I let out another soft giggle, shaking my head at his dramatic words. "Is this intense need of yours simply because of the awakening of our Fae bond?" I asked curiously, wondering if the ancient magic was controlling his emotions.
But Elias immediately stopped my hand, bringing my palm to his lips to press a warm, lingering kiss against my skin as his hazel eyes burned with absolute honesty. "It was never about the bond, Seraphina," he confessed quietly, the seriousness of his words filling the quiet room. "I have loved you with this exact same intensity since the very days when you were still officially engaged to my foolish brother. Even back then, when I was forced to watch you from the shadows while you suffered under his arrogance, I made small attempts to get close to you. I was simply being entirely too careful, fearing that if I moved too quickly or showed the true depth of my possessiveness, you would push me away in fear."
