Caspian looks at me with pain in his eyes.

Tears of relief stream down my face at the sight of Caspian.

The castle’s enemy horn sounded minutes ago, I was afraid Caspian would be gone with the other knights.

“Caspian,” I whisper, running and wrapping my arms around him.

The coolness of his iron armor eases my burning skin.

“Everything is alright, darling,” he says, kissing my forehead.

“What happened? Why aren’t you with the other knights?” I ask, assessing Caspian for any signs of agony that would cause such pain in his eyes.

He bows his head.

His silence is deafening.

“Caspian…” I breathe.

He shakes his head. “I love you, Delia,” he confesses, cupping my cheeks. “I love you with my whole heart.”

Tears fall from his eyes.

I wipe them away, trying to clear his pain.

“I love you too, Caspian. My heart is yours.”

“I don’t deserve you,” he says, his voice full of sorrow.

I shake my head in disagreement.

“Don’t say that. You deserve love, Cas. You deserve everything.”

I lean in and kiss him. He pulls me closer.

The sudden smell of smoke interferes and I move to assess.

I freeze at the sight.

The castle is in flames, burning as bright as the sun.

My face goes slack.

“The castle…” the words fall from my shocked lips.

Caspian looks at the destruction with a small smirk.

“I couldn’t let you marry the Prince,” he says.

I turn to him, shock filling my veins.

“You started the fire?” I breathe.

“I’d do anything for you,” he confesses. “Even if that mean becoming a criminal.”