“Only if you want to be,” I say, still a little confused by his reaction.
His smile fades, and his affect turns sober. “Wait. Are you sure? You just said that you aren’t ready, that it was sooner than you planned.”
“I’m sure. It feels right. You’re the only one I brought to meet Willa, the only one I even thought about bringing to meet her. I guess you could say that was the final test. It’s you if you want this,” I say, gesturing all around me.
Finally, a grin graces his handsome face, and he says, “Only if you’re the High Queen sitting beside me.” Finally, he pulls me in, holding me tightly before letting me go. Suddenly, he breaks the embrace and standing.
“Wh—” I ask but stop myself as he gets down on one knee and pulls out a small black velvet box.
He looks up at me and I’m reminded of Asmo on his knees just the other day. A different dark Serpent Prince worshiping me in a different way. I banish the thought and focus on Marik looking up at me, eyes filled with light, hope, and happiness.
“Mae?”
“Yes,” I whisper, feeling my body buzzing, answering the question before he even asked it.
“Will you marry me?” he asks, opening the velvet box. Inside rests a black stone held in place by a delicate gold band. On either side of the black stone sits two crescent moons, their backs touching the gemstone.
My mouth drops. It’s certainly not the engagement ring I would have ever pictured for myself, but it’s one that a Serpent Queen would wear. And even though I’m the Deer Queen, I’ll also be joining myself to the Serpent House with this marriage.
“Yes,” I whisper again, a grin spreading across my face.
His hands are slightly shaky as he removes the ring from the box and slides it onto my finger. It fits perfectly, and he kisses the back of my hand before he slowly stands. I hold it up, the gemstone sparkling in the light. The contrast of the black gemstone with my pale skin is shocking, but it’s perfect. In a way, it’s a perfect symbol of how we fit together. The dark prince perfectly paired with the light that the Deer Court represents and brings to the kingdom.
“It’s Willa’s,” he says, still looking at the ring.
Did I hear him right? “What?”
“The ring. She gave it to me the other night.”
“When did she do that?” I ask. I was with them for most of the night. When would they have had the time to talk about this? Why would Willa give her ring to him, when I hadn’t even chosen him yet? What if I had chosen someone else? Would Willa have had to ask for the ring back?
“When you went to the bathroom. Right before…the attack,” he says, wincing.
When I went to splash my face with water. Or I guess it could have been right after I left them outside. That would explain the body language. Willa must have been in on this larger secret. Something feels off, but I can’t place it. I shake the feeling, instead focusing on this kind, handsome prince in front of me.
The handsome fiancé in front of me.
My fiancé.
“Are you ready for this?” I ask him, glancing toward the ring, then in the direction of the castle.
Instead of answering with words, his lips find mine, and he kisses me softly, gently. His hands cup my face, and the kiss is so tender that I feel myself falling, falling, falling. His mouth opens, and our tongues meet, setting butterflies off in the pit of my stomach.
He pulls back slowly, and I resist the urge to follow his mouth with mine. “When does the announcement go out?” I can hear the excitement in his voice.
“At the end of the day. Please don’t tell Asmo. I haven’t had the chance to break the news to him,” I say. “The wedding will take place sometime next week.”
His eyes widen. “That soon?”
I grimace. It feels way too soon. “I know.”
“How areyoufeeling?” he asks.
I think about that. I feel…good. I feel happy. The other night still lingers, but I think that’s going to take time to fully get over.
“It’s a lot. It’s been a crazy couple of days, but I’m good,” I settle on. The look he gives me is doubtful, and I hurriedly add, “I’m sorry. I’m happy. I really am so happy.” I look at the ring, then back at him and say, “We’re getting married, Marik!”
He smiles at me hesitantly, not fully believing me, but he reaches for me anyway. I jump into his arms, and we stand there, holding each other, soaking up each other’s warmth.
