Page 177 of A Vow of Embers

We didn’t speak of how he held me after we woke up. Sometimes, if I was still awake when he came to bed, we would tell each other about our days. I told him about how we trained, vaguely about the research we were doing, the conversations I had with Themis to get her on Xander’s side. He talked to me about the things his brothers were working on, the conversations he had to influence people to vote his way, what his spies had learned from watching Erisa.

Our conversations were a bit stiff and awkward, always guarded, but it was the most we had ever talked outside of our dreams and not wound up fighting at the end.

Not only did we avoid discussing our nocturnal cuddling, but we also didn’t speak of the times we had kissed.

Neither one of us asked for explanations about the things we had been angry about. It was almost like we were trapped inside a bubble, where everything was strangely uneasy but at any moment it would pop and it would all come crashing down around us.

Io was interested in the upcoming party. This was apparently different from the other ones I had attended—food would be served, but there would also be music and dancing and everyone dressed up. She had ordered a team of seamstresses to create new dresses for us. I left all the details in her capable hands. I was far more interested in the upcoming council meeting and how Xander was going to vote.

I had supposed that I would have to wait until after the meeting was done to hear what had happened, but the morning of the vote, while I lay in his arms, he said, “Would you like to come with me to the council meeting today?”

Was he being serious? I lifted my head to look at him. “I can come?”

“You said we should work together. So come with me.”

I hurried out of bed and had Io come over and help me get ready, as I didn’t want to waste time tracking down Parthenia. I was worried that he might change his mind and wasn’t going to give him an opportunity to do so.

And I had to ignore Io’s knowing smirk the whole time she helped me dress.

Xander and I walked to the council meeting, where the archons had gathered. Many different noble families were there. He and I sat in seats near the front that had been reserved for us.

My heart skipped a beat when I realized there were two chairs. Had he always intended to bring me? It hadn’t been a spontaneous decision? He briefly explained that adult members of the royal family directlyinvolved with the line of succession were also allowed to vote on matters that concerned the nation, but only the council themselves voted on who became the next ruler.

Which meant that if I had given birth to a potential heir, I would also be able to vote.

And that Io and her half brothers could not, as they were not eligible to take the throne themselves.

Erisa sat in a corner opposite us and glowered.

I wanted so badly to gloat. To send her a smile so that she would know what I had done. But I knew that it would be better to let her twist and wonder who had cleared out her stolen treasure.

Pelias, who obviously considered himself the leader, called the meeting to order. He looked so much like his son that I had to sit on my hands so I wouldn’t pull a weapon. I wanted this entire family to be sent into permanent exile.

Or to introduce them to the pointed end of my xiphos. I wasn’t particular.

They discussed some other issues from their planned agenda, and it was boring but thankfully I didn’t have long to wait.

Themis was given the floor, and she made very persuasive arguments as to why schools for girls should be created and why educating them mattered. I agreed with everything she said.

Then Zethus spoke for the opposing side, citing tradition and laws. That things had been this way for a very long time and had no need to change.

After he had finished, Pelias said, “Queen Erisa?”

“I have nothing to add,” she said. “Zethus has spoken my own thoughts.”

“Prince Alexandros?”

Xander stood up beside me and I held my breath, wondering what he would say.

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Xander paused for a moment and then said, “I agree with Archon Themis. And I would propose that we add another point to this vote, something my wife suggested to me. I think anyone who harms a woman should be held accountable. We punish men who attack other men, and the women of this nation should be given the same protections. Everyone deserves to be kept safe.”

He sat down to a large amount of murmuring, but my heart thudded swiftly in my chest. I had gotten through to him.

I was pleased.

And proud of him.