“Yes,” I say, my hands faltering a little on their path lower. “But doesn’t that make me…a bit of a crappy Queen.” “No,” he hums, closing his eyes and exhaling deeply when my hands continue their path, slowly unbuckling his belt. “It makes you perfect.” “All right,” I laugh softly. “If you say s
Ella Sinclair and I wake up only a few short hours later, our clothing spread out all over the bed and floor all around us, because today is the big day. I groan a little when I feel Sinclair stir. “No,” I murmur, wrapping my arm around him and pulling him back down. Or, I should say that he
Sinclair and I are likewise formally dressed, with me in a burgundy velvet gown with a matching cape and Sinclair in a sleek black jacket and pants with a blue sash over the front as well as a great number of medals. I don’t know what any of the medals mean, but he does look dashing. Which, honest
Ella We move immediately to the grand hall of the palace, where we met our delegates a few nights ago. Sinclair and I wait quietly in a little room off the side of the entrance for everyone from the first room to move to their chairs in the second, where there are already thousands of people wait
Cora and I burst out laughing at this clear joke, but Sinclair just glares at his brother and shoves him on his shoulder. “Don’t even think about it, Rog,” he growls. “You don’t want the work.” “Truth, brother,” Roger says, clapping Sinclair cheerfully on the shoulder. “Your life is safe with me.”
Ella The aids go pale as they see me hurry back to the door, their eyes going wide. This is not protocol – “Ella!” Cora gasps, her eyes moving quickly over me as she bounces Rafe in her arms, trying to calm him. “What are you doing!?” “He wants me, Cora,” I breathe, hurrying to her side and re
Ella I can’t help it, not at all. I burst immediately into tears. The crowd, when they realize what’s going on – and when I think they see my over-emotional reaction to it – begin to again shout their approval. Sinclair laughs when he sees me crying, shaking his head at me as he returns to my si
I admit that I’m nearly overwhelmed by all of the guests and the attention. Sinclair and I spend hours turning to each new person who comes forward to greet us, to congratulate us, to shake our hands and tell us about their excitement for the future of the nation. I do my best to give each of them m