Before I Let Go (Skyland #1)(53)

“We send an invitation of our own.” I straightened my spine and tried to keep my voice from shaking.

He went stock-still as he stared at me. “An invitation?”

“Yes.” I nodded and tried to keep my nerves from rushing through me. “I’m obviously not marrying Gavril, and he just wants to make people believe that. Give them the truth and send an invitation for our own.”

“But you and I aren’t getting married.”

“Aren’t we?” I cocked my head and studied him. “You asked for my hand, did you not?”

“Yes.” He watched me carefully. “And you turned me down. Several times.”

“And I change my mind.”

“Not like this.” He shook his head, and I could see the indecision running through him. “I don’t want you to say yes because of this.”

“It’s not—”

“It isn’t an option,” he cut me off, and my power surged inside of me. He was really and truly angry, but there was also so much worry in his eyes. This was a threat he was taking seriously. “We will figure something else out.”

“I won the bet.”

“What?” He ran his hand over the back of his head as he stared back down at the invitation. With every flick of his gaze, I could feel his power soaring higher.

“Last night you said that if I won then you owed me. Whatever I chose, it would be mine.”

Evren’s gaze snapped to mine, but he didn’t say a word.

“This is what I want. This is what you owe me.” I crossed my arms and hoped he realized just how serious I was. “I want to marry you.”

“Adara,” he sighed my name as he shook his head.

“You said that you didn’t want to force me to do anything. You didn’t want to take my choice, so don’t.” My breaths rushed in and out of me. “This is my choice, Evren, and I choose you.”

He watched me for a long moment before stepping closer to me ever so carefully. His anger hadn’t softened, but there was also desire flowing along his power. His hunger was stifling and almost choked out the rage that coursed through him.

“This isn’t a game, princess.”

“I never said it was.” My own anger spiked. “You are my mate, and I am yours. I choose to marry you, Evren. This was what you wanted before. Why do you not want me now?”

He surged forward, his body slamming into mine, and the invitation was lost on the ground behind him. “Never say that again.” His fingers trailed over my face before cupping my cheeks.

I stared up at him with ragged breaths passing my lips and waited for his next words.

“I will always want you, Adara. I have since the moment I met you.” His gaze ran over the length of my face. “But I don’t want to force a decision out of you because of my brother. That invitation doesn’t mean you need to decide anything.”

“Yes. It does.” I nodded with my head still in his hands. “You and I both know it.”

He closed his eyes as he bit down on his bottom lip, and I could feel his emotions warring in his powers. It was still so out of control, and I didn’t think he realized how much he was allowing me.

“I want to marry you, Evren. I want to be by your side. We will do this together.”

His mouth came down against mine, softly and unsure, and his lips traced over mine as if they were trying to memorize the curve. “I am yours, Adara.”

“And I am yours.”

My chest tightened as the words passed through my lips, and I didn’t know the power that they held.

“I need you,” he murmured against my lips and started backing us up toward the palace wall.

“Shouldn’t we tell the others our plan?” My chest felt tight and my stomach churned. I wasn’t second-guessing my decisions, but I wasn’t sure I was ready for this. This intimacy that Evren was staring at me with.

“No.” He shook his head, and his hands hit the stone wall right before my back hit them. “I just need you.”

He moved his hands over me, caressing and wandering, and he didn’t stop until he held my face and forced me to look up at him. “You are mine, and I will worship you until my last breath is stolen from my body.”

“Evren,” I whispered his name and tried to look away from him, but he refused to let me go.

“I am devoted to you, princess.” He lowered his hand down my neck until he pressed it against my chest. “To your mind, your body.”

“And to your people,” I reminded him. “Our marriage will strengthen your kingdom and ensure safety for your people.”

“Our people, our kingdom.” His other hand pushed in my hair, and he gripped the roots and forced me to look back up at him.

I nodded even as my heart raced, and I wasn’t sure how I felt.

“Kiss me, princess,” he demanded of me. There was no asking, no hesitancy from him, and there wasn’t a single part of me that was capable of denying him.

He leaned forward to close the space between us, but his attention caught on my chest, and he stiffened against me. He lifted his hand to my neck, and his finger dipped beneath the chain of my necklace and lifted it.

I slammed my hand down over his, trying to stop him, but he had already seen it.