Page 119 of Daniil
“I wish to protect my son and heir, Prince Micah, and my wife, Princess Courtney.”
I hear Courtney’s startled gasp, but other than that, the room is deadly silent.
“I decline your request.”
My head snaps up in shock, and I gaze at my cousin in confusion.We talked about this.He gave me his blessing.
What the fuck?!
I’m about to get up and let him know what I think of him—it’s just Royal Protectors in this room, so I wouldn’t be publicly embarrassing him—because this just pisses me off.
“Stay where you are.”Erik’s voice is sharp, commanding, and I see a determination in his eyes that usually only comes out when he’s in Parliament.He looks away from me and addresses the room.“I wish to modify Prince Daniil’s oath.As a Royal Protector, he swears allegiance to the royal family but will only put his life on the line for his wife and children.This must come to a vote.”He looks to Sandor.“Prince Sandor—aye or nay?”
“Aye,” Sandor rumbles immediately.
“Princess Lennox.”
“Aye.”
He goes around the room and each of the Protectors, my friends and family, say aye.
This time, when my chin hits my chest, it’s with gratitude and emotion.For the second time in less than a year, I feel tears in my eyes.
Dammit.
Sandor is never going to let me live it down if he sees me cry.
Courtney
I hadno idea what to expect when Lennox escorted me to this small, out of the way chapel in a corner of the palace I’ve never been to before.I’ve never seen her in a Limaji military uniform before, either, so I was hella confused.She promised that Daniil had worked hard for a wedding day surprise and that I would understand everything in a few minutes.
And then he dropped to one knee and asked Erik to release him from his oath.
TheRoyal ProtectorOath.
It’s sacred in his family and in Limaj.
The Royal Protectors are revered and respected.
And just when I was all teary-eyed and emotional, Erik rejected the request.
I don’t pretend to understand everything that’s happening, because the rest of the ceremony is in Limaji, but Lennox explains it to me in hushed whispers.
“It’s a modified oath, where he’s taking a new oath—to you and your children, present and future.”
Oh.My.God.
I didn’t even know this was possible.
And when the ceremony is over, I watch my husband be surrounded by his friends and family, shaking hands and hugging everyone.But through it all, his eyes keep finding mine, a gentle, curious smile in his—like there’s a question I need to answer.
I never expected nor asked him to rescind his oath, and I never would.As much as it scares me, I have the utmost respect for him, his family, and all their traditions.I would never take that from him.Yet he was willing to give it up.For me.
“I have news,” Lennox says to me.She had her second set of twins in November, and she’s been busy, so we haven’t had a lot of time to talk.
“Good news, I hope?”I turn to her curiously.
She smiles widely, baring all her teeth, which tells me there’s something big coming.“Sandor and I are adopting Charlie and Briony.”
