“Faramir will be king of Arbinj and Volca. And when I become queen … you’ll be king of Tundrayn. Your father means to control my kingdom while giving nothing of his own power.”
“Yes,” I repeat, hands clenching and unclenching at my sides. I want to tell her we can leave, escape the palace—but there’s no place her father and mine would leave unchecked to find us. Assuming she’d evenwantto leave with me.
Or I could take her back to Tundrayn and never see her again. My heart rebels at this unbearable outcome, but it’d be what’s best forher. She’d be safe.
Mayah leans against the large window, staring down at the capital. “And if I refuse to marry you…” she says quietly, “your father could have me thrown into the dungeons. Killed. Or worse.” She turns to face me. “He won’t let me return home.”
I approach her cautiously. “No. He won’t.”
She takes a shuddering breath. “Your father wants me to refuse. Wants me to give him a reason.”
I can do nothing but nod. She’s rationalizing the situation to herself—talking through her options. I pray she’ll decide to leave. With me.
But I needherto make that decision.
She’s quiet for minutes, simply staring at the capital.
Then—“Yes.” Her voice is quiet. “I’ll marry you.”
Her words hit me like a storm, so jarring, I’m left breathless. I thought she’d ask me to take her home to Tundrayn.
But marry her?
I’ve thought about this possibility countless times over the last few weeks. Mayah,mine.
But not like this. Fuck, not like this. Not when she’s choosing the lesser of two evils. Not when she’s backed into a corner, fighting to survive.
Not when she doesn’t love me.
“Mayah…” I murmur, mouth twisting. “You don’t have to do this.”
“But I do. If I refuse, there will be no alliance. Your father will make me vanish. Or he could attack Tundrayn. That is, if my father doesn’t attack first. War will ravage the realm. Ihaveto marry you.” She looks uncertain. “Unless … unless there’s someone else.”
“No.” I shake my head firmly. “There’s no one else.”Only you. “It’s just—” Fuck. “It should be your choice.”
She rests a hand on my arm. “Thisismy choice,” she whispers softly, staring up at me with those impossible blue eyes. “I’m choosing to survive.”
Not like this, Mayah. I can’t. Skies damn me into the earth, I can’t—
She steps closer, the toes of her boots touching mine.
I’m about to say the words,I’ll take you back to Tundrayn,when she speaks.
“Well?” she murmurs. “Will you marry me, Zev?”
Her proposal erases my every thought. She’s under duress, I know this, and still, her words make my chest ache.
Mayah,my wife.
I study her beautiful, earnest face. How can I refuse her?
Perhaps we can both get what we want. She wants this alliance—safety for her people, both from Arbinj and the Rebellion.
And I want her.
She doesn’t love me … but perhaps she will over time. I’ll be a better husband to her than Faramir ever would. Thananyonewould. I’ll cherish her, keep her safe and happy. I’ll protect her from any and every threat. Maybe this is for the best.
Gently, I cradle her face, resting my forehead against hers.
