I smile as my gaze meets a pair of fathomless gray eyes.
Leon
I’m not sure I’ll remember the vows, or much of the ceremony that takes place on the best day of my life. I’m too busy looking at Ana, watching every small shift in her expression and absorbing every new layer of joy that washes over me across the mooring. That’s what I care about. The words and the rituals are important, of course, but I already know I’m tied to this womanuntil the end of my days. Without magic, without moorings or entwined souls, I’d still be there, by her side, because it’s the only place I want to be.
She arrived in the sanctuary looking like Lusteris descended to earth, floating down the aisle as an ethereal vision. The sunlight streaming through the windows hit the sparkles of her dress and refracted it a thousand times across the sanctuary, bathing us all in her light.
That’s what she is, really—a sun that lights up the world around her, pulling people into her orbit just with the power of her heart. I think I say as much as we exchange the rings, and then the priest announces us husband and wife, and I get to kiss her for the thousandth time, thinking how the thousand next times will be just as good.
“So that went well,”she says to me as we walk down the aisle, waving and smiling at the cheering guests.“Did you like the priest?”
“Yes,”I say, glancing back at the ancient man who officiated.“But he’s no cleric. Where did you find him?”
“He used to run the sanctuary in Otscold. Lots of Trova’s remote places have people like that—lay preachers instead of actual Temple employees. He never went much in for the Ethiran stuff.”
“So you’re telling me he’s not officiallya priest?”I ask, amused.“Are we actually even married?”
“Yes!”Ana replies, laughing at me as we exit the sanctuary.“I made him one. I can do that now.”
I shrug.“It’s all a formality anyway.”
She knows what I mean, that I’ve already bound myself to her in much better ways.
“Not just a formality,”she says with a raised brow as we let the guests surge from the sanctuary and toss flower petals over us.“There’s also the small matter of this ceremony making you the king of Trova.”
“Ah yes,”I say,“that.”
General Becane makes way for us through the crowds, escorting us toward the palace’s great hall as our guests fall into step behind us.
“I suppose it’s a little ironic,”I say, thinking it over,“considering how I ran from taking over Fairon’s responsibilities. And now I’ve ended up on a throne anyway.”
We arrive at the hall, but Ana stops before we step through the doors.
“General Becane, would you mind showing the guests inside?” she asks. “The king and I just need a moment.”
Then she grabs my hand and whisks me off down a side corridor.
“What are you doing?”I ask, but I’m answered when she pulls us into an alcove. I let her push me up against the wall as she stands on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck.
This kiss is much less chaste than the one we shared in the sanctuary. Her lips move hungrily against mine, awakening a slow, pleasant heat through my body. I slip my hands beneath the swaths of fabric that make up her cape, finding the curve of her behind and sliding my hands over it with an appreciative noise. She presses herself up harder against me, sighing against my mouth.
“I needed that,”she says.“But we should get back to the great hall.If we’re gone too long, people will get ideas.”
I draw back. “I seem to remember this beingyouridea,” I point out.
She grins, dropping another peck on my lips. “I just wanted to make it clear that this whole king thing will besoworth your time.”
“Everything’s worth it for you, Ana,” I say.
“I know,” she replies with an unworried smile. “But you should know you can be as involved or asuninvolvedas you want. It doesn’t need to be too taxing for you. In fact, if you don’t want to go and sit up there right now while everyone bows and congratulates us, you don’t have to.”
“And miss the opportunity to show my new wife off to all of Trova? Not likely. Besides, I don’t mind if serving my queen is alittletaxing.”
I run my hands over her body again so she gets my precise meaning, and she grins.
“Oh, you don’t, do you?” she asks and laughs as I dip her back in my arms, leaning over to plant one last kiss on her lips—for now, anyway.
The hall is laid out sumptuously for the wedding banquet, the long tables arranged around the central point where Ana and I sit. After the hundreds of courtiers have feasted and the band has begun to play, we start the process of receiving each of the guests so they can pay homage to their new queen, and even newer king.
