Page 94

MARA

T he meeting consisted of Wes, President Johnathan Laurence, Nora, Sasha, and me.

Also in attendance were Sergeant Major Giza, Marissa, Archer McClintock—who I remembered was the First in Command of the East. We all sat around a massive circular table in a room at Castle Calvernon, and after introductions and pleasantries had been made, Nora’s true identity had been revealed, leaving a slew of questions that had to wait.

There was a bigger issue that needed to be discussed, and it was time to get down to the heart of the matter.

“I called to order this meeting to discuss the future of Telvia and that of the United Factions,” Sasha announced, sitting tall and ever proud.

“It was always the hope that once Raúl had been deposed, the natural order would return, and Telvia would once again become two separate factions. As we now are all aware, however, the South and the West share one heir—Ms. Nora De’vor.

” She motioned to my mother, who tipped her head in acknowledgement.

“Thank you, Sasha. I am here today, not to assume the role as President of the South and West, but to encourage this council to consider an alternative.” Everyone eyed her quietly, but few of us were surprised at what she said next.

Most of us knew exactly what Nora wanted.

“ The United States was a powerful nation long ago. And because of the people’s inability to do what was best for all, the country split into the four ruling factions.

Today, half of the UFA stands under my control if I choose to take it.

In time, three quarters of this country will reside under one banner.

” She looked at me, and Wes squeezed my hand under the table.

“I ask that this council consider a return to democracy. A true free election, with elected representatives, a president, and term limits for all elected officials.” Nora remained poised, speaking confidently.

Knowing what I knew now, I could see Sasha’s influence on her.

“This country was founded on the ideals of freedom and choice. Telvia showed us the dangers of a country ruling under one supreme leader that grants and controls everything for its people.” She eyed us all in turn as she spoke.

“Raúl’s coup and subsequent years of terror were made possible because we have a system that functions like a monarchy under the disguise of a republic. But we all know the truth. We all know we are nothing more than kings and queens vying for control and power.”

I gazed around the room only to see heavy stares looking at my mother. Even Wes’s face was stoic and unreadable. I faced my mom once more, watching as she stood.

“I am putting forth the motion that the United Factions become exactly that once more… united . Indivisible and united under one banner, with the true power returning to the people.”

“Does anyone else second this motion?” Sasha asked, eyeing the room.

President Laurence looked at McClintock with a worried brow, and both men remained quiet.

“I second the motion.”

I whipped around to face Wes, rather surprised. We hadn’t spoken much about what he thought, but I knew he had been wary of Nora’s desires for a democracy. After all, it had failed once. What would keep it from failing again ?

“Wes?” his mother whisper-yelled at him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m doing what I think is best for my people, not just for us.” He glanced at me then, a crooked grin stealing his beautiful mouth as he squeezed my hand once more. And I couldn’t help but smile.

“Then we put this to a full vote,” Nora announced, a curl of a smile hedging on her lips. “How does the story of the UFA continue?”

We all voted then, and when the results returned, they turned the world upside down once more.

The United Factions of America would return to a democracy.

The next year would be used to prepare the nation for its first true election in decades, where any individual could present themselves as a possible candidate for the job, and the populace could choose their leader.

It was a huge turn of events, one in which I was proud to be a part of.

***

“Hold your hair for me, newbie. I’m gonna cinch this dress so tight, Wes’s gonna need to borrow my sister’s knife to cut you out,” Edith said.

“I need to be able to brea— whoa! ” I gasped out as Edith jerked on the cream-colored ribbons. “Too tight,” I huffed out.

“Nah, you’re fine.”

“I beg to differ.” I placed my hand over my stomach, feeling the lace and beaded accents that decorated my dress.

“Okay,” Edith squealed. “Now, turn around and let me look at you.”

Slowly, I did. My head turned first, followed by my shoulders, torso, and then hips. And as I spun around, Edith’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Does it look okay?”

“Okay?” She snorted. “It’s perfect! He’s going to die the second he sees you walk down that aisle.”

