“You… love me?” she asked.
“I do. I think I fell in love with you the moment you killed someone for me.” His lips creaked up, and he repeated, “I love you so much, Vivienne Beaumont. You stole my heart, and I don’t want it back.”
She never thought she’d hear those three words directed at her, especially not on her deathbed coming from the prince of the realm.
Despite the pain and agony coursing through her, she smiled back at him. She’d been an utter fool, falling in love with the man she’d vowed to protect... but he loved her back.
If she’d stolen his heart, he’d wormed his way into hers. He saw her darkness, and he didn’t turn and run the other way.
Helovedher.
Somehow, that made everything not hurt as much.
“I love you, too,” she whispered, the words taking an eternity to make it out of her sore throat.
Their audience didn’t matter. Not really. The only thing that mattered was the man in front of her.
He bit his lip and kissed the back of her hand. “So, what do you say? Will you Bind yourself to me?”
She stared at him. “A Binding is...forever.”
An eternity together.
“I know,” he murmured, sweeping his thumb over her cheek. “There’s no one I’d rather spend my life with.”
“You would do this for me?” she whispered. “I don’t want you to regret this.”
She didn’t want him to regret her.
Bindings, like Tetherings, could not be undone. They lasted as long as the stronger partner was alive. There would be no going back, no deciding in a day or a year or a century from now that he no longer wanted this. No longer wanted her.
His eyes softened, and he bent, brushing his lips over hers. The kiss was feather-light, but it reverberated through her entire being.
“Never,” he vowed, his voice deepening. “I would sooner chain myself to this castle and swear never to leave its four walls before I regret you.”
She searched his eyes for any sign of a lie, but there was none.
Despite the agony she was in, Vivienne’s heart soared at the declaration. “Okay,” she breathed. “I’ll do it.”
A mountainof pillows supported Vivienne’s back as she sat up in bed. Before leaving, the healers had given her a potion that tasted like bitter ash mixed with blood, but it had healed the wounds in her stomach enough so that she could move.
Marius stood on Vivienne’s left, his fingers laced with hers. A white bandage was wrapped around his arm, but he didn’t notice it. He had taken her hand the moment she’d agreed to the Binding and hadn’t let go since.
She wasn’t ashamed to say that she was grateful for the support. When the healers had given her the medicine, the pain in her chest had dulled to a steady throb, but the burning was still there. She could feel death waiting in the wings, bidding its time.
King Sebastian and Queen Luna stood in front of the bed, wearing dual expressions of worry.
“You’re sure about this, Marius?” The king’s gaze was dark as it traveled first to Vivienne, then to the prince beside her.
“Yes.” Marius squeezed Vivienne’s hand. “There’s no one I’d rather Bind myself to.”
The queen exchanged a look with her husband before dipping her head.
“Alright. We trust you.” She smiled at Vivienne and came to stand beside her brother. “You must be very special, and I can’t wait to get to know you more in the coming years.”
Acceptance, just like that. No wonder Marius loved his sister so much.
Vivienne’s heart warmed, and she nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I look forward to it.”