She flushed hot, pleased she’d been the one to give him that. They were finally together, the way they should be.
They cleaned up and got back into bed. The familiar sound of birds over the water outside reached Scarlett through her window. A golden glow from the fading sun lit up her bedroom as she glanced around at all her familiar things. Brayden encased Scarlett’s body with his, her back to his chest and their legs threaded together.
“I should probably get up,” murmured Scarlett. “Beni might be wondering about dinner.”
“I’m sure he’s fine, but why don’t you text him and see if he needs anything?” said Brayden.
“Good idea.” Scarlett reached for her phone.
His reply came through a minute later. Scarlett smirked and showed Brayden.
Beni: I’m fine. Cass said you needed some “alone time” with Brayden, so we’re out at dinner. Tell Brayden I say hi! I’m glad he’s home.
Brayden chuckled softly. “You’ll bring him to the North Star ceremony, right?”
“Of course,” said Scarlett. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Good.” He rested his chin on her shoulder, his warm breath tickling her as he nuzzled into her neck.
While they lay in each other’s arms, Scarlett recalled the last time they’d been in bed together and the arguments that had ensued. She’d been so unyielding, worrying about her duty over everything else, and for what? A job she wasn’t even sure she wanted? A promise rose within her, begging to be spoken aloud.
“There’s something I want you to know,” she said.
He stiffened. “What?”
Her grip tightened on the forearm he’d draped over her. “I’ll move to Clair de Lune.”
He was silent for several seconds. “But…”
“Not right away,” she clarified before he could go on. “I want to give Parliament my best shot for a while and see if I can get the border legislation passed. But let’s say we’re three years down the line and nothing has changed—if by then I haven’t succeeded, I’ll start making a succession plan. Beni could prepare to take it if he wants, or I can try to name a nonfamilial heir.”
His hold on her tightened. “You’d do that? Your family’s legacy—you wouldn’t regret giving it up?” His voice was soft, tentative. “I could be the one to move too. I’d do it eventually.”
She turned in his arms so they were face-to-face. “I know you would. But I love Clair. I could be happy there. And being with you means more to me than the seat in Parliament. I want to leave the world a better place than I found it, but there’s more than one way to do that. Ways that involve us living together, not apart.”
Brayden’s gaze was tender and filled with joy as he searched her face. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. “I love the idea of you and me together in Clair de Lune.”
She grinned as she reached up and threaded her fingers through his hair. “Me too.”
“Me three,” added Nori, who was floating together with Jax at the foot of the bed, looking peaceful too.
“Until the war is over, it does make sense for you to keep pursuing your goals in Soleil. And three years… I pray we’re at peace by then.”
Scarlett’s smile faded slightly. “I’ll pray for that too.”
“Either way,” he said, sounding happy once more. “Thank you. I love knowing we’ll be together in Clair de Lune someday. After the war.”
A sense of foreboding fell over her at the thought of Brayden at war. She forced it away by nuzzling into him. He was here with her, in her arms, right now. And for now, that was more than enough.
CHAPTER
FORTY
The next day, they left for Clair de Lune.
As night fell in the forest around them, Scarlett kneeled next to Brayden in the main chamber of the Forest Temple in front of the statue of the Goddess Cerridwen. An array of priestesses stood around them, along with Brayden’s friends and family, Manon, Cass, Tyler, and Beni, who’d all come to see the once-in-a-lifetime North Star ceremony take place.
Gwen stood at an altar lighting incense for the ceremony. Scarlett ran her fingertips over the pearl lining of her mother’s white dress—the same one she’d worn for their wedding. Brayden kneeled next to her in his suit, ready to make his unbreakable lifetime commitment. She reached for his hand, and his fingers interlaced with hers as he smiled at her, joy, light, and love plain on his face. It was a marked contrast from their wedding day—for both of them. Love had been there that day, but now all the doubt and fear was gone from their hearts.
