“I will always protect you,” I tell her, “You will always be first.” “Your city comes first,” she breathes, pressing a kiss to my palm. “Not anymore, little bird.” Her eyes open and she stares up at my face, checking for deceit in my words but she’ll find none. I never thought it possible. Weakened by a woman, brought to my knees by a single female who started out as a means to an end but became my queen instead. “I love you,” I whisper against her mouth.
