He folds his arms behind his head and rolls his eyes. “I think you’re taking this queen thing a little too far.”
“Maybe, but I was specifically thinking about Wel.”
He stiffens at the mention of his boyfriend and gives me his full attention. “What about him?”
“I like him.”
“Obviously, so do I.”
Leif has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve seen him at his worst and his best, but never have I seen him like this. One wrong word on my part, and I’m certain that he would tear into me. That’s saying a lot about his feelings toward Wel. Never has he been so protective of someone he’s involved with that he would risk our friendship for them. This time is different.
I lean forward, bracing my arms on my knees. It’s the type of posture that would earn me a scolding during my tutoring lessons. No formalities are needed tonight, never with Leif.
“Wel deserves a life without the palace protocol. He should be free to display his affections openly for whomever he chooses,” I say.
His feet hit the floor with a thud, and he holds my stare as he replies, “He choosesme, and he understands what that entails.”
“I’m sure he thinks he does, but you and I both know how hard this life is. Don’t you think he deserves better?”
“What are you getting at, Elle?” Fear flashes in his hazel eyes,confirming that my decision is the right one.
“I know you were looking forward to a life of awkward public appearances with your wife and trying to figure out how we create an heir, but I think I’m going to pass on it.”
“What?”
I remove the ring from my finger and examine it. The delicate iron piece is beautiful, created by the combination of Micah and Borin’s gifts. It and its match on Leif’s finger were given to us with the best of intentions. Micah hoped our union would usher in a new dawn for Lucent, but that future isn’t meant for Leif and me.
“I’m releasing you from our promise to marry,” I say with no uncertainty.
“Elle—”
I lift my hand and continue. “I want you to create a life with Wel that brings you happiness. The kind of life that others can look at and wish for themselves. I don’t want you to hide your love for each other. I want you to live it and let others experience how beautiful it is.”
He moves from the settee and kneels before me. Taking my cheeks in his hands, he looks me straight in the eyes. “Are you sure? Because I will marry you and we can have a happy life together. It has never been a burden to be betrothed to you. Never. I was marrying my best friend. What could be better than that?”
I grip his hand and press his knuckles to my lips. “One day marrying the person you are in love with. That can be much better than what I can offer you.”
This boy has always been by my side. He has seen me through every tough moment and offered me his shoulder to cry on. No one makes me laugh the way he does. He has been my confidant, my cornerstone. I’m thrilled to give that to Wel in its fullest extent.
“I understand cutting off our betrothal must be difficult for you, with me being so irresistibly charming and all.” I flash him a bright smile that I know lacks the charisma of his own. “But I have a parah. He might make some really stupid decisions for my sake, but I love him, Leif.”
His face lights up like the summer sun, and my heart swells at the sight. “I don’t think he will make that mistake again,” he says.
“I don’t think he will either.”
He kisses my cheek and whispers, “Thank you.”
I bask in his gratitude for a moment before I playfully shove his shoulder. “Go. Crawl in bed with your boyfriend and do whatever disgustingly romantic things you all do before morning comes. I’m sure Kyron will be bombarding you with new questions bright and early.”
With a rib-crushing hug, Leif wishes me a good night and practically skips out the door.
I lean back in the chair and turn the ring in my fingers. It holds a new meaning for me now. No longer does it represent my betrothal, but it is a reminder of the powerful love between Micah and Borin. It’s a small token that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I slide the band onto my right hand, freeing the finger for my future wedding ring.
My room is suddenly too quiet and my bed a cold reminder that I will spend another night alone. Pain has dominated every second of my solitude, and I don’t want to face it alone again. And I shouldn’t. My parah under the same roof. We’re no longer separated by our kingdoms, and the rules are now ours to make.
I exit my room and follow the corridors that lead to Kyron’s office. When I reach his door, I lift my fist to knock but stop short as his voice bleeds through the heavy wood.
“I refuse to make her sit down with the Allaji if that isn’t what she wants to do.”
