Page 153 of Queen of War and Ruin

“I do,” Petrys replies.

The priest turns to Anura. She nods.

“I support her decision,” Anura says.

That’s not exactly the same as approving, but if the priest notices, he doesn’t say anything. He turns to Elrick.

“I approve,” Elrick declares.

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The old priest smiles at us.

“Wonderful,” the priest says. “Then please, do come inside.”

I’m expecting him to turn toward the temple, but instead he picks up his basket of eggs and opens the door to the little thatched-roof house. He waves Elrick and Anura inside, and I follow. He jokes with Elrick and Anura as he bustles around his cozy cottage, and this is so far from the stiff, formal transaction I expected that I wonder if maybe I’m still dreaming.

Finally, the priest claps his hands together like he’s made a decision. He leads us out of the cottage and climbs the worn steps of the ancient temple. It’s cool and quiet inside the sanctuary, and the faint ghost of incense lingers in the air. Elrick begins to light the candles on the altar as the priest pulls a thick red ribbon from his pocket.

“Here,” Anura whispers as she pulls me to the side of the altar. “I brought something for you.”

She hands me a small package neatly wrapped in twine and burlap. My fingers tremble as I untie the twine and push back the rough wrapping.

“Oh!” I cry as my fingers brush soft crimson fabric.

“It’s my mother’s,” Anura says, taking the bright shawl from my shaking hands. “I wanted you to have something red.”

Anura wraps the shawl around my shoulders. I hug her as my eyes fill with tears.

“Thank you,” I whisper, and I hope she understands I’m thanking her for far more than the shawl, even if I can’t find the words.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for standing with me. Thank you for letting me do this on my own terms.

Thank you for letting me choose.

The priest lights the incense, and smoke begins to drift toward the peaked ceiling in long, thick swirls. Elrick walks over to us and takes Anura’s hand.

“Well,” the priest says. “Let’s begin.”

He lifts his head to the open door and the sunlight streaming into the ancient sanctuary. And I hold my breath as I wait for my husband to appear.

Chapter 75

Zarek

THIS FEELS REAL

“Stop fussing with it,” Petrys says.

“I’m not fussing,” I snap.

But I let my hands drop anyway. Petrys is right; messing with the scarlet waistcoat he somehow managed to acquire last night isn’t going to make it fit any better. It’s still wrinkled and a little too tight.

But, hells. At least he’s trying to be supportive.

“You look fine,” Petrys says.

“You weren’t there the first time,” I snort.

I look down at the wrinkled, muddy clothes I’m wearing and try not to think about the silk and velvet I wore in Vsenrog’s court. It’s ridiculous that I ever thought of clothes like that as mine. That life was never meant for me.