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“You were the prettiest girl in the dirtiest neighborhood in Algrave,” Trevor said, turning towards me with emotion in his dark eyes. “If I clung to you too hard, wanted too much from you, it’s because I had nothing else of value.”
“And you’ve found something else? Or someone else?”
“It’s not that. I’ve just seen so much more of the world now. It’s like the heat of the forge, maybe. Necessary to bend the steel. But when it goes cold, the steel maintains its edge, and finds its own purpose.”
“So what will you do next?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but I’ve been talking a lot with Marcus—”
“Don’t tell me you want to become a curate?” I asked.
“Not exactly,” Trevor said. “Not like it was before. But the renewal ceremony, it wasn’t just about the elixir. It was about hope. People need something like that, something different than politics. More subtle than revolution, and safer.”
“You sound like an old man,” I joked, but then saw the sadness in his eyes. “What is it?” I asked, suddenly tense.
“I swore I wasn’t going to tell you,” he said with a grim smile. “But I feel older. At least a decade.”
I studied him in the soft lights at the edge of the garden, surrounded by flowers. It was so subtle I hadn’t noticed it at first, but besides the cane he used occasionally now, he had a few light wrinkles around his eyes and a streak of gray hair.
“The renewals might become universities, or healing centers. We were just discussing some new roles. You could be Minister of the Education, maybe. Or Health. If you want I can put in a good word for you.”
“I don’t need a fancy title,” he said. “Just something to occupy my time, maybe earn enough coin to buy whiskey.”
“Whatever it is,” I said, squeezing his hand. “Whatever you decide, I support you 100%.”
He went to get another drink, and Damien found me a few minutes later. We strolled together on the edges of the revelry. I was in a strange mood, after everything that had happened. I was happy for Amber, and to be united with my family in Algrave. And I was grateful I got to share it with Damien this time. He was more handsome than ever, in a dark gray suit trimmed with light blue silk. I tugged his hand when we passed the renewal center, ducking inside for a quiet place where we could be alone.
Inside it was mostly dark, apart from a row of votive candles.
“I need to tell you something,” I said, taking his hands.
“Finally,” he said. “I’ve been carrying this around for weeks.” He pulled something small out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was the little wooden airplane I’d won for him at the marketplace in the citadel.
“You kept it, all this time?” I asked.
“For the baby,” he said. “His first present.”
“You knew?” I asked, my eyes widening.
“You’re not great with secrets,” Damien said. “I assume this is the last one you’ve been keeping, unless there was something else you wanted to discuss in private?” He raised an eyebrow, and I leaned up and kissed him.
It was a relief to share this with him, and I realized I had a few anxieties left to express, things I hadn’t been able to admit before.
“She might be part elite, like you. Or part slagpaw. I’m not certain—”
“She’ll be perfect,” Damien said, “because she came from you. Strong and beautiful, like her mother. And I’ll love you both, as long as you still want me.”
“I’ll never stop,” I promised.
“Forever, then,” he said, brushing his lips against the back of my hand. Then he took the toy airplane, prying off the wings to reveal a secret compartment inside. Something sparkled in the darkness, and he pulled out a diamond ring before getting down on one knee.
“This is how we used to do it,” he smiled. “If you hurry, you might be able to catch Amber’s bouquet.”
“I don’t need flowers,” I said. “Or a big ceremony.”
“In that case,” Damien said, his blue eyes twinkling, “I can get curate Marcus in here to marry us tonight.”
“We can’t do that to Tobias,” I smiled. “He’d be devastated. For tonight, this is enough. And my answer is yes.”
