Page 60 of A Rose Among Snakes (Gardens of Ruin and Revival)

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Mihrra

D enzen was laid to rest in the Blaise family cemetery behind the gardens, the same place Velian’s grandparents and parents were buried. Corman and Paolef said they preferred to finish burying him alone, so after Kezara and Enverro paid their respects and slipped back inside, Velian and I stayed behind to say our goodbyes.

I threw a white rose on the wooden coffin as Paolef and Corman shoveled dirt atop it. Tears slid down my cheeks as I whispered,

“Thank you. I didn’t get to say it before… but, thank you.”

Velian wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

“He knew,” he murmured into my hair. We stayed there for another minute, and I wrapped an arm around his waist for both comfort and support as lethargy settled into my bones.

Velian led me to the bench in the garden, and as we sat down, he scooted close and pulled my legs over his lap. I leaned into him and rested my head on his shoulder, careful to give my injured arm space between our bodies and the bench. I placed my other hand on his torso, feeling the ripple of strong muscles beneath his thin shirt. He put one arm around my back to rest on my hip, the other hand laid on top of my knees. I knew I should have gone to bed, but I didn’t want the moment to end. As my eyelids grew heavier, Velian asked,

“How are you?”

I nuzzled my face into his shoulder. “I’m tired.”

“How are you feeling though? A lot has happened over the past week.”

“Has it only been a week?” I mumbled.

“Mihrra,” he coaxed as he moved his hand from my hip to comb through my loose hair. I loved that feeling, the way his touch was simultaneously thrilling and relaxing.

Knowing I couldn’t avoid it forever I said, “I’m alright.” It was a lie.

Velian pressed, “I’ll never forget how upset you were after Canderren, and you’ve been through a lot more than that this week.”

Instead of lying again, I stayed silent. My mind was bombarded by the face of every man I killed in turn; the horror warping the expression of the first man as he fell off the cliff, the bewilderment on the other man I stabbed, and the shock and disgust on Bomesson’s face as I sliced across his neck. The thought of it filled me with a glimmer of guilt now, but at the time, I’d really only felt relief, if not satisfaction even.

And Leoro—I felt some remorse, but was that the truth? Could I be honest about how the memory of the blood flowing out of his gaping throat filled me with sick pleasure, like justice had finally been served?

No, I told myself. It’s just relief that it’s all over.

Birds sang their evening songs and insects buzzed through the air as I contemplated my feelings.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

His hand tightened on my knee. “No, I’m not.” I lifted my head from his chest to look at him, but his eyes were trained on the pink horizon. “Every time I close my eyes, even blink, I see you bleeding, kneeling on the ground with his hands around your throat, and I…” his voice lowered to a whisper, “I can’t do anything to save you. I have never been so afraid, and I don’t think I’ll get over it as long as I live.”

I was so tired of crying, but my throat tightened. I didn’t have any words to comfort him, so I placed my hand over his heart. Somehow his pain was easier to acknowledge than my own.

He cleared his throat and asked, “Do you want to talk about your father?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. It was too soon for that. Definitely too soon.

Velian’s hand moved to my waist, hugging me closer, then slid back down to my hip. We sat that way for a few breaths when Velian broke the silence.

“I still remember the first time I saw you.”

Thinking back to the moment we were introduced, I said around a yawn, “You do? ”

“It was in Roben. I was the rider that helped you with your brother.”

I sat up straight. “I didn’t think you recognized me.”

“You knew?”

“Of course, I knew. I couldn’t forget you if I wanted to. Believe me, I tried.”

“What do you mean?” He frowned.

I tossed my hair over my shoulder. “After the ball. I didn’t think I could trust you.”

His frown deepened. “Do you trust me now?”

I mirrored his expression. “Absolutely. I love you, remember?”

His answering smile was radiant, the dimples emerging in full force. “I’ll never tire of hearing that. Not a single day has gone by since the moment I saw you that I haven’t thought about you.”

“Don’t tease me, Velian.”

“I mean it, not one day.”

Warmth flooded my chest at the sincerity of his words, but my curiosity was piqued. “What were you doing in Roben that day?”

He gave a weary sigh. “We had a late shipment and an unhappy dealer in Frommhelm, so I went there on my own to make amends.”

“Is that something you do—did often?”

“Recently, yes. There had been issues, but I don’t have to worry about that anymore, thanks to you.” He brushed a knuckle along my cheekbone, avoiding the cut. It was distracting, but I needed answers .

“Why didn’t you say anything to me sooner?”

“I never felt like it was the right time.”

I nodded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. “I thought you would let me go the minute you saw me in your study because you knew about my brother.”

He chuckled. “Honestly, I had half a mind to, but it had nothing to do with you or your brother. I swear my heart stopped when Mrs. Shulling brought you into that room, and all I could think about was how agonizing it was going to be trying to stay away from you.”

I smiled knowing I had not been alone in the sentiment the past two months. “I had convinced myself you didn’t recognize me, that I was forgettable.”

He tucked my hair behind my ear and looked deep into my eyes, making my stomach do somersaults. “Mihrra, how could I ever forget you? You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He tipped my chin up and I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead, he said, “Wait right here,” as he scooted me off his lap.

Disappointed, I pressed my lips together and crossed my arms, careful of the bandage around my left forearm. Alone with my thoughts as he ran inside, my head was a brighter place after his confession. While I didn’t expect him to fix my problems, his presence was a natural deterrent to the darkness creeping in around the edges of my heart. After a few minutes, he emerged from the manor and sat beside me again.

Taking my hands in his, he said, “Mihrra, you have captivated me from the first moment I saw you, and in the short time I’ve known you, I have fallen head over heels in love. Not only are you beautiful, you are kind, patient, brave, brilliant, considerate, stubborn-” I scowled and he smiled, edging off the bench to fall on one knee. “You are more than I could have ever hoped to find in a woman, and you deserve someone far better than me. But if you will give me a chance, I would love to spend the rest of my days proving my love for you.”

He released my hands and reached into his pocket, pulling out a ring, and my blood pounded in my ears. He held it out to me, his hand trembling as he asked, “Will you marry me?”

“What?” I asked, my breath coming out in a rush.

Trepidation crinkled the corners of his eyes as he continued, “It was all over the minute I held you in my arms that first time in Canderren. I knew there was no going back for me, and every moment has led up to this. I want you to be my wife, Mihrra.”

Every inch of my body tingled, my heart soaring, as I said, “Nothing would make me happier, Velian.”

Already short of breath, his smile stole all of it away. Emerald eyes sparkling, he placed the ring on my finger, and I wiggled it in the fading sunlight, watching as the facets of the pink diamonds arranged like a rose threw twinkling lights on his beautiful face.

“Do you like it?” he asked. “It was my mother’s.”

Somehow, fresh tears welled in my eyes.

“I love it.”

“I love you,” he said, pulling me to my feet. I squealed as he grabbed me behind my legs and lifted me in the air. I clung to him, laughing and nearly bursting with joy, as I seized his face and crushed my lips to his.