The Bride He Hates-Chapter 106: Is Love Enough?

There was complete silence after Lyanna’s word. Azrael was only a few feet away from her, but the distance between them felt insurmountable. His composure was crumbling.

"I miss you." He said suddenly.

Lyanna turned and looked at him, surprisingly.

"Every second of every day." Azrael continued. "The castle is empty without you. I walk through rooms we used to walk through together, and they feel like tombs. I sit in my study and expect to see you there with me, working on cooperation plans. I wake up reaching for you but find nothing."

He stepped closer.

"I’m empty without you. Everything I do feels meaningless. I lead my council and think ’Lyanna would have a better way to handle this.’ I make decisions and wonder ’Would she approve or would she call me cruel?’ You’re not there and I’m just... existing... not living anymore."

Her tears were about to spill now. She had spent weeks trying to convince herself she could move on. But hearing Azrael’s broken voice, seeing his genuine vulnerability, shattered every defense she had built.

"I miss you too." She whispered. "I miss us. The way we were when everything was good. When we’d have breakfast together and you’d try to read me poetry. When you’d hold me at night and I’d feel safe. When we’d argue about philosophy but it was playful. When I’d look at you and see the man I loved instead of the king who controlled me."

"We can have that again." Azrael said, moving closer.

"How do we get back to that when so much has broken between us?"

"We can try."

He was very close now.

"I love you. I never stopped loving you. Even when I was cruel, even when I said unforgivable things."

Lyanna’s vision blurred with tears.

"I love you too. I tried so hard to move on. But I can’t stop loving you. I don’t know how to do it."

"Then don’t. Don’t stop. Don’t move on. Don’t choose someone else just because it’s easier."

He reached for her hand. The logical Lyanna would have pulled away, would have maintained the distance. But she didn’t.

He intertwined their fingers together. The touch sent electricity through her entire body.

"Come back." He whispered. "Please. Come back to Thornfield. We’ll figure it out. I’ll change. I’ll be better. Just give me another chance. Please."

Lyanna wanted to believe him, wanted to say yes.

Suddenly, Azrael pulled her closer. He cupped her face with his other hand gently and brushed away a tear on her cheek.

"Please. Tell me there’s still a chance."

Lyanna looked into his eyes and saw the man she had fallen in love with. She saw the vulnerability he never showed to anyone else, saw the man who was literally begging for another chance.

Azrael, unable to control himself, kissed her. It was desperate, fierce and filled with longing. His lips moved against hers as if he were drowning and she was air, as if he had been starving and she was sustenance.

Lyanna kissed him back. All her anger and hurt dissolved in that moment. She knew for sure that they belonged to each other, no matter how complicated and painful their relationship was.

Her hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her as if letting go would mean dying.

The kiss was painful yet passionate.

"I love you." Azrael breathed against her mouth. "Lyanna, I love you so much."

"I love you too." She whispered back.

They kissed again. It was more intense this time. They were trying to make up for the weeks in a single moment.

His hands were tangled in her hair and her fingers were tracing his jaw. They were both crying, kissing and holding each other like the world might end if they let go.

I’’ll go back. We can fix this. Our love is enough.

She was ready to say it, ready to choose him despite everything. She broke the kiss to speak.

"Azrael..."

The sound of horses shattered the moment. They both turned towards the entrance of the castle. A messenger, one of Thornfield’s elite guards, rushed inside.

"Your Majesty!" He gasped. "Forgive the intrusion but there’s an emergency!"

"What’s happened?"

"Thornfield is under attack." The guard replied. "A faction of Crimson Cross has attacked Thornfield. Your presence is required immediately."

Azrael’s expression changed. He became the king again.

"How many casualties?" He asked.

"We are not sure, Your Majesty. But the outer defenses are already breached and the eastern quarter is burning."

Azrael’s mind was already racing. He was calculating response times, defensive positions, and military resources.

"Mobilize all available forces. Call the northern patrol, I don’t care if it leaves the border exposed. Fortify the inner walls, and evacuate the civilians to the underground chambers. I want damage assessments and casualty counts within an hour."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And send riders to..."

Azrael continued issuing orders. The guard was trying his best to keep up with his list.

Lyanna stood there, forgotten. She watched him transform from the man who had been begging her to come back into the ruthless king who controlled everything around him.

Then he turned to her suddenly, as if remembering she was also there.

"You should return to Valdris." He said. "This could get dangerous."

Lyanna froze.

"You’re sending me away?" She asked in disbelief.

Azrael wasn’t even looking at her anymore. His attention was already back on the guard.

"I’m protecting you." He replied. "Go back to Valdris. It’s safe there. I’ll handle this."

I’ll handle this.

The words hit her like a slap.

Not we need to figure this out together. Not what do you think we should do. Not do you want to come with me or stay here.

Just I’ll handle this.

He had done it again; in less than five minutes after begging her to come back, after promising to change, after kissing her like she was his everything.

The first crisis came and he was already making decisions for her.

"Your Majesty, we should leave immediately." The guard said. "Every minute we delay..."

"Go." Azrael said. "I’m coming."

The guard ran out and rode off.

Azrael turned back to Lyanna and finally noticed her expression. He could sense from her expressions that he had done something wrong, but didn’t quite understood what.

"I’ll send word when the situation is stable." He said.

"Of course." She replied. "You can handle it yourself like you always do."

Azrael was confused.

"Lyanna..."

She turned away and walked towards her carriage.

"Wait!" Azrael said, reaching for her. "I didn’t mean..."

But she kept walking.

And Azrael stood there, torn between the woman walking away from him and the kingdom burning behind him, between the man who loved her and the king who had duties.