Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) (23 page)

“I did and now you do. May you welcome your destiny as it will carry you through life as a man.” He turned to the crowd and they cheered for Rory as Trever had his crown brought to him. He picked it up off the pillow and held it over Rory then slowly brought it down on his head. “It’s a part of you now. Show it with pride.”

Rory smiled and held his right hand up and clenched it into a fist. The sword took over and his eyes glowed white to match, making the crowd cheer again.

Trever smiled at the respect he’s gained and started to take his son back inside. That’s when everyone else got up and started to leave as well. I watched one of them in particular though. Oren stood up and took his daughter’s arm. “Perhaps, it’s time for change.”

Vera had a shocked look on her face from his words. “Father?”

“He has truly proven his greatness and you love him?”

“Yes, father.”

“Then go to him.” Oren said as he turned her so she could see Rory.

Vera got a huge smile on her face and kissed her father on the cheek before coming over.

That’s when I leaned into Rory with the biggest smile. “Your lady awaits.”

Rory and Trever both turned and saw her standing there.

“Vera.” Rory muttered as he took a step closer and his eyes changed back and the sword was gone.

She approached several feet away and bowed to him. “My lord.”

Rory walked to her and lifted her head with his hand. They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment then Vera leaned into his ear. Rory’s eyes got wide as she moved back and they immediately kissed.

“It seems you’ve outdone yourselves.” Trever said. “Getting him a Princess was not something you had to do.”

I smiled. “We didn’t. He did that on his own.”

Trever smiled back as Rory reached us with Vera on his arm. “Father, may I introduce Princess Vera.”

Trever took her hand as she smiled and stepped closer. “Delighted.”

He kissed it as she bowed to him. “Your majesty.”

“She’s beautiful and you intend to keep her?”

Rory smiled and approached her side. “If it’s not any trouble, father, I’d like her to come back with us.”

“Of course, you are welcome.”

“To stay?” Oren approached and everyone looked over. “For it would seem our children have fallen in love.”

Trever smiled as they shook hands. “Oren. Of course to stay, if you so choose to let her.”

Oren looked up at Vera and she smiled at him. “I never wanted to let her go but things change and her happiness is what I cherish most.” Vera got a bigger smile on her face as she went to her father and hugged him. “I sure am going to miss you.”

“As am I, father.”

“Why don’t you journey back with us?” Trever suggested. “You can stay for as long as you’d like and get to see firsthand how she’ll be living.”

“Splendid idea, father.” Vera said. “Do come with us. My brother is capable of being in charge awhile longer.”

Oren sighed. “I know he is. All right, when do you leave?”

“In the morning.” Trever answered. “We’ll gather everything and leave then.”

“Very well. Best start preparing.”

Trever smiled and nodded as Oren walked off with Vera and Rory. He looked back up to see Jaylyn and the others standing there.

“You have some serious explaining to do.” Jaylyn said, in a less than happy tone.

Trever smiled to himself. “Yes, I suppose I do.”

“I’ll just leave you to that.” I said.

“Thank you.” Trever replied. “You really did well with him. I am grateful.”

“You’re absolutely welcome. It was our pleasure.”

“We’ll talk more later.”

“Yes. You have something else to do.”

Jaylyn was still waiting by and still didn’t look happy.

“Yes.”

I let them have the conversation alone. I heard the story once. It was a sad one. I didn’t need to be retold.

Rory was finally a man and he got his Princess. Things could finally start to get back to normal around here. It would be weird.

Chapter 45

Bryce

The next morning, we said our farewells to Trever and Rory as well as Oren and Vera and wished them safe travels back to Kalu. We knew we would be seeing them again and probably soon because there was something else that we promised to do once this was all settled.

I was laying out in the outdoor lounge with Naomi later that morning, holding her through a silence. Thoughts of what I would say were going through my mind.

Naomi let out a relaxing sigh as she snuggled her head against my chest and I smiled as I looked down. “What is it?”

“Nothing. Just thinking about life.”

“Well, that’s something.”

“I guess.”

“Then what about it are you thinking?”

“I don’t know. Just looking back on everything that’s happened so far and wondering what could possibly be next.”

I smiled to myself and knew this was a good time to mention it. “Lots of things.”

“You think so?”

“Of course I do. I want to marry you.”

“What?” Naomi seemed surprised as she sat up and looked back at me.

“Well, don’t you want to marry me? We’ve been together for a long time.”

“Are you officially asking me?”

“I might be.” I smiled as I took her hands.

Naomi continued to smile and leaned in close to my lips. “Then I might be officially answering. It’s a yes.”

I smiled again as she laid her body on mine and we started kissing while I reached into my pocket. “Then here. You’ll need this.”

I held out a little wooden box and opened it in front of her eyes, revealing the ring I picked out for her. It was a large marquis diamond set in a gold setting.

She bounced right off me to sit completely up. “Bryce! It’s beautiful!”

“Then it’s yours.” I slipped it on her finger and it fit perfectly.

