Page 35

I gasped and covered my mouth with a gloved hand. Tears sprung to my eyes as I walked over to them, falling to my knees. I gently cupped one of the white and gray flowers, their centers a vibrant purple, bowing my head to inhale their soft, sweet scent.

Now I understood why we had to rush here—moon lilies closed up for the day once the sun rose. And we likely couldn’t have gotten through the tunnel during high tide, which I assumed would come soon.

I laughed suddenly, a tear escaping and falling down my cheek. My emotions were jumbled, and I couldn’t tell them apart. These flowers meant so much more than home to me—they remind me of my mother.

Of the last time I saw her.

“Are you alright?” Robyn asked, kneeling next to me.

I nodded. “These flowers. I didn’t realize they grew anywhere else besides the North.

They’re called moon lilies.” I paused, a sad smile taking over my lips.

“They were my mother’s favorite. Anytime I was sick or feeling down, she’d bring me a bundle of them from the royal gardens.

They remind me of her, and of her kindness.

After she… passed, Father got rid of all of them from the gardens. I haven’t seen one since.”

I could feel Robyn’s guilt for bringing me here, for inflicting these memories on me, so I spoke quickly, trying to reassure him.

“Don’t feel guilty, these aren’t tears of pain.

It’s joyous, to know my father couldn’t completely erase her.

Thank you for bringing me here,” I said, making sure to look him in the eye as I spoke so he knew how genuine I was.

He nodded, and I felt his guilt ease. We both stood up, brushing ourselves free of dirt and sand. Robyn leaned down and gently picked one of the flowers, then walked a few paces away, closer to the beach. I followed a step behind.

He turned towards me and motioned to my hair with the flower. “May I?” he asked.

I was caught off guard, but nodded, the tips of my ears turning pink. I held my breath as he drew close, tucking the flower into my hair so it sat on my ear just so.

Like Mother had once done, all those years ago.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, and without much thought, I stepped even closer to Robyn and embraced him in a tight hug.

I could feel his surprise, but also his joy.

His happiness was so bright it almost hurt as he wrapped his arms around my waist, returning my hug, tucking me into his chest. I wrapped my wings around us on instinct, fully embracing him.

Everywhere his body touched mine, it sent tiny lightning bolts along my nerves.

I felt warm and safe, and I never wanted to leave.

He pulled back slightly, enough for us to look at each other face to face.

The sun was finally rising, and it was making him glow like one of the Stars. His forest green eyes were peering into my own mismatched ones, and I felt my breathing hitch as his eyes flickered to my lips, then returned to my eyes.

“Please don’t pull a dagger on me for this,” he said quietly, then he did it.

He kissed me.

I froze, and he felt the shift. He broke away quickly, but before he could apologize, I fisted my hands in his shirt and pulled him back to me, crashing my lips onto his with a need I didn’t realize I had.

He melted against me, kissing me back with a desperation I didn’t know could run so deep. His hand came up to tangle in the hair at the nape of my neck, tilting my head upwards towards his. Our lips moved against each other with curiosity, exploring, feeling.

The warm sensation had officially returned in my chest, but also in his. And for once, I let myself accept what it truly was.

Love .

I’d fallen in love with the male I once saw as my enemy. The male who was supposed to be a horrible person, who I wasn’t supposed to trust.

Now, he might be the only person in the world I truly, fully trusted.

And loved.

The feeling overwhelmed me, and suddenly I couldn’t get enough of him.

He must have felt the shift in my emotions, because his hand fisted in my hair and his grip on my waist tightened, pulling me closer as he deepened our kiss, and I happily complied.

I felt a change in his energy then, something I could only describe as him overflowing with so much emotion, it forced itself out of him in the only way it knew how.

In that moment, as his energy shifted, a ring of fire burst to life around us.

I gasped, breaking our kiss as I looked at the flames surrounding us.

For a moment, I thought I did this, until I looked up into Robyn’s eyes.

There were so many different emotions swimming around in his gaze, and I realized it came from him.

“ I burn for you, ” he said to me in Nolvym, and I could hear the desperation in his voice, the love, and joy, and relief, and raw need.

I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt, and when he returned my smile with one just as genuine, dimple flashing, I couldn’t help but reach up on my tiptoes and kiss him all over again.

He sighed against my lips, pulling me close once again.

The flames grew even stronger, and I realized they might be an issue. I tried to focus on the moon stone on my first finger, and funneled a portion of my energy into it. A moment later, the clouds overheard started to band together, growing dark and heavy.

I gently nipped at Robyn’s bottom lip, and he gladly granted me access, our kiss deepening as I explored and claimed what was mine.

A moment later, the clouds overhead our little cove finally let loose all of their tears, morning rain falling down upon us and helping to put out his flames safely, before any flowers—or we—got burned.

We broke apart as the rain drenched us, staring into each other’s eyes. He didn’t even appear to notice the rain, and if he did, he certainly didn’t mind it. He rested his forehead against mine, cupping my cheek and stroking my face with his thumb. We were both out of breath, but he spoke anyways.

“I want you to be my wife and queen in more than law. I want you to be my partner in all things, my equal,” he said breathlessly. I could feel a hint of fear in my chest, as though he was worried I’d reject him.

My smile broadened as I said, “I would love nothing more than that.”

He smiled, relief flooding his emotions.

I stared into his eyes for a moment, then said, “Byn?”

I could see the surprise in his eyes as I spoke his nickname, but he didn’t stumble.

“Yes?”

“I think… no, I know it. I love you. I’m in love with you,” I said, and I felt my entire face flush pink the second the words left my mouth. I held my breath as I waited for his response.

As he listened to me speak, I felt his joy—which I didn’t think could grow anymore—expand in my chest, as though there wasn't enough room in his own. He was practically overflowing with it.

“I’ve loved you since the moment you put that dagger to my throat, Aviva,” he said, and my surprise must have shown on my face, because he let out a hearty laugh.

“Sorry it took me so long,” I said sheepishly, looking up at him through my eyelashes, blinking rain from my eyes.

“For you, my love, I’d wait an eternity.”