Page 100 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

“Excellent.” Charis turned to her friends. “Holland, if Tal needs help staying on his feet, don’t let him fall.”

“Tal doesn’t need to be on his feet for this,” Alaric said as Zale left the throne room to fuss over her brother.

Charis ignored Alaric.

“Please help him onto the dais,” she said to Zale, who was hovering anxiously at Tal’s side.

“The dais?” Alaric looked from Charis to Tal. “Why?”

Charis leveled him with the look that used to send the nobility scrambling to get back in her good graces. “Because he risked his life to save my kingdom and then risked it again tonight to save me.” She moved past Alaric and said, “Because I honor those whose courage deserves it.”

Moving through the room, past clusters of nobility having hushed conversations, she mounted the steps to the dais. Alaric followed her to the base of the steps. She turned to him. “And because I plan to finalize our treaty by obeying it to the letter.”

Beside Alaric, Vahn snorted. When his father turned to look at him, Vahn immediately assumed an expression of grave dignity.

“Well, then Vahn should be up there, too.” Alaric motioned for Vahn to step to the dais.

Charis cleared her throat and said loudly, “Thank you to all who’ve remained to witness this momentous occasion. Please take your seats.”

As the crowd settled into their chairs, Holland and Zale approached the dais with Tal. The magistrate climbed the steps behind them, his wide girth making for slow progress.

Charis looked at the magistrate. “The treaty between Montevallo and Calera states that one of their heirs must marry one of ours.” She turned as Alaric followed Vahn on to the dais.

Vahn gave her a rueful look and shrugged.

“Prince Vahn Penbyrn of Montevallo will make a fine ruler one day, and I’m sure his kingdom will be grateful for his leadership.” Charis’s voice rang out, and she hastened on as Alaric’s cheeks reddened and his mouth dropped open. Beside her, Tal turned to see her face, his eyes wide with wonder.

“Prince Percival Talin Penbyrn has demonstrated constant, unwavering loyalty to me and to the well-being of Calera and has proven adept at balancing that loyalty with his concern and love for the people of Montevallo. I can think of no better king consort to have at my side as I begin my queenship.”

Turning to Tal, she whispered, “Is this all right with you?”

He gave her his crooked smile. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I am.”

“I might have to think about that for a while.”

Her lips lifted slightly. “Liar.”

He leaned close and whispered, “You own my heart. I’d be honored to marry you.”

She reached for Tal’s hand, and he intertwined his fingers through hers, his gaze warm. The torch he’d lit in her heart, once nearly extinguished, blazed with brilliant light.

“We had an agreement,” Alaric snapped.

“Yes.” Charis smiled at Tal. “One of our heirs would marry one of yours. Tal is one of your heirs, is he not?”

“He is, but that wasn’t the plan.”

“Father, she said Tal will be nothing more than a king consort.” Vahn sounded nearly as arrogant as he had the first day Charis had met him. “I decline to be a consort. With me as your heir in Montevallo, and Tal as king consort here, we can enjoy the benefits of a long, profitable partnership that strengthens both our kingdoms.”

Charis raised an eyebrow at Vahn, and he raised one right back. She hadn’t expected him to give up the idea of marrying her so easily, but she also hadn’t expected him to show such concern over Tal’s wounds. It seemed that, like her, Vahn had shown the side of him that his father expected him to show when they’d first met.

“Are you absolutely sure, after everything we’ve been through, that I’m the one you want?” Tal whispered as the magistrate began a short wedding ceremony.

“Are you trying to get out of this?” She narrowed her eyes, and he smiled.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

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