A familiar sorrow coiled around Renna like an old friend keeping her company. “I don’t think that’s a good thing,” she whispered, trying to keep her emotions in check. She completely loved him, and yet, he had a broken heart.
They both did.
“I’ll take anything I can get from you, even if it’s only a broken heart.” His eyes were defeated, adding to the canyon of heartache inside her. “I’ve never been so miserable in my life,” he said, half laughing. “This misery has changed me. It has taught me about myself and . . .” His words got quieter. “About love.”
Renna had to look away.
She couldn’t handle the seriousness of it all. She couldn’t handle the use of the word love, especially when he would never be hers. She swallowed hard. “I’m afraid you’ll never be satisfied again,” she said with an air of sarcastic haughtiness.
“Obviously,” he whispered.
“Obviously,” she whispered back.
Renna didn’t need to look at him. She knew from the sound of his voice what smile he gave—the sad one, full of longing.
But she did look at him.
One last time.
His blue eyes were glossed over with moisture, contradicting his charming smile. He stood there, hands in his pockets, staring back at her. Every fiber of her being swore she was meant to look at him for the rest of her life and beyond, but somehow this was goodbye.
She loved him enough to let him go.
She turned to leave, letting their story end one last time.
46
Trev
Later that night, everyone gathered in the great hall for the pre-wedding dinner. Glasses clanked together after each toast and each shout of, ‘to the happy couple!’ Trev’s jaw ached from all the smiling he was doing. The pretense of happiness was exhausting. Of course, nobody used the word love in their speech. This was an arranged marriage, a political move. Instead, they said things like, ‘they make a charming couple,’ ‘Albion’s future is bright with the two of them,’ or Trev’s personal favorite, ‘there’s never been two people more perfect for each other.’
As if any of these well-wishers knew anything about what was perfect for Trev. What was perfect for Trev was sitting eight tables away, wearing a shiny silver dress. Her hair was down and impossibly straight—Trev had never seen it that straight before. She was sitting next to a young soldier, who seemed to be leaning into her just for the fun of it.
“To the happy couple!” Alba Folley said, finishing his speech. Trev raised his glass to Seran’s again. More cheers. More clanking glasses.
King Adler stood, making tensions rise. Nothing had been solved yet. Drake had tried to question Commander Pryer, but he was already gone; he had left to find the men stationed at the Dawsey Inn to bring them back for questioning. Still, Pryer’s absence seemed extremely convenient.
Adler raised his glass. “To Prince Ezra, Princess Seran, and the unity of two great kingdoms. May their marriage lead to happiness, not war.”
“Here, here!” shouted the crowd. Trev took a drink, not missing the knowing look from Drake.
King Carver stood, raising his glass. “Thank you all for coming. King Bryant and I are honored that you would all travel so far to celebrate this joyous occasion with us. King Adler is right. Tomorrow marks the joining of two great kingdoms.” Trev held his breath. He would have preferred his father not mention Adler. “And, in a few months, this happy couple will rule Albion together, uniting us all, making Albion stronger than ever.” Even from where Trev was sitting, he could see the snickers pass through Joniss, Maxwell, and their friends. If they had their way, Joniss would be the one ruling Albion in a few months. “Again, thank you all for coming. We’ll see you all tomorrow at the wedding ceremony.”
The crowd applauded.
Trev and Seran stood. Hand in hand, they smiled and nodded at the crowd applauding them until enough time had passed, and they exited the great hall together, waving like idiots.
“I’m glad that’s over,” Trev said as they walked down the hall.
Seran removed the long gloves covering her arms. “I didn’t think it was that bad. Besides, anytime we can be in the spotlight right now is good. It only helps with the election.” She sighed. “It’s all part of the job.”
Trev looked at the beautiful, intelligent woman walking beside him. “What would you do with your life if you weren’t marrying me?”
She laughed his question away. “I am marrying you, so it doesn’t really matter.”
He stopped walking. “It matters to me.”
Her steps slowed, and she looked up and down the hallway as if making sure no one else was around. “I suppose I . . . I would love to be an educator, teach history and politics.”
Trev smiled. “You would be amazing at that.”
For the first time since he had known her, Seran got embarrassed. Her cheeks reddened, and she turned away. “I would ask what you would do if you weren’t marrying me, but I think I already know the answer.”
The truth behind her words hurt. “Am I that predictable?”
Her eyes softened as she looked at him. “I guess neither of us is free to do what we want with our lives.”
He grabbed her hand. “At least we have that in common.”
“It’s a start.”
Trev leaned his body into the cement railing of his balcony. City lights shone like stars below him, radiating a soft glow into the night sky. He would have considered the moment peaceful if it weren’t for the anxious feelings inside him. The gravity of it all—Adler, Renna, Seran, the election—pulled him down.
Relentlessly sinking him.
Drowning him.
He had been dropping into this darkness for a while, desperately trying to claw his way out. It was easier when he thought he was saving Albion, saving Adler from the assassination, but now, he didn’t even have that. His grip had slipped, and he never thought he could fall so low.
47
Renna
Overnight, the palace’s great hall was transformed for the wedding ceremony. Pale yellow silk billowed across the ceiling, covering the expansive roof like an airy tent, making it seem more intimate than usual. Flower garlands were strung above, decoratively stretching across the fabric. Rows and rows of yellow chairs lined each side of the room with flowers fastened to the ends, pink ribbon dangling from the sides to the floor. Even more colorful flowers dripped from the walls, sweeping up and down like waves in the sea. The dais sat at the front of the room with large floor vases on either side, full of the most exquisite flowers Renna had ever seen. The room smelled like a garden on a chilly spring day. Everything was colorful, bright, and happy—just the way it was supposed to be.
But Renna was leaving.
Her mother’s shoes clicked on the marble as she walked in the room. “There you are.”
Renna smiled at her mother and King Bryant. “I just wanted to see the decorations before I left.”
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
Her mother was asking about her heart. Would her heart be okay since the man she loved was marrying someone else today?