I reached the base of the marble steps trying not to collapse under the weight of everyone’s stare. I made my way to the beginning of the red carpet. Mareena and I exchanged a glance with each other before I nodded, and we strolled down the red carpet with everyone’s attention completely on me.
I surveyed the crowd, taking in the scene before me—until my eyes locked onto Crevan’s. He looked at me with the cutest expression of anticipation I had ever seen, and a burst of euphoria flooded through me. I loved him. I loved Crevan. I would be overjoyed to spend the rest of my life with him. The marriage alliance, which could have been an absolute disaster, had turned into a blessing once I realized the true nature of my future husband. I couldn’t have asked for a better prince to marry.
Once we reached the top of the steps on the stage, Mareena gently took my hand and placed it in Crevan’s, our skin brushing against each other. This was a tradition we had decided to resurrect for the occasion. Then, she retreated to the side of the carpet to watch.
The prince leaned down to whisper to me. “I’m trying to learn what this is like. There’s no veil for the bride, no flowers, and no music?”
“Right.”
“You are a princess to a kingdom of cynics.”
I risked cracking a grin, hoping he wouldn’t realize that the emerald I wore should have blocked that emotion. “Maybe.”
He glanced down at my necklace with a confused expression. “Shouldn’t it . . . be impossible for you to feel happiness right now?”
I can never find a way around you, can I, Crevan? I scrambled for an excuse. “They’re . . . fakes . . . normal, unenchanted stones.”
He looked impressed. “You managed that? Good for you, then.”
Directly after that quick exchange of words, Osion stepped up and lifted his arms, silencing straggling conversations, including ours.
“This is a great day, a day to be celebrated. It’s a day that the people of both kingdoms have waited decades for. We are not only recognizing the uniting of two people but also the unification of two kingdoms: the kingdoms of Ashlon and Tanum. It signifies the start of a new era, an era of peace, trust, and prosperity. From this point, henceforth and forever, these nations will share the peninsula and all of its resources, including both the Northern and Southern Forests and access to this kingdom’s mines. These specific trade agreements will be negotiated tomorrow morning by the two kings, King Raymon and King Kadar.
“Tomorrow, after negotiations, Syona will also leave with the rest of Tanum’s royal family. We have given her time to learn about their kingdom. We will bid her and our new allies a fond farewell. Now, vows will be exchanged.” He faced me. “Please repeat after me.”
I sighed internally, knowing what he would say. It would be painfully objective and unemotional as it had been in every wedding he officiated. I cringed each time I had to attend a wedding in the kingdom of Ashlon.
Just say it. Repeat it. Force the words to come out of your mouth. Get this over with, and then you’ll be free.
“I, Syona Ashlon.”
Great. My full name. “I, Syona Ashlon,” I repeated.
Osion droned on: “Do promise to obey and respect him and to develop a relationship based on trust and honesty.”
I withheld a snort: “Do promise to obey and respect him and to develop a relationship based on trust and honesty.”
“To uphold this marriage for the sake of my family and the benefits this brings to them . . .”
Fine. That I can say truthfully. I know how much this means to our kingdoms. “To uphold this marriage for the sake of my family and the benefits this brings to them.”
“To wear an amber stone in his presence to prevent myself from being emotionally compromised, to remain detached from love and all sentiment, and to respect this event by never marrying again if he dies.”
Ha. Sorry. I’ve already broken that rule, and I don’t think I’ll ever follow it. “To wear an amber stone in his presence to prevent myself from being emotionally compromised, to remain detached from love and all sentiment, and to respect this event by never marrying again if it so be.”
As I was repeating this, Crevan stared at me with a slightly confused expression on his face, as if he were appalled by these statements.
When I finished, Osion nodded and switched to Crevan: “Prince Crevan, please repeat after me.”
He still appeared confused but gave a reluctant nod and recited: “I, Crevan Westbay, promise to respect her and form a relationship based on trust and honesty. To honor her family and provide for her. To uphold her wishes with the emotion stones and refrain from love and to respect this event by never marrying again if it so be.”
