Page 121 of The Fighter
“When are we telling your parents that we’re getting married?”
My voice was drowsy. “Sunday, I think.”
“No. Tomorrow, Raven. I want to tell them tomorrow.”
My eyes were already closed, my breathing slow and deep. “Yes, we’ll tell them tomorrow.”
The last thing I heard before I surrendered to sleep was Leo whispering into my ear. “I love you, Raven, and I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
CHAPTER 29
Family Dinner
Leo
I was equally proud and nervous when Raven took me home to her parents’ large house on Victoria’s Island.
When we arrived, two of her younger siblings, Samara and Jones, were in the kitchen with their mother, Christina.
“Raven, sweetie, what a wonderful surprise. I tried calling you all morning. We’re having a party.”
“We are?”
“Yes. Didn’t you hear the good news?”
“What news?”
Christina had flour on her shirt and her braid was coming undone, but she was glowing with excitement. “The Northland will become a democracy. It’s not official yet, but Khan told your father and he has been beside himself all morning.”
Raven had gone around hugging her siblings and now she was hugging her mom. “Is he upset about it?”
“Yes, but I don’t care. This calls for a celebration. I wanted to invite everybody but Pearl said it’s too soon and that they want to announce it to the inner circle themselves in a few weeks. She asked that we make it a small celebration for now so it’s just going to be the Aurelius family.” Her eyes shifted to me. “And your boss, but Pearl told me you two already know about it.”
“Yes. We were there yesterday when Pearl suggested it.”
Christina tilted her head. “It’s the strangest thing. As long as I’ve known Pearl she has advocated for the Northlands to become a democracy. I can’t for my life figure out why Khan and Magni suddenly changed their minds and agreed. Do you know if anything happened yesterday?”
Raven frowned and opened her mouth but I was quicker, and answered before her, “I think it’s the situation with Magni. With him no longer being able to do his usual work, Khan must have been more open to thinking of new ways to do things.”
Christina tilted her head. “Yes, that makes sense. Huh, imagine that something great could come out of an accident that awful.”
“Is Magni coming too?” Raven asked.
“No, he’ll need to stay in bed a while longer, but as I said, Pearl, Khan, and their kids are coming, and so is Mila. She’s going to be happy that you’re here.” Christina picked up a large knife to cut some bread. “I’m still bubbling over with joy on the inside whenever I think about the Northlands as a democratic country.”
I made a pained noise just from the word.
“Oh, Leo, your face. Don’t look like that. I know you think democracy will be the end of your world, but it’s going to be the best thing that ever happened to you.”
I wanted to tell Christina that her daughter was the best thing that ever happened to me, but the timing seemed off.
Christina pointed to the staircase in the entryway. “If you want, you can join Alexander upstairs. He was brooding all morning, so I exiled him from the kitchen. Maybe you can convince my husband that his world isn’t coming to an end.”
The energy from Christina was infectious as she returned to supervise her youngest children, who were helping her cook.
Raven smiled. “Anything I can help with, Mom?”
“Yes, you could ask your brother to set the table. Indiana has been hiding in his room refusing to help with anything.”
