He skims the tip of his nose alongside mine. “It is.”
“And if I say I rather like that?” I murmur against his lips.
A low rumbling purr vibrates in his chest. “Then I will likely become unbearable,” he teases.
I laugh and he does too. After a moment, his expression sobers and he cups my chin as he stares deep into my eyes. “You’re mine, Vivienne,” he says, voice smooth and deep. “Mine to protect. Mine to worship. And mine to love beyond measure.”
I lean in and brush my lips to his in a tender kiss as I whisper, “And you are mine.”
CHAPTER 56
VIVIENNE
As I stand before the tall mirror, my gaze travels over the twilight blue silk gown. It’s lovely, with crystals embedded in the bodice like scattered stars. My red hair is pulled back at the top in an elaborate twist of braids while the rest hangs down my back in soft curls.
It’s the day of my coronation. After the ceremony, I’ll officially be queen of the Dark Elves of Valethryn.
A soft knock sounds at the door behind me, and I turn just as my father steps inside, followed by my older brother—Aldric.
It’s been two months since I last saw them, and I’m so glad they’re here.
My father’s gaze sweeps over me and he smiles. “Well,” he says, and I recognize the familiar note in his voice, the one that always sounds as though he has been privately congratulating himself long before anyone else thought to do so. “I knew this would all work out in the end.”
Aldric grins beside him. “So did I.”
Indignation sparks in my chest as I think of how they both lied to me, allowing me to believe I’d been married off to a stranger. I open my mouth to lay into them, but stop, because the truth is that I’m happy. Even as I think this, I know that word is far too small for the complete and utter joy that lives inside me now.
I love my husband with a fierceness I never knew I was capable of. I love this kingdom, wild and beautiful and wholly unlike the world I came from. I love the life that has unfolded from that one moment in time, when I thought my life had been ruined.
So instead of speaking the bitterness that once would have leapt eagerly from my tongue, I let out a slow breath and a smile crests my lips.
“Did you?” I ask, and my father, to his credit, has the grace to look at least a little uncertain beneath the question.
“A father knows these things,” he says, though less confidently than before.
I arch a teasing brow, and my brother huffs out a laugh.
That small sound nearly undoes me more than anything else because it’s all so familiar. So absurdly, tenderly familiar to have my brother—my best friend—once again.
Emotions lodge in my throat as I cross the room and throw my arms around them both.
“What’s wrong?” Father asks, worry easily heard in his voice. “Is everything alright?”
I pull back just enough to meet his gaze. Tears gather in the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back, worried that if I allow them to fall it will make my skin red and blotchy for my coronation. “Oh, Father, at first I was so angry at you.” I turn to my brother. “And I was so certainyouhad betrayed me.”
Their eyes widen with concern, but I continue before they can interrupt. “But I’m just so happy, I cannot possibly beupset.” I swallow against the lump in my throat. “I’m so in love with Auren. And if not for your devious little plan”—I narrow my eyes in mock anger—“I might never have married him.” I sniffle. “Thank you for coming.”
Father hugs me even tighter. “My darling girl, you don’t know how much it means to know you’re happy. And I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
“I’m happy for you too, Viv,” my brother adds. “I was worried you’d never forgive me for notrescuingyou at the city gates.” He sighs. “But I told myself that even if you hated me, it spared you from marrying the Goblin King. And I knew Auren was a good man.”
My father glances at the clock on the mantle. “We should probably go take our seats.”
I nod.
Before he leaves, he looks at me once more. “Your mother would have been proud.” He smiles. “You look every bit like a queen.”
My brother grins. “You always did know how to command a room, Viv.”
