Page 56 of Condemned to Love

Aldric's eyes never leave my face. "How are you feeling?" he asks, his voice gruff but laced with concern.

I take a deep breath, wincing slightly at the twinge in my ribs. "Like I got stabbed in the side," I admit and he glares at me. "But I'm damn ready to get out of this bed."

He raises an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

"My body's stiff, but I'm a warrior, remember?" I try to sit up straighter, ignoring the protest of my muscles. "I need to move, to get my strength back. My muscles can't stand being locked up and stiff for this long."

Aldric nods, a hint of pride in his eyes. "That's the fighter I know."

I hesitate for a moment, then ask the question that's been burning in my mind. "Did we... did we stop them? The dark elves?"

His face softens, and he nods. "We did. No more have come through since the battle. You did good, Red."

Relief washes over me like a tidal wave. I close my eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling. When I open them again, Aldric is watching me intently.

"Thank you," I whisper, not just for the news, but for everything. For saving me, for believing in me, for being here.

I feel Aldric's strong arms wrap around me, lifting me effortlessly from the bed. He settles me in his lap, cradling me against his chest. His face buries into the crook of my neck, and I can feel his warm breath against my skin.

"I need this," he murmurs, his voice muffled and raw with emotion. "I thought I'd lost you."

I cling to him, my fingers digging into the hard muscles of his back. The strength of his embrace is grounding, chasing away the lingering fog in my mind. I breathe in his scent and feel myself relax into his arms.

"Elowen," he says, pulling back slightly to look at me. His silver eyes are intense, filled with an emotion I've never seen in them before. "I love you. I've been such a fool, trying to deny it, but I can't anymore. I love you."

My heart soars at his words, and I reach up to cup his face in my hands. The roughness of his stubble scrapes against my palms. "Aldric," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "That's what got me through this. The idea of coming back to you, of telling you how I feel."

I pull his face down to mine, our foreheads touching. His warm breath fans across my face, and I breathe in his familiar scent. "I love you, you stubborn, infuriating vrakken," I say, a small laugh escaping me despite the intensity of the moment.

My fingers trace the strong line of his jaw, marveling at how right this feels, how perfectly we fit together. "I think I've lovedyou from the moment you first scowled at me," I admit softly, a smile tugging at my lips.

I gaze into Aldric's silver eyes as his arms tighten around me, and I can feel the tension in his muscles, the way he's holding himself back.

"Elowen," he says, his voice low and intense. "I can't bear the idea of ever being without you. I've always wanted you, always loved you. I just refused to acknowledge what was always obvious." His silver eyes bore into mine, filled with an emotion I've never seen there before.

My breath catches in my throat, my heart pounding so loudly I'm sure he can hear it. "What was obvious?" I whisper, hardly daring to hope, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

Aldric's hand comes up to cup my face, his touch impossibly gentle for someone so strong. His thumb traces my cheekbone, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

"That you're meant to be my mate," he says, his voice filled with certainty and a hint of wonder. "I could always feel it, feel we were meant to be together, even if I would ignore it." He leans closer, his forehead nearly touching mine. "I was a fool to fight it for so long."

My heart soars at his words, and I lean into his touch, savoring the warmth of his hand against my skin.

"What do you say, Red?" Aldric smirks, his eyes never leaving mine. I can tell he's trying to lighten the mood even though he's tense. His broad shoulders are rigid, and there's a flicker of uncertainty in his silver gaze. "I'm asking you to be my mate. To officially become mine in front of the coven."

Tears well up in my eyes, and I blink them back furiously, not wanting anything to blur my vision of this moment. My heart is pounding so hard I'm sure he can hear it.

"Yes," I breathe, my voice thick with emotion. I reach up to cup his face, my fingers tracing the sharp line of his jaw. "Yes, Aldric. I want to be your mate. More than anything."

A rare, genuine smile breaks across Aldric's face, lighting up his eyes. It's a sight that never fails to take my breath away.

He pulls me closer, one hand sliding to the small of my back while the other tangles in my wild red hair. He presses his forehead against mine, and I can feel the warmth of his breath on my skin.

"I love you, Red," he murmurs, his voice low and husky.

"I love you too, you stubborn vrakken," I reply, my heart overflowing with joy.

I pull him to me, closing the distance between us. Our lips meet in a kiss that's both tender and passionate, a promise of the future we'll build together.

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