The crowd was silent as she made her way to the altar, her father steady beside her. Nobles and dignitaries lined their pathway, but Aisha barely saw them. She looked only at Tariq, just like he’d told her to. She stopped when she reached him.
Tariq carefully took Bilal’s hand when he forgot to offer it, paying his respects to the king. ‘Thank you,’ he said when he rose.
Bilal looked somewhat confused, but then Zara appeared, gently guiding him to a nearby seat—on the opposite side from Zahvik. Aisha snuck a glance at King Hamza and Queen Farrah. Their silence was their approval.
‘Eyes on me,’ Tariq reminded her. ‘Only me.’
She looked back at him, and everything else dimmed.
Jamil stepped forwards to begin the ceremony. ‘We are gathered today to witness a sacred union.’ His voice carried over the couple. ‘A vow not only between a man and a woman but also between kingdoms and their rulers.’
Tariq’s hand tightened around hers as the speech went on. Finally, it was time for the vows.
‘I vow to protect your name and your honour,’ Tariq said. ‘To build a future with you, stone by stone.’
She soaked up every word he spoke until it was her turn. ‘I vow to be your strength,’ she told him. ‘To be your light in the darkness.’
When she had finished, Jamil looked over at Bilal. ‘And who here gives this woman and blesses this union?’
Aisha braced for the possibility of silence, but instead heard her father say, ‘I do.’
The relief was enormous. He had done everything that was necessary, and she could finally breathe all the way out.
‘I shall invite His Holiness, the Sectarian of Slevaborg, up to light the ceremonial flame,’ Jamil said.
No one had mentioned that part.
Tariq squeezed Aisha’s hands so that she focused on him. She didn’t even look in Zahvik’s direction. They were so close to being done, to being married, and she wasn’t going to let that man ruin any part of it.
‘Eyes on me,’ he mouthed.
Aisha didn’t even look in her family’s direction, because she trusted Zara to handle their father, or if need be, discreetly extract him.
Zahvik walked gracefully to the altar, picking up one of the candles and using it to light the symbolic fire. When the flame was stable, he turned to Aisha and Tariq. ‘May this flame forge you together.’
How dare he speak of flames at her wedding. She did her best to block him and his ugly words out. All that was left was the obeisance with King Hamza and Queen Farrah.
Aisha went first to the queen, a hand over her heart as she bowed. Farrah gave her blessing. She moved on to the king, kissing the back of his hand before touching her forehead to it. In her distracted state, she forgot to limit contact. So when her forehead touched the king’s hand, everything vanished. The vision, sudden and sharp, gave her no time to pull away. Someone was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. Around them stood Farrah, Tariq, Jamil, and?—
The real world rushed back in. She was in Tariq’s arms, and he was kissing her. She heard applause in the distance. No, not in the distance. Around them.
Tariq broke the kiss and brought his lips to her ear. ‘I need you to stand up,’ he whispered.
That’s when she realised he was holding her entire weight, which might have been considered romantic if it were not a royal wedding.
Concentrating, she anchored her feet. He took a small step back, searching her eyes for confirmation that she was all right. Aisha used all of her strength to smile, then turned to face the applauding guests. The applause grew louder.
It was done.
Gruisea had their future queen.
Aisha’s gaze drifted unwillingly to King Hamza, who was also clapping. She looked down at his robes… the same robes worn by the person lying on the bed in her vision.
Chapter 27
The wedding feast was underway in the grand hall. Music and laughter drifted through the side doors to the balcony, where Aisha stood talking with Zara. The celebration felt far away.
Bilal had already retired to his bedchamber, too exhausted to endure the feast. He’d given everything he had left to walk her down the aisle. His part was done.
