Page 192 of King of Envy

It was early December, and we were spending a week at Finland’s newest luxury resort in Lapland. Our “room” was a giant igloo with a glass dome ceiling and spectacular views of the skies above. Tonight, the gorgeous lights of the Aurora Borealis shimmered above and cast an ethereal feel over the setting.

Views aside, the resort also boasted a world-class spa, a hot chocolate concierge, and private guides for activities ranging from husky sledding to reindeer safaris. Basically, it was the snowy winter wonderland of my dreams, and I never wanted to leave.

“We should’ve brought Shadow,” I said as Vuk and I left our room for the private perfume-making workshop he'd arranged. “He would love this.”

“That cat does not need an all-expenses paid vacation to Europe,” Vuk said dryly. “The staff spoil him enough.”

I didn’t point out that he was the one who’d booked Shadow a day at a luxury cat spa just last weekend.

I also didn’t admit that he was right—my toeswerefreezing. I made it halfway to the activity pavilion before I started slowing down. I shivered, the ice creeping up from my feet to my arms and chest.

Weatherproof, my ass. I was never buying from this brand again.

“You okay?” he asked when he noticed me lagging.

“Mmhmm.”

His mouth quirked. “It’s your shoes, isn’t it?”

“Well, notexactly,but—Vuk!” I squealed when he swept me up off the ground. The world tilted, and my laughter bounced off the snow-dusted pines as he carried me the rest of the way. “What are you doing? Put me down!”

“Once we’re inside. We have two more days here,srce. You’re not going to spend them with frostbitten toes.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” I huffed. But I couldn’t stop smiling.

We arrived at the activity lodge soon after. Our workshop instructor didn’t blink an eye at our unconventional entrance, and she greeted us warmly before she kicked things off.

Vuk and I each got to create and take home our own fragrance. Our instructor explained the different fragrance notes and how to combine them for the perfect balance. She also guided us through the process of selecting the right ingredients for our individual tastes.

Vuk was strangely subdued compared to his earlier teasing. He was always quiet around people he didn’t know, but tonight he seemed almost…nervous?He would hate if I asked him about it in front of our instructor, though, so I filed my questions away for later.

After much deliberation, I selected a scent combo that would remind me of this trip: a minty opening note that blossomed into a gentle musk infused with iris, snowdrops, and lily of the valley, topped with a dash of woody vanilla.

“Excellent choice,” the instructor said. “Let me box up your fragrances for you. One moment please.” She disappeared into a back room and returned a minute later with two bags. “Please, stay as long as you’d like. The activity lodge is yours for the night.” She handed the bags to me with a smile. “I hope you enjoyed the workshop. Have a wonderful rest of your trip.”

I blinked, a little stunned by the speed with which she left.

“That was weird,” I said. “Why would we need the lodge for the rest of the night? The workshop’s over.”

“I have no idea.” Vuk sounded oddly strained. Then again, he was always a bit grumpy after social outings.

“What notes did you put in your cologne?” I asked. He’d refused to let me see his final combination, and I was dying of curiosity. “I hope you chose that first woody base. It smells amazing on you.”

A smile pulled on his lips. “Why don’t you look in the box and see for yourself?”

Our fragrances included custom-printed labels on the back that listed their scent notes and creation date.

Vuk pushed his hands in his pockets and waited, his jaw taut, while I retrieved his cologne from his bag. I turned the bottle around, expecting to see a combination of woods and vanillas on the label.

I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t see any scent notes at all. There was only one sentence printed in vintage typewriter font:

Will you marry me?

The breath evaporated from my lungs. My palms grew so slick and hot, the bottle would’ve slipped from my grasp and crashed to the floor had I not been clutching it so tightly.

When I looked up, my throat burning with unshed tears, Vuk was already on one knee in front of me. The most breathtaking ring I’d ever seen glittered in his hand. The flawless pear-shaped diamond rested on a bed of black velvet. It was set in gold and adorned with an exquisite scattering of tiny emeralds.

“When I first told you about this workshop, you asked why it was so late at night,” he said. A wash of pink colored his cheekbones, and there was a small shake in his normally cool, steady voice. “It’s because I wanted to do this under the Northern Lights. Last year, when we were in D.C., you told me you never got to see the Lights, and I wanted you to experience them. I want you to experience everything beautiful in this world, Ayana, and I hope you’ll give me the honor of being by your side for it all.” Vuk swallowed. “I originally had a much longer speech planned, but I’m not the best with words. We’ve never needed them much anyway; we’ve always known what was in each other’s hearts. So I only have one question to ask. Ayana Kidane, will you marry me?”

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