Keya's POV:
"I love you." His voice was tender, soft, and it broke the rest of the walls down, and I felt vulnerable, like he could somehow see through me and find all my secrets.
I cupped his cheek.
"Rhys..." I pulled back slightly, just enough to break the kiss, though my fingers still clung to him.
He didn't look away. His eyes met mine head on. “I didn’t tell you to force you into anything you don’t want, Keya. I said it because I need you to know. I love you, and nothing will change it. Not me becoming king. Not my duty, not the weight of all this.” He exhaled slowly. “I will be an amazing King, Keya. Even without a queen.”
A small, dry laugh escaped me. “You’ll be. You both will be.”
He smiled a little broken, a little sad. Then he straightened, like he was pulling invisible a
