"And if you don't, then at least I'll die knowing that the only woman I've ever loved knew how I felt about her."
The words shatter something inside me.
I break.
I run to him, throwing my arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. His body is warm, solid, and I can feel his heartbeat against my chest, fast and unsteady.
"I'm yours, Keira," he whispers into my hair. "I've always been yours."
I pull back, looking at him through my tears. His face is inches from mine, his dark eyes searching my face.
"Then prove it," I say, my voice shaking. "Help us end this. Help us find The Phantom King. End the Morrígans."
He nods, his jaw tight.
"And then you're going to spend every day showing me that what we had was real," I say.
"I will," he says, his voice fierce. "I swear it."
I take a shaky breath, my hands still trembling.
"And once he's dead," Octavian says, his eyes locked on mine, "I'm marrying you."
I freeze.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me." He leans forward, voice fierce. "I'm not waiting anymore. I want you. I need you. I love you. And I may have a fucked-up way of showing it, and that's because I've never had to show it before, but I'll spend the rest of my life making it right. And if you'll have me, I'll put a ring on your finger the second this is over."
A laugh escapes me, wet and broken and disbelieving. "You're insane."
"Probably," he says. "But I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
I bite my bottom lip, trying not to smile. "You realize this is not a romantic moment."
"It's the most romantic one I've got." He smiles. "Besides, if I have to spend my life protecting you and proving I love you, I might as well be your husband while I do it."
I don't think.
I just lean in and kiss him.
His lips are warm, desperate, and he kisses me back with everything he has, his mouth moving against mine like he's drowning and I'm air.
When I pull back, I'm breathless.
I lean in close, my lips brushing his ear.
"I love you, too. Now," I say, and get up and smile at him. "Don't go anywhere."
I turn and head toward the door.
I push the door open and step into the hallway, where Callum is waiting, arms crossed.
"Untie him," I say, my voice steady. "He's not dying today."
I meet his gaze without flinching. "He's going to help us end this. And then he's going to spend the rest of his life proving he deserves me."
A ghost of a smile crosses Callum's face. "Fair enough."
