Page 208 of Bride By Coronation

"Agreed," Brax mutters.

"Don't belittle the rules Fiona's father created. They are to keep balance," Kirill reprimands.

"So they should get married," I suggest.

Brax shoots me a look like I'm crazy.

"No. The amendment states that the evil needs to be cleansed from the seats during a purity ritual," Kirill declares.

I admit, "I'm still lost."

"The couple can't be together due to an arranged marriage or a predetermined selection. It has to be a couple who is truly in love and has chosen to marry without outside forces. The seats must go through a rebirth period, and only love can change the energy from negative to positive," he explains.

"We're in love and getting married!" Valentina blurts out.

Brax snaps his head toward her, his eyes wide.

I gape at them.

She grabs his hand. She sternly says, "We are! Aren't we?"

Fear fills his expression.

She turns back to Kirill and me, claiming, "We check all the boxes. We'll take the seats."

Brax clenches his jaw.

Kirill chuckles and points at him. "I see. You're joking again. The look on your face is priceless. Well played."

"We're not joking," Valentina insists, tugging Brax's arm. "Tell them the truth so we don't lose the chance to take our seats."

He glances at her.

She pleads with her eyes.

He slowly slides his arm around her, tugs her closer, and stands taller. He grins, pins his gaze on Kirill, and confirms, "We're in love, and I asked her to marry me."

Kirill points to her hand. "Where's her ring?"

She interjects, "Getting sized. Brax thought my finger was a seven and it's a seven and a half."

Brax's face hardens again. He affirms, "My bad. The jeweler is fixing it."

Kirill studies them for a moment, shakes his head, then looks at me.

I bite on my smile, trying not to laugh. There's no way this is true.

Valentina reiterates, "We meet the criteria. Please! Let us take our seats!"

Kirill sighs, then gives her an apologetic look. He lowers his voice. "Amendment 666 is important. Sean created it for the sole purpose?—"

"Of restoring light to the table and safety to The Underworld," I interject.

Pride fills Kirill's expression. He praises, "Yes, my queen. You're exactly right. How did you know that when the amendment wasn't in your Royal Doctrine?"

"It's part of Act 7. Balance is essential for safety, and light must always shine upon the table," I recite.

Kirill puffs his chest, gushing, "I have the smartest wife."

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