Crevan repeated all of these statements without a moment’s hesitation.
“Good. Then Prince Crevan of the kingdom of Tanum, do you take Syona to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” he agreed, with the hint of a smile on his face.
Osion turned to me. “Princess Syona of the kingdom of Ashlon, do you take Crevan to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I glanced at Crevan, only a foot away from me, still holding my hand from when Mareena had placed it into his. It might have been inappropriate to have the husband and wife touch each other during the ceremony, but I didn’t think that anyone cared by this point.
My eyes wandered around the room, staring at the crowd before me. I opened my mouth to say the words when I spied something that made me stop cold.
Gerrand.
He was leaning against the wall at the very back of the room, staring intently at me. I hadn’t even expected him to come, but there he was. Our gazes locked, and I tried to read his expression as best I could. I suddenly realized that too much time had gone by and everyone in the audience might think something was wrong.
Please, I pleaded with him in my mind, what do you want me to do? I don’t want you to be mad at me.
His face suddenly broke into a somber smile, and he gave me a slight nod.
I mimicked his smile. Thank you.
I faced Crevan again, gazing into his eyes. They were green instead of brown. They were bright and full of anticipation. They showed anticipation of the freedom that would await both of us after this moment: me, freedom from the emotion stones; him, freedom from expectations.
Both of us free. Together.
“I do.”
“Then I officially pronounce you husband and wife,” Osion announced.
I could have imagined it, but I thought I heard a subtle sigh coming up from the audience.
Osion waved his hand. “Bring out the rings, please.”
Mareena, from her place to the side, produced two silver rings from the palm of her hand. They were simple as rings in the kingdom of Ashlon always were. Crevan’s was just a silver band with a few darker carved lines around the edges. Mine was a copy of his, but the top sparkled with a trio of diamonds.
Crevan leaned over to me. “You didn’t tell me there were rings. I wasn’t expecting that. It’s a nice surprise.”
“Well, rings are only used in royal or noble families. Anywhere else, they’re considered a waste of money.”
“That doesn’t change anything. I still like it.”
I took the ring from Mareena’s outstretched hand and slid it on my hand. Crevan, taking the hint, did the same. It fit perfectly on my finger, but the cold metal burned against my skin. I wasn’t used to wearing rings.
Osion nodded with approval. “I now solidify the alliance between the kingdom of Ashlon and Tanum. The royal families are now permanently connected. Syona is now henceforth and forever considered a princess of Tanum, with the royal family being subject to all the rights and responsibilities of her being in that position. Crevan is also henceforth and forever considered a prince of Ashlon.” He took a breath. “The ceremony is over. I dismiss the two of you.”
Crevan and I glided off the stage in near-perfect synchrony. As we continued walking down the red carpet, I heard polite, scattered applause, which was more than I expected. A normal wedding didn’t mean much, but a royal one was a bit more of a spectacle.
As I kept walking, joy flooded through me. It was done. Finally, finally, nothing could stop me. I could feel my chains unlocking and clanking to the floor.
Crevan caught me staring at him and smiled again. “What are you thinking right now?”
“I’m thinking that . . . I love you. I’ll always love you, and I don’t think I’ll try to hide it anymore. You are amazing.”
“Ha. I’m glad you think so.” He slipped his hand into mine and leaned closer to me. The physical contact was unexpected, but I welcomed it. It gave me a rush of energy and sharpened my senses.
As we exited the main hallway and wound through one of the smaller branches, we found ourselves in seclusion. Crevan stopped me and scanned our surroundings, checking to see if we were truly alone. Then he sat down on the marble floor and rested his head against the wall. I did the same, scooting up right against him. I rested my head on his shoulder and drank in the warmth of his skin. In that moment, with my back against the wall and pressing myself against another person, a person I loved, I felt protected.
I felt safe.
And again, for old time’s sake, I used the simple, familiar way of expressing myself. I laid my fingers on the marble floor and tapped them.