“Thank you, Lynelle,” I choked out as she took a step back from me.
“There is one more thing,” she admitted as she made her way to the door. “I will be right back.”
My mind raced for an unbearably long minute before she appeared before me once more, holding a small box between her two hands.
I raised a single brow at her as a smirk formed on my face. “What is that?”
“Jace had this made for you. Now, I insisted that we could have expedited a finer one to be made, but he declared that you would have preferred this anyway, and well, he knows you best, I suppose,” she answered.
She stepped up to me and lifted the top of the box. I let out a tiny gasp at what my eyes beheld—a dainty tiara, crafted from silver to mimic woven and twisted leaf-covered vines that met in its center at a point, where an emerald was fastened securely—a mirror to the one upon my mating ring.
“Oh my gods,” I breathed as my eyes flashed up to meet hers.
She chuckled. “I have a feeling that he was correct in his notion of you loving this how it is.”
A smile found my lips as my heart fluttered wildly. “It’s perfect.”
She moved to place the box on the table and carefully picked up the delicate crown, turning to me with pridebeaming in her eyes. I slowly lowered my head toward her in a half bow, and she gently placed it atop my head.
Turning back to the mirror, I couldn't help but grin at the person staring back at me as the crown twinkled. A female who had undergone torture at the hands of those she should have been able to trust. A warrior who led armies and brought countless victories to the feet of the wicked beings who tricked her out of her own crown. A mate who would finally attain her happy ending she never knew that she so desperately desired. And lastly, a queen—one who would never again allow her realm to fall at the hands of such wickedness, and would rule with compassion, just as her father had.
My stare leisurely drifted to Lynelle’s as she gazed at me through the mirror, standing off to the side. “I’m ready.”
Her hand lifted toward the door as she inclined her head toward me. “After you, our queen.”
Chapter forty-eight
Jace
As I stood beneaththe arch that was placed atop the valley’s most scenic hill, I stared out at the small crowd as we all waited for Lia’s arrival. I turned to face the lake resting behind us, the setting sun casting a fiery reflection off its surface as the breeze blew the tall grasses in the distance.
Gage stood at my side, puffing his chest out as if he were the proudest man alive.
“You do realize that you aren’t the one getting married, correct?” I teased, and he scoffed at my words.
“Can a second-in-command not be happy for his commander? A best friend? A—”
“Brother,” I finished for him while clapping him on the shoulder. “Thank you, Gage. For everything.”
Surprise shone in his stare, and I had to turn from facing him before he managed to get me even more worked up than I already was.
Figures emerged over a smaller hill from where we stood, and I counted three of our women as Nyra trotted around their feet, but still no sign of Lia.
I blew out a nervous breath as my eyes peeled over each of them. “Where is she?”
“She will be here. Don’t worry,” Gage said softly.
My gaze roamed over the fields and snapped to Zaela from where she sat in the front row. “Where’s Nox?! She would want him to be here.”
She shrugged her shoulders as her lips turned down into a frown. “I couldn’t find him in the yard or the skies.”
“Gods-dammit,” I breathed. Nox and Lia hated being apart from each other, and if he wasn’t hovering over her in the fields or perched atop the war chamber, he was guarding the estate.
Once they arrived, Avery positioned herself on the opposite side of the arch, mirroring Gage, while Veli stood a few paces behind her as we waited for Lia.
My aunt approached me then.
“Handsome, nephew,” she greeted as she cupped my cheek in her hand. “Thank the gods you combed your wild hair.”
