Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
ASHLYN
Maybe I knew it before he uttered it. Maybe I just wanted it to be true. “You love me?”
“Yes, Princess Ashlyn of Bailoc, I love every impossible bit of you.” His jade-green eyes held mine.
“I wish that, Lord Fyn of Lythira. I will wish it on my wedding day and every day after. Because no man could ever take your place—it is only you.” It would only ever be him.
His thumb swiped my tears the moment they fell.
I needed him—wanted him. It didn’t matter that it couldn’t be. Fyn was the piece of me I had been missing, the one that made me feel like I was home as long as he was with me.
This must be what love feels like—to be staring at the only person in the world you know with complete certainty that you’re never meant to spend your days without.
There wouldn’t be many chances to tell him how I felt. There wouldn’t be many more tomorrows with him looking down at me as if I was the only person he could ever want.
“I love you. I wish every night to your stars that you could steal me still.”
“I want to steal you still.” His hand folded around mine.
“Do you believe in another lifetime? One beyond this one?” I had heard the fae speak of lives they would have after this.
“I do,” he said.
“Maybe in that life we could be together.” I tugged on his tunic until our lips intertwined for the briefest moment. It would never be enough. “No one is here.” I peered around him. “You can kiss me.”
Fyn stepped back from me. “When have you not seen a guard outside your chambers?”
There were no footsteps or guards in their usual places, but this alcove had never been guarded.
“I haven’t.”
“Me neither. I don’t have a good feeling about this.” He slid back further into the alcove, watching the sunlight path and then me. “Would you leave with me if you still could?”
“I would,” I whispered back.
“Then we leave tonight.” In the shadows, his gaze glowed.
They would try to find me and drag me back. “I don’t have my sword and you don’t have yours.”
His mouth lifted ever so slightly at the corner. “I told you.” He motioned me closer. “I will steal one if I have to. I can easily steal two.”
“Are you trying to tempt me with a good time?”
“That’s not quite what I had in mind for a good time.” His smirk deepened, and for the first time in a while, I heard his voice truly return.
“Only you would joke when we’re about to commit political suicide.” I waited for him to say he’d take it back, that he changed his mind, but Fyn only nodded.
It may be reckless and completely stupid, but at least the choice would be ours.
“Now go, before I’m tempted to kiss you again.” His laughter caught in his throat.