And today, I’m finally going to marry him.
I’m sitting in a large, plush chair in my quarters, looking out across the rolling hills of Tyron. Soon, I’ll be surrounded by maids who will take me to the bathing chambers to be washed and perfumed and made-up before being dressed in my pale blue gown.
It’ll be a small, intimate wedding. Only family and close friends. My brothers and Garan will be attending. On Corvan’s side, Kaithar, Ciel, and Gerent will witness the ceremony.
Sylhara will be there too, on behalf of all the Khaturians.
Later, there will be a large and lavish celebration, to which the entire castle staff and the residents of Sanzar have been invited. There will be nobles and military personnel from all over Rahava, too, as well as a dignitaries from neighboring kingdoms.
The anticipation dances through me like sunlight on water. Our union is already iron-clad, but I can’t wait to make it official.
A soft knock on the door makes me turn my head. I rise to my feet, sliding my feet into furlined velvet slippers.
“Yes?” I call as I cross the room. “Who is it?”
It can’t be Corvan. He wouldn’t knock.
The door opens. Daron appears, offering me a small bow. He’s dressed in formal attire—a sleek black velvet jacket with long tails, white silk shirt, and sharply tailored trousers. His ginger hair is neatly slicked back. “My lady, I apologize for the intrusion. His Highness requested that I convey a message to you.”
At the merest mention of Corvan, my heartbeat quickens. “What is it, Daron?”
“You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?” My heart flutters wildly.
We weren’t expecting anybody else.
“She’s waiting for you in the garden by the pond.” There’s a note of awe in his voice.
She? Could it be…?
“I’ll be right there, Daron. Just let me get my coat.”
Hurrying, I put on my boots and grab a coat from the antechamber, throwing it over my simple tunic and trousers.
Daron waits patiently. “Would you like me to escort you there, my lady?”
I wave him away. “No need. I know the way.”
Tyron Castle is my home now, after all. I feel perfectly safe within these walls, especially when Corvan’s around. Although he’s been spending a lot of time in the capital as he prepares to officially take the mantle of emperor, he rarely stays there for long, preferring to return home at the day’s end.
It’s quite easy to traverse the empire when you can move at the speed of the wind. Home is just a hop, skip, and a jump away.
“Thank you, Daron,” I say. He wears a wide-eyed expression as I pass him, rushing out of my chambers and into the corridor. Of course, they’re my chambers in name more than anything else. Most of the time, I’m ensconced in Corvan’s quarters, and it’s blissful.
My coat flaps behind me as I pass startled servants ferrying all manner of items—from decorative garlands to carts laden with food and bottles of wine.
I exit the castle through a pair of arched doors, making my way down a stone staircase that’s been decorated with verdant garlands of blossoming vines.
I cross the square, passing the barracks and the stables. The few soldiers I encounter salute as I pass. In the distance, I catch Solstice’s whinny of greeting.
I walk faster, stopping just short of breaking into a run.
Until at last, I reach the hidden garden.
I stop, taking a moment to appreciate the transformation.
I haven’t set foot in this place for several weeks. The pond has thawed. The water is a stunning turquoise hue, perfectly still and crystal-clear. It looks like glass. Fallen branches decorate the floor of the pond, covered in emerald moss that gives them a surreal, otherworldly appearance.
A tree on the water’s edge has burst into soft pink blossoms. A delicate fragrance fills the air. Some of the blossoms have scattered across the lake, forming a carpet of pale pink against the startling blue water.
There’s something in the pond that wasn’t there last time—when Corvan and I stood on its frozen surface and shared our very first kiss.
A pavilion has been constructed, attached to an elegant bridge extending from the footpath beside the water. The pavilion is octagonal in shape, made of wood and steel, its curving roof covered in porcelain tiles that are a delicate shade of pale green.
My mouth hangs open. When did Corvan arrange this? And without me even noticing.
Life is full of surprises when the one you’re bonded to can do literally anything.
But the biggest surprise of all is standing in the center of the pavilion, looking out upon the serene waters.
As I approach, she turns around.
I forget to breathe. My chest tightens. A tingle of magic dances across my skin.
We lock eyes.
Her gaze is the color of emeralds; of the new spring and the deep forests. Her long hair is a rich shade of bottle-green, so deep it’s almost black. It’s been bound into a pair of long braids that trail down her back.
She wears a dress made of foliage; of thousands of tiny leaves knitted together without seam or stitch, clinging to her lithe form like a second skin before flaring out at her hips to form a long, flowing skirt.
Her skin is flawless; ageless, she could be mistaken for being on the cusp of womanhood if not for the weight of her gaze and the wisdom etched into her expression.
She looks formidable; unimpregnable.
For a moment, I’m awestruck and utterly intimidated.
But then she breaks.
Her expression crumbles. Her eyes shimmer with tears.
She might look like an ethereal being, but her expression right now is so very human.
She opens her arms, beckoning to me.
I have no words. As if in a trance, I walk towards her, my feet moving of their own volition.
Into her embrace.
She wraps her arms around me, and suddenly everything feels right.
“Finley,” she whispers, her voice smooth and resonant. It’s like a balm for my anxious soul. “I’m sorry it took me so long to reach you. What a fine young woman you’ve grown into.” She softens her embrace and extends her arms just a little, putting some distance between us so she can take a good look at me. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. I reach up and wipe them with my sleeve. “If only I could have nurtured you the way I wanted…”
I can’t bear to see her like this; filled with bitterness and remorse and grief. This should be a joyous occasion. “I’m sorry, too. For so long, I didn’t know. That man hid your existence from all of us. I’m sorry it took us so long to find you. You don’t need to be sorry for anything, mama. You never did anything wrong, and by placing the seal on me and cursing Lucar Solisar, you protected me. It worked out all right, didn’t it? I’m here. I’m well. And so are you… I hope.”
“I am well, my child.” She leans in and gently kisses me on top of my hair, her love and warmth radiating through me. “Now that I’ve found you, I am well, and I know that you’ll be in good hands. You’ve made a fine choice of mate.”