Chapter 61 Confession
CONFESSION
ASH
After another movie, Rae went upstairs to call Maya and Trudy and make plans for our last day on Earth while the rest of us got ready for bed.
I tried to do as I’d done all week—stay downstairs and not linger outside her door like a creep. But after having her so close on the couch, soaking in her warmth as she alternated leaning against me or Zeke, I couldn’t stay away anymore.
I tapped my knuckles against the door frame, watching her scroll through her phone beneath the covers.
She looked up, and her smile when she saw me made my heart skip.
“Hi, beautiful. Mind if I come in?”
“Come on in.” She plugged her phone into the charger and set it on the nightstand. “You don’t have to ask anymore, you know.”
“Habit.”
“Is your back hurting? You wanna sleep up here again?”
“Yes.” I chuckled. “I mean, no, my back isn’t hurting. But yes, I’d like to sleep here.”
“I imagine it’s better than the couch.” She pulled back the covers on the opposite side and fluffed the pillows as I rounded the bed.
“I’ll never turn down a bed over the couch. The company isn’t bad either.”
She shook her head, smiling. “The others asleep?”
“Yeah. We’re the only ones up. When I got out of the bathroom, Ezra was out cold. Cyn and Zeke went up about twenty minutes ago.”
I climbed into bed and sighed, relaxing the moment her scent enveloped me.
She scooted down to rest on her side, facing me. “So tomorrow’s it, huh?”
I turned toward her. “You okay?”
“Yeah. You’d think I’d be a lot more upset than I am, but I’m not.
At least not anymore.” She tugged up the strap of her tank top as she propped on her elbow.
“With Grandma gone, there’s not much here for me.
Sure, I have friends, but did I expect to work in a trinket shop in the mall the rest of my life? No.”
I nodded, listening. I knew she needed to talk about it, but I didn’t know how to approach it.
“Other than with my neighbors, I always kept to myself. I’m not losing much.”
“Was there nothing you wanted to do here?”
“Thought about going to trade school.”
“For what?”
She looked away. “Cooking.”
“Why didn’t you before now?”
“No time. I wanted to take every free chance possible to see Grandma. I could have gone now, but…” She rolled her hand.
“There’s no sense in enrolling when you’re leaving.”
“Exactly.”
“You could train with the chefs in the palace.”
Her eyes rounded. “Come again?”
“I mean, why not? The best chefs in Elyrdin work for the palace.”
Her face scrunched adorably when she looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“What?”
“Have you forgotten the council hates me?”
I shook my head. “I think after Quinfina speaks with them, their attitudes might change.”
I couldn’t say the same for Cornaith. He never warmed up to me after my parents died. I didn’t expect him to treat Rae any differently unless he could use her status as Ezra’s Nyrith to his advantage.
“Ezra’s father won’t change,” she said, mirroring my thoughts. “That man wants me dead.”
“We won’t let him hurt you.”
If I could promise her anything about the next steps of our life together, it’d be that I’d protect her until the last breath left my body—and even then, I’d fight death itself to return to her.
I cupped her cheek. “I promise I won’t let him hurt you.”
She nodded, leaning into my touch.
I’d bound my life to serving Elyrdin, forever repaying the debt I owed Cornaith for taking me in instead of casting me out after my parents died.
Even if I had a rightful place on the council, a boy could never stand against someone as powerful as Cornaith. I’d have lost my future.
But now? I had more to look forward to.
I wasn’t a little boy who felt powerless against obligation and debt.
I had another purpose. Another reason to fight.
Something greater than the duty to my people.
And if Cornaith harmed a single hair on her head, I’d burn down everything he’d ever given me.
I brushed a thumb across her cheekbone. “Do you remember what I told you in Cholian?”
“What part?”
“How I feel about you.”
She closed her eyes. “I remember,” she whispered.
“It hasn’t changed.”
I needed her to know I still felt the same, even without the shadow of danger. The fact that she was my mate didn’t change my love for her. It wouldn’t have made a difference to me.
“I love you, Rae.” I brushed a thumb across her lower lip. “I’m honored Fate gave you to me as a Nyrith, and I’d love you even without it. Please tell me you feel something.” When she swallowed, I quickly added, “I don’t expect you to say you love me too. I just needed you to know that I—”
“But I do love you, Ash.”
I dropped my hand, lips parting in surprise. I hadn’t expected that.
I knew she felt something for me. Not only could I feel it through our weak bond and smell it in her scent, but I saw it in how she acted around me versus when we first met.
She huffed a small laugh, dropping onto her back and staring at the ceiling. “You’d think it’d be terrifying to love you. But it’s not.” She licked her lips. “It’s scary, sure. I don’t know what I can offer you. You’re a prince!”
I covered the hands resting on her ribs with one of mine.
“I’m just a hu—no, not a human. But I’m not full-blooded. I’m not royalty. I’m not educated in the finer things. I don’t wanna embarrass you any more than I’d wanna embarrass myself. And then there’s—”
“Rae.” I squeezed her hand. “None of that matters. I’ll teach you what you need to navigate the palace, but you’re not expected to do more than you can. We’ll teach you the rest.”
She blew out a shaky breath.
“Now what else worries you?”
She turned her head to look at me. “I can’t lie to you.”
“I don’t want you to.”
Her face crumpled, and I could tell she struggled to get the words out. “I like Zeke… a lot.”
I tried to keep my face neutral, but judging by the confused look on her face, I’d failed.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because I already know that.”
She blinked. “You do?”
“I do. And I’m okay with it.”
“You are?”
I chuckled. “More than okay, yes.”
“This is so weird.”
I stroked my thumb across the top of her hand. “Just another thing to get used to. I told you about multiple mates and partners. I’d always expected to share a mate. To share someone as amazing as you with the three men who mean the most to me feels incredible.”
“Yeah, but Cyn and Ezra…”
“I know you’re not there yet, but don’t write them off.” I squeezed her hand. “Not yet. Just keep an open mind.”
She shook her head as if exasperated but didn’t refuse. I’d take it as a win for now.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, pain roughening my voice. We needed to address what we’d all avoided.
She turned her head to look at me. “What for?”
“Not believing in you the day the triplets arrived.”
“I don’t blame you.” She sounded sincere, but I could still see the pain flash in her eyes and smell it in the soured notes of her scent.
“It hurt, but without being able to speak to you… and with the evidence…” She sighed.
“I couldn’t expect to compete with someone you’d known for years.
It’d make less sense if you trusted me over them. ”
“After what Ranthus did to your voice, I’m less than pleased with him.”
“I think he really believed I tried to hurt y’all.”
“It’s still wrong.”
“It’s over, though. I forgive you.”
I leaned forward and brushed my lips against hers.
I’d intended the kiss to be a soft, fleeting thing, but when she chased after me as I pulled back, I gave in to the desire that had been riding me all week.