Page 46 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight

“Yes,” she breathed, her voice thick with emotion. “Yes, I will marry you.”

The transformation on Grayden's face was instantaneous. Joy, relief, and love washed over his features, and before Renya could say another word, she found herself caught up in his embrace. This wasn't his usual controlled, gentle hug. This was wild, almost desperate, as if he was trying to pull her into himself, to merge their very souls. A rain of kisses fell upon her face—her hair, her eyelids, the tip of her nose, her forehead—before finally claiming her lips in a kiss that left her breathless. It was tender yet passionate, gentle yet demanding, a perfect reflection of the man himself.

When he finally pulled back, his hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb tracing her cheekbone with reverence. “I promise,” he said, his voice low and fervent, “I will spend the rest of our lives devoted to your happiness.”

“You better,” Renya replied, her tone light but her eyes serious as she pressed her hand against his, leaning into his touch.

For the first time since he'd slipped it on, Renya took a moment to really look at the ring. It was a delicate silver band, intricate braids of white metal weaving around its circumference. At its center sat a large snowflake, a perfect match to her hair clips. Even in the soft moonlight, it sparkled and gleamed, catching the light as she turned her hand to admire it from every angle.

“It was my mother's,” Grayden said quietly, a note of uncertainty creeping back into his voice. “If you want something new or something else, we can—”

“Absolutely not,” Renya cut him off firmly. “It's perfect.”

Relief washed over Grayden's face. It was clear that while he wanted her to be happy, this ring held special significance for him. The fact that she loved it seemed to lift a weight from his shoulders. Grayden pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as he took a deep, steadying breath. Renya felt the intensity of his emotions through their bond—joy, relief, love, and a fierce protectiveness that made her feel simultaneously cherished and slightly overwhelmed.

The water stilled around them as they stood like that, the steam rising around their hips, creating a cocoon of warmth in the frigid night air. Renya tilted her chin up, capturing Grayden's lips in a kiss that quickly ignited into something more passionate. She pressed herself against him, the heat of the water nothing compared to the fire building between them.

Every intimate encounter they'd shared so far had been slow, gentle, almost reverent. But now, Renya felt a burning need that demanded more. As if sensing her urgency, Grayden's mouth left hers, trailing a path of searing kisses down to the hollow of her throat. A moan escaped her lips, echoing in the quiet night. Her fingers tangled in his hair, still damp from his earlier dive into the pool.

Without warning, Grayden scooped her up, one strong arm supporting her bottom. Instinctively, Renya wrapped her legs around his waist, her ankles locking behind his back. Water cascaded down her skin, but she barely registered the cold, too caught up in the heat of the moment.

Grayden groaned, the sound rumbling through his chest. “No matter how many times I have you,” he murmured against her skin, “it's never enough.”

Their coupling was intense, passionate, a physical manifestation of the commitment they'd just made to each other. Renya lost herself in the sensations, every touch, every movement amplified by the bond they shared. When they reached their peak together, Renya buried her face against Grayden's neck, muffling her cries of pleasure.

As their heartbeats slowly returned to normal, Renya clung to Grayden, reluctant to let go. The reality of what had just happened—not just their lovemaking, but the proposal—was starting to sink in. A mix of emotions swirled within her: joy, excitement, but also a twinge of apprehension at the enormity of the change in her life.

Grayden gently set her back in the water before making his way out of the springs. Renya watched as he efficiently set about building a fire, the play of muscles in his back a distraction from her tumultuous thoughts. He retrieved a few rough towels from the saddlebags and held one out to her.

Renya emerged from the water, quickly wrapping the towel around herself. She moved to stand in front of the fire, grateful for its warmth as she dried off. As she moved, the ring on her finger caught the firelight, drawing her attention once again. She found herself pausing to admire it, still hardly able to believe this was real.

Grayden, already dressed, came to her side with her clothes. His eyes followed her gaze to the ring, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“So,” Renya began, pulling on her tunic with slightly trembling hands, “when should we get married?”

“I was thinking of the Winter Solstice,” Grayden replied, his voice filled with quiet excitement. “It's the most sacred time in the Snow Lands. The celebrations go on for days, and it would be great to coincide with our wedding. We could use the opportunity to present you to the people as their new queen.”

Renya froze, her mind stumbling over his last word. “Queen?” she echoed, a note of disbelief in her voice. “Since you aren't a king, how can I be queen?”

Grayden's expression turned serious. “I think it's finally time for me to step into the role my father held,” he explained. “When it was just me, it made sense to keep things the same. But now that I'm going to have you beside me as my wife, it makes sense. Plus, if anything happens to me, you'll be queen in your own right and will rule the Snow Lands.”

A frown creased Renya's brow as she processed this new information. “Wouldn't Phillippe replace you?” she asked, thinking of Grayden's capable older brother.

Grayden shook his head. “He doesn't have magic, Little Fawn. It's unfair, I know. But no one in our world would accept him as the true leader. Plus, he doesn't want it. He doesn't want to be the one to make the tough decisions.”

“But I'm practically a stranger to your lands,” Renya protested, a hint of panic creeping into her voice.

Grayden took her hands in his, his thumbs tracing soothing circles on her skin. “I'm marrying you because I love you and I want to be bound to you for all eternity, both through our bond and in front of the Gods,” he said softly. “But I also know that if anything happens to me, you'll do whatever you can to keep our lands safe and secure.”

Our lands. The phrase echoed in Renya's mind, driving home the reality of her new situation. This was real. She would be a queen soon. The thought terrified her more than any battle with Cressida ever could.

“When is the Winter Solstice?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“In about a month.”

Renya felt her knees go weak, and she had to steady herself against Grayden's arm as she pulled on her boots. A wave of dizziness washed over her as the full weight of everything settled on her shoulders. It was all happening so fast. She'd barely had time to accept her lineage, her magic, their bond, and now their marriage and becoming a queen. Her heart raced, and she felt as if she was being crushed under the weight of responsibility. Was this how Grayden felt every day? How did he cope?

“You're scared, Little Fawn,” Grayden said softly, pulling her upright and meeting her eyes with an intense gaze. “I can feel it through our bond. What's bothering you?”

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