Page 263 of Of Empires and Dust
Dayne dropped to one knee and pulled the small wooden box from his pocket, prying it open. Inside, on a bed of orange silk, was a gleaming gold ring, wyverns etched into its curves, small gleaming sunstones set into their eyes. “I will never deserve your heart, but I vow to do everything I can to earn your love from this day until my last day. Would you please make the mistake of taking me as your husband?”
Mera stared down at Dayne, her mouth ajar, eyes wide, hands shaking. “Dayne Ateres, get off your knees.”
She leaned down and hoisted him up by his arms, kissing him deeply.
“Is that a yes?”
“I’ve waited for you to ask that question for over twelve years. Of course it’s a yes. It has always been a yes. You are mine, and I am yours. Now give me my ring.”
Tears welled in Dayne’s eyes as he laughed and slid the golden ring onto Mera’s hand. He could not remember another time in his life when he’d cried from happiness.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I asked Senya to have it made by the same jeweller who made Alina’s crown. She gave it to me the day she died.”
“I will cherish it forever and pass it on to our own son.”
Dayne stared at Mera.
She took his hand and placed it on her belly. “I am with child, Dayne.”
For the second time that night, and only the second time in his life, Dayne cried tears of joy. He wrapped his arms around Mera and pulled her close, his fingers tangling in her hair, his tears dripping onto the crown of her head. “Are you… are you sure?”
Mera slapped him on the shoulder. “Of course I’m sure, you idiot.”
“You say such sweet things.” Dayne pulled away, then planted a kiss on Mera’s forehead. Then another one, and another one, continuing until she pushed him away, laughing.
“I’m going to be a father?”
“You’re going to be a father.”
“A son?”
“Would it matter?”
Dayne shook his head. “A son, a daughter… None of it matters. My child. I love them already. Is that even possible?”
Mera nodded, tears rolling down her soft cheeks.
“How long have you known?”
“I’ve not bled for two moons now. And I can feel the changes. I was thinking Ilya if it’s a girl, Arkin if it’s a boy.”
“I would love that.”
“Thought you might.”
Dayne pulled his hands away from Mera, fighting the urge to scratch his skin.
“Dayne, what’s wrong?”
“I just…” Images of the night attack on Ankar flashed in Dayne’s mind. The blood. The carnage. He had done what he’d needed to do, had become what he had needed to become to ensure Valtara’s freedom, but that didn’t absolve him, it didn’t clean the blood from his hands. And Ankar had just been oneof many… One thousand four hundred and sixty-three. That was how many men and women had died at Dayne’s hands. What kind of man was he to think he could raise a child?
“I’m not interrupting, am I? It feels like I’m interrupting.”
Dayne let out a long sigh and ran his hands through his hair. He looked past Mera to see Belina standing at the mouth of the Rest, shrouded in darkness, her face lit only by the setting sun that drifted in behind her and bounced off the rock.
“What is it, Belina?”
