peak for a

en us, thick with the weigh

the strands of my hair that had escaped their tie, brushing them across my face like ghostly

ery petal, every leaf, into something magical-something that didn't belong to this world.

nto a quiet lake. The sound felt too loud, yet too fragile-soft, like it had been shaped from the ache in my

ot sharp. Just a dull, constant heaviness that never truly left. It waited beneath my ribs, tucked deep like a secret I didn't know how to forge

arrying too much for too long. It wasn't angry or disappointed. Just... worn. "Astrid," he said gently, his voice threaded with concern, with a quiet p

n hard on my tongue and left the sting behind. I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers deeper into my ch

dropped to a hush, barely audible over the wind that stirred the leaves around us. "But I'd rat

wrapping around every unspoken word. Beta didn't speak. I didn't need him

and out of focus, like they were watching, waiting. They reminded me of his eyes-the ones from my dreams. Gray, like smoke and sh

ce didn't shake this time. "I'll find him. Even if I have to walk through every forest. Cross every

his presence. The warmth he carried like armor. His hand brushed my shoulder-light

like a whisper wrapped in truth. "But even strengt

y stone dropped into water. The ripples moved through my chest, but t

till

ide me knew. Somethin

ntasy. He was real. Flesh and bone. Som

und each other-the world would make sens

didn't let the s

aced by a firmer tone. Duty had returned to his words, sharp like the edge of a blade.

wly, brushing the wrinkles from my dress with unsteady hands. The silk felt heavier

u to marry," he continued. "You've turned down every proposal. Every alliance

elling you now. I'll only marry my true mate. I don't care about t

rp, solid-like stone. His jaw locked tight, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. He had always

ish," he said, his

ed my ears, louder than his words. I swallowed back

snapped. "Let me ruin my l

never wavered. I thought he would reason with me again-tell me to think, to wait, to be patient like I always had. But he did

ightened, in the tight press of his lips, in the storm building behind his eyes. What came next was

ou keep chasing

t halfway in my chest. I blinked at him

And I'm not your mate. I know that. But I'd marry you in a heartbeat. I'd stand beside you in front

the wind. My lips parted, but no sound came. I stared at him, trying to find something-do

rom my lips like a plea,

he said. "I'm not asking to be the prince in your story. I

ars that stung my eyes. My hands trembled, useless at my sides. He meant it. Every word. And t

spered, bro

uld finish. My breath came sho

e wrapped around me. My footsteps pounded against the floor, but all I

led my

t o

didn't

lf in my dream

eta d