“Oh, shove your responsibility,” Deckard said in a very uncharacteristic fashion.
Thom’s eyes went wide as Evylin’s hand flew to her mouth with barely contained laughter.
Deckard stood at the forefront of the group, contending for his brother. “Will you break your promise just because it conflicts with your plans? Are you going to compel her to marry someone to shape the world to your liking? Is that truly the kind of nation we envision Allund to be?”
Several ministers wore disgruntled looks, but Archminister Dudleye waved his hand through the air. “We never said we wouldn’t approve it, Chancellor Deckard,” he said soothingly. “No, this isn’t what we hoped for, but you are right. We aren’t a tyranny, and we won’t start Allund by breaking a promise to the very people who risked everything to help us raise it.”
Nods of support came from nearly every minister.
“We had an agreement, and we will honor it,” Dudleye promised. “Together, Archminister Essen and I and the whole of the Administration approve this marriage.”
Cheers rang out from their friends on either side, yet Thom and Brea simply exchanged smiles. He grasped her other hand, drawing her an inch closer.
Not here,he reminded himself.Not yet. But soon.
“Archminister,” Thom called, still looking down at Brea.
“Yes, Captain Deckard?” Dudleye replied.
“I know what reward I want.”
“What’s that?”
“A house,” he said with a bright smile. “Right next door to Deckard and Evie’s. And I want to work for my wife.”
Brea smirked. “I won’t go easy on you just because we’re married.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“That’s all?” Dudleye asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
“That’s all I need.”
“Very well,” the western archminister replied. “Having heard all your requests, we will initiate the necessary processes to fulfill them. Once again, our gratitude to your troop is beyond words. We will forever be in your debt. If there are no further matters, you may be excused.”
While Deckard and Ilain expressed their gratitude to the ministers, Thom and Brea quickly made their exit. They hurried through the archway into the bustling, column-lined halls. He felt lost with so many people moving around, but she guided him confidently to the right without hesitation.
“Brea,” Thom whispered as she tugged him through the busy halls.
She smiled as she glanced over her shoulder. “What?”
As Thom glanced to the left and right, he noticed an empty room ahead and quickly took the lead. They entered, and he closed the door and fixed his gaze on her. “Brea.”
“What?” she asked again.
“I love you.”
She smiled, brighter and more beautiful than ever before.
Taking her face in his hands, Thom marveled at how his racing heart had not yet burst from his chest. Her skin was so soft beneath his fingers, her face tilted toward him, open and full of hope.
“I was so afraid,” he whispered, his voice barely rising above the flood of emotions inside him. “I thought I’d ruined everything last night—that I’d pushed you away.”
“You didn’t,” she reassured him, placing her hands on his wrists.
“I can see that now.”
“I wouldn’t have said anything,” she said. “I wouldn’t have asked to marry you if you hadn’t...”
