“All I have wanted was for you to find me. I wanted you to take me home so I could see you again, so I could ask you if you would come back.”
Sorrel shook his head against Cypress’ neck when Cypress returned his hug, nearly lifting him off the ground. They both dug their fingertips in as if they were trying to bury under each other’s skin.
With his face pressed against Sorrel’s shoulder, Cypress took in his jasmine scent with relief. “I’m so sorry for losing you, Sorrel.”
“I-I was so upset when they told me you were getting married.” Sorrel tensed in his arms. “I thought you didn’t careabout me, that I meant nothing to you, when all I wanted was to be with you. I felt like a fool for falling in love with you so easily.”
Cypress’ heart fluttered hopefully in his chest and his wings mimicked its rhythm.He loves me…
“I still don’t have your answer.”
“Yes, Cypress!” Sorrel clung like he feared letting go meant Cypress would disappear. “Yes, please. I want to marry you. You’re the only one I want.”
His own eyes threatened to water, but instead he pulled Sorrel back just enough so they could mesh their lips together. He moaned into the kiss as Sorrel gasped. Cypress drew his lips over Sorrel’s, nipping at them feverishly to make up for the months he hadn’t gotten the chance to. The kiss was hard and heated, filled with so much longing from both of them it tasted almost bittersweet.
Cypress savoured it.
“I’m sorry about my hair,” Sorrel said between more kisses. “I know you liked the length.”
Cypress chuckled. “I don’t care about that. All I care about is that you’re safe.”
Sorrel returned his laugh and darted his lips over to plant a kiss against Cypress’ bearded jaw, then his cheek, and his forehead. “Thank you. Thank you for coming for me, for trying to find me.”
“I’ll always come for you.” Then his voice and features took on a dark hint as he said, “And anyone who gets in my way will suffer for it.”
Sorrel looked over his shoulder in Burrow City’s direction once more. Cypress hated the way a hint of fear entered his features when all he wanted was for Sorrel to feel at ease, especially in his presence.
“But what about Miss Mole? She threatened to hurt Greta.”
“She’s dead. She can’t hurt anyone.”
Sorrel gasped and spun back around to look into his eyes, his face only an inch away. Cypress felt like he wasn’t close enough.
“You killed her?”
“Yes.” Cypress flicked his eyes between each of Sorrel’s blue ones, searching his features as Sorrel took in what he was willing to do for him. That he wasn’t the good prince everyone thought him to be. “That beetle sprite, too, when I found out he’d locked you away.”
Sorrel bit at the inside of his bottom lip, the tension in his shoulders loosening. “You really did that because of me? Isn’t it against the law for you flower fairies to harm others?”
Cypress shrugged. “I may have also tortured Mr Toad for what he tried to do to you. He assaulted you, and if you hadn’t gotten away, he would have done much worse.”
Sorrel visibly shuddered with repulsion. “I think he deserved that.”
“Still wish to marry me?”
Sorrel’s smile made tenderness soar through him. It was warm, like the winter morning sun shining down to chase away the worst of the darkness and the cold. Cypress felt Sorrel’s smile lighting up the despair-filled shadows in the corners of his heart.
“Of course.” Then he gave Cypress a quick kiss before pulling back. “However, can you take me home first? I know Greta must be worried sick.”
“Absolutely.” He lifted his hand to cup the side of Sorrel’s beautiful face, admiring it as he stroked his thumb over the side of his cheek. “I’d like to be there and apologise for your absence.”
Sorrel’s brow twitched as he frowned. “You would reveal yourself to her?”
“For you, Sorrel, I’ll do anything.”
Since they were still holding each other, Sorrel just wrapped his arms around him tighter. “My heart feels so full.”
Mine too,Cypress thought back.