“Really? ”

She chuckled. “Oh, yes, he is. Actually, we should probably get you something else to wear.”

“What?” I spun back around and looked at myself in the mirror.

“What’s wrong with it?” It had a vintage look, something Marissa had her hands in.

Off the shoulder, with tight, long lace sleeves, a heart-shaped lace bodice and fit and flare cut to the skirt gave me the most exquisite figure.

And, per Wes’s one request, the entire back was exposed, allowing all of me to be seen by the world.

“I want the world to know I’m marrying an angel,” he had said. “That I asked the universe to marry me and heaven responded yes .” I cried when he said those words to me.

I looked back over my shoulder at my best friend. “Edith?”

“Nothing. That’s the problem. Literally nothing. It’s perfect.” She cocked out a hip. “That man’s going to rip that dress off in the middle of the freaking church and take you right there in front of the damn priest.”

“ Edith! ” I admonished just as another voice screeched, “He would not !”

Edith spun around just as I lifted my gaze to see Marissa, already wearing her gorgeous beige satin dress. My mother followed her, trying to stifle a laugh.

The vein on Marissa’s head looked like it was about to pop. “Wes would never do something like that. I taught him better.”

“Uh, have you met your son?” Edith said, arching a brow. “The man packs more testosterone than—”

“Out!” Marissa said, pointing to the door. “You’re not even dressed,” she chastised.

Edith cackled.

“Go on, Le,” my mother said, jerking her head towards the door. “Lin and Chelsea are already in their bridesmaids’ gowns. How’s it going to look if the maid of honor is late to the wedding? ”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said, waving them both off. “I gotcha.” Edith gave me a quick wink before leaving the dressing room.

I shifted my attention to Marissa and Nora. “Does it look okay?”

My mother’s eyes gleamed. “You look absolutely stunning, Mara.”

“She’s right,” Marissa added with an approving smile. “You look beautiful.”

I smiled at them both, feeling my heart swell.

It was funny to me that I started all of this with no mother, only to find mine and gain a new one in the process.

Marissa wasn’t particularly happy with Wes’s and my choice for democracy, but she was getting used to the idea and had softened more towards me of late.

“We came to help you with your hair,” Nora said. “I brought you something blue to wear,” she added as she lifted a cornflower blue garter by a single finger, making me blush.

“And I, something old.” Marissa offered me an antiqued golden comb with cream pearls and tiny diamonds arranged to look like wispy flowers.

“It was my great grandmother’s,” she explained, “and it has been passed down to each woman in my family line on her wedding day for decades. And now it is my turn to pass it down to you.”

I couldn’t take it. I was overcome with so many emotions, all I could do was beam at both of them as I whispered, “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

***

“?Estás lista, prima?”

My stomach was a toiling mess of swirling colors.

Never in my life did I think I would be this nervous about getting married.

I looked up at my cousin, catching his sly smile and obsidian eyes reflecting back the light.

“I think so,” I said as I fussed with my dress and then patted my curls softly. “Does my hair look okay? ”

My mother and Marissa had worked together to curl my hair and gather it up on my head into a soft bun of cascading loose ringlets.

The comb had been tucked into the side of the mass, looking bright in contrast to my rich dark locks.

Marissa, ever the traditionalist, wanted me to wear a veil, but I refused, and the smile on my mother’s face said she approved.

“Te ves maravillosa…you look marvelous.” He held out his arm, patiently waiting for me to take it. With an excited shiver, I accepted, wrapping my arm around his before looking up into his eyes.

Once the wedding had been announced to the public, Javi had asked if I would give him the honor of walking me down the aisle.

“It should have been your brother, primita. But you would do me a great honor if you allow me to take his place.” I broke down in tears.

“Ready?” he asked, his eyes alight with mischief.

I inhaled deeply, smiling from ear to ear. “Ready.”

He pressed his forehead against mine for a moment, and then planted a kiss on my crown. “