Page 108 of Dueling the Suitors

His concern and thoughtfulness touched her. Shewasfamished. “Thank you.”

Astoria finished the bread in no time and wrote the letter. It was hard to write with the cuffs on, and she was certain her handwriting would look foreign to Emmett. Therefore, she included a key moment from their childhood that would chase off any doubts. Then she explained the situation briefly, said that Cyrus was never the villain, and asked Emmett to hurry as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, Cyrus gave Spyrah and Skylar instructions. He told them to wait in the Husk Woods for Emmett and the othersand then get them inside the castle through a secret passage Spyrah knew of.

This was a risky attempt, but it was the only way to fight Rowan before he made Cyrus strike the magical deal.

Astoria folded the letter and focused her mind on her brother. Once it was sent, she took off the ring and gave it to Skylar.

There was a certain place in the courtyard Cyrus had created for his portals, where their carriage had come through on the first day. Skylar would press down on the orange stone of the ring when he and Spyrah reached there, saying the name of the woods in his mind, and the portal would open.

Once they left, Astoria moved back to the wall and sagged against it. And now they waited.

Silence prolonged between her and Cyrus. After what seemed like an hour, he sighed deeply and broke it.

“Your silence is frightening,” he murmured. “Talk to me.”

Her lips twitched of their own accord. “Am I frightening?”

“You have no idea.”

“I was just thinking.”

“About?”

“I don’t regret you sabotaging that wedding either.”

“Oh, darling…” He sighed.

“But why did you do…that?”

“Because I was cunning and—”

“Not that, Cyrus,” she interrupted. “Why did you give up your throne for me?”

A beat of silence, and then he spoke.

“I’ve carried a hole in my heart all my life, ever since the loss of my mother. Even after I built my empire and had power, glory, and wealth like no one else, nothing changed. The hole was still there, as empty as ever. But from the day I married you,Astoria…” he said her name like devotion, “it began tofill up little by little. Your grumpiness and your stubbornness, your quirky and snarky remarks, everything that you did to get under my skin… It was strange, but it did miracles to my heart. Although, I never thought…”

He trailed off.

So Astoria filled in for him. “You never thought you would have to stoop so low as to kneel to your enemy for me.”

“Yes,” he said slowly. “And it was easier than I thought.”

Astoria chuckled softly. “Not even the dungeons could deter your sense of humor, huh?”

“You think I am jesting, Little Dragon?” he asked, his voice suddenly serious.

All the breath left her lungs. “You are not?”

“Do you even realizewhyI knelt?” At her silence, he continued, “If it were anyone else in your place, I wouldn’t have even thought of relenting. But you, Astra, you mean more than the world to me. When I woke up and realized you were taken, it felt like the day I lost my mother all over again. Despite my years and years of searching, she and my sister are still lost. I couldn’t let that be you too.” His voice broke slightly. “He can take my throne, strip me of my powers, destroy my empire, but not you. Never you. And I would choose you over the world, over and over again.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” he murmured, his voice pained. “I love you. I never thought it would come to this, but I love you, Astoria. So much, it hurts.”

Her tears spilled. Astoria leaned her forehead against the wall that separated them and closed her eyes, pressing a palm against it. “I love you too, Cyrus.”

---