“Thank you,” Tess managed, her voice thick with emotion. “For everything.”
Lysia pulled back, her blue eyes twinkling. “You’re the one who saved us all.”
Korran kissed his mother’s cheek before moving toward the raised platform at the front of the hall. Tess settled into the seat beside Lysia, acutely aware of every eye in the hall tracking her movements. Through the bond, she could feel Korran’s awareness of her, his pride in having her there, and his anticipation for what came next.
The new head councilor—a warm and fair woman named Meredith who had been elected just days prior—stepped forward with the ancient crown of the Northern Dominion. The circlet of gold and sapphires caught the light, casting blue reflections across the stone walls.
“Citizens of the Northern Dominion,” Meredith’s voice carried easily through the hall, “we gather today not in mourning, but in celebration. Today, we crown a king who will lead us into an era of truth and strength.”
Through their bond, Tess felt Korran’s nervous energy, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. But beneath that, she sensed his determination, his absolute commitment to his people and their future together.
You were born for this,she told him silently, letting her love and faith in him flow through their connection.
His response was a wave of gratitude so intense it nearly took her breath away.
Meredith continued the ancient ritual, her words echoing off the stone walls as she spoke of duty, honor, and the sacred trust between ruler and ruled. But Tess found herself transfixed by Korran himself—the way he stood with quiet dignity, his frame radiating controlled power, and his handsome face set with intention and passion for his clan.
This was the man who had fought against a decade of conditioning to choose love over fear. The man who had embraced his human heritage instead of rejecting it. The man who had literally fought bears to protect her and his mother.
My mate. My king.
When Meredith finally placed the crown upon Korran’s head, the hall erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. Tess found herself on her feet with everyone else, clapping until her hands stung, her heart so full it felt ready to burst.
Korran’s eyes found hers, and the look he gave her was pure fire—possession, love, and promise all wrapped into one devastating gaze that made her knees weak.
Tess expected Korran to deliver some grand speech about duty and honor next, the kind of formal address befitting a newly crowned king.
“Tess.” His voice carried easily over the noise, commanding yet intimate. “Come here.”
The request sent heat flooding through her chest. She hadn’t anticipated being called forward during his coronation, andhadn’t prepared to stand before the entire clan in this sacred hall. But something in his gaze, in the way anticipation crackled through their mate bond, made her rise without hesitation.
The emerald silk whispered against her legs as she moved toward the platform, acutely aware of hundreds of eyes tracking her progress. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but Korran’s unwavering attention steadied her, and drew her forward like a magnet.
When she reached him, he took her hands in his larger ones, his grip warm and sure. The crowd’s murmur faded to expectant silence, and Tess felt her breath hitch.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, confusion mixing with the nervous energy flooding through their bond.
His lips curved into that devastating smile that transformed his entire face. “Something I should have done the moment I met you.”
Before she could process his words, he released her hands and reached into his pocket. The small velvet box he withdrew made her knees wobble.
Korran dropped to one knee right there on the ceremonial platform, still wearing his crown, the sapphires catching the light as he gazed up at her with an expression so tender it nearly shattered her composure.
“Tess Holt.” His voice resonated through the hall, rich and certain. “Two weeks ago, you walked into my life and turned everything I thought I knew upside down. You saved my father’s memory, exposed the corruption poisoning our kingdom, and rescued my mother from certain death. But more than that—“ His voice roughened with emotion. “You saved me.”
Tears pricked at her eyes as the weight of his words, the raw honesty in them, hit her full force.
“You showed me that strength isn’t about control or isolation. It’s about choosing love even when it terrifies you. It’sabout embracing every part of yourself, even the parts others call weakness.” His thumb traced over the velvet box. “You are brilliant, fierce, compassionate, and brave beyond measure. You are everything I never dared hope for in a mate, in a partner, in a queen.”
A sob escaped her throat, and she pressed her hand to her lips, overwhelmed by the intensity of his declaration, and by the love radiating through their bond.
“I know this world is new to you, and I know I’m asking you to give up everything familiar.” His brown eyes never wavered from hers. “But I can’t imagine ruling this kingdom, can’t imagine living my life, without you beside me.”
He opened the box, revealing a stunning ring—emeralds and diamonds set in intricate platinum that caught the ceremonial light. The craftsmanship was exquisite, clearly made specifically for her.
“Dr. Tess Holt—will you marry me?”
The question hung in the air, charged with possibility and hope. Through their bond, she felt his vulnerability, his fierce love, his desperate need for her answer.
