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I’ve found my place in the world.
My feet tap against the balcony floor as I cross it, and I come to a stop once I’m directly behind the railing overlooking the law. I rest my hands against it, using it as support to keep my shaking knees from buckling.
As my feet stop moving the dawn people silence themselves, eyes locked onto me like I’m a goddess standing before them.
* * *
Applause and cheerstear out across the crowd as I conclude my address to my people. There’s hope in their eyes. They’re excited for the future we will work together to build, and for the life we have here and now, in this moment.
The widest smile spreads across my face as I wave one last time to the Lyke faeries, turning to hug Lyra.
Except, she’s not there, and Edlynne is gone too.
It’s Dreyden I find standing just inside the doorway, out of sight of the people on the lawn. He’s wearing the most handsome grin, and his eyes sparkle against his all-black formal attire.
“What are you doing here?” I breathe as I walk toward him, still riding the high of speaking before twelve thousand people. “I didn’t think you’d be back until tonight. And what are you wearing?”
A black button-up shirt fits tightly against his athletic figure, and black trousers are secured to his hips with an expensive looking leather belt. His shoes are shined to perfection, which is something I’ve never seen before. He’s dressed more formally than the night of the Legion Ball.
There’s a glitter in his eyes as he rubs his hands together… nervously?
“I’ve been doing some thinking,” he says, his voice low and inviting as he stares into my eyes. “More than anything in the world, I want to live this life with you. I don’t care where, but I know I need to be with you. Most of my time has been spent in Northford lately, and I can’t help but think this is the doing of the gods.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, my heart pounding out of my chest while I’m unsure what he’s getting at.
“I mean… Izan has full control, anyway, right? He knows everything there is to know about ruling Fire Court, and he has been doing a better job at it lately than I have, so why can’t he take over?”
He’s watching me with the most intense look on his face, and I can’t tell whether he’s joking.
I’m lost for words, so he continues, grabbing hold of my hand as he falls to one knee. “My purpose is to be here, with you, building a new life for not only the Lyke faeries, but for the people who’ve been here through it all, the people I’ve been fighting for six days a week for months on end. You told me it would be selfish for you to stay in Fire Court, and I’ve come to realize that it would be selfish for me to stay there as well.”
I can barely breathe as he reaches into his back pocket, fumbling around before pulling out a small black box. “Dreyden,” I whisper. “You can’t be serious. You’ve spent your entire life in Fire Court…”
His thumb rubs against the box, and the top flips up, revealing a twisted metal band topped with a large diamond.
His eyes never leave mine as he gives himself to me. “Youare my purpose, Adeena Devna.Youare my reason for breathing every single day, and I can’t imagine a life without you. You will lead these people like you are destined to, and I will be by your side, supporting you through it all.”
Tears form in my waterline as I wait for him to say the words.
“Will you marry me?”
