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Something like relief shone in his eyes, which amazed me. Did he have those doubts, too? It was hard to imagine.
“Good.” He kissed my nose then set me down. “Then you have nothing to worry about. You are mine and I am yours and we chose each other. And tonight, I’ll make you my wife in the eyes of the world.”
With a final kiss goodbye and a smack on the bottom, Lucius left the study.
I sat down where he’d been sitting and considered the time. It was a few more hours until lunch, which I would be having in the parlor with Farah, my maid, and three seamstresses from the main clothier shop in Ordelpho. A wedding gown fitting, both a first and final, had been arranged. After that, Ander and I would be going into the main town to pick up my last-minute gifts for the Longest Night and, hopefully, the gift I’d be giving Lucius for the ceremony.
In Providence, it was customary for the bride to give the groom a gift. With the Ongahri, I was told, it was the other way around. So, Lucius would have no idea that I’d be getting him something, and the idea of that was exciting to me. I loved giving people gifts—not that I ever had the means to do so on my own. The only thing now, though, was I had no clue what to get him.
What did you give a man that had everything?
My eyes went to the mural of the map of Titus on the wall. It had only been a few days since Lucius had expressed the fear that war was coming, something I just couldn’t see happening. The people of Titus hadn’t seen war in decades, and the last battle had only been a skirmish about boundary lines. But flat-out war? Not in over a century.
For a few seconds, the map of Titus was blotted in red as my mind’s eye conjured scenes of death. I blinked, feeling my breakfast weighing on my stomach like a stone.
I missed my father with a sudden ache. Father’s calm and steady nature, a nature that soothed me whenever we spoke of things like war and possible futures. But Father wasn’t here, and I had no idea when I’d see him again. Lucius was my compass now, and I trusted his wisdom. If he said war was coming, I believed him.
My gaze rested on the center of the map, then traveled southwest, past the orange deserts, past the mighty River Styx, where once crossed, the landscape the artist had painted turned a dark green. Lucius had mentioned settling Odessia, that lush rain forest land, uncultivated, with a dozen mini-islands. Virgin territory. This time next year, or next month, would we be living there?
“And what are you doing, Sierra? I must admit, you are far prettier than Lucius.” Neil walked in, his hands in his pockets, Fear perched on his shoulder.
I laughed, then stood up with a stretch. “Just thinking of all I have to do today.”
“Ah. Yes, a big night for you.” Neil smiled, then paused as he stared at me. “Are you… sure about this?”
“About Lucius?”
“Yes.”
My hand automatically went to my claiming bite, the mark Lucius never failed to open again and again like it was his first time claiming me. Every morning it would heal, but the bond ribbon’s root pulsed under the skin there, where it branched out like a glorious tree, spreading throughout my body and soul.
Neil laughed. “No need to answer. I can see it on your face that you are.”
I grinned sheepishly. “I am.”
“I’m glad. I think it’s more than a perfect match. And that’s not bias talking, either.”
So far, everyone had said much of the same thing. But it was Fadon and Demos whose opinion I was mostly curious about, what their thoughts were on me marrying and being claimed by the House Dega leader. Obviously, Fadon would have a problem with it. Thankfully, he wasn’t here to stop what was coming tonight, no matter how much I wished he was. I knew without a doubt he’d try to stop me from going through with it.
“Thank you, Neil. You and Ander’s opinion matter a lot to me.” Indeed, their friendship meant the world to me. “Anyway, were you looking for Lucius?”
“I was. Any idea where I could find him? We had an appointment.”
“He was called away to the watchtower.”
Neil straightened, his eyebrows rising. “Any idea which one?”
“The eastern one. Seemed pretty important.”
“Huh. Guess I’ll go over there myself and see what the issue is.”
I frowned. “I hope it’s nothing bad.” Remembering what Lucius had said about war coming had me worried now. Surely it hadn’t started already?
He shook his head, and Fear, on his shoulder, pecked Neil on the neck. “I’m sure it’s not. Probably something to do with a delayed ship that’s come in. Or this dastardly weather. Worst winter I’ve ever seen.”
“Probably. Well, I’ll see you tonight.”
He kissed my cheek, and Fear trilled. Fear was starting to grow on me. In fact, his name just wasn’t ringing true to me anymore. Now he was more like a Mischief.
