“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper, tracing my fingers across her cheekbones and over her lips, wanting to study every inch of her face and commit it to memory. She blushes, lowering her eyes, afraid of the emotions I wear so openly. But how could I not? How could I be anything but completely besotted with this incredible female? Even before I knew she was my mate, Laurel saw me in ways no one else ever could. She enabled a version of me I’m proud of—the kind of male who fights back against injustice, who protects the innocent, who helps lead change instead of hiding in the shadows hoping things will get better. I may have talked about resistance in Velmara, but it was Laurel who showed me what effective action looks like. We challenge one another, take delight in the delicious tension that comes between two evenly matched powers. She’s stronger than me, but just barely, and neither of us gets to experience the thrill of knowing another person can match us blow for blow very often, both physically and intellectually. She cares so deeply, even as she locks her true self away. I want to spend every waking moment inhaling whatever parts of her she trusts to give me.

Before I know what I’m doing, I take her face in my hands, placing kisses atop her nose, her cheeks, and her lips in reverent worship. It matches my response the night she accepted the mating bond, and that feels fitting for what I’m about to blurt out.

“I love you, Laurel Elestren,” I say on an exhale, surprised by my confession but knowing the truth of it. “You are my aether-heart, the air that I breathe and the magic coursing through my veins. Without you, I’d still pretend to be the Shining Prince, charming and flirtatious, unserious and unbothered by anything or anyone. You unmasked me, allowed me to be the male I always believed myself to be, always wanted to be, but feared revealing. You light up my entire world, witchling.” I place a kiss on her forehead as she stares at me with a shocked stare. “I also want you to know that I love the Witch Queen too, because she’s a part of you. I love your soft parts, but I also love all those hard angles and vicious barbs. I love watching you take control of a situation, love you seeing you claim your power and show your strength. I love you when you show your enemies mercy, and I love you even more when you don't. There is no part of you that I don’t love.” Her mouth parts slightly, and she takes a deep swallow. She starts to say something, but I place a finger over her lips.