Page 269 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

When her eyes turned watery and her smile died, I lifted her face to mine. “Don’t let me lose you again.”

“I’m terrified,” she confessed, and my heart clenched.

I pressed my lips to her because I could, because my heart had torn from all the times that I’d not been able to. “So am I.”

“Will it go away?”

“As long as I am with you, love of mine, never be afraid. Even if danger prevails, even if your father wages war, even when there is time to fear, do not fear. Never fear. Because there is no rock, no mountain, no sea that I will not cross or tear through to come to you. You are not alone. Never alone. Never again. Tell me,” I said, kissing her—kissing her because I could. “Tell me that you know that. That even in the worst of times you will not be afraid. Tell me.”

“I will not. I will not be afraid.”

I kissed her again. “Tell me that you know I will always be with you and if I am not, I will find a way.”

“I know.”

“Tell me that you know how much I love you.”

“I know.”

“Tell me,” I whispered over her lips. “Tell me you love me.”

“I love you, Kil.”

My smile could not be contained. “Then marry me, love of mine.”

She blinked stunned for a moment. “We already are. I never tore the paper.”

My face hurt from happiness. “Before the gods. I want to bear the mark of our union. To heaven or to hells, I want to part along with you and when you do. I will not stay in this realm a second longer than you and I want to be with you in all our lifetimes.”

“You’re an Obscur and gods know what I am.” She shook her head. “They won’t bless us.”

I kissed her red lips. They knew—gods knew better than to deny us. “Do you trust me?”

“I do.”

“Then marry me.”

“Alright.”

“Tonight.”

Her eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “Tonight?”

“If I have to wait one other day—”

She shook her head. “I won’t make you wait anymore.”

That made me smile. “Good. Let’s gather everyone in the moon gardens.”

She nodded. “I could wear something white, too.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Red—I want you in red. You are fire, woman.”

She chuckled, backing away and diving into the crowd while I faded to Amaris to find Atlas.

Everyone had clustered in the moon gardens, confused as an overly excited Atlas and Penelope led them to sit down on the cushions they had laid down on the grass.

As if they knew my joy, the stars had taken the front seat and sprinkled the skies with their presence from corner to corner. The moon also stood proudly full and radiant.