Onric joined in the hug, squeezing Meena between himself and Ashlin.
Erich approached next.
Sol had stood awkwardly but hadn’t joined in the group hug.
Erich placed a hand on his shoulder. “If she talks too much, just pretend to be asleep. It’s always worked for me.”
“I heard that,” Meena yelled, poking her head out of the hug she was still tightly entangled in. She caught a look at Sol’s face, hoping he wasn’t taking her brother seriously.
But Sol nodded to Erich—with no hint of humor—as though he thought Erich was actually giving him advice.
“He’s jesting!” Meena said, twisting her head as Erich threw himself into the family hug. “I don’t talk that much,” she continued, but she was not sure her voice carried beyond the bodies now surrounding her.
Another small person wiggled into the center of the hug, and Meena embraced Celesta, half hugging the little girl and half protecting her from the aggressive nature of the rest of the hugging.
Before her vision was cut off by someone’s arm, Meena saw Ian approach her new husband and speak to him. Together, they looked properly solemn. They would keep each other great company.
But she would be the one keeping company with her solemn partner.
Which reminded her it was time to leave. They wanted to start their journey before night fell.
Wiggling her way out of the crowded hug, Meena moved to Sol’s side. She slipped her hand inside his arm and smiled up at him, like a new wife would do to her husband. She could feel him stiffen momentarily at her touch, but he quickly brought a smile to his face. He wasn’t a very good actor, but she hoped he would get better at faking smiles that didn’t look so forced in the future.
“Shall we set out on our wedding journey?” Meena asked, smirking sweetly. It was too tempting to jest with his seriousness.
He nodded—seriously, of course—and patted her hand. “It is time.”
Meena ignored the fluttering in her stomach. She wasn’t actually setting out on her wedding journey. She was setting out on a real mission with a real cypher. One of these two things was far more exciting and far more preferable than the other.
Turning toward the front door of the hall, Meena gently led Sol through the crowd. The people around them separated, cheering and clapping as the married couple made their way to the door.
Meena smiled at the many faces she knew, nodding and waving at the cheerful send off.
Sol’s arm under her hand was hard as a rock. His pace was swift, and Meena could feel the discomfort rolling off him.
Taking her other hand, Meena placed it on his arm as comfortingly as she could. “Slow down. You are doing well,” she said as loudly as she dared, covering her words with another blushing smile up at her new husband.
Sol leaned his head down toward her. “So many eyes,” he whispered in her ear.
Meena smiled without faking it. The heat of his breath on her ear seemed to warm her entire body. She leaned into him as they walked the rest of the hall, grateful to be experiencing this together.
The crowd spilled over into the front courtyard and Meena continued to smile and wave as she and Sol slowly made their way to the waiting royal carriage.
The noise of the crowd lessened considerably as soon as she stepped inside it. Sol had used his hand to help her up the step and she gripped it tightly, not letting go as he followed her inside.
Someone shut the door behind them, and Meena sat down thankfully on the back bench, leaving enough room for Sol to sit next to her if he chose to.
Sol’s eyes quickly scanned the carriage, but he sat down next to her.
Meena relaxed into her position, pleased that he had chosen to remain united, even though they were hidden from view.
The crowd let out a joyful cheer as the carriage rumbled forward.
“That ought to have fooled the councilor,” she said, turning to Sol.
He exhaled, still stiff.
Realizing her hand was still clinging to his, Meena relaxed her hold.
