A huge grin spreads across my face as I beam down at her. “Yes.” “How do you know that I’m not about to show you a cursed gem and ask you for your blood to bind its power to me?” “My answer is still yes, baby girl. Anything I have, it’s yours. Yes, I will give you my blood. Yes, I will find a way to break the curse and save you when the binding inevitably fails.” Ariana laughs as tears spill down her cheeks. I offer my hand to help her up and this time she takes it. Once we’re on even ground again, I clasp her hand and the ring box with both of mine. “Most importantly, yes, I’ll marry you.”
