A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows #3)(54)

“I have waited an entire lifetime for you.” I pressed my lips against her forehead.

She tightened her hold on me, and I wrapped my arms fully around her until I could reassure myself that she was here. That she was safe.

We stayed like that for a long time until her breathing evened out and her eyes fluttered closed. I continued to hold her while she slept, and every bit of tension bled from her body.

She was mine, and I would protect her at all costs.





CHAPTER 19





ADARA





I t had been three days since Gavril had infiltrated our kingdom and discarded my mother’s body on the steps of this palace. Three days that everyone had been on edge since someone had been able to get so close without anyone noticing.

Evren seemed to be bothered the most by that fact.

Whether it was Gavril himself or not, he was able to infiltrate our kingdom, our safety, and it stoked our fear.

He had barely let me out of his sight, not that I was complaining, but he took too much responsibility for the acts of others. If they were to come to our kingdom again, to bring this war to us, then we would have to be ready.

And as I had watched my father light the flame beneath my mother’s dead body, something steeled inside of me that I would be.

The Blood kingdom had become my own. It was my home, the place my mother’s ashes were now scattered, and the land I never wanted to leave again. It was on this land that I would marry Evren, and I would protect it no matter the cost.

I would protect its people. My people.

“The shop lady was very nosy, but this was the best I could find with Sorin watching my every movement.” Thalia hung the dress on her closet door, and I moved off her bed to look at it.

The dress was so white it almost looked translucent, and it was covered in the smallest beads that bled together to make it shimmer. “It’s perfect.”

I ran my fingers down the fabric and turned back to my friend.

“And the creek?”

“It’s already being worked on.” She pushed her hair out of her face and smiled. “Are you sure you want to do this so suddenly? You haven’t even told Evren.”

I laughed and moved the fabric of the dress until it shifted in the light.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything.” I let the dress fall and moved to the small desk where I had been trying to tame my hair.

Thalia moved behind me, and she began pinning up the pieces of hair I had missed, and she smiled.

“You know that he asked your father for your hand, right?”

“What?” I spun around to face her, and she grinned wider as she nodded.

“And what did my father say?”

“Well, I hope that he gave him a bit of hell, but he gave him his blessing.”

I scoffed, and she laughed, but a nervous joy took flight in my stomach. “Do you know where he is?”

“Your father?”

“Evren.”

“He was in the throne room when I snuck back in. I’m sure Sorin is in there now telling him all about his spying trip.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her as I stood. “He wasn’t spying. He was protecting you.”

“And I don’t need his protection.” She put her hands on her hips, and I rolled my eyes playfully.

“I can think of a few things you need from him, but from what I heard from Evren, you’ve already been getting it.”

Thalia swatted at me, but I quickly moved out of her reach and headed toward the door.

I pulled the door open, and she followed behind me wordlessly as we made our way to the throne room. There were two guards who followed us from her room to the hall and two more who guarded the doors.

I walked past them all and pushed the throne room doors open until I could see inside. I let out a sigh of relief when I only spotted Evren and Sorin standing with their heads together and their words hushed.

“I hope the two of you aren’t gossiping. You all have a bad habit of that.”

Evren’s gaze sought me out immediately, and I watched him swallow harshly as he looked upon me.

I was wearing nothing but the robe that Thalia let me borrow. The silky lilac material was buttery soft against my skin.

“Are you going somewhere, princess?” Evren cocked his head to the side as he studied me, and I could feel the heat in his gaze even from several feet away.

“Your wedding.” I raised my chin as I crossed my arms. “You have two hours’ time to get yourself ready.”

There was shock in his eyes as he watched me, but his lips formed into a smirk that made my knees feel weak beneath me.

“My wedding?”

“That’s what I said.” I nodded, and he grinned harder. “I don’t care what is still to come, I want you to be my husband before we face any of it.”

His body went rigid for only a moment before his feet moved and carried him in front of me. He thrust his hand in my hair, messing up all the work I had just done, and he slammed his lips down against mine.

“I want nothing more than to make you my wife.”

“You asked for my father’s blessing?” I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he smiled down at me.

“And you said that Sorin and I were the gossips?”