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“Yes.” No hesitation, pause, or any sign of reservation.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“And accept the crown at my side?”

“Of course.” She smiled up at me. “It is what the Wild Wood wants.”

“Is it what you want?”

“Marrying you? Yes.” The mischievous glint in her green eyes reassured me that she meant it. “As for accepting the crown, I am not as confident.”

I opened my mouth to argue, and she cut me off with a sharp shake of her head. “The crown is a daunting undertaking for one individual, but I think together we might manage it. Regardless, I am willing to try because we are doing it together.”

For the first time since entering the arena, I felt hopeful—lighter. Wrapping my arms around her once more, I pulled her close, delighting in the solid feel of her in my arms. I wasn’t alone. We were a pair, a team. Together we would revolutionize the Unseelie court.

She laughed. “I should warn you, I have ideas.”

“I am not surprised.”

“Revolutionary ideas.”

I smiled down at her. “I am not surprised in the least. Besides, I have a few revolutionary ideas myself.”

“Is that so?” She leaned close with a conspiratorial smile.

“Yes, like this.” Then I kissed her. It started as a gentle peck, but it quickly deepened into a serious expression of intent and passion.

Finally, someone nearby cleared his throat. We broke apart. Rue stepped back, her face flushed and eyes dazed, but I wasn’t willing to let go. Keeping her in the circle of my embrace, I glared at the new arrival.

Raven stood just outside the guards’ circle, a barely suppressed grin pulling at his mouth. “Lord Greyson requests your presence in his entrance hall. The basic preparations for both ceremonies are ready, and he wishes to get them over with since there is much to accomplish before nightfall.”

Epilogue

Rue

Our wedding was simple and strangely intimate considering we were exchanging vows before a large crowd of almost strangers with minimal preamble and preparation. The crowning ceremony that followed included far more pomp and flare, but I didn’t mind. The placing of crowns and speaking of vows demanded pause and reverence at the bare minimum.

Then came the land magic connecting ceremony, which Greyson demanded happen immediately after the coronation.

The land magic already connected the pair of us at least in a small part since it had chosen us. We only had to perform our side of the process to solidify the joining.

And then the proper work began.

Neither Kent nor I stopped for hours. An endless series of documents, law changes, signatures, and decisions happened in quick succession. Greyson and Piro advised us on each, and we consulted each other constantly.

Dawn was lightening the sky beyond the windows when I met Kent’s gaze across the great wide desk in Greyson’s library and said, “Enough.”

Exhaustion pulled at both of us. I could feel it resonating in my bones, and Kent’s signing hand trembled.

“Agreed.” Kent pushed back from the table and frowned. “Greyson?”

“Yes?” The Dullahan looked up from scanning the nonaggression treaty Kent had just signed between the Seelie and Unseelie thrones.

“I refuse to sign any more documents or have one more word spoken to me about laws or political decisions. I just married my wife, and we haven’t had a single moment alone since.”

Greyson nodded. “I was wondering how long you would last.”