“I love you so much.”

She kissed me and it was the most perfect kiss. I really did love her and I wanted her to be my wife a long time ago. No one could ever claim her once she was and it was something we both needed.

Chapter 46

Dirk

How was I going to ask her a second time so it didn’t seem obvious? It was actually kind of fun to think of a way and I went right up to my room to see her.

“There you are.” Lana said. I just groaned and fell back on the bed. “What’s the matter?”

“Tired.” I snatched. “I’ve had a long four fucking weeks and I’m just glad it’s over.”

“Oh, what?” Lana smiled as she sat next to me. “You miss not having him around here, don’t you?”

“Can we not do this now, please?” I asked in an irritated tone.

“What? I was just saying.”

“Well, don’t! I’m fine!”

“All right. I get it. You’re in a bad mood.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yes you are!”

“I said everything is fine! Would you just stop?” A pigeon started pecking the window and I looked over and acted like it was bothering me. “Would you get that stupid bird away from the window? It’s giving me a headache.”

Lana was mad at me but she looked over and saw what it was. “It’s a messenger bird.”

“Yeah, great.”

Lana rolled her eyes at me and went to it. “Hey there, girl. What’s the news?” She brought her hand down to the pigeon’s foot and took out the message then let the bird sit out on the balcony.

It flew off and I slowly sat up and watched her reaction as she read it. Her eyes got wide as she quickly turned around and saw me smiling.

This made her smile and she walked back to me. “You are the most horrible, sadistic person I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing so of course I will marry you publically. Does this mean your father knows?”

“Yes, down to the day but he still wants us to do it publically.”

“I knew that was coming eventually and I’m perfectly happy to marry you a second time. There’s no point in even asking me.”

“That’s why I didn’t.”

Lana smiled and she pushed me back onto the bed and kissed me. “Does this mean I get to wear my ring now?”

“Openly. Yes.”

She sprung right off me and went over to the drawer she always kept it in. “Finally. I love you.”

I smiled. “I know. We’re just waiting on others to ask then we have to meet with our fathers at sundown to discuss further details.”

“Is it weird that I’m excited?”

“No. I always knew you’d want to do it with our family present. Now we get to.”

Chapter 47

Seth

I think I’m the procrastinator of the group. I seemed to put this off most of the day and my father found me while I was walking through the main hall.  “Seth!”

“Yes, father?”

“How’s it coming with the—arrangement?”

“Slowly.”

“Nervous?”

“Extensively.”

“Reason?”

“Method.”

“Ideas?”

“None.”

“Advice?”

“Please.”

He laughed. “Just make it simple. It’s less likely to go wrong that way since she’ll remember the moment you ask for the rest of her life.”

“Really?”

“Yes, your mother still brings up the time I asked her.”

“Well, what did you do?”

“It was very simple because I just asked but it was still special because the night before we had a huge fight and I did it letting her know that I was passed it. Now, I’m not saying at you should go and have a fight and then do it but make it special. Something that the both of you can relate to and do it in a way that she’ll never want to forget.”

I honestly didn’t know if I were up for it and sighed.

My father only smiled and put his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’ll do fine. You’re forgetting you are my son. You should go do it. It’s almost sundown.”

“What about the others?” I asked. “I haven’t seen them.”

“They’ve already sealed the deal.”

“So, where are they?”

“Celebrating it, of course. You better go and get it over with so you have time to do the same before we start discussing a date.”

“Thank you, father.” I turned away to find her.

“Good luck!”

I walked out of the palace towards the stables where Cadence was brushing her horse. “There you are.”

Cadence didn’t look up but knew who it was. “Been looking for me?”

“No, I just missed you.”

“Really because you usually only miss me when I’ve been gone for a few days and you haven’t had sex in that time and I know that can’t be it because I’ve been here and thoroughly remember waking up to it this morning.”

I smiled. “What, I can’t just miss you?”

“No, you’re making me suspicious.” Cadence laughed. “This isn’t like you. You want something.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I know you. So, just tell me what it is so I can say no and we can get on with our lives.”

“Well, maybe I don’t want you to say no.”

“Then it better be something worth saying yes to.”

“Will you marry me?” I asked it in a completely calm relaxed tone, making Cadence drop the brush.

She slowly bent down to pick it up and looked at me. “Are you serious?”

“It’s what I want. Was I wrong to think it’s what you might want too?”

“No. It’s what I want. It’s our responsibility to, remember?”

“That’s not why I want to. I want to because it’s you and I love you. I want to make it forever if you’ll let me.”

I held out a ring that had a large round lavender stone like her eyes set in a silver setting.

She started to cry when she saw it. “Oh, Seth! It’s gorgeous!”

“Then will you?” I slid it on her finger while she just stared down at it.

“Of course I will.”

I took her in my arms and lifted her up so I could carry her out of here. I knew she wouldn’t think the atmosphere was romantic and I took her all the way up to our room so we could celebrate taking the next step in our union the right way.