Page 122 of The Prince from a Cruel Summer
“Mabel lives in the new world. With the Shadow King dead, I can get us there without fear of being followed. Ezra said she’d marry us for a price.”
The knowledge that Ezra and Aidan discussed this sends my head spinning, and I look down at the ring hanging around my neck. “She’s a witch.”
“I don’t care. Once it’s done, no one—not even the gods themselves—will be able to undo it. And we can finally be together in broad daylight.”
“But we’re so young. Your feelings might change.”
I’m arguing against my own desires, here, but if we’re about to link our destinies permanently and anger his veryroyalfamily, he needs to be sure. Otherwise, regrets would just fester between us.
Aidan seems to understand where I’m coming from, and his voice softens. “My feelings for you will never change. They’re as permanent as this mark,” he says, pressing his hand to his tattoo.
A rushed breath whistles out of my lungs. “What if someone figures out I’m part siren?”
“Then we’ll leave…settle in the new world for a while. Plenty of sirens have fled there over the years.”
My heart stumbles as each fear rolls off Aidan’s back, his confidence dissolving my doubts, one wild hypothesis at a time. “You’d truly choose exile to be with me?” I whisper, awed and shocked by the depths of his devotion.
“Without a doubt.”
I sink my hand into his hair until our noses bump. “What about your family? Your future?” I breathe.
“My mother is still in her prime. It could be centuries before the crown calls for a new king, and by then, things will have blown over, you’ll see. I refuse to believe our world will still be so…backwards then.” He gives me a smile that’s secret and masculine and soAidanthat I’d give anything to see it everyday. Every night.
Every morning.
As my husband.
“Alright, we should make plans.” My voice trembles. “But we have to beextremelycareful until we figure this out.”
“Is that a yes?” Aidan chucks out.
I press my lips together, the enormity of what we’re about to do sending my heart into a frenzy. “Yes, but you can’t stay here.”
He cups my face, staring at me as though I’ve lost my mind—but in a way that pleases him immensely. “You can’t tell me you’re ready to become my wife and expect me to leave,” he says, his voice thick with longing. He rests his forehead on mine, his steady grip grounding me. “We’ll escape to the new world, get married, and after that… they’ll just have to come around. Mortal love wanes, but Fae love burns to the bone. Once we’re married, even the gods themselves won’t be able to keep us apart.”
He moves to kiss me, but I deny him.
“Wait! I need to make sure beyond the shadow of a doubt that you’re all mine, no magic involved.” I meet his gaze despite the crimson blush on my cheeks.
His brow furrows. “What are you talking about?”
I cross the room to my desk, pull out my notebook, and flip to the right page. “A spell,” I explain, my tone firm. “To ensure my song is not still influencing you. I found it in the archives, and if you want us to get married, it’s non-negotiable.”
“Beth,” he says softly, shaking his head. “I don’t care about your siren blood. I love you.”
“I love you too, but?—”
“No buts. We’re past that. I love you.” He catches my hand in his, his expression a mixture of tenderness and determination. “Blessed Flame,” he breathes, his smile breaking through the last shreds of doubt in my heart. “I’m so incredibly happy right now.” His lips brush mine, but I press my hands to his chest again.
“Aidan, if my siren blood—” A nervous gasp pops out of my mouth. “I need this. If we’re going to get married, it has to be real. No magic. No doubt.” Tears spill over, sliding down my cheeks.
The elation on his face dims slightly, settling into something quieter but no less steadfast. He nods. “Alright. What do you need for the spell?”
I glance down at the list I compiled, the culmination of weeks of research. “Here.”
Aidan pulls me to him for one last kiss before he heads back for the opened window. “I’ll get the supplies together. Meet me by the Eros fountain in the gardens at midnight, and we’ll go to the new world first, then seek out Mabel once the spell is done. Don’t tell anyone you're leaving—not even Willow.” He sounds like an officer heading off to war, confident of his victory, and the fire in his amber gaze takes my breath away.
I’d follow him to the ends of the Dark Sea, through the Breach and beyond the edges of our world.
