Page 125 of Once Upon a Crown
Gwen opened the drawer. I could tell she was at least a little curious, maybe even excited.
“It’s in the little box.”
She picked up the small wooden box, removing the lid. Her eyes widened at the sight of the small ring with a mariposa lily made of silver..
“Before you get excited, it’s not that kind of a ring.”
She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “You expected me to say yes if it were?”
I wasn’t sure what to reply, so I took the box from her and pulled out the little silver ring with the rosy gemstone placed in the centre of her favourite flower.
“This stone has a very special history,” I said, taking her hand and sliding the ring onto her finger. Realisation seemed to set in, and she looked at me with surprise.
“Lance, where did you get this?”
“I have my ways.” It was too soon to make any kind of serious vows or commitments. We needed to get to know each other without the threat of war looming over our heads, without the intervention of our families and our past. We needed a clean slate. I wanted to get to know her more, to spend time with her. I knew there was more to her than she let most people see. I’d caught glimpses of it in the past few months.
“I’m going back to Everness once I’m recovered.”
Gwen looked disappointed, and I wondered if she thought this was some kind of parting gift.
“I want you to come with me,” I added quickly. I wasn’t sure what she would say, but I’d thought about it for days, and I knew it would kill me if I didn’t at least ask her.
The corner of her mouth tugged up. “You mean you’re not just leaving without a word this time?”
“Well, we can’t have you holding a grudge for another few years. It seems like an awful waste of time.”
She admired the ring on her finger. The Myrgonite stone, something that was once the only thing I truly cared about, the only thing I wanted.
And now, it had been replaced.
“I’ll come on one condition.”
“Is that condition that I kiss you again, on the hidden balcony of the ballroom?” I couldn’t help but tease her. She swatted my arm and I grabbed her hand.
“I’m listening.”
“You set up a shooting range at the Levernian palace.” The fact that this was her only request made me chuckle.
“As you wish.”
Chapter 50
Elara
I found Cai sitting in the library.
It was another cold winter night, and the fireplace warmed up the room, making it more comfortable than the icy hallways.
“There you are.” The door closed behind me with a soft thud.
Cai looked over his shoulder from one of the reading chairs. “Were you looking for me?” He appeared pleased at the thought.
“Indeed.” I walked over to the reading chair and placed my arm around his shoulders. “I wanted to see how you were doing after the council meeting today?”
Cai had formed a new council composed of the loyalist aristocrats who had stood by his side during exile and provided men to fight in the battle against Argon. He’d also met with some representatives from Argon and diplomats from other kingdoms, Cedia and Briarstead, on the continent, to discuss the future of Argon. Truth be told, I didn’t care much what happened to the kingdom now without its king or any legal heirs. I only cared that we’d made it out alive and that Cai and I could finally start building a future together, focusing on our own kingdoms.
It felt like I was able to breathe properly for the first time in a while.
