Page 65 of A Reign of Embers

“I’d be a fool not to see how good you’ve been to my wife,” he says. “And I’ve already been a fool far longer and more often than I prefer. You’ve stood by her, comforted her, and protected her when she needed it, since before she evenwasmy wife. You carried out the duties that should have been mine when I was too lost in my old attitudes to do it myself.”

A trace of a smile touches Lorenzo’s lips. He catches my gaze.“I don’t think any of us saw it as a ‘duty’ but as an honor.”

Marc lets out a choked sort of laugh. “As well you should. That only proves my point.”

Raul swirls his hand in the air impatiently. “Whatisyour point? We already know everything you just said. You’re the one who’s taken so long to catch up.”

Marc grimaces at him but doesn’t let a matching animosity seep into his tone. If anything, his voice softens. “You’re about to head off on your own into highly dangerous territory on Aurelia’s behalf. I know how much you’re risking, and I know you’re doing it for her. I know you’ll put your allegiance to her over that to your families and do whatever you can to ensure their own loyalty and her safety.”

His gaze returns to me. “And I know how hard it was for you to ask them to go and how worried you’ll be while they’re gone.”

The sense of loss I’ve been trying to suppress all daycreeps up to wind around my throat. “So you wanted to arrange one last meeting? I’d have done that myself.”

“No. I—I wanted to give you something better than that. I don’t know how much of a difference it’ll make, but I hope it’ll mean something to have your devotion to each other validated beyond secret meetings.”

He draws in a breath. “The palace might not fully recognize it, but technically I am still emperor. I was born of the imperial line with all the authority that should come with that fact. And by tradition the emperor has all the powers of a cleric should he choose to exercise them. I can sanctify a marriage under the gods’ eyes.”

My heart stutters. We all stare at him, speechless.

Raul attempts to recover first. “What— You really?—”

Marc continues before the prince of Lavira needs to grope for words any farther. “I’m offering to oversee an official marriage ceremony between the three of you and her. You might not be able to celebrate it openly, butyou’dknow that your relationship is legitimatized, before imperial authority and the gods. If you’d all want that…”

As he trails off, he looks abruptly, startlingly awkward. I’ve never seen him quite so unsure of his footing.

The knowledge that he’s made this offer despite his uncertainties, despite all the reasons he might have to want to hold on to the one exclusive claim he has on me, brings a swell of affection surging up inside me.

A smile stretches my lips. “Of course I’d want that.”

I glance across at my lovers. Lorenzo is beaming now, the answer shining in his dark eyes before his illusionary voice passes into my mind.“It would be the highest honor.”

Bastien’s voice comes out rough. “I never dared to hope that would even be possible. Are you sure—would Ardone really give her blessing—when Aurelia’s already technically married to you, andthreeof us?—”

Marc smiles crookedly back at him. “I looked up historical precedent. It’s unusual, but there have been occasional marriages of more than two people in the past. Even that blasted Signy who kicked us out of the western half of the continent… All Ardone seems to care about in those cases is whether the marriage is based on genuine love, and I doubt that’ll be a problem here.”

Raul still appears to be reeling. “Why would you— Are you serious? What’s the catch?”

“No catch.” Marc’s face turns wistful. “I’ve had to do a lot of reflecting in recent weeks. The conclusion I’ve come to is that there’s nothing I want more than to remain with Aurelia, acting as the partner I should have been to begin with, seeing her at peace and thriving alongside the empire. And I can see that binding you all together, confirming the support you’ll keep offering each other, will get me closer to that goal.”

I have the urge to kiss him again, more emphatically than the one time I allowed myself before. That gesture seems rather counter purpose to the one he’s making, though.

He has come an incredibly long way from the imperial heir who once mocked my tea and hurled knives at my head.

Marc opens the pouch at his hip and retrieves a ball of pink silk… and three gold rings he displays on his palm. “I didn’t think we could get away with each of you having a full band, and I didn’t have enough gold from mine to make three of those anyway. But if I can still be her husband with it cut off my wrist, then I don’t see why having a smaller band around your finger shouldn’t be a more-than-sufficient symbol.”

Raul’s eyes flash. “You did grab the broken band from the servants’ room! All this time…” His momentary consternation dwindles. “You held on to it all this time, and you’re using it for this?”

“It’s meant to be worn, and I couldn’t wear it as is either.” Marc pauses with a flick of his gaze toward me. “I had four rings made. I’ll give you the other to set aside… until such time as you might decide you’re happy seeing it on my finger as well.”

The hope in his eyes makes my throat squeeze tighter. “I suppose we’ll see about that part,” I say quietly.

Lorenzo steps closer to me.“You can conduct the ceremony here rather than in the temple? Right now?”

“The temple seemed too risky, and I expect we’re best off with me as close to my old imperial self as possible.” Marc motions to the room around us. “It shouldn’t take long, and then you can celebrate in private however you wish. I think I can pare down the typical ceremonial prayers.”

Even Raul’s face has lightened. I walk over, tugging Lorenzo with me, reaching to grasp Raul’s hand and encompassing Bastien as well with my smile. “I couldn’t have asked for better companions in everything that matters to me. We’ve been on this path together for so long, through so much. Let’s make that commitment official in the eyes of the gods.”

Raul dips his head to plant a kiss on my hair. “You know I’d make the commitment in front of the entire continent if we could.”

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