He pulled us both into an embrace. The three of us standing on the balcony while the kingdom watched and approved and celebrated.
“Thank you,” I whispered to my father. “For understanding. For loving me anyway.”
“Always.” He pulled back. Looked at Viktor. “Take care of him.”
“With my life.” Viktor's voice was steady. Sure. “Always.”
The celebration lastedinto the evening. Music and dancing and laughter that filled the palace halls. Staff and nobles mingling. Guards relaxing for the first time in weeks. Apollo making the rounds, accepting treats and pets from anyone who offered.
But Viktor and I slipped away when no one was watching. Found our way to the workshop where sawdust still hung in the air and tools waited on benches.
My sanctuary. The place where I could strip away the prince and just be the craftsman underneath.
I stood at the workbench, fingers stained with wood dust, a small carved box resting beside me. Simple. Elegant. Lined with black velvet. And inside, a ring.
Silver and platinum twisted together. Carved laurels intertwined with a wolf's head, details so fine they'd taken me weeks to perfect. I'd worked on it in stolen moments. Early mornings before the palace woke. Late nights when sleep wouldn't come. Pouring everything I couldn't say out loud into metal and design.
Viktor's footsteps crossed the workshop. Quiet but unmistakable. I'd learned the sound of him by now. The rhythm. The weight.
“You're supposed to be celebrating,” he said. “Not working.”
“I am celebrating.” I turned, held up the box. “I made this for you.”
He froze. Just stopped mid-step, eyes locked on the small wooden box in my hands.
I opened it. Let him see the ring glinting against black velvet.
“My father gave you a chain today,” I said. Voice steadier than I felt. “The crown's recognition. But I wanted to give you something too. Something that's just from me.”
Viktor stared at the ring. Then at me. Then back at the ring.
“Stay with me,” I continued. “Marry me. Not because it's political or strategic or what anyone expects. Just because I love you and I'm tired of pretending I don't.”
Silence stretched between us. Viktor's expression shifted through a dozen emotions I couldn't name. Shock. Disbelief. Something that might've been fear, or hope, or both twisted together.
Then he laughed. Low. Rough. The sound of a man who'd forgotten how.
“You don't take orders well, do you?” he asked.
“Never have.”
“Good.” Viktor stepped forward, took the ring from the box. Studied it in the lamplight. Traced the wolf's head with one finger. “It's beautiful.”
“It's yours. If you want it.”
He slid it onto his finger. Held up his hand to see how it caught the light. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, I'll marry you. Yes, I'll stay. Yes, I love you too.” He pulled me close. Careful of my ribs. “Always yes.”
I kissed him. Hard and desperate and tasting like sawdust and relief. His hands found my face, holding me like I was something precious. Something worth keeping.
When we broke apart, his forehead pressed against mine. Both of us breathing hard. Both of us smiling.
“Adrian's keeping me on active duty,” Viktor said quietly. “International operations. He wants me leading again once things settle.”
I'd expected this. Known it was coming. Viktor wasn't the type to sit idle, and Adrian wasn't the type to waste talent.
