Page 150 of Fighting With Light

“Damn, princess.”

“It’s true. He was evil, he’s caused so much pain for others. Romeo will be better.”

“I hope so,” I tell her. I’m not sure how, but I imagine not working with my father is the first step to that.

“I’m free now, Liam. For once, I didn’t have to save myself, you did it for me.”

“Sempre,” I whisper to her in Italian.

She smiles and rubs her perfect nose over my crooked one. “Sempre.”

55

Aelia

Twelve Hours Later

My sore face againstLiam’s bare chest woke me up. I lift my head off of him slowly and try to roll away. It’s still nighttime. I’m almost to the other side of the bed until Liam’s hands come around my hips, and he yanks me back into his chest.

“No, stay here,” he grumbles sleepily.

“You’re like a troll hoarding his gold,” I say over my shoulder.

He chuckles in my neck and kisses it. “You are my treasure,” he says and makes silly snorting noises on my shoulder.

“Ugh, gag me, that’s so corny.”

He groans again, pushing his hips into my behind. “Mmm, gladly, princess.”

I roll my eyes and wiggle around in his arms until I’m facing him. He kisses me and stares at me like I’m more beautiful than any sunset he’s seen.

“Why are you awake?” he asks.

“I don’t want to wait,” I say, ignoring his question.

He sighs. “Wait for what?”

“To get married,” I whisper, as if it’s a secret.

His eyes fly open and land on me. “Baby, I haven’t even had the chance to get you a ring.”

“I don’t care about that.”

He throws his head back and bellows out in laughter. He laughs so hard it vibrates against my body.

“What’s so funny about that? Last time I checked, the point of being engaged is to get married.”

Liam catches his breath and looks at me with eyes full of amusement. “I love you so much. But I also know you well enough to know that you want a ring, abigone, and I’m sure you want a wedding worthy of Vogue, like Mom did for Cordelia.”

I purse my lips at that…he’s not…wrong.But I’m serious. I don’t want to wait. Life is too short.

“Let me get you a ring first. I haven’t had a lot of time to shop.”

I smile and kiss his chest. He grabs my chin and turns my head back and forth, inspecting the bruise. “This kills me,” he says.

I frown at him because I know I don’t lookprettyright now, but it’s healing, and it’s not that bad. It’s faded from purple to a yellowish green.

“Don’t frown, you’re gorgeous. I just hate that you got hurt.”