Page 104 of Of Glass and of Gold

Once I broke free of the walls, I bent over, putting my hands on my knees. Long, drawn out, deep breaths tried their best to dull the panicked ache that swept over me. I straightened and made my way toward the hip-height stone wall that overlooked the sprawling view of the massive, enclosed gardens.

My forearms rested against it, and from this level, I could see Highcrest over the bordering walls. Several cities and towns, nearly unseparated, spanning for miles to the west and meeting the ocean to the south.

This was his view, overlooking those he ruled. Forever I would remain a too far speck in the distance, trying to find something useful to do with my life. Without him.

Before I could compose myself, tears streamed down my cheeks. I wiped them away with the heel of my hand, sniffling my now runny nose. Feet scuffed against the stones behind me, and I whipped around to see Nicholas. My breath hitched.

“Talk to me.” His words were a gentle caress, and with tender grace, he came toward me.

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head. Truly, I didn’t know what to say. I only knew that if I even half attempted to search inside myself for the answer, I would break.

He inhaled deeply through his nose, straightening his posture to take in the view of Highcrest. “Alright. If you won’t, can I?”

I wiped away the remaining wet marks on my cheeks, only nodding in silent permission.

His hands flexed and balled at his sides, a sign that he was nervous. “Tonight, when all of those perfectly lovely women were asking me questions about my future queen, I only thought of you. I wanted to look at you. And ask for your response.”

My heart physically stopped. There was no world in which he was saying these words to me. No world in which they were all I wanted to hear.

“Nora, from the moment I met you, either version of you, I’ve been entranced. You challenge me. You don’t dance around my feelings or my position. You’re are strong, and brave, and stunningly beautiful,” he said those last words almost breathlessly.

I braced the stone behind me for support, swallowing my shock. With one violent step, he removed all the distance that had separated us and pressed his forehead against mine. He whispered onto my skin, “Tell me you don’t want me.”

I closed my eyes, savoring the feel of him so close. There was no part of me that could conjure those words.

“Tell me you want nothing to do with me, and I swear it, I’ll never bother you again. But before you answer, I want to promise you that if you’ll have me, I’ll spend every minute of every hour of every day making myself into the man you need me to be. I will do all I can for you, and for this kingdom. I want you by my side, bossing me around and keeping me accountable.” He flashed a beautiful one-sided grin that I opened my eyes to see.

I laughed against the tears that continued flowing for an entirely different reason. My hands dared to lift between us, resting against his chest.

“Whatever you want, Nora, I will do it. Even if you tell me to leave and never speak to you again, I will do that too, even though it will destroy my soul every day.” His hands encircled my neck, sliding upward until they cupped my jaw. “Tell me, Nora. What is it that you want?” His thumb stroked my cheek.

My hands found purchase over his wrists, indulging in the warmth of his skin, wanting to hold them in place there forever. Maybe it was the wine, or the humid spring air, or the glow of the sunset raining upon this gorgeous man before me, but there was no other option than to say the building truth, “I want you.”

“Then I am wholly yours.” His lips crashed into mine.

It wasn’t enough. He wasn’t close enough. My hands clawed at his back, urging him closer, forcing our kiss deeper. Our hands pawed at one another like time itself threatened to run out, and we had a lifetime of touches to make up for.

For the first time in maybe my whole adult life, I was every part of myself, poured it into the passion I felt for this man who knew me at my core.

“Be my wife,” he said, finally breaking our enchanted twilight.

My brow furrowed, the glass image of all the dreams I hadn’t dared to hope cracking. My bottom lip quivered as I toyed with the thought of my actions coming to light. “It’s… complicated.”

He shook his head. “It’s not.” Taking both of my hands in his, he got down on one knee. The ruler of the kingdom bowed himself before me, as if I somehow mattered enough to do it for. “Ellanor Shen, be my wife. Take my last name, or don’t. Bear my children, or don’t. Storm off when we fight, or round-house kick me, I don’t care. I just need you. There is nothing complicated about that.”

I laughed again, briefly flicking my gaze to his side that I knew still bothered him.

“Nora,” he said, his gaze burning into mine. “Will you have me?” His eyes became glassy and everything in me crumbled. Every wall I’d ever built, every precaution I’d ever taken, every guard around my heart. Destroyed. Turned to dust.

“Yes, Nick. I will have you.” I tumbled into him, latching on with all the strength I could muster. His strong, protective, muscled arms wrapped around my waist, securing me to him with a hold that promised he’d never let me go.

Any concern that told me I shouldn’t have this feeling vanished. He made it seem so simple. Him and I, together. That was it, and it was all I wanted. No pretenses or other plans mattered.

His hand cupped the back of my head, and my fingers worked their way into his golden hair. There we stayed, holding one another until the sky faded from orange to blue.

51

Nora

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