Page 94 of Shattered Crown
"I've never felt this way before. I've never been so terrified of losing someone." A sound escaped me, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. "Which is absurd, because you've driven me half-mad from the moment we met. You're stubborn and sharp and you never let me get away with anything."
Her lips twitched. Just barely.
"And yet." I stepped closer. "And yet, I love you. I love you, Aria. I love your fire and your compassion and the way you care about things so deeply it scares you. I love how you are with Evie. I love how you fight for people who can't fight for themselves."
I was standing in front of her now. Close enough to touch. Close enough to see the tears gathering in her eyes.
"I love you," I said again, because I couldn't stop saying it, because I never wanted to stop. "And I will spend the rest of my life proving I'm worthy of you, if you'll give me the chance."
I reached into my jacket and pulled out the envelope.
Her eyes dropped to it, then back to my face. "What is that?"
"Open it."
She took it with trembling fingers. Flipped it open. I watched her expression change as she registered what she was looking at.
"The deed," she breathed. "Sebastian, this is..."
"Yours." I stepped closer still. "The Kahale Grande should be yours. It means everything to you. You're the right person for it. You always were."
"But Mr. Kahale accepted your offer. How..."
"The old man was toying with me." I shook my head, remembering my last conversation with him, the knowing look in his ancient eyes. "He never had any intention of accepting my offer. He wanted to see what I would do. What I was made of."
Aria stared at the deed. At me. At the candles spelling out their plea on the sidewalk.
"So." I forced the words past the knot in my throat. "What do you say? Am I forgiven?"
She was quiet for a long moment. Long enough for my heart to climb into my throat and take up permanent residence there.
Then she tilted her head, pretending to consider.
"Hmm. Let me think about it."
Before I could respond, her arms were around my neck and her mouth was on mine.
The kiss was everything. Soft and fierce and desperate all at once. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer, closer, until there was no space left between us. She tasted like coffee and something sweet, and I never wanted to taste anything else for the rest of my life.
A whistle cut through the air.
We broke apart, breathing hard, to find Xavier watching us with a satisfied grin.
"My work here is done." He was already backing away, hands in his pockets, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Don't forget what you owe me, brother."
Then he turned and strolled off down the sidewalk, disappearing around the corner.
Aria looked at me, eyebrows raised. "What was that about?"
"You don't want to know."
"Probably not." She glanced around at the lights, the candles, the flowers. "Did you do all this yourself?"
I kissed her again, softer this time. "Yes."
She laughed against my lips, the sound vibrating through me like music. "No, you didn't."
"No," I admitted, smiling despite myself. "I didn't."
