Page 172 of Destiny of a King

Dravic captured her lips in more than a light kiss. “Are you ready now? Will you return to Caerith with me?”

Adira’s heart caught. Dravic did not command. He did not tell her what would happen. He asked. Tears filled her eyes.

His brow drew down. “Why the tears?”

“You asked.”

“Of course I asked.”

Adira gave him a look.

Dravic frowned. “I ask you things.”

“Rarely.”

“I asked if you were harmed.”

“That is not the same.”

“I asked if you loved me.”

“You told me I did.”

“I spoke the truth.”

Adira laughed.

Dravic’s mouth curved, but then his expression grew serious again. “Will you come home with me?”

Home.

She had thought of Caerith that way countless times during the long winter. Not because it was a castle and certainly not because she would become queen. There was only one reason… Dravic.

“Aye,” she said.

The single word brought a look of relief to his face that he quickly tried to hide.

Adira wasn’t fooled. “And will you still marry me?”

Dravic stared at her as though she had lost all sense. “That was never in question.”

“It was to me. I did not know what my absence might change.”

“I told you before you left that you would be my wife. Nothing has changed.”

Adira smiled. He was still the demanding king she loved. But she knew him well enough now to know what he would have no other way.

He lowered his voice. “Will you marry me, Adira?”

Her heart filled with joy that he asked her. “Aye, Dravic, I will marry you.”

“That is good, since Tavish had the wedding plans all set. We will wed upon our return.”

“You were that certain I would return?”

Dravic drew her against him. “I was that certain of us, of our love.”

Adira wrapped her arms around him.