he matched her passion, did not drown it with his own. It was not a heated embrace, but a tender one. And when she parted from him, the look on his face—eyes still closed—was one of pure and total bliss.

He truly does love me.

Stroking her thumb along his cheekbone, she smiled faintly. The thought that came to her was one she should perhaps have kept to herself, but it seemed too cruel to deny him hope. “I think I might come to find you a perfectly satisfactory husband, Gideon the Necromancer.”

“Doctor Gideon the Necromancer.” He smirked, his voice still dreamy and quiet. Silver eyes finally met hers. When he spoke again, his voice was a whisper. “Thank you.”

“But I must insist.”

He sighed. His expression fell. “Princess, I…”

“I value your warning. I do not even yet fully believe that you can do what you say. But if you can, and this is all the truth of the world we live in, do not think me so childish as to not know the dangers of tampering with the beyond. I only ask you, please, try to understand. Leopold and I are”—she winced as she corrected herself—“were inseparable. He was my best friend in the world. He was more family to me than my brothers and sisters. I forgive you for taking his life, for you are right in that you had no desire to do so. But…please.” Tears pricked her eyes. She ignored them. “I wish to say goodbye.”

He wavered, gaze flicking between her eyes, before he lowered his head, resting his forehead to hers. His white hair brushed against her cheek, soft as silk. With a sigh, he stood, still holding her hand.

“Come, my little magi. There is work to be done, and it is time for your first lesson.”