Page 95 of Black Hearted
Lorelei
Ihad the best time last night after destroying the curse. I met Zane’s brothers and his staff, mingled with my parents and the other princesses, ate good food, had good conversations, and snuck glances at Zane whenever I wanted. It was wonderful, and for the first time in months, everyone seemed excited and optimistic about the future.
Zane had offered to have a room made up for me in his castle when the festivities started to wrap up, but my mother reminded us sharply that we were not yet married and that I was a princess. So I stayed the night at the Spring Palace while Zane slept at his castle. He’d given me the sweetest kiss just before I went through the mirror portal back to Faerie that had put a silly smile on my face that lasted until I’d finally fallen asleep in my own bed.
Although the atmosphere was infinitely lighter with the curse destroyed and Queen Liliana was gone, Zane and I still had work to do. We needed to restore the lands using the daggers and our combined power, just as the Wise Ones had instructed.
This morning, I woke up early, changed into a pretty dress, put on some light makeup, and snuck over to Zane’s castle through the open mirror portal. I found him alone in a small study, the same one from the first dream I’d visited him in. He was sitting at a round table, holding a steaming cup of coffee when I approached. The way he grinned at me made my insides flip.
I was glad to see him alone. There had been so much excitement the night before that we’d celebrated until a late hour, never finding a moment to ourselves.
When Zane had wished me goodnight last night—in front of my mother, who had been waiting to make sure I got safely to my bed, alone—he’d whispered in my ear to meet him for breakfast.
As he stood and pulled out a chair for me, I bypassed it and boldly stepped up to him, pressing against him and peering into his eyes. They flared to life with desire.
I’d been thinking about something all night, and I had to ask him about it before I burst.
“What doesmatesmean?” I asked. “I know it means a couple or that we’re supposed to be together, but in your world, what does it mean?”
Zane gave me a sweet smile, reaching up to trace a patch of freckles at my collarbone. The simple touch sent tendrils of heat down my spine.
“Mates means that when the fates made you, they made me, too,” he whispered. “It means I’ll never have another, even if you were to perish tomorrow. You are the only one for me, Lorelei. Mates means ‘the one whom my soul has chosen.’”
My heart melted. That was way more romantic than I’d expected.
Leaning down, his lips brushed mine softly, causing a heady longing to spark inside of me right before he pulled back.
“But I know that mates are not a part of your culture,” he said gently. “So I’m willing to take this as fast or as slow as you want.”
I relaxed a little, pleased to hear him address the one thing that had been heavy on my mind.
“I want you. I love you. I just … it’s a lot,” I told him.
He froze, his gaze widening.
“What?” I asked.
“You … love me?”
Oh, right. I’d told him when he was dead. He wouldn’t remember.
“Yes, I love you.” I grinned. “I just don’t know what I’m ready for yet.”
He nodded, giving me an understanding look. “We can slow down.”
He took a step back from me, but I stepped forward, closing the distance. “I don’t want to slow down. I just want to date for a little before we get engaged, then be engaged for a little before we get married. And then be married for a bit before we have babies.”
Zane smirked. “Dawn and her fast marriage with four babies put a little fear in you, didn’t it?”
It wasn’t just Dawn. All the girls seemed to have married within weeks of meeting their husbands. I mean, I got it. We were mates, and everything was electric and wonderful, but I wanted to slow down and enjoy each season with Zane. I thought I’d only havedays with him, but now that I knew we’d have a lifetime together, I wanted to savor every stage, every experience, every moment with him. I didn’t want to skip anything.
I nodded playfully, and he laughed. “Date for a bit, then engaged, then married, then babies,” he said almost to himself.
I smiled. “But don’t taketoolong.”
He chuckled again, pulling me into his arms. “You just tell me when you’re ready for each phase of life, and I’ll happily walk through it with you.”
“Okay,” I said.
