Page 105 of Wings of Snow

Our magic was so depleted that it took four hours until we had just enough power to mistphase out of Whimseal and back to the Nolus continent. Following that, it took three full days until our magic was fully restored, and our affinities flowed hotly and brightly through us once more. We didn’t dare leave until then. None of us were willing to confront the king until we were fully capable of defending ourselves.

But I kept thinking about the queen. I imagined by now that King Novakin knew of the destruction we’d wreaked on his veil, and the queen had probably paid the price.

An ache settled in my chest. She’d suffered so much under his hand, and that needed to stop, but we couldn’t act until we were strong enough.

So we laid low at the inn. We kept to ourselves. Who knew how far the Solis king’s reach went. Even though we were on an entirely different continent, I understood Norivun’s concern that the king was hunting now forallof us.

* * *

“Today isthe day I marry you,” Norivun said when we woke on our fourth morning.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, and even though that statement made my heart trip, the underlying sense of doom that I’d been feeling since we’d made the decision to fight the king didn’t ease. Still, I tried to tease and make light of his comment. After all, one’s wedding day was supposed to be joyous, not fearful.

Curving my lips up, I replied, “You do realize that you’ve never properly asked me, right?”

Norivun arched an eyebrow, that silver wing flashing in the early sunshine. “Is that what it takes?”

Covers lifted as he hopped out of bed, and I got an eyeful of his broad shoulders, huge wings, and taut backside. My belly tightened, and a stirring of longing washed through me.

His nostrils flared, and a knowing look entered his eyes. Dropping to one knee, he held his hand out. “Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory, rightful Rising Queen Victor, Bringer of Life, and Mate of my Heart, will you be my bride?”

I held back a small smile. “Is that my newest title?”

“It is. Do you like it?”

My heart skipped despite his cheeky words. “You do realize you’re proposing to me naked, don’t you?”

He glanced down at the impressive appendage dangling between his legs. “Yes, why in fact, I did realize that. A rather delightful bit of air is swirling around those parts at this very moment.”

I snorted a laugh, unable to help it, and he gave me a sly smile and stood before slipping into a pair of trousers.

Once half-dressed, his face wiped clean of his teasing expression. He bent onto one knee again then clasped my hands, his look entirely earnest.

“I love you, Ilara. I always have. I always will. I will protect you with my life, and we will rule our kingdom together. I would have no other at my side. You are my life, my heart, my mate. I would be honored if you would be my wife...” He paused, his throat bobbing in a swallow, before he added hesitantly, “Myeternalwife.”

My breath hitched. “Your...” Surprise filled me, which I knew he detected through our bond. “But that’s entirely permanent, my prince. We can never, ever part. You would be joined to me for eternity. Our souls would be one.”

He paused, his gaze searching mine. “It’s what I want. Is that something”—his throat bobbed again—“something you also desire?”

Tears pricked my eyes as his love and savage devotion flowed into me. “You’ll be stuck with me forever. Not even your father could break that bond. Not even if he changed Solis law about marriage. That’s an ancient bond. If we do that, there’s no going back.”

“I know.”

“Is that why you want to do it, so your father couldn’t annul our marriage?”

“Partly. It guarantees that I’ll never marry Georgyanna, but I’d also want you as my eternal wife even if I wasn’t bound to her in an arranged marriage.”

My tongue felt as if it grew too thick to speak.

Norivun squeezed my hands again. “We don’t have to. We can simply marry in the traditional sense and fight my father’s rule if he tries to change the laws. We could?—”

I jolted forward, capturing his face in my hands as I pressed my lips to his. Tears filled my eyes. When I pulled back, a sob threatened to escape me. “I want to be your eternal wife. I only want you. I’ll only ever want you, and eternity still isn’t long enough.”

A fierce light lit his eyes, and with a growl, he molded me to him. “You’re mine, Ilara Seary.”

“And you’re mine, Norivun Achul.”

His lips lifted, immense satisfaction spreading across his face.

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