Page 99 of Fate of the Sun King

“Rescued you,” he counters.

“You were my enemy,” I whisper. “I was so… angry. I needed somewhere to direct all that rage, and you made the most sense.”

“I know.” His smug smile says it all, though, and I’m so grateful he’s not holding my behavior against me. “But I knew in my heart of hearts that you and I were meant to be. I just had to be patient.”

I bark out a laugh. “Patient. You stole me from the middle of a party and threw me over your shoulder because I looked at another man. And you broke another one’s wrist because he was nice to me.”

He spreads his hands. “Look, I did the best I could.”

“Thank you for giving me the space I needed these last few weeks. It was killing me. I wanted you, but I didn’t want to want you.”

He snorts a dry laugh. “You have no idea how close to madness I came, Lor.”

“I aim to always keep you on your toes, Aurora Prince.”

He touches my cheek, the tips of his fingers both rough and soft in the most delicious and perfect way.

“I know you do,” he whispers as his thumb presses into my bottom lip.

“It was unfair to ever blame you for any of it. Thank you for putting up with me.”

“Lor, I—” I lean in and kiss him, silencing whatever contradiction he wants to voice.

“No. You’re not going to blame yourself. Your father. Atlas. My grandparents. They are the ones to blame. The only thing I ask now is you give me whatever strength you can to help me work through my… issues.”

He tips his head with a soft smile. “You mean like the anger and the reckless impulsiveness?”

I know he’s only teasing, but it’s not far from the truth. “That would be a start.”

“Listen to me, Heart Queen,” he continues. “I love those things about you. They’re what make you, you. So yes, I’m here to help you face whatever demons you need to slay, but don’t ever lose that fire. You might be my mate, but I would have fallen in love with you anyway because you are impossible to ignore.”

“Okay,” I whisper as those words touch something deep in my chest. I’ve never had someone see and understand me so clearly. Yes, I’ve had Tristan and Willow, but they could only be so much. The love of a sibling is different from that of a partner—especially one destined to stand by your side.

“I’m here for you, too,” I say, looking up at him. “If you need.”

He cracks a wry smile, and I get the sense he’s holding something back. I don’t let that bother me, though. Anything he’s holding close has nothing to do with me—he just needs the same space I’ve needed. With everything I know about his mother and what he’s told me about his father, I know I’m not the only one with monsters prowling through their memories.

So, about this?

His voice enters my head.

What about it?

I’m thinking about all the filthy things I can now say to you when we aren’t alone.

I roll my eyes.

That’s hardly a respectful use of this talent.

His smile widens, and the way he looks at me feels like a gift wrapped in shiny paper and curled ribbon.

“Rhiannon said sometimes mates can hear each other’s thoughts,” I say out loud now. “I assumed we had to bond first, but I guess not.”

“I realize I heard you in Heart that night those men took you.”

“I called to you,” I say. “Maybe we just had to acknowledge the mate bond to make it work.”

He takes my hand and kisses the back. “I love you,” he says.