“Gods.” The word tore from his throat, and then he collapsed onto his knees in front of her.
For a moment she thought that she had gone too far, that he was devastated by what she’d done, but then he lifted his face to look at her, his eyes so full of love that it took her breath away.
He pulled his hands out of hers and wrapped his arms tightly around her body, leaning into her, resting his face against her belly as his wings flared out, trembling, behind him.
They stayed like that for a moment, leaning on each other. She ran her hands through his thick black hair, reveling in holding him, until he leaned back onto his heels and lifted his face to look at her, his hands still gripping her waist. “I thought….”
“I know.” She smiled sadly, letting her hands rest on his broad shoulders. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you sure, Lanni, sweetheart? You could have been the queen. I can’t even offer you a home.”
She gave him a small shake. “I don’t care where we live, so long as we’re together.”
“Okay.” He closed his eyes for a moment, took a slow breath, and then focused on her again.
He looked so grim and serious that her pulse ticked up, her heart beating heavily against her ribs as he continued, “But only if you agree to one thing first.”
“Anything,” she said, feeling strangely terrified but knowing it was the truth—she would give him anything.
“Will you marry me?”
She swallowed heavily. Had he really said what she thought?
She looked up to see Nim and Keely watching her, Nim wiping away a tear while Keely grinned.
Could it be possible that she would be Val’s wife? It felt like a dream.
“Lanni? You’re worrying me now.”
She looked back down at his handsome, rugged face and tried to clear her head. “What? Why?”
Val grinned. “You didn’t answer. I asked if you’ll marry me.”
He had said it. It was real. Not a dream.
Beside her, she heard Keely snort. “Answer the poor man.”
Oh Bard, had she still not answered?
“Yes.” She cleared her throat and tried again, louder. “Yes!”
Val rose to his feet, taking her with him, still holding her above him, his face at her belly, spinning her in a joyous circle as their friends laughed and clapped and the palace courtiers stared at them in shock.
He let her slip down his body just far enough that she could take his face in her hands and lean down to press her mouth against his. Pouring all her love for him, her fear that she might have lost him, her joy that they were finally together, into one incandescent kiss.
And then she was on her feet, his arm tight around her shoulders as they accepted the hugs and handshakes and congratulations of the delighted Hawks.
Haniel clasped Val’s hand and then pulled her into a warm hug as he complimented them both. “You know,” he said, considering, “my friend Ramiel is Supreme Justice….”
“Yes…” she answered, not sure where this was going. Val had raised an eyebrow; his face was relaxed but he still tucked her more securely beneath his arm.
Haniel chuckled kindly at their reaction. “I was just going to say that I’m sure we could ask him to marry you in the temple, if you like? It would mean getting married in the next day or two, but—”
“Yes, please!” Alanna couldn’t help her excitement. “I mean,” she turned to Val, grinning up at him, “if that’s what you want?”
He broke into a broad answering smile, his forehead smoothing out and his eyes wrinkling at the sides as he looked down at her. She had never seen him look so happy, almost like the boy he must have been, running wild with Tristan and Nim.
“Lanni, I just want to marry you. I’d do it right now, here on the tournament field, if I didn’t think my sister would kick my ass.”
