“I don’t know for sure, but if the goal was to destabilize the alliance, it would be smart to keep one of the original signers aliveand biddable. Compared to Sophie, Sigrid, or Lee, I’m the most personable. Maybe I was the easy choice. That way the public would have a familiar face to trust as they took over.” Feeling the way she’d gone stiff in his arms, he smoothed his hands down her spine in a soothing stroke. “But it’s just a theory. We won’t know anything for certain until we uproot the source of all this violence.”
A pervading sense of worry bled through that strange new sense he possessed, the one that was attuned to his Chosen. He could feel her even when they were apart, but when they touched… It was like she existed inside him. All around him. That vital glow that he’d so admired enclosed him, blocking out the dullness of the outside world.
And when he caught whispers of her thoughts, he understood better than ever why Theodore would jealously guard his connection with Margot. There was no gift more precious than the ability to connect with his mate mind to mind.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered, touching their foreheads together. “Whatever the plan was, it failed. We’re safe. We’re surrounded by friends and allies. That’s all that matters.”
Alashiya stroked the cords of his neck, her touch delicate. “We’re safe with our grove.”
His lips quirked. “Our grove. Our clan. As long as we’re together, we’ll be all right. It’s you and me forever, my queen.”
Giving him a narrow-eyed look, Alashiya said, “You know, we never did finish our negotiations.”
“We didn’t, did we?” Sitting back a bit so he could look into her eyes, he commanded, “Go on. What does my queen demand?”
“I want to help nymphs,” she told him. “I want to do something like what Hele’s done with the elementals. I don’t know how, and I’m pretty sure I’m unfit for the job, but…”
Frowning, Taevas pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You arenotunfit. You are the perfect person for that job,my Shiya.”
“I don’t know if that’s true. I’ve been hiding my whole life. My people deserve someone who’s outgoing and brave and ambitious. That’s not me.” She pressed her hand to the space above his heart. It beat in time with her own when she continued, “But I’m here. I care. I have you and I have your—ourclan. That means the job is mine, whether I’m the best fit for it or not.”
Taevas let out an amazed breath. “I felt the same way when I became Isand. I was scared shitless. Suddenly everyone was looking at me like I knew what to do and how to help them. What did I know? I was just a pissed off kid with too much blood on his hands. I felt like the biggest fraud in the world.”
“But look at how well you’ve done,” she whispered. “Look at how much your people love you. They were willing to go against the entire UTA because they refused to believe you were dead. You’re so, so loved, Taevas.”
“I am. And you will be, too.” He tilted her chin up to press a soft kiss to her lips. She tasted like sweet wine and wild things andhome.“Because you’re kind. You’re brave. You know what’s right. And you have so much love to give this world, my Shiya.”
“I never really thought about loving the rest of the world. I only ever wanted to love you.”
His chest squeezed tight. It was the strangest thing to feel such joy and regret bundled together. Voice raw, he pleaded, “I want another wedding. That’s my condition. I’ll give you whatever you need to reunite the nymphs. In return I want a wedding I’ll actually remember. I know we can’t do the full ceremony again, but I can’t have missed being Chosen by you. I can’t stand it,metsalill.”
Of course, he would give her what she needed regardless, but if he had to negotiate, then he was going to demand the only thing he really wanted: her.
“But your people don’t do weddings,” she said, brows pinching.
“Our people will do whatever you ask them to. And so I am asking you, my queen, to marry me one more time. In front ofour clan. In front of the world. I want everyone to know what a lucky son of a bitch I am.”
A whisper-soft laugh, a sound of pure joy, escaped her plush lips. Cupping his jaw, she teased, “Didn’t you announce that to the world this morning? I saw the news, you know. It scared the shit out of me.”
He winced. “I probably should’ve warned you.”
“Yes, you should’ve.”
“But I didn’t want the rumor mill to start working and have to reintroduce you to the people on the backfoot. I wanted them to know exactly who you are and what you’ve done.” Holding her gaze, he added, “I meant what I said, Shiya. You don’t have to do anything until you’re ready. Being Emand is a big job you didn’t exactly sign up for. Everyone will understand if you need a while to adjust.”
Twisting to lay her back onto the bed, he hovered over her. Their lips brushed with every word he spoke. “And selfishly, Iwantyou to take your time. I’m used to having you all to myself,metsalill.I don’t want to share your attention with the world.”
Alashiya threaded her fingers into his hair as her soft thighs cradled his hips. “What should I do in the meantime? I’ve never had nothing to do. I need to work.”
“Trust me, my Shiya, there will be enough work for two lifetimes. There’s no reason to rush into it.” Running his hands down her sides, he began to slowly bunch up the large shirt. “Your Isand commands you to rest, pamper yourself, get acclimated, and do whatever you need to in order to feel like this is your home.”
Swallowing hard, she asked, “Are we never going back to Birchdale?”
Pausing his exploratory touches to brace his elbows near her shoulders, he shook his head. His long hair, braided tight by his ears, swung over his shoulders to tickle her cheeks when she dropped her hands to his chest. “I would never take your home from you, my Shiya. I know what your family sacrificed to give you that land, and I know how deep your bond iswith it. But… we can’t live there. Not if we want to be the leaders of the Draakonriik.”
Alashiya looked away. Her expression was hard to read, but he could feel her distress and longing like it was his own. The murmur of her thoughts bubbled up like a spring of fresh water in the back of his mind — a melodious trickle of cool, sweet vitality.
…live anywhere else. Away from the trees, the roots, the earth… But my husband… my grove is worth everything.
