Page 85 of Noble Charms

“What are you doing?” Aria asked, and he let the pen fall from his fingertips. It landed with a clatter upon the stage. The crowd grew more and more quiet—catching onto the display.

Noble sat up on his knees and took Aria’s face into both his hands. “I’m telling you how I feel. I’d like to marry you. And I care not if I’ve a title, and if these people talk about us in gossip rags. I don’t care if I let down my mother. I’m in love with you.”

Aria pulled Noble’s hands from his face slowly, brows pinched in thought. He was quiet for long enough that Noble’s mind began to run away with his deepest fear. Aria did not feel the same.

But Aria plucked a leaf from Noble’s hair, instead, and said, “You raced here from your gala.”

“Yes,” Noble said, choking on the word.

Aria let the leaf fall, and took up Noble’s hand instead. “Because you love me.”

Noble squeezed Aria’s fingers, imparting his warmth, and affection, and gazed deeply into his blue eyes, trying to find the spark—the signal that he felt the same. “I do.”

“Even if I cannot be your adame? Even if I cannot use magic at all?”

“I don’t care if you ever cast another spell for as long as we live,” Noble said, voice graveled with how deeply he meant each word. “A spell for cleaning? I care not. I’ll wash every dish. A spell to warm us? Not necessary. I’m warm enough for us both.”

Aria’s eyes welled with tears again. But then he smiled. He smiled and Noble’s heart somersaulted in his chest. Aria then said, “Of course I love you too. How could I not?”

Noble rushed to his feet, wrapping arms around Aria, and lifted him off his stool into a hug. Noble spun, squeezing, and Aria released a laugh.

The crowd screamed. All at once, a fervor captured everyone. That’s his adame, right? He’s divorced? What’s his name? How romantic!

Noble didn’t care. He muttered against Aria’s hair, “But I’m too late. You signed Hampenstead’s contract.”

“How do you know about that?”

“I saw him. At the gala, at my uncle’s estate.”

Aria shifted in Noble’s arms until he was placed upon his feet. He lifted the contract for Noble to see. “I didn’t.” In place of the signature line, Aria had written, Eric—I’m sorry. I can’t.

Noble released a breath he had not realized he held deep within his chest. “But…”

“I thought I was broken,” said Aria. “I—I can’t be an adame if I cannot perform magic. And the magic is gone.” He paused. “Was gone.” Aria looked down at his hand. Noble took it into his own and squeezed. Sparkling lights manifested around them, glittering like stars. “I think maybe it just wanted to be with you. Forever.”

Noble dropped to one knee. “Then be with me.”

The crowd screamed again, but this time it was loud enough to make both Nobel and Aria jump in surprise, and they looked out across the ballroom. Romy pushed her way to the front, breathing heavily from her haste, and climbed the steps, eyes wide with concern. She stopped short as it registered: Noble on one knee.

She gasped out, “Are you two going to get married?”

Noble gazed up at Aria and asked, “Will you? Marry me.”

“Yes. Of course.”

The party roared to life, cheering, and Romy cried out, amplifying her voice magically across the ballroom, “Happy Winterend!"

“Release the confetti. Release it,” said the Director to someone at the side of the stage. A pop rang out over the crowd—and little papers of gold filled the air.

As Noble and Aria were surrounded by cheering and applause from every end of the ballroom, Romy shouted, “Kiss already!”

So they did.

ARIA

He’d always been a romantic, but until this moment, Aria had never understood the phrase make love. On this night, after midnight, sprawled out across Noble’s bed, they made love.

Noble’s mouth kissed hot, wet worship down Aria’s chest, across his belly.