“I would never put you in harm’s way on purpose.” He strokes my face. “Kai was being pressured to kill you. And I know her well. Under the right circumstances, she might have done it. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to keep Kai close, so she trusted me and would tell me everything. I had to make her believe it was her I wanted. Play into her vanity. It was never true. I never touched her. She tried, but there was always an excuse I’d find.” He unfolds my fingers, pressing my palm. “You see, even when I wasn’t with you, you held my heart in your hand. I only kept her close, pretended to plot to murder my brother, t-to protect you.” He brushes a hair out of my face. “My Queen.” His words are a sputter and they break me. “She has an evil streak, that one. But there is good in her too. It was my hope she would be won over by your tender heart, your strength, wisdom.”

“Please don’t die,” I beg.

He ignores me, filling the last of our time together with words he’s held so long, and I cry harder.

“We’re the same, you and I. In so many ways. I do not judge you for being angry with me. I would have been angry too. It is I that am sorry. I should have never taken memories from you. I should have never lied. Even for good intention. I felt it my duty to see you on that throne. But even duty can sometimes cloud vision. You trusted me and I made a mess of that.” He shudders.

“N-no.” I smooth the tears off my face. “I understand now. I…” I squeeze his fingers. “It’s okay.”

“I see through your armor… and I guess I hoped you could see through mine. It is why we are so perfect together. It’s always been for you. Everything. I have always been for you, my Queen.”

Tears stream down my face, and I kiss his forehead, his fingers, the back of his hand, wishing time would slow. Wishing I could take so many things back.

“Memi told me when I was little of a word from the Ancestors’ she had received. The cuffs that would call a great warrior to our home to avenge us. I told her I was Beerchi, none braver, none more loyal. I would protect this Special One. Memi let me train every day until the moon gave way to the sun. I trained and trained before there were whispers of your footsteps on this island. I prayed to the Ancestors to give me the courage to do whatever it took to preserve their Chosen. Falling in love with you wasn’t part of the plan, but it was the best part of anything I ever did.”

I weep uncontrollably, face pressed against his chest.