The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom, #1)

by Danielle L. Jensen

what stood before her was nothing more than a man. And men could be defeated.

“I can respect you and still think your shit stinks just as bad as the next man’s.”

“And they thought to beat the trait out of you?” His voice was icy. Pulling the sheet up to cover her body, Lara didn’t answer. Didn’t trust herself to. “For what it’s worth, no one will lay a hand on you in Ithicana. You have my word.”

Neither of them spoke, and when a soft breeze blew strands of hair across her face, Aren reached up to brush them away. Lara didn’t flinch from his touch. Didn’t look away. “You’re beautiful.” He tangled his fingers in her hair. “I’ve thought so since the moment I saw you, but I don’t think I’ve ever said it.”

“Since the moment I set eyes on you in Southwatch, there’s been no one but you. Even if I’m a goddamned fool for it, there will never be anyone but you.”

“I followed you that night when you walked up to the palace gates. I pointed an arrow at your back, and I…I almost did kill you. If you’d taken one more step, I would’ve.” His hands were shaking, the tremor of movement holding her attention like a vise. “But then you turned around and came back. Back to me.”

“I love you,” he said, his lips grazing against hers. “And I will love you, no matter what the future brings. No matter how hard I need to fight. I will always love you.”

“It’s yours,” he murmured into her ear. “Ithicana. Everything that I have is yours. To protect. To make better.”

Aren dropped to his knees in front of her, gripping the sides of her face, his fingers tangling in her hair. Tears glinted in his eyes. “I loved you. I trusted you. With myself. With my kingdom.”