Page 90 of Fey Conquest

My heart has given up entirely. My lungs have forgotten how to breathe. My stomach is both heaving and full of butterflies.

“You are supposed to ask people if they want to get married before doing it!” I shriek.

The poor fey performing a graceful bow at the foot of our thrones, glances up at us in startlement and then hurries away. The next fey in line smoothly takes their place and I plaster a smile on my face.

Rhydian smirks. “Would you have said no?”

I squeeze his hand as tightly as I can. Eventually, he winces.

“Of course I would have said yes, but that’s not the point!”

I’m looking straight ahead, so I can’t really see, but it looks as if Rhydian is smiling. An actual, real smile. Not a hint of a one. Not a tease. A full smile.

I turn my head to check. Oh, my god. It is true. Rhydian is smiling.

Dimly, I’m aware that everyone has taken their turn at bowing or curtsying.

“My consort shall now declare his boon,” announces Rhydian.

A new, hushed silence falls. Once again, a thousand pairs of eyes are on me. This motherfucker. I’m going to kill him later, when we are alone. Then kiss him. And then kill him again.

“What the fuck is a boon?” I hiss.

“A wedding gift. Anything that is in my power to grant.”

Sweet baby Jesus. Rhydian is a fey prince. The ruler of Britain. There is an awful lot that is within his power togrant. And fey are tricksy with words and oaths. He must trust me a lot because I could probably ask for something like, for him to retreat all the British fey back to the fey realm, and he’d have to grant it.

I sigh. My treacherous, treasonous ass isn’t going to do that. Humans suck. The fey haven’t made anything worse and I actually have hope they will make things better. And yes, I’m biased.

So what do I wish for? What is the best change I can make? A thought pops into my head instantly and now I’m grinning so much my face hurts.

“For my boon, I wish that all rhocyn may only be asked for their company, and they can decline.”

Shocked, outraged, and gleeful reactions ignite over the court. A wall of noise rises up. I flash Dyfri a quick grin, but the poor man looks utterly thunderstruck. Even though Mabon and Tristan are slapping him on the back rather vigorously.

I turn back to Rhydian. In all the chaos, no one is paying us any attention. It is like we are finally alone.

His amber eyes are wide. Full of surprise, and a deep pride.

“You are a wonder, Consort,” he says.

I squirm in delight and beam at him. Consort. I love the sound of that.

His smile falters a little. “Your boon won’t solve everything. The life of a rhocyn will still be hard.”

“I know,” I agree easily. “But it is a step in the right direction.”

He nods his agreement.

“You know, human weddings are not complete without a kiss.” I tell him.

One elegant eyebrow rises. “Is that so?”

I nod, as if I am the most innocent person in the world.

Rhydian leans forward. His soft, warm lips claim mine and I melt into our kiss.

Five months ago, Earth was invaded. Now I’m married to one of the new rulers. I think this is extremely fair.