Chapter 609 - Not for the crown, and not for the title. Just to have you as mine
"This is my room, but I used to share it with Estelle." Liah gestured around the space as she spoke, her voice carrying a note of nervous excitement. "I told her that I’ll need her to move to another room. I’ll have everything changed before we return from the pack."
Corvine’s gaze swept across the explicit bedroom, the silk sheets, the ornate furniture, the soft lighting that cast everything in a warm, intimate glow.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips when he realized that Liah was already planning her life around his, already making room for him in her world. The gesture touched something deep inside him, something he hadn’t known was there.
"Aren’t you afraid that I might lose the contest and lose you?" His gaze never left hers, though he maintained a safe distance between them. The question hung in the air, weighted with genuine concern.
Liah smiled, but it was full of mischief, her cheeks suddenly turning pink with a rosy blush that made her look impossibly younger. "Well, ever heard of the word elope?"
Corvine laughed so hard his entire body shook, all his tension concerning Jasmine dissipating completely. The sound was genuine, warm, filled with relief. "You’ll elope with me if I lose the contest?" His eyes sparkled with wonder.
Liah laughed too, the sound like music in the quiet room. But her response stunned him, her words carrying a weight that made his breath catch. "Even if you refuse, I plan to kidnap you."
Corvine’s heart warmed, a spreading heat that radiated through his entire chest. The moment he fell in love with her, he knew it was going to be hard to have her as his wife.
He had prepared for everything, for the contest, for the challenges, for doing all the chasing. But this remarkable princess kept surprising him, kept showing him depths he hadn’t expected.
"You love me that much?" His voice was soft, almost disbelieving.
"You have no idea." Liah’s arms wrapped around him, her head resting on his chest. She fit perfectly against him, like she had been made to occupy that space.
Corvine’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. His gaze turned teary with emotion, the intensity of the moment threatening to overwhelm him. "I love you so much, Liah." His voice cracked slightly, raw with honesty. "And I will fight with my last breath. Not for the crown, and not for the title. Just to have you as mine." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You are worth it. You’re worth everything."
Liah pulled away, but her gaze was teary too, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She looked at him with an intensity that made his heart stutter.
"You know, I was always focused on business. I never entered any relationship because I had my eyes on Voren." A rueful smile crossed her lips. "And after knowing he was in love with someone else, I was prepared for a loveless marriage. I had accepted it, made peace with it."
She paused, her fingers reaching up to trace his jaw. "Then I spent a little time with you. And the more we talked, the more you stole my heart. Little by little, piece by piece, until I didn’t recognize myself anymore."
Her expression suddenly turned serious, her eyes sharpening. "Corvine, I don’t look at other people’s partners, and I won’t share mine. So what’s going on between you and Jasmine?"
Corvine’s brows raised by the sudden switch, the swing in her tone catching him off guard.
But that was exactly what made Liah so different—she was so many things he couldn’t describe with words. Soft and fierce, playful and serious, vulnerable and strong. She was everything.
"Well, you were right when you said she was in love with me." Corvine began, his voice cautious. He watched Liah’s expression change, watched the flicker of something dark pass through her eyes.
"But you promised it was because—"
"That’s what I thought." Corvine cut in gently, his voice soft but firm. He needed to tell her the truth, needed to get ahead of any misunderstandings. "But then something happened in New York. In my shower. It’s better for me to say it now than for you to hear it from anywhere else."
He narrated everything—the shower, the intrusion, Jasmine’s desperate confession. He didn’t spare himself, didn’t try to make himself look better. He just told the truth.
"You’re telling me that you were both naked in the shower?" Athaliah’s voice had gone flat, her eyes wide with disbelief. She was not taking it coolly at all, her hands balling at her sides.
Corvine swallowed hard, his throat tight. "I can promise you that I didn’t look." His voice was earnest, pleading. "It was just as I changed for you last night when I carried you from the jacuzzi. I kept my eyes averted. I have never looked at her. Please trust me, Liah."
"I do trust you." Liah’s voice cracked with irony, the words betraying her struggle. "But what about her? She saw you, didn’t she? All of you?"
Corvine’s jaw tightened. "She won’t be a problem when we return to the pack because Kael is secretly in love with her." He tried to sound reassuring, tried to project confidence.
But Liah had her reservations, her brow furrowing with doubt. "What if she doesn’t fall for him like she’s done for you?" Her voice was quiet, troubled. "Love can make people do crazy things, Corvine. I slowly fell in love with you, and I hate that she was the first to see you naked."
Even Liah had not had that opportunity. Just like Corvine, she had her principles too. It was the reason she was comfortable around him because they never allowed their emotions to take the front seat, but rather their minds.
It wasn’t that she never felt the sexual tension when around him. She did, every moment they touched, every time their eyes met. But self-control was a tool they needed to master, especially when their businesses kept them apart and they might constantly be away from each other.
"Just my back, Liah." Corvine’s voice was gentle, his hands reaching for hers. "And trust me, I’ve never even kissed a woman. I’m keeping everything for you. Everything."
Liah’s heart warmed at his words, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. It was the first time they had this heart-to-heart talk, and it seemed to be worth it.
"In that case, you should talk to her." Her voice was firm, carrying a note of finality. "Make it clear. Completely clear."
"Only if you agree to be with me." Corvine said seriously, his eyes searching hers. "Promise me, Liah."
But Liah did not respond. Her gaze flickered away, her expression unreadable.
When they returned downstairs, Jasmine was sitting with Seraphine, her posture stiff and uncomfortable. She quickly stood up at the sight of Corvine and Liah, her eyes darting between them like a cornered animal.
Seraphine smiled and called Athaliah. "Liah, please come with me." Her voice was warm, but her eyes held a knowing glint.
Corvine’s heart sunk instantly. "Sera, what are you doing?" His voice carried a note of panic, his gaze darting between the two women.
But Seraphine only smiled, her expression serene. "Just a quick chat. Nothing to worry about."
Corvine watched helplessly as Liah followed Seraphine out of the room, his heart pounding with anxiety.