Dina hadn't had the chance to exchange a single word with Zevran, as the guards had turned a corner down the dark corridor with him not long after. Even if she had so much to say, she was led back to her room, where the door was locked behind her. She heard the key click in the lock but didn't react, simply standing in the middle of the room, trying to process the storm of emotions within her.

On the one hand, she was deeply moved that Zevran was risking his life for her, and even more so that he hadn't hesitated for a moment about the marriage, but he'd volunteered himself for the role of husband. On the other hand, she was profoundly worried. If Zevran isn't careful, Logan's soldiers truly will kill him. Logan's soldiers, of whom there were hundreds... yet she couldn't help but remember how many of them Zevran had already bested. These conflicting emotions—her anxious, admiring love—danced within her as she paced the room in frustration.

Not half an hour later, a knock came at the window. Dina spun around, startled, to see a familiar silhouette crouching outside the stained glass. She rushed over and flung it open, allowing Zevran to leap inside with a grin. Peering out, she saw only a narrow ledge running along the dark tower's edge. Horrified by the sheer drop below, she slammed the window shut and threw herself into his arms.

"Zevran, Zevran, Zevran!"

"Yes, yes, yes," he laughed, wrapping his arms around her and closing his eyes as his hand traced gentle patterns across her back.

Dina wished she could stay there forever, but the surge of emotions overwhelmed her, and tears brimmed in her eyes. Pulling back slightly, though not stepping away, she gazed at him intently.

Zevran raised an eyebrow and cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Why are you crying, my precious?"

"Because I'm afraid for you."

For once, Zevran didn't respond with his usual bravado. There was no flippant wave of his hand or reassuring laugh to ease her worry. He simply gazed at her in quiet contemplation, a faint smile on his lips.

"You're already playing with your life. You've snuck in here, and Caentrin warned that if you weren't found in my room, they'd kill you."

At this, Zevran finally chuckled. "Dearest Dina, if they can't find me, they can't kill me."

She almost smiled at the obvious flaw in her own reasoning but clung stubbornly to her concern.

"Did you really traverse that narrow ledge?" she asked, pointing to the window.

"I did," he admitted with a shrug before leaning closer, his eyes pleading. "But don't scold me, my beautiful. If you wish, I'll go back this instant without a word."

Dina remained silent.

"Ah, no response, my precious? Well then... does this mean you're glad I'm here?" He raised an eyebrow mischievously, like an incorrigible child.

Her answer was to hug him again, and he responded with a satisfied murmur.

"You're risking your life for me," she whispered.

Zevran gestured toward the door with his chin. "Because those boorish fools don't understand that a true woman must have her hand asked for properly before a marriage. You can't just marry someone off like that."

Dina stared at him, mouth agape. "You came here to ask for my hand...?"

A smug grin spread across his face. "Of course."

Dina wasn't sure whether to be touched or to continue protesting. "But Zevran! This union is a marriage with death itself, a kiss to death, and—"

"If death is as beautiful as you, then I'll embrace it willingly."

She stared at his light brown eyes, utterly speechless. So, Zevran continued.

"Listen, Dina, my love... I mean this sincerely. You said I had failed. And... let's be honest, you were right. I did fail. For so long, I've been trying to win my way back to you, but circumstances—no, let's not blame circumstances. I simply haven't succeeded in regaining your trust. It's true; emotionally, I'm clumsy and hopeless, and I'll fail again in the future. But at least let me give you what I can."

"And what is that?"

"This. I want to make you happy. If I can't do it one way, then I'll do it another."

Dina remained silent.

"See? I've been right from the very beginning," Zevran said with a sly smile.

"About what?"

"That you're precious, Dina. My precious Dina. That's how much you're worth. If it takes my life to prove it, then so be it."

Shaking her head, Dina replied, "But I need more than that! I need this clumsy and hopeless Zevran! I love Zevran, with all his faults, and I want him to live!"

"And you're not afraid anymore that we'll quarrel our whole lives?"

"Of course I am! But I love this flawed man more than my fears!"

Zevran embraced her tightly.

"Then? Can I be yours again?"

"If that's what you want, make me a promise. Perhaps you never feared death before, but if you want me to be yours, you must take care of yourself. Because now you'll have someone to live for."

Zevran rested his forehead against hers.

"Very well, my beauty, I promise. It's not hard to say because, truthfully, I've known for some time that I want you by my side. However long my life may last—whether decades or mere days—I won't let you go."

"Just do everything you can to ensure it's not just a few days!"

"I will," he said, his voice soft with sincerity. After a pause, he added, "I promise, for you, I'll even do this."

Dina nodded in his embrace. "Then yes. Then I'm yours again."

Suddenly, Zevran released her and laughed, his eyes twinkling. "Excellent! That means I can move on to the next step—maybe I'll conquer that too!" He turned to the chair behind him and pushed it further.

"What... what are you doing?"

"Just ensuring the chair isn't in the way. I don't want to kick it up in such an important moment," he said, nudging it aside.

"What moment?"

"The one where I kneel before you to ask for your hand."

Dina's hands flew to her face, laughter and tears bubbling up simultaneously.

And kneel he did, offering not a ring but his open arms as he asked, "Dina, my love, will you marry me?"

Without hesitation, Dina threw herself into his arms, laughing as they toppled to the floor.

"Yes, I will...!" she whispered into his neck. She felt Zevran's arm around her waist, his lips on her cheek, then on her lips. Dina kissed him back, trembling as she inhaled the woody scent of him, letting Zevran roll her onto her back, lean over her, and continue kissing her.

"Why are we lying on the floor, my beauty, when there's a perfectly good bed right here?" Zevran didn't really ask; the moment he was on his feet, he scooped Dina into his arms. She bit her lip, clinging to him with a sly smile, allowing him to carry her to the bed.

But Zevran suddenly stopped, though the mischief on his face remained, and Dina braced herself for one of his surprising remarks.

"What is it?"

"I'm wondering if I should trust this bed."

"Trust it?"

"Yes, whether its springs will collapse if I throw you onto it."

Dina burst out laughing. "Try it!" she encouraged him, though she cunningly made sure not to let go of Zevran's neck. In fact, she clung even tighter, so when she landed on the bed, which wobbled beneath her, she pulled him down with her.

Dina laughed heartily, though not for long, as Zevran silenced her with a kiss. She didn't mind at all. In fact, she didn't object when he slipped the strap of her dress off her shoulder and kissed her neck. On the contrary, Dina arched towards him, offering every inch of her skin. Nor did she protest when his hand slid onto her thigh, drawing her closer. Instead, she wrapped her leg around his, relishing his closeness.

No, she didn't resist for a moment. Zevran could have done anything to her, and she wouldn't have stopped him. She was his already, having long since given herself to him in spirit. Fear or no fear, Dina had known for some time that this man was the one she wanted.

Zevran propped himself up on his elbow, gazing down at the beautiful face beneath him. He opened his mouth as if about to ask a question—one Dina would surely have answered with a "yes"—when there was a knock at the door.

"My lady, the tailor is here!"

"Oh, heavens!" Dina gasped in a whisper, about to beg Zevran to hide. But he had already rolled off her and disappeared under the bed with a mischievous grin.

Dina stood, straightened her dress, and ran her hands over her face several times to ensure her overly joyful smile wasn't too obvious.

"Miss? Are you inside?"

"Yes, yes, I'm coming!"

She composed herself, opened the door, and what happened next only half registered in her mind. Caentrin and three tailors suddenly appeared, asking Dina to stand still with her arms outstretched. As she obeyed and they took her measurements, all she could think about was Zevran hiding beneath the bed.

Thankfully, the incident didn't last long. The tailors jotted down their notes, and Caentrin glanced suspiciously around the room as if he suspected something. Finally, he announced, "We're done. Off to the groom!" He then shut the door behind him without so much as a goodbye.

Dina spun around as Zevran emerged from under the bed, heading toward the window. She hurried over to open it for him, but of course, Zevran pulled her into his arms for another kiss.

"Mmm...! Hurry...!" Dina managed to say into the kiss. Zevran laughed, kissed her again just to tease, then suddenly let go, crouched on the windowsill, and climbed out.

Dina leaned out, watching him balance along the narrow ledge until he disappeared around the corner of the building. But not before throwing her a laughing, blown kiss.

"Go, go...!" she waved him off one last time.

She shut the window, collapsed into the nearest chair, and covered her mouth with her hand. Staring at the floor, she smiled and smiled beneath her fingers.