"Soulmate?"
The word hung in the quiet room between us. I froze, looking deep into his hazel eyes, my lips parted in total disbelief. For a long moment, the silence stretched, the lingering distress of my recent troubles fading against the reality of his declaration. Then, a slow, gentle smile broke across Elias's face, smoothing away the tension that had gripped him only moments before. His expression held such quiet certainty that my heart skipped a beat, catching the breath right in my throat.
"I am the fae king, Seraphina," Elias said softly, his voice carrying a rich warmth. He leaned down, his forehead pressing gently against mine as his arms tightened around my waist, holding me securely against him. "And you are my queen. That is what makes us soulmates."
