“Nothing.”Oh, seas.All she could do was stare at this man, her tongue seeming to have stopped working. She was almost afraid to say the words, afraid that it would all be snatched away.
Tiern grasped the back of his neck. “Erm, I’ll just be going, then.” He ducked out the doorway to leave them.
Aerity peeked behind her. One of her guards was watching, but she knew he would not stop her or gossip. She slipped into the chamber and shut the door. As Paxton stared at her expectantly, a sudden giggle erupted out of her throat and she covered her mouth. His brow scrunched.
“What has happened?”
Aerity leaned back against the door to steady herself.Paxton looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. He tossed the towel onto a chair and faced her.
“You’re beginning to make me nervous, Aer.”
In a rush, she spouted, “He refused to marry me.”
His brow furrowed even tighter. “Pardon? Wait . . .Lief? Refused?”
Her head bobbed up and down and the giggle returned. “Aye!” Then she straightened and lost her smile. “He’s been banished from the coldlands for it. I’ve given him the southern lands. You should have seen King Dagur—”
“Wait.” Paxton’s heavy, dark eyes were locked on her. “You’re not to be married?”
The severity of his heated stare made her suck in a breath. “Nay.” She took his hands, looking down at his strong, capable, magical fingers. “Not to him.”
In a rush, Paxton lifted her off her feet, making her laugh as he buried his face into her neck and spun her.
“Deep seas!” he said. The vivacity in his own laughter was the most joyous sound she’d ever heard. They were free. Free of their enemies. Free of promised sacrifices. Free to be together. And though life was certain to bring obstacles anew each day, they would face them together.
She wrapped her arms tightly about his neck and murmured in his ear. “You’re my prince, Pax. My only prince.”
Epilogue
Aerity stepped out of the grand castle doors as they swung wide, and into the mild warmth of a spring breeze. Buds of white and pink shone from trees against the vivid blue sky. Tulips of varying bright colors lined the pathway, slightly overshadowed by soldiers at attention in full regalia on each side.
Queen Aerity peered down at her dapper brother, who stood tall and proud at the bottom of the steps. Beside him sat Furball with a giant blue bow tied around his neck—the ribbon in direct, ironic contrast to his brutish size and appearance. The kind beast rose up on his hind legs to watch as she made her way down to Donnie and slipped a satin-gloved hand through his arm. She smiled at the moisture in his hair where he’d apparently tried to tame the curls.
“Thank you for escorting me, Donubhan,” she said.
“Thank you for allowing me, sister. My queen.”
She looked at the beast who towered over her and smiled. “Good boy.”
Together, they took a step forward, and music poured forth. Bagpipes and flutes played a traditional Lochlan wedding march. It sent a thrill of delight and disbelief through Aerity to hear it, knowing it was for her and her love. She’d wanted nothing more than to marry immediately in thewinter, but she knew the lands required healing, and the castle needed much work before it could house guests again.
She and Donnie took the cobbled path toward the west commons with Furball bounding along beside them. Young Merity and Caileen giggled and ran ahead through the rows of soldiers, throwing tulip petals and lavender flowers high into the air. A procession of guards marched closely behind them.
As they turned the corner, cheers rang out from the thousands of people allowed into the royal lands to celebrate with them that day, even more than had come to her coronation in the winter. The people appeared well and happy. It had brought her great joy that week to receive word that nearly double the number of children had been born throughout the lands late winter and early spring as had been born the year before. In a kingdom whose population had been drastically declining, that was wonderful news of burgeoning prosperity.
They came to the gates, covered in twining vines of flowers, and the guards swung them open. A trail of flowers made a path forward. Aerity couldn’t help but beam an uncontrollable smile at the sight of Wyneth and Vixie standing on one side of a vine-covered archway, with Harrison and Tiern on the other. And straight ahead . . . her feet faltered at the handsome sight of Paxton in a dress tunic and pressed trousers, his hair carefully tapered by a leather strap at the back of his neck. A slow grin came to his face.
Donnie gave her a gentle tug forward again. Her eyes moved to the sides, where familiar faces stared back appraisingly: King and Queen Vikani of Ascomanni, King and Queen Cliftonia of Toresta with their two sons, and King and Queen Zandbur of Zorfina. Zandora and her two sisters, along with their strapping, tall husbands. Her cousins, uncles, and aunts, with tears in their eyes. Lief sitting with her family. The Seabolt parents. Everyone dressed in their finest. All to celebrate this moment that Aerity never believed would come. But those trials made this moment all the sweeter.
To Lief Alvi’s apparent bemused chagrin, Furball plopped himself right at his feet, laying with his massive head on his paws. Lief stared at the creature’s ridiculous bow and, with a chuckle, gave Furball a scratch on top of his head.
The only kingdom not represented was Kalor, but they were busy trying to reestablish their monarch. King Kalieno’s only living heir, a second cousin, had come out of hiding to claim his rightful place on the throne, and Lochlanach was keeping a close eye on their proceedings. But for now, Queen Aerity wanted nothing more than to put all politics from her mind.
When Aerity and Donnie came to a stop in front of Paxton, her brother gently brought her hand up and placed it in Pax’s waiting palm. A dizzying sensation swept through her as she looked into her betrothed’s deep, dark eyes. Aerity kissed Donubhan’s cheek and he stepped aside. Aerity and Paxton faced the priest of the sea. Her hand shook inside ofhis, and he twined his fingers with hers, holding tight.
“Paxton Seabolt, hunter and warrior, do you give your undying allegiance, love, and loyalty to your queen, and would-be wife, Aerity Lochson?”
Aerity stood still. In a Lochlan wedding, the vow question was posed, and the couple was open to respond from the heart.
