65. Nora
65
Nora
I sat at the head of the reception table, watching Nick receive congratulations from a procession of advisors as he worked through the room. My cheek still savored the touch of his kiss when he’d claimed he would save me from the boring small talk as I started my second slice of wedding cake.
The ceremony had been a dream. Light filtered in through the tall windows, cascading over my sleek white wedding gown that sat off my shoulders, sleeves running down to my wrists. It garnered a few looks from much more modestly dressed women in attendance, but Nick and I had set a rule: we were to make this life what we wanted it to be. Which, on this day, meant no dresses that would swallow me whole.
Tula deserved a raise, leaving just enough excess fabric around my waist that I could eat to my heart’s content without it bursting at the seams.I placed my hand over my protruding stomach, and marveled at the sight of my wedding ring. A large pearl, surrounded by two smaller ones on each side, along with tiny glistening diamonds, sat on an intricate design of platinum. Custom made, and certainly not trendy like the thick-cut gemstones royalty usually adorned to match their kingdom colors. I fell in love all over again whenever I gazed upon it.
Things couldn't have felt more right.
A castle-wide announcement had been sent the morning after the events at the market: anyone conspiring with Commander Druller would be found and face a similar fate—or leave the bounds of this kingdom. By the next day, dozens of guards hadn’t reported for their next shift.
My clever husband’s idea, to let them weed themselves out. That had been a week ago, and since, the very air in the castle seemed settled. Melody had moved in, having Kenzie over most nights. I’d reminded her she had permission to kick our sister out, but with the loving heart she possessed, she’d let it slide for a while longer. When she’d countered that it was either here, or stuck in a house with their mother, I couldn’t find fault with the logic.
They currently sat at my side, making friends with a few of the ladies in court I hadn’t particularly wanted to mingle with yet.
Turned out Highcrest did have a court, filled with wives of advisors. Melody mingled effortlessly, as if she’d always belonged.
I took another bite, my chin propped on my hand as I stared at that stunning slab of muscle I would ensure to touch every inch of later. Maybe even bring some of this wedding cake to bed and smear it over the parts I wanted to lick.
Gazing upon the rest in attendance, I spotted some of the new, unexpected friendships that had attended the ceremony and were departing early from the reception. Ravinder, Ro, a few others from the camp, Evenita, and Alaina, whose time I noticed had been monopolized by Marco in the minutes between ceremony and reception. While most would be fawning over his attention, she treated him with a level of indifference that I think only piqued his interest. Poor girl was just trying to eat her desserts.
Upon bidding farewell, before they departed on their travels home, Evenita whispered in my ear, See you soon, Queen Nora . Something about that lingered, and I suspected that time would come sooner than later.
We stood together, his hand comfortably holding my hip, while the last of the guests departed. The king offered me his hand, which I took without hesitation, and he led me to the gardens. The weather had picked up within this last week, the humidity clinging to my skin.
A light breeze ruffled the fallen strands by my ears, the rest of my hair still pulled back and secured by a dazzling broach. He brought me to that place we’d chatted the night of the dinner by the half-wall made of stones, mere feet from where he had lowered on one knee.
“I have a gift for you,” he said.
I leaned against the wall, elbows resting atop it. “Oh? I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts. I didn’t get you anything.”
He flexed his fingers in the air, a posted guard heeding the signal. He stalked over with a box in his hand, handing it to the newly crowned king.
“Thank you, Archeron,” I said as the guard bent at the waist with a smile before retreating.
Nick opened the box. Displayed before me, on a cushion of satin, laid a glass dagger. I pushed off the stone, taking a closer look. “Oh,” the breath rushed from my lungs. I lifted the weapon, or… “Is this a decoration?”
Nick smiled. “It’s more of a symbol. A reminder of where you’ve been. I didn’t want to get you another glass heart, I know it can’t replace the one your mother gave you. And you definitely didn’t need more daggers.” He shook off the thought with a teasing smile. “But I’ll never forget the first night I met you, Nora. You changed the course of my life to something I never thought possible.”
I could barely see past the tears welling in my eyes. My gaze rose to meet his, my bottom lip fighting against the building tremble. “You are my home, Nick, when I didn’t think I’d have one again.”
He took the box and set it down before letting his hands slowly drift across my lower back until his fingers locked. And when he kissed me, he sealed every promise he’d ever made. The one person who I could count on in this life, who I could bear myself to.
Wholly.