Chapter 25 Briar #2
“Oh, not trying. I’m succeeding.” Thalen lifted a hand.
“One of my goals in life is to show you and Vad up. Don’t think it makes one bit of difference to me that you’re both kings now, or will be after the formalities are concluded.
You see, Fate granted me all the charm and grace, but did not make me a king because she knew it would be too devastating for others to handle.
But I am grateful to you both for providing the necessary challenge to encourage me to improve my game. Now then. Let’s get started.”
He placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled three high notes and one lower one. The string quartet began a gentle song, rich with emotion and yet soft enough not to overpower conversation. A gentle rustling and clip-clops sounded from the path we’d taken here.
I leaned to the side, wondering what the hell he was up to. My eyes widened when I saw a unicorn foal trot forward, holding a small bouquet of flowers wrapped in pink silk in its mouth.
Myantha beamed as it approached.
I covered my mouth, my heart swelling. How had Thalen managed this?
Vad shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. The unicorn foal dropped the bouquet in Myantha’s lap. She picked it up and looked at Thalen with questioning eyes.
Bowing, Thalen gestured to her. “You can open it, my darling.”
Myantha's fingers trembled as she unwrapped the pink silk. The fabric fell away to reveal a small cluster of white moon lilies. Nestled among them, catching the moonlight like captured starfire, was a ring.
The musicians swelled into a fuller, more dramatic melody as Thalen moved forward and dropped to one knee in front of her chair. His amber eyes gleamed with mischief and genuine affection both.
"Myantha." His voice carried over the garden with theatrical precision.
She squirmed as he spoke, her cheeks reddening.
"From the moment I met you, I knew you were extraordinary. You, who hates being the center of attention, prefers quiet corners, wears comfortable clothes, and enjoys honest conversation over pageantry. Who saw through every bit of charm I threw your way and made me work for every single smile. You made me realize what I wanted in my own life and what I needed if I was ever to have any hope of happiness. And I wanted to know if you—”
"Yes!" Myantha launched herself forward and wrapped her arms around him.
I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying not to laugh too loudly as Thalen toppled backward slightly from the force of her embrace. He caught himself on the table, and the garden erupted in laughter.
"Ah!" Thalen caught his balance and gently but firmly placed her back in her seat.
His expression was mock-stern, though his eyes danced with delight.
"Absolutely not. No jumping to the end just because you know the right answer. I’ve prepared an entire speech, and you will sit there and listen to every word of it.
I've been working on this for hours. Do you know how many drafts I went through?
Seventeen. Seventeen drafts! And I promise you, this is the best and the shortest one. "
Myantha covered her face with her hands, shaking her head. Quen openly cackled beside Elias, who looked thoroughly entertained.
Rhielle patted Myantha on the shoulder. “Let him say his piece, hon.”
“Thank you.” Thalen cleared his throat dramatically and resumed his position on one knee.
"Now then. Where was I? Ah yes. I wanted to know if you would like to…spend more time with me.” His eyes flashed with delight as she scrunched her face at him.
She lifted one eyebrow as if asking whether that was all he was asking her.
His face split in a crooked grin. “Because I want to spend all the time in the world with you.” His voice softened then.
“I fell for you faster than I knew was possible. You are so shy and quiet, and I know you just want to disappear. I can’t imagine wanting that, but what I do know is that, if you need someone to shield you or hide you from the world, I want to be that person.
And if you want to go on adventures, I want to go with you.
I never knew someone so gentle and so sweet and especially so quiet could burrow so deep into my heart, but you did.
I want to marry you. I want to build a life with you.
I want to wake up beside you every morning and fall asleep holding you every night.
I want to hear your laugh and know that I'm the one who brought it out. I want to be the person you trust with all your secrets, all your fears, all your dreams. I want to be with someone who is willing to risk her life for mine, lil’ ear biter.
" He reached up and took the ring from among the moon lilies, holding it up so it caught the light.
"So, Myantha, I am formally asking…will you marry me? "
Myantha practically glowed. “Yes.” Her voice trembled, and tears slid down her face. She then leaned forward and twined her arms around his neck once more. He stood, lifting her into his arms and kissing her fiercely.
The garden erupted in cheers and applause. I found myself clapping along with everyone else, my heart full. Through our bond, I felt Vad's quiet contentment mixing with my own joy. His hand found mine, our fingers intertwining.
Thalen finally set Myantha down, though he kept one arm around her waist as he slipped the ring onto her finger.
She studied it with wide eyes, then buried her face against his shoulder as if trying to hide from all the attention.
He laughed and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Thank you all for coming to join us in celebration tonight. There is plenty of food and drink. Let’s make tonight one we’ll always remember. ”
I clapped again.
We joked and laughed and ate well into the night, taking turns petting the unicorn foal and its friends while the string musicians played in the background. Eventually, Many-Greats, Ryker, Ember, Vad, and I were the only ones left at the round table.
Ember took a sip of her wine while Ryker twiddled his glass’s stem between his fingers.
“All right, you two.” Ember pointed at Vad and me. “Now that the show is over, do you think you could slip away to one of those portals and come back to our home for a bit? We’d love to have you over to share some special baking time and a particular tasty treat from a super special family recipe.”
My heart warmed, thinking about the red velvet hazelnut cake Ember had created that had become the family’s legacy.
“And the rest of the pack would love to see Briar and meet you, Vad,” Ryker added.
“I can’t wait.” The thought of going home and seeing the other pack members made me miss them even more.
Vad smiled, his posture relaxed. He squeezed my hand. “It would be my honor. I’ve been looking forward to meeting Briar’s family.” He cut his eyes then to Many-Greats. “But in light of all that has happened, I do hope you understand we don’t want any surprise visitors, especially at night.”
“Yes!” I pointed at Many-Greats with a mock serious look. “No showing up in our bedrooms, ever. You can knock on the door from the outside like everyone else.”
Ryker sighed heavily. “Is he still doing that?”
Many-Greats lifted his chin with the sort of severe icy sternness that only an ancient fae could muster, but even so, the faintest twinkle of amusement danced in his eyes. “I go where I am needed and where I choose. None will ever control me.”
We all laughed at that, but then Ember stood. “Well, let’s get going while we can. I know you two have a lot to do, being High King and High Queen.”
I stood as well and held my hand out to Vad. “It’s true.”
He drew me closer and brushed his lips against mine. “There will never be a shortage of things to do when I am with you.”
I smiled against his mouth, warmth flooding through me. Even after everything—the accusations, the trials, the bloodshed—we had found our way here. To this moment of peace and promise. Together. And together, we would face whatever new challenges came our way.