Page 120 of Crownless King

He tilted his head. “Forus, Sparrow. There is no you or me anymore, just us. And yes, I will do everything for us to stay together. Including giving up this.” He tipped his chin at the crown glistening on the stand behind us.

I searched his eyes, and for once there was no regret in them. He really meant it. He’d go anywhere with me.

“I feel at home when I’m with you, wherever that may be.” I stepped back to pick up the golden circlet of the Sky Crown. “I’ll never ask you to give up everything you’ve worked so hard for.” I placed the crown back on his head where it belonged.

“Was it a test, then?” A corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile as he squinted at me. “Did you just test me, little bird?”

“I had to know.” I nodded.

“And now you do.” He took my chin in his fingers, lifting my face to his. “I was separated from you for long enough to know with certainty that without you, nothing in this world has meaning. Please believe me, nothing is more important to me than you.”

I rose to my tiptoes, placing a kiss on his lips. He gripped my waist, taking the kiss deeper, longer.

“Now, off to bed with you,” he panted, tearing his mouth away from mine. “Lest I stay, keeping you awake for the rest of the day and all through the night.”

I missed him the moment he left, but my heart felt even lighter now. The bed called to me with its puffy pillows and warm covers. The room was warded, making me feel safe. I touched the vines of the bed posts, willing the windows to close, and the crystal panels noiselessly swung together, following my will.

Too tired to look for a nightgown, I stripped off my clothes and climbed into the comfiest bed I’d ever slept in. After that, I passed out into a deep, dreamless sleep.

* * *

My awareness returned slowly. With my eyes closed, I burrowed deeper into the warm comfy blankets, not ready to face reality yet. Then I remembered, the reality was more pleasant than any dream could be. I had Voron back.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Shit,” Voron cursed softly next to me. Then the mattress moved slightly as he left the bed.

I opened my eyes, poking my head out from under the covers. Voron’s tall frame, clad in a silk, dark-blue robe, came into view by the door.

“I saiddo not disturb us,” he hissed in a voice that would undoubtedly be shouting if he wasn’t worried about waking me.

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” a male voice replied meekly, barely audible. “Lady Dove sent this…”

“It’s all right,” I said cheerfully. “I’m awake. You can bring in whatever she sent.”

Voron pivoted around to face me.

“Sorry. Did we wake you up?”

The skylight above displayed the clear, dark sky outside. It was night already.

“I’ve slept enough,” I smiled, running a hand over my face.

Two guards carried in a large wooden trunk and set it down heavily.

“Wow!” I eyed the trunk. “This is all from Dove?”

She’d promised to send a few things, some “toys” if I remembered correctly. But it appeared like she’d packed an entire shop in there, including the employees.

Voron closed the doors behind the guards. Wrapping the top sheet around my breasts, I climbed out of bed.

“What the hell did she send?” I muttered, coming closer.

Voron caught me in his arms. “Come here, now that you’re up.”

I leaned against him as he ran his hands up my body. His fingers traced my curves through the silk of the sheet, as if recalling the paths of the familiar landscape.

“I missed you…” he whispered, burying his face in my hair. “You have no idea, little bird, how much I missed you.”

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