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Dulce thought of Moonglade and what would come next for her. She would simply get the marriage between her and Cornelius annulled, seeing as they never consummated it. The town would continue to believe he disappeared, but now out of madness for poisoning his bride.

“Are you going to stare out the window the entire ride home?” Reed asked, his voice echoing from the other side of the room.

With a smile, Dulce closed the window and peered at him. He lay on the bed, his boots tucked neatly beside a cabinet, his dark eyes shining mischievously beneath his adorably disheveled ivory hair.

She placed the spyglass on the table, and the corners of her lips lifted. “That bed does look rather tempting. Especially with the handsome man lying in it.”

“Would you like to sleep?” He bit his lip, and any exhaustion she held dissipated.

“Perhaps later.” Dulce boldly stepped toward the bed, unfastening the buttons of her dress.

Reed’s hooded gaze never wavered from hers as she peeled the fabric from her shoulders, letting the garments pool to the floor one after the other, until she stood bare before him.

“Do you prefer to remain clothed, Mr. Hawthorne?”

Reed smirked, hurrying to remove his clothing, her heart pounding faster.

They studied one another’s forms, learning each line, each curve, each lovely flaw before he rasped, “I do believe we have a bed to share.”

Dulce laughed, then crawled into his lap, her legs cradling Reed’s strong thighs. His delicious hardness pressed against her, and he sat forward, bringing his lips to the curve of her neck. She moaned, rolling her hips forward as his hands drifted to her hips.

Breathless, needing more of him, she raised slightly and slid down over his manhood, making them both gasp with pleasure.

Reed’s lips found hers, and as they gave and took, she never felt so beautiful and powerful as she did in that moment, sitting atop him, in control, both ravishing one another in exhilarating kisses.

Once bliss had conquered them both, Reed held her in his arms, and Dulce cozied up against him. She could hear the comfortable sound of his still-pounding heartbeat, feel the rise and fall of his chest.

Dulce lifted her head and pressed her lips to Reed’s. “Goodnight, Mr. Hawthorne.”

“Goodnight, Highness.”

Dulce awoke to find the airship floating downward to land.

She and Reed hastily dressed and stared out the open window .

Before the Velvet Noir came to a rest on the meadow just behind her home, she caught a glimpse through the spyglass of Sylvan and Lucas outside the front of the manor in the gardens, and she was thankful the young servant had returned home safely.

Majestic as ever, her mother’s tree—perfect, whole, and alive.

Every fiber of her being became fully relieved at the sight.

Reed raked a hand through his rumpled hair. “I’m sure the villagers are wondering what kind of magic this aircraft is.”

“Something they’ll write stories about, I’m sure.” Dulce laughed.

Once they entered the late morning light, they didn’t retreat to the manor just yet—instead, they merely stood there, gaping at the airship as it lifted. It was one of the most extraordinary sights Dulce had ever seen.

Eventually, the flying machine disappeared from their sight, and she turned to face Reed, when he asked, “Is this where you tell me we should part ways, Highness?”

Dulce grasped his hand and smiled. “This is where I ask you to stay, Mr. Hawthorne.”

He tilted her chin up with his forefinger so their gazes held. “As your servant?”

“As my suitor.” There would be no other man in all the territories who she would want to court other than him.

“Ah, a pauper courting an heiress. How will the villagers of Moonglade take such news?” He grinned.

“You’ll be the town hero!” Dulce told him. “You would do well to prepare yourself now for the onslaught of your adoring public.”

“Nonsense.”

“After saving the world, it’s fact!”

Reed’s dark eyes became serious as he brought his face closer to hers. “I vow to court you in the way you deserve,” he promised. “I won’t take a single coin from you. I’ll find respectable work. And I will make certain to take you to the performing opera again.”

Dulce’s heart grew to the point she thought it would burst from happiness. “I have a secret,” she admitted.

“I love a good secret.” He rubbed his hands together in apparent anticipation. “Do tell.”

She laughed softly. “Last spring, Vesta foresaw a fortune for me in her tea leaves. She said the man who will own my heart entirely, and I his, is the one who will lift me from a most unfortunate and muddy circumstance.”

His grin grew wide, and he tugged a lock of her hair. “So you liked me before we even met.”

Her cheeks heated. “I kept it to myself because I didn’t want you to think fate was choosing for you.”

“Fate can choose for me all it wants as long as it leads me to you, Ms. Bancroft.” Reed surprised Dulce by sweeping her off her feet and placing the most perfect of kisses against her lips.