Page 139 of The Beast King's Bride

He glances down, where the bandage is, then lowers one of his hands over my heart—over my right breast. “Did you know?” he whispers. “When you turned the sword on yourself. Did you know?”

“Know what? I don’t know how I’m still alive. But it was my decision. I didn’t want to live in a world without you, in any world.”

“Ash…” His voice breaks and he gathers me to his chest. “When I saw you lying there, I was sure you were gone forever and couldn’t fucking bear it.”

“Why didn’t I die? The human heart is on the left side, where I thrust the sword.”

“But you’re not human anymore.”

“If this is about my father…” I lift my face to watch him. “I don’t understand. Are you saying my heart is not human anymore?”

“The bond,” he says, “changed you into a full Fae. You’re like us now.”

I stare at him. “But how?”

“My family ring,” he says, lifting my left hand to kiss my fingers. “My pledge to you, to have you as my wife for as long as I live, to be my queen. The moment you put it on, the bond between us came into life.”

“I don’t have the ring anymore,” I whisper. “I threw it into the well to cross over. Why didn’t you tell me what it meant? Why did you let me think—”

“I realized that I had to send you away, that the riddle demanded your life to lift the curse, and there was no way I was going to let that happen.” His gaze holds mine unflinching, unapologetic. “Whatever the cost.”

“But I lost the ring—”

“The bond has fallen into place. The ring doesn’t matter anymore. In fact, nothing matters unless you want this bond, unless you accept it. I gave you the ring to protect you when you crossed the gate. It’s hard on human bodies and I wanted you to be well when you returned home. And I admit… I also wanted you to have my ring to remember me by. You’re the only woman I have ever loved. Ash—”

“This is my home,” I whisper. “With you. Wherever you are. I want this. This bond. I want you. Is this enough, is this—?”

He laughs, brushes his mouth over mine. “It is enough. More than enough. It’s everything I have ever wanted.”

“You’re not sending me away again, no matter your reasons.”

“Never again,” he vows quietly. “If you promise not to take risks with your life. I’m banning short swords from the kingdom.”

“Talen—”

“I only want to spend my life with you.” He slides an arm under me and the other over me, and hauls me against his chest. “I thought I would never get this chance.”

“My love…”

“You taught me to love and you taught me to cry,” he says, “but also to laugh and to share. You taught me not to hide. I’m yours. Will you be mine?”

“I’ve been yours from the start,” I whisper and curl inside the circle of his arms. “Keep me. Hold me. I need you… I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” he growls softly. “Let me show you how much.”

Nobody knocks on our door, although I’m sure there are guards standing outside. Nobody disturbs us as we move together, though if they did, I’m not sure I’d have noticed.

He’s careful, gentle with me, mindful of the wound in my chest as he kisses me. Then he draws back, gazing at me as if he can’t believe I’m really there.

I’m still wrapping my head around it, to be honest, and taking it slow is fine by me. Every moment I spend looking at him, relishing his touch, is a gift I hadn’t expected to receive.

I’m on my back and he’s leaning over me, his black silken hair streaming over his broad shoulders, not confined in that long braid anymore. His hand is resting on my belly, his eyes on my face. Someone, while I was passed out, put me in a silky white nightgown and his hand eventually travels down, lifting its lacy hem.

Baring my legs.

Brushing my skin, making me shiver.

“I want you,” he says, “I desire you with the power of a thousand suns, but I can wait. You are hurt. We’ve both brushed by death and returned. I’ll be content to sleep beside you if that is what you need.”

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