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The soft melody of the music stopped as Nickolai stood up from his seat beside Nessy, before walking around the table with his glass of champagne.

Between his posture and the way he walked, there was no mistaking this man for anything other than a king.

The immense power and strength ebbed off of him, captured my focus entirely.

I felt like a fly caught in a spider's web every time I looked at him, only it was a place I never wanted to leave.

A grin split his face, revealing his heart-stopping smile as he turned to address the crowd.

“I want to say thank you to everyone for joining me in tonight's celebration, and for everyone’s efforts in supporting the kingdom.” He paused, letting the crowd clap in applause before glancing back at me and continuing.

“It’s the community that holds everything we know and love together, which is why I have an announcement to make. ”

Every set of eyes was locked on him, especially mine, which happened to be all of the castle and some of the city.

Finally, clearing his throat once more, he ended the suspense, “As of tomorrow, there will now be shelters opening throughout the kingdom to help those in need of a bed, food, or even healing. There will not be another winter where anyone under my protection has to worry about shelter. . . Happy Harvest Day!” He finished his announcement and the crowd broke out in delighted gasps and cheers, but I sat speechless.

He had taken my idea of giving out tents like the ones we traveled in and turned it into something so much better. No more would children who were lost and on the run have to struggle to survive.

I felt one of the walls built up around the rest of my feelings crumble, but I was too stunned to rebuild it.

Nickolai looked at me once more, and there was nothing I could do but stare at him with an open mouth, which had the corner of his own mouth pulling up in a half-smile before he returned to his seat.

My gaze finally fell upon the plate before me, hunger now escaping me.

Everyone else began to dig into the food delicately placed among the tables, delving into the many courses on their plates.

Taking the napkin from my lap, I set it on the table and stood up, saying to no one in particular, “Excuse me, I need a moment.”

Making my exit, I opted to steer clear of the crowd by finding my way into the forest instead. My thoughts raced until the familiar swish of trees in the wind blanketed me in a comforting peace that I hadn’t been able to find within it for months.

Since the change in the monsters, my whole world had shifted, and it has continued to spiral in a never-ending loop. One that I could barely wrap my head around before there was something else throwing me off.

Enveloping my arms around my waist, I tried to shield myself from both panic and the air that was now turning crisp as the sun fell below the horizon.

A heavy fabric suddenly draped over my shoulders, startling me enough to pull a squeal from my throat. I turned around to find Nickolai standing there, his jacket missing as it was now apparently upon my shoulders.

I panted, hand over my racing heart. “Don’t do that again!”

He chuckled and, with a sly grin, replied, “Do what? Offer a cold lady my jacket? Seems harsh, but if that’s what you want. . .” He held up his hands in surrender.

I rolled my eyes at him. “You know what I’m talking about, you jackass.”

He leaned back against a nearby tree, “I do, but it’s so much fun to get you riled up.

” Rolling my eyes again, I put my arms through the sleeves of the jacket—which hung on me like a short dress—and allowed it to warm me up.

Nickolai’s eyes darkened as he watched me wrap his clothing around myself, “If I’d known how hot you would look in my clothes I would’ve given you some sooner. ”

My cheeks blushed, and I didn’t know how to answer other than saying, “Thank you for the jacket.” I hesitated, thinking about what he had just done for so many people and how it somehow seemed like a gift to me.

Looking down at my hands, I began messing with my nails that barely peeked out through the already bunched sleeves, adding, “And thank you for opening those shelters.”

I heard the leaves rustle on the ground, and in the next moment, he was before me.

His finger slipped under my chin like it had the night before, forcing me to look up into his harrowingly beautiful eyes.

Nickolai looked unmistakably serious and sorrowful as he said, “I’m sorry they weren’t open when you needed them. ”

My lips thinned, and I tried to fight back the tears his words brought forth.

I had been unaware of how much I needed to hear that one sentence until now.

I felt the trickle of a tear that must've escaped sliding down my cheek, making it halfway down my face before Nickolai wiped it away with his thumb.

Even after the tear was gone, his thumb stayed, caressing my skin in soft slow movement while his eyes bore into me.

My breath hitched at the touch, and for some reason, I couldn’t look away, the mood shifting between us.

Air filled with his intoxicating scent became heavy in my lungs as we both slowly inched closer to each other until at last his lips found mine.

Our mouths softly meeting—reunited once more for the first time in five years.