Page 88 of The Bound Mage
Loren reached for her, pulling her gently into his arms. “I’m glad too,” he murmured into her hair.
They stood like that for a long moment, breakfast forgotten. Araya knew the world outside this room was waiting for them, full of danger and uncertainty. But here, in this sunlit room with Loren’s arms wrapped around her and his heartbeat under his ear, there was finally nothing for her to outrun.
But the worldand its problems found them anyway.
Lunch came with a sealed letter, just like every other lunch tray Araya had seen since Loren woke up. She’d never realized that Eloria sent him daily reports—still treating him like he would take the throne. And for all his insistence that he didn’t want it, Loren read every single one.
Loren cracked the wax seal, leaning back in his chair. His expression darkened as he skimmed it, the lightness and easy warmth that had filled their morning draining from the room like a dying ember.
“What is it?” Araya asked, her appetite evaporating.
Loren passed the letter to her, his expression tight. Araya took it, her fingers trembling as she skimmed the crisp parchment. Most of it she already knew—fae slums burned, families dragged from their homes in the dead of night, bodies found days later or never at all. Jaxon’s search for her was spreading like a sickness, relentless in its reach.
But the final paragraph that stopped her breath.
Serafina.
Her best friend’s name leapt from the page, echoing in her mind like an accusation as she read it again. And again.
“Loren…” Her voice cracked, barely more than a breath. “Am I—am I reading this right?”
“They let her go.” Loren watched her, his expression grim. “They’re watching her—trying to lure you out.”
He took her hand, squeezing gently, but Araya couldn’t stay still. She pulled away, pacing across the room. The shadows rose as she passed, picking up on her agitation as they brushed cool tendrils over her bare legs.
“They’ll kill her,” she said. “She can’t stay there Loren. We have to get her out. Can the Small Council?—”
“The Small Council won’t do anything.” Loren’s jaw tightened, his concern radiating through the bond as he watched her. “I already asked—as soon as we got here. They didn’t even want to look for her. They don’t extractsympathizers.”
“What?” Araya stopped cold, staring at him. “But—she savedyou. Theytorturedher for what she did to help us escape—” she trailed off, panic swelling in her chest until she could barely breathe. All she could see was Serafina’s face. Twisted in pain. Screaming. Fighting—refusing to give in because she would rather die than give up the people she had risked so much to help.
“Araya—” Loren’s voice sounded far away, his hands cold on her arms. “Breathe,ael’sura. Please.”
“He’ll kill her.” Araya gasped. “When I don’t come and and he gets tired of waiting—he’ll just?—”
Her knees buckled, but Loren was there. He held her close, surrounding her in warmth as his fingers gently stroked her back.
“We’re not going to leave her,” he murmured into her hair. “I promise, Araya.”
“But what can we do?” She swiped at her face, trying to get herself under control. “It’s not just Serafina, Loren. While I’m hiding here, Jaxon is tearing apart families, burning homes—all because of me.” Her voice cracked, the tears she hadn’t wanted to fall spilling over her cheeks. “How do I save them all?”
“You don’t have to do it by yourself,ael’sura.” Loren cupped her face, his thumb brushing away one of her tears. “The Small Council might be too set in their ways to act, but I’m not. If they need a king to give the order, I’ll give them one.”
“But…” Araya stared at him, uncertain how to react. “You don’t want to be king.”
“I didn’t.” Loren laughed softly. “I thought I’d make a terrible king. And the male I was…I would have. But now?” He pressed a kiss to her temple, holding her close. “I might not be the prince they remember or the king they deserve. But there’s nothing I can’t do with you at my side,ael’sura.”
“You mean as your queen,” Araya whispered, the implication in his words sending her reeling. “Don’t you?”
“You’re my mate,” Loren said. He watched her carefully, like he was afraid she might bolt. “I won’t have a queen that isn’t you, Araya. I just…I can’t.” His throat worked, his voice rough. “But there’s still a lot that has to happen. I can’t be coronated until after my father’s funeral. So if you want to wait to tell people?—”
“No.” Araya shook her head slowly. “No more secrets.”
Loren meant well—he always meant well, even when he didn’t tell her about the bond. But she couldn’t add any more secrets to their history. Not after everything they had been through.
“We can’t hide this. If we’re going to do this, we have to do it honestly. No more hiding,” she said.
Loren watched her for a moment, his green eyes searching hers. “No more secrets,” he echoed, the corners of his mouth tugging into a small smile.
