Page 40 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“Not bad. I’ll admit—one of my cleverer ideas.” He laid a fur-lined blanket on top of the bed and two down pillows. “I can’t make everything.”

Everything was so perfect—the stars twinkling overhead, the carpet of luminescent flowers below us, and the man I loved by my side. How did I end up here after everything I went through? I wanted to freeze this moment in time.

A feeling of dread threatened to poison my happiness. I pushed it away. There would be time to worry tomorrow. Tonight was for us.

“Is everything alright?” Tharan asked. He made a line of kisses down my neck and over my bare shoulders, each touch lighting a fire beneath my skin.

“Everything’s fine,” I said, facing him, tears welling in my eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I was this happy, and it’s overwhelming.”

“Oh, my darling.” His gaze softened, and he wiped the tears from my eyes.

“And if I am being honest… I’m afraid to be happy. I’m afraid the universe will pull the rug out from under me, and this will all disappear.”

Tharan pulled me in tight to his chest. His distinct scent of pine and clove calmed my senses.

“The world will always try to tear us apart, Aelia, but I promise you this. I will always come back to you. I will find you in the darkness and in the light. I will walk through fire to get back to you, and I will conquer death if it means I can spend just one more night in your arms.”

Overwhelmed with love, words refused to formulate. “Tharan… I…”

“Shh… you don’t have to say anything.”

Slowly, he unbuttoned my dress, my heart rate increasing with each snap. We did not take our eyes off each other, and the tension pulled tighter between us with each passing second.

I undid the buttons on his vest. The silk slipped between my shaking fingers.

When every button had been undone, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I love you, Aelia Springborn, King Killer, Queen of the Damned, and Ruler of my Heart.”

My heart burst in my chest, but I couldn’t get the words out. I had told other men I loved them and, in turn they’d hurt me. I wouldn’t give my love away so easily this time.

I stepped out of my dress and Tharan slipped a thin silk nightgown over my head. The fabric was so light it barely felt like anything at all against my skin.

“I’ll just hold you tonight. I promise,” he said, pulling the crown from my head and helping me into bed.

My body sunk into the plush mattress, reminding me of how tired I was.

Tharan took off his crown before pulling off his shirt. My mouth went dry at the sight of his toned body glistening in the pale light of the luminescent flowers.

“Tharan?” I eked out.

“Yes?” he said, sliding into bed next to me.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” he said, pulling the blankets tight around us.

“That night at the Inn in Mineralia, when you gave me the bath. I noticed a golden tattoo. Brand? Snaking its way up your arm, but I haven’t seen it since.”

He arched a brow. “You could see that?”

I nodded.

“It’s an old army tattoo infused with magic. It’s supposed to only be visible to certain people. So they could identify your body should you fall in battle.” His eyes left mine. “But I had mine removed when I was…” His words caught in his throat.

“It’s okay. We don’t have to talk about it anymore,” I said, running a loving hand down his chin.

“No, it’s fine. I just… thought they took that from me. Forever.” His brows knitted with concern. “It’s not just a way to identify my body should I fall. It’s a way for those of us who fought together to identify each other. A kind of brotherhood for those of us who remember the Sylph and Elven War.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “But let’s talk about that some other time. I see the sleep clawing at your eyes, and I don’t want to keep you up too late when we both have to travel tomorrow.”

“I think it’s a little late for that.” A smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

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