Chapter 63

FELIX

Mila’s breath caught in her throat as I said those words.

“I love you,” I said again, hoping to drive the point home as much as possible.

“You don’t mean that,” she said softly, but even I knew that she was simply trying to convince herself as much as me. “You don’t have to say that.”

“I do,” I told her. “I love you more than the sun and moon and stars and it breaks my heart that I will never be able to make you see that. I would go to the corners of the earth for you, Mila. I never want to lose you again.”

Mila sank down onto her bed. It was only in that moment that I realized it was not a bed at all, rather, a large chair that she was being forced to sleep in. I made a mental note to have a stern conversation with Mila’s adoptive family later.

“I was really hurt when I learned that you had lied to me,” she whispered. “I get that you had to keep everything with the dragons a secret, but I thought that we could be honest with each other. It felt like a slap in the face to learn that you were keeping something that massive from me.”

I sank down onto my knees in front of her. It was time at last to be completely honest with her.

“I am the heir to the throne of Fresonia,” I began. “That means that I will one day be King.”

Mila looked at me, confused. “I know, Felix. You don’t have to remind me.”

“But that also means that I am the heir to two very powerful lines,” I continued. “Both the royal family and the line of Dragon Knights. It’s a responsibility I have carried my whole life, and one that weighs on me heavily. I must care for the well-being of the people and the dragons under my rule. That is a large task that very few people are chosen to undertake.”

Mila nodded slightly as I spoke. I could feel understanding bloom in her chest, and that spurred me to keep going.

“Being a Dragon Knight means following centuries of tradition,” I told her. “It also means fiercely protecting our secret with all of my power and might, even when I desperately want to tell someone the truth. You have no idea how many times I wanted to tell you what was really going on, especially with the curse, but I felt that I had duties and obligations to fulfill.”

Mila exhaled shakily and looked down at her hands, folded neatly in her lap.

“Did your mother know?” she asked quietly. “Or did your father tell her on their wedding day?”

“She knew,” I admitted. “Her father was a Dragon Knight as well, even though he came from a lesser noble line. She was raised in the traditions and folklore of the Dragon Knights and understood that her role as Queen was to further the line of both the royalty and the Knights. I do know that she does not always agree with the old ways, however. And I know for a fact now that I do not.”

“Is that what is expected of me?”

Her question caught me off guard.

“Truth be told, Mila, I have not put a lot of thought into children,” I told her. “I spent much of my life thinking I would be dead before I could be a father. So no, I have zero expectations of you. I just want you to be my wife. The rest we can figure out together.”

Mila leaned back on the chair.

“I don’t really know what to make of all this,” she said eventually. “It’s a lot to take in.”

I took both her hands in mine.

“My whole life, I have been told to put the Crown first,” I said, as earnestly as possible. “Being with you was the first time I realized I could put my own feelings above anything else.”

“And what are your feelings exactly? Remind me.” Mila’s tone was teasing, even though she still sounded like she could be on the brink of tears. I laughed lightly.

“I love you,” I told her, once again. “I’ll remind you of that every day for the rest of my life.”

A shadow passed over her face at that.

“Here,” I said, desperate to change the subject from my looming mortality, “look at this.”

MILA

Felix handed me his phone. I took it from him and looked at the screen.

I gasped sharply when I saw the pictures–tables, chairs, a large menu sign, kitchen utensils all lined up in a perfect, neat row.

Felix had finished my restaurant.

I started crying again, but this time I was weeping tears of joy.

“You did this? For me?” I asked. Felix smiled at me, looking hopeful for the first time in days.

“I would do anything for you,” he responded easily.

“It looks amazing!” I said, flipping through the photos. Each one was better than the last. The space looked perfect, exactly how I had imagined it.

“You like it?” Felix’s eyes were shining.

I threw my arms around him, forgetting for a second that I was still technically mad at him.

“I love it! It’s gorgeous!” I said.

I pulled back quickly, but Felix maintained his grip on my waist. Our faces were only a breath apart, and I was instantly aware of how easy it would be to just reach out and kiss him.

From the way Felix was staring at my lips, it was clear that he felt the exact same way.

“I, um,” I said, trying to untangle myself from him. “I should thank you.”

“It was all your planning,” Felix said bashfully. “I just completed it. It’s waiting for you whenever you’re ready. If you ever feel ready to come back, that is.”

I bit my bottom lip.

“It still feels like a lot to process,” I admitted. “But I understand why you didn’t tell me about the Dragon Knights. Or the curse. I can’t even begin to imagine the pressure you must have felt.”

Felix traced my cheekbone lightly with his fingertip.

“I have always loved your compassion, Mila,” he murmured.

I caught his hand with mine and stared directly into his eyes.

“Can you swear to me that you are not and will never be interested in Nadine?” I demanded to know. It was petty, but I needed confirmation.

Felix’s eyes widened in surprise at my question.

“Of course I can,” he said. “I only have eyes for you, Mila. I swear on my crown that this is the truth.”

I smiled at him.

“I’m willing to put you on probation,” I said. “We can take it one date at a time. I can figure out what I want, if that means moving back to Fresonia or marrying you or whatever that looks like, and you can start practicing that honesty with me.”

Felix rocked back on his heels, his face flooding with relief.

“I will spend everyday making it up to you,” he promised.

I laughed and reached for him.

“And Felix? One more thing.”

He looked at me expectantly.

“I love you, too.”