The Crown (The Selection #5)(44)

It was clear he had put a lot of thought into how he wanted to be perceived in this portrait, and I admired that. When the photographer was done, Henri began to walk away, then paused.

“Umm, ent? Erik?” he said, pointing to his friend.

Kile caught on and was in full agreement. “Yeah, Erik’s been through this, too. He needs to get up there.”

Erik simply shook his head. “No, I’m fine. It’s fine.”

“Go on, man, it’s just a picture.” Kile pushed him a little, but he still didn’t move.

Part of me worried that somehow, everyone would be able to hear my pulse beating out his name if he got any closer. But as hard as I’d worked to avoid him the last few days, it was just as challenging not to run to him now.

I walked over to him. And when he realized I was on my way, his gaze flew up to mine. In an instant, everything in the room came alive. Like the sunshine had a melody and the sounds of footsteps had a texture I could feel in my fingertips each time anyone moved.

The world woke up when I looked at him.

I stopped in front of Erik, hoping I didn’t look as dazzled as I felt. “I’m not commanding. I’m asking.”

He sighed. “That makes it a thousand times worse.” Smiling, he put his hand in mine, but before I could pull him onto the stage, he looked down at himself. As soon as the ceremony had ended, he’d taken off his suit jacket and was now only wearing a vest and tie. “Now I’m underdressed,” he lamented.

I sighed and unbuttoned the snaps holding the cape to my dress. The second I held it out, Hale came to carefully take it away. “Does that help?”

“No.” He swallowed. “But if you truly want this …”

“I do.” I tilted my head and playfully batted my lashes.

He laughed, clearly realizing he was defeated. “What do I do?”

“Okay.” I grinned, stepping closer. “Put this hand here,” I said, placing the front one on my waist. “And this one here,” pulling the other up to my shoulder. I put one hand on his chest and the other looped behind his arm, and we stood there in a loose embrace. “Now smile at the camera.”

“All right,” he said.

With my hand on his chest, I could feel his heart pounding. “Calm down,” I said quietly. “Pretend it’s just you and me.”

“I can’t.”

“Then, I don’t know, say something in Finnish.”

He chuckled to himself and whispered, “Vain koska pyysit, hauska nainen.” Though I couldn’t understand the words he continued to murmur, I knew I would never be able to forget his tone. Without looking up at him, I could hear his smile, which only made mine brighter. I had to remind myself to breathe, I was so busy listening to him. I knew in my heart these were important words. And I couldn’t recognize a single one.

“That was a good one,” the photographer said, and almost instantly Erik dropped his hands.

“See? Was that so awful?” I asked.

“I thought it would be much, much harder,” he confessed, and there was something funny in his voice, like I’d missed a detail.

I could hear it again, the rat tat tat of my foolish heart. I swallowed, ignoring it and turning instead to the footsteps echoing as they entered the hall.

“Marid,” I called in greeting.

“I’m sorry to intrude, but I couldn’t help myself. Is there any way I could get an official picture with my new queen?” Marid asked.

“Of course.” I extended a hand, and he walked over, happily taking it.

“The country is abuzz,” he told me. “I don’t know if you’ve been hearing reports today, but the coverage is very positive.”

“I haven’t had a second to pause and look,” I confessed as he held both of my hands affectionately and faced the camera.

“No need. You have people at your beck and call to report it all later. I’m just happy to be the first to tell you that your inaugural day is going beautifully.”

He squeezed my hand, and I sighed, thinking that maybe, finally, it was all coming together.





I DRANK CHAMPAGNE AND LAUGHED too loudly and ate half my body weight in chocolate. Just for a few hours, I wanted to revel in the ridiculous opulence I’d always taken for granted. Tomorrow I would sip water and get my head straight. Tomorrow I would worry about how to keep my country together. Tomorrow I would think about husbands.

But tonight? Tonight I was going to bask in this perfect, sparkling moment.

“One more dance?” Ahren asked, catching me mid-sip in what I swore was my last drink. “I have a flight to catch, but I wanted to say good-bye.”

I stood, taking his hand. “I’ll take whatever good-bye I can get. Anything will be better than last time.”

“I’m still sorry about that, but you know why I couldn’t.”

We locked form, and he spun me around the room. “I do. That didn’t make it any easier though. Add that to everything else that’s going on, and life’s been a little harsh without you here.”

“I’m sorry. But you’re doing very well, better than you think, I’d wager.”

“We’ll see. I still have to establish my government, make sure Mom and Dad slow down, and find someone to marry me.”