Kael studied my face, absorbing every word.
"I don't deserve you, Astrid," he said quietly.
I gave him an annoyed look. "Bullshit. And honestly, it's a little late to worry about that now, isn't it?"
"We're not marked yet. You can still change your mind. I don't want to pressure you into anything you're not ready for."
"Have you changed your mind?" I asked him.
"No."
"Do you trust me?"
"With my life."
"Then trust me when I say I want this. I want you. I'm not going to be with someone who doesn't deserve me. You've earned my respect and my love. I want to be yours, now and forever."
Kael leaned in and kissed me gently. I wrapped my arms around his neck and returned the kiss.
"I want you to mark me, Kael," I said once we broke for air.
"Once we do this, there's no going back."
"Good. I don't want to go back. I want to move forward."
"I'm supposed to be the one with the romantic lines and speeches," Kael mock-grumbled.
