I nodded, swallowing back more tears.
Ora took a fabric-wrapped parcel out of their pocket and handed it to Grae. “That thing you asked me for.”
I quirked my brow at Grae, but he didn’t reply, simply nodding and pocketing the fabric.
The wind whipped our hair and cupped our ears as we waved to Ora. The wagon slowly disappeared into the golden forest, and I knew my fox badge would be swinging above the dining table along with the rest of them. It had been the first place that truly felt like home.
Grae slung his arm over my shoulders and I leaned into his warm side. I’d let that feeling guide me as I rebuilt Olmdere—a place where my people felt that same belonging.
Forty-Two
The crisp air swirled around us, promising the coming autumn. Dappled sunlight streamed through the swaying branches of the golden oak tree. I leaned into Grae, listening to his steady heartbeat beneath my cheek.
Water rushed from the river below, spilling into the turquoise lake. The color had brightened from its murky black since the ostekke’s death. Humans were swimming in it again, delighting in the warm waters, baked for months by the hot summer sun.
I plucked a leaf off the branch and twirled it by the stem.
Grae kissed my temple. “What are you thinking about?”
I let the leaf fall, floating through the air down into the river. My eyes followed the golden speck as the river carried it away.
“This may be my new favorite tree,” I whispered.
“Mine too,” he murmured, sweeping my hair behind my ear.
My sleeveless linen dress billowed with the breeze. I loved the flow of the fabric on the hot summer’s day. Claiming the word “merem” had freed me. I wore the clothes that made me happy and I lived as the person I knew I was.
Mina was the first human appointed to my council, along with the town leaders from each of the five counties. A parcel had arrived from Queen Ingrid the day after Sawyn’s death—a silver and diamond tiara, a gift from the Ice Wolf pack congratulating my victory. Sawyn’s body was barely burned and the Taigosi queen was already politicking. I had sent the tiara back, along with a bag of gold from my treasury, asking Queen Ingrid to supply its worth in grain and produce instead. Sure enough, five massive wagons rolled into the capital the following week, one for each county, enough to fill their bellies twice over while the rebuild began.
The laughter of children splashing in the lake carried uphill.
I closed my eyes. “Gods, I would give anything to protect that sound.”
“You have.” Grae’s voice dropped to a low rumble as his arms tightened around me. “And you will. We all will.”
I craned my neck back to look into his warm eyes, his cheeks dimpling even as he took in my worried expression.
“There is so much to do—towns to rebuild, fields to sow . . .” I released a slow breath. “The war with Damrienn hasn’t even begun.”
My mind flashed to the haggard-looking face of the Damrienn messenger who had arrived that morning. King Nero demanded we yield Olmdere to him or ready for war. I knew he’d do it and yet the actuality of it stole my breath away. I’d barely taken my place on my throne and already I needed to defend it.
“He has to get through Taigos to march his armies here and Ingrid hates him almost as much as we do. We have time.” Grae swept his calloused hand down my bare arm. “For now, your people are safe.”
I shook my head. “You will be at war with your own father.”
“You are my family.” He searched my face and reached into his pocket, his fist clenching around something. “You are my everything, little fox.”
He opened his palm to reveal a gold ring holding a large amber stone ringed with diamonds.
“Is this—”
“Your protection stone.” Grae smiled.
My eyebrows shot up. “You kept it all this time?”
“I gave it to Ora to turn into a ring.” He looked down at the ring, the diamonds casting spectrums of glittering light all around us. He chuckled. “Though in hindsight it would’ve been better to hang on to it, had I known how many monsters we’d encounter. I’d planned on giving it to you before the siege, but . . .”
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered. “Are you—are you proposing to me?”
“Poorly, it seems,” he huffed, flashing that charming grin. “I am already yours in every way. You are the merem of my heart. Be mine? Marry me?”
My heart cracked open at those words, a smile splitting across my face as I nodded. “Yes.”