Page 249 of Infernal Secrets

Her face scrunched adorably when she looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

“What?”

“Have you forgotten the council hates me?”

I shook my head. “I think after Quinfina speaks with them, their attitudes might change.”

I couldn’t say the same for Cornaith. He never warmed up to me after my parents died. I didn’t expect him to treat Rae any differently unless he could use her status as Ezra’s Nyrith to his advantage.

“Ezra’s father won’t change,” she said, mirroring my thoughts. “That man wants me dead.”

“We won’t let him hurt you.”

If I could promise her anything about the next steps of our life together, it’d be that I’d protect her until the last breath left my body—and even then, I’d fight death itself to return to her.

I cupped her cheek. “I promise I won’t let him hurt you.”

She nodded, leaning into my touch.

I’d bound my life to serving Elyrdin, forever repaying the debt I owed Cornaith for taking me in instead of casting me out after my parents died.

Even if I had a rightful place on the council, a boy could never stand against someone as powerful as Cornaith. I’d have lost my future.

But now? I had more to look forward to.

I wasn’t a little boy who felt powerless against obligation and debt.

I had another purpose. Another reason to fight.

Something greater than the duty to my people.

And if Cornaith harmed a single hair on her head, I’d burn down everything he’d ever given me.

I brushed a thumb across her cheekbone. “Do you remember what I told you in Cholian?”

“What part?”

“How I feel about you.”

She closed her eyes. “I remember,” she whispered.

“It hasn’t changed.”

I needed her to know I still felt the same, even without the shadow of danger. The fact that she was my mate didn’t change my love for her. It wouldn’t have made a difference to me.

“I love you, Rae.” I brushed a thumb across her lower lip. “I’m honored Fate gave you to me as a Nyrith, and I’d love you even without it. Please tell me you feel something.” When she swallowed, I quickly added, “I don’t expect you to say you love me too. I just needed you to know that I—”

“But I do love you, Ash.”

I dropped my hand, lips parting in surprise. I hadn’t expected that.

I knew she felt something for me. Not only could I feel it through our weak bond and smell it in her scent, but I saw it in how she acted around me versus when we first met.

She huffed a small laugh, dropping onto her back and staring at the ceiling. “You’d think it’d be terrifying to love you. But it’s not.” She licked her lips. “It’s scary, sure. I don’t know what I can offer you. You’re a prince!”

I covered the hands resting on her ribs with one of mine.

“I’m just a hu—no, not a human. But I’m not full-blooded. I’m not royalty. I’m not educated in the finer things. I don’t wanna embarrass you any more than I’d wanna embarrass myself. And then there’s—”