The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 360: Another First Kiss

Jerrick’s grip on her hand tightened, his voice laced with a soothing calm as he tried to pull her back from the edge of panic. "No, no, Jasmine, it’s okay," he murmured, his voice like a balm against her growing worry. He smiled softly, that familiar curve of his lips already working its magic to calm her down. "Look for yourself..."

Jasmine’s tear-streaked eyes darted up to meet his, the warmth in his gaze steadying her heart. She hesitated before her trembling fingers reached toward the torn fabric of his shirt. Her touch was featherlight as she gently peeled the fabric back, afraid of what she might find. But when she did, her breath hitched.

No blood. No wound.

But what she saw instead stopped her heart. In the dim glow of the light, there was a dark mark on his shoulder—strange and yet somehow familiar. She stood on her tiptoes, drawn closer, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

"Bite marks?" she asked, the disbelief in her voice barely masked as her fingers traced the unusual shape on his skin. It was... human, but it made no sense. How could—

Jerrick chuckled, the sound low and comforting, as his hand gently settled on her shoulders. "No," he murmured, "it’s a birthmark."

Jasmine’s eyes widened in surprise, her fingers still lingering on the mark. "A birthmark?" she echoed, her voice filled with awe and something deeper—something inexplicable.

Jerrick leaned closer, his voice dropping into a teasing whisper. "Go on. Bite it," he said, his eyes dancing with mischief. "I bet your mark will fit."

"Bite?" Jasmine blushed deeply, her eyes shy as she bit her lip. "We haven’t even kissed yet and you’re already asking me to bite you?" Her voice was playful, but the nervous flutter in her chest betrayed her embarrassment. She reeled back, wondering if she had been too bold.

Jerrick’s eyes darkened with something deeper, something intense, and before she could say another word, his strong arm slipped around her waist, pulling her against him. There was no hesitation. His lips claimed hers in a kiss that felt like it had waited a thousand lifetimes. Soft at first, almost tentative, but as the connection between them deepened, the kiss grew fiercer, as though neither of them could get close enough.

Jasmine’s world tilted. Every nerve in her body ignited, her heart pounding in her chest so loudly she swore he could hear it. She melted into him, letting herself drown in the feeling of his mouth against hers, the heat of his body, the security of his arms.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, panting as though they had run a marathon. Jasmine’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her lips still tingling. She blinked up at him in a daze. "My... my first kiss," she whispered, the words slipping out unbidden. She couldn’t believe it. At 23 years old, her first kiss had finally come—and it had been everything she’d ever dreamed of.

Jerrick’s hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing tenderly against her skin. His eyes were soft, yet intense, filled with emotions she could barely grasp. "Mine too," he said quietly.

Jasmine’s eyes widened in surprise. How could it be? He was nearly thirty, and yet... the sincerity in his gaze told her everything she needed to know. He had waited. He had waited for her, across this life and the last.

"Try it," he urged gently, jerking his head toward the birthmark. "See if your mark fits."

Curiosity gnawed at her, and with a breathless laugh, she leaned in closer. Her teeth sank gently into the mark, her heart racing as she felt a strange, almost electric connection pulse between them. She pulled back, staring at the spot, and her eyes widened in disbelief. It was a perfect match.

"How... how is that possible?" she whispered, her voice trembling. But before she could continue, a sharp pain tugged at her mind. Memories—flashes of another time, another life—rushed through her like a storm. Images of him, of them together, flooded her thoughts, overwhelming her senses.

"Jerry..." she breathed, her voice breaking as she looked up at him, tears filling her eyes once again.

Jerrick’s gaze softened as he saw the recognition in her eyes, the memories she had long forgotten now returning. His hand cradled her face tenderly. "Mynah," he whispered, using the old name he had called her, his Songbird. He kissed her again, and this time it was filled with a bittersweet longing, the weight of lifetimes behind it.

Tears welled in Jasmine’s eyes as she broke the kiss, her voice trembling. "You found me..." she whispered, as if the enormity of that truth was too much to bear.

Jerrick smiled, his hand brushing away her tears as his other hand rested on her cheek. His thumb grazed her fingers, and she suddenly felt something cold and unfamiliar against her skin. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes dropped to her left hand.

"A ring?" she gasped, her eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, her shock seemed to take over, but then... then, the disbelief melted into understanding. Of course. Of course, Jerrick would want to marry her. Why had she ever doubted it?

A smile spread across her face as she stared at the ring. It was beautiful, simple yet perfect, just like him. "Happy birthday, Jasmine," Jerrick murmured, his voice filled with that tender warmth she had always known from him.

Tears filled her eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy. "Thank you," she whispered, her smile widening as she couldn’t stop herself from glancing at the ring again. The future they had once lost was now within their grasp.

Jerrick’s gentle reminder brought her back to the present. "Weren’t you in a hurry to go somewhere?"

"Oh!" Jasmine yelped, suddenly remembering her urgency. She turned to leave, but stopped, rushing back to grab his hand. "You’re coming with me," she said, her voice filled with certainty.

"To meet your parents?" Jerrick asked with a teasing grin. "Already?"

"Aren’t we engaged now?" Jasmine asked, her voice soft but filled with certainty.

She gazed up at Jerrick, knowing deep down that they had waited lifetimes for this moment. The weight of eons spent apart, searching for one another across time and space, pressed against her chest.

Why wait any longer now that they had found each other again?

Jerrick smiled, a quiet, knowing smile that seemed to reach into the depths of his soul. He had prepared for this day his entire life—no, far longer than that. Every breath, every heartbeat, had been a step closer to this reunion.

And though there had been moments of doubt, like when he learned of her crush on Joar in this life, he had decided to give her the space to choose. Perhaps Joar’s inability to remember their past had been the universe’s way of ensuring Jerrick had a chance to reclaim her heart.

"Get in," he said softly as he opened the door to his sleek, midnight-black supercar. The quiet hum of the engine felt like a low purr, inviting her into the future they would share.

Jasmine paused, her hand hovering near the door as a sudden thought crossed her mind. "Wait..." Her voice trailed off, a small frown creasing her forehead. She turned to face him, her eyes wide with concern. "What about your family?"

The words tasted bitter as they left her lips. She had no doubts about her own family—they would support her as long as she chose a good man, and Jerrick was the best of men. But his family? The illustrious Theodulfs had expectations—ones that demanded pedigree, wealth, and status. And Jasmine had none of those things.

Her heart skipped a beat. Could love truly conquer such divides?