Page 98 of Prince of Agony
Kazia’s every nerve hums with the attention. “I know your history with House Dire is painful. So is mine. But now it’s my house. My name. My entire fucking country.” Kazia can’t help being scared, but Lucien makes him feel like that’s okay. “I want to share it with you. Lucien Vaire, will you marry me?”
Lucien’s eyes are warm as a summer sky. “You want to claim me for your house?”
“You can say no,” Kazia says hastily. “You’d have to be Lucien Greenhaven Dire, and it’s okay if you hate that. Like I said, it’s a terrible idea. Of course you wouldn’t want—”
Lucien stops Kazia’s rambling with a hand over his mouth. Then he turns towards the river. “Can I haveone minutewithout mind-speech commentary?”
Tezurit splashes grumpily.
Lucien returns his attention to Kazia. “I don’t hate it.” His freckles dance with his smile. “I’ve always wanted to conquer House Dire. Just didn’t expect to do it from the inside.”
Kazia yanks Lucien’s hand away from his mouth. “Is that a yes?”
“That’s a yes,” Lucien says, and lifts Kazia up for a kiss. Feet dangling above the riverbank, Kazia closes his eyes and clings.
A year ago, he couldn’t have imagined this. When he dreamed of ascension, he thought he would be alone. But Kazia’s learned family isn’t always a bad thing, and love isn’t just a dream for unbroken people.
The price of magic isn’t always pain.
***
