The Unkai sit at a huge table that fills the room. Each city has a voice and each voice has a city, all with me, helping with new laws for things to move forward. I can veto their power, should they get too hungry, and they can overturn me, should I get too hungry.
It’s a crowd of unfamiliar faces. A mountain of work. But I am up to the task.
Nash is halfway across the room, standing guard over the council of men and women. He doesn’t look at me, and I don’t look directly at him.
We haven’t spoken in the couple weeks since I became officially queen for the new ruling government. There’s nothing to say.
We can never be, though our love stays true.
Sneaking around doesn’t feel like something we can continue doing. Not with the country looking to me to help guide them. I shouldn’t have done so to begin with, but I did. That's going to change because doing so now when I’ve chosen to be their queen doesn’t seem right.
I focus on the task at hand. Thinking of Nash won’t help. Taking care of my people is what I have to concentrate on. I give Puneah a pat on the head, to reassure myself more than her, and say, “I call this meeting to order. The first item of business is to go over the new trade agreement with Faner.”
“That’s not quite true,” a woman two chairs down from me says. “While we will get to that soon, there’s something else we, as a council, decided needs to be taken care of first.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware. What do we need to cover?”
The woman nods at the man across from her. I need to learn all their names and which cities they are from.
He says, “We need to change an archaic law.”
Something stirs within me, making me sit straighter in my seat.
He continues, “It has come to our attention that the rule stating a queen can neither touch nor marry is out of date. We vote to rescind this rule and put another in place, stating that if a ruler’s child should wish to be king or queen, they must take the same route as everyone else, and drink from the Vitay Tura for their worthiness to be tested.”
My jaw drops. Did he say what I think he said? It can’t be. I can’t have everything I want. It’s too much.
“All in favor,” says the first woman.
Everyone in the room raises their hands and says, “I.”
“Any opposed,” the woman says.
They’re silent.
“Then the old law shall be done away with, and the new one take effect.” She faces me. “Unless, of course, you’d like to veto, though I’m certain we could overrule you with all of us taking the vote against you.”
My heart drums in my chest, a beat wild and free. My voice comes out strong. “I don’t wish to veto.”
“Then the new law is in effect, starting now.”
I seek Nash’s gaze. My breathing becomes rapid as he looks back at me as if searching my soul. He moves from his position halfway down the table and strides toward me. I push my chair away from the table as he nears. I feel like I’m going to faint, but I won’t allow it to happen. Not in this moment.
Puneah knocks into my hand, her tails snaking around, as if she can sense my excitement.
Nash kneels on the ground before me. “I love you more than life itself, Ryn. Will you marry me?”
It takes all my control not to squeal with delight. “Yes. I will marry you.”
He stands and leans forward to press his lips to mine, for all to see. Heat blossoms at my lips and spreads through my body as a cheer goes up around the table.
“You know,” I say, “it’s still against the law for you to ask for my hand in marriage. I meant to change it so men could ask women, as well as the opposite, but with everything going on, I never got to it.”
Laughter fills the room. Puneah tries to push between Nash and me, but I gently keep her to the side, a hand on her head.
“We’ll fix that,” Nash says, leaning in for another kiss.
Our lips press together, sending that searing heat through me. It’s finally time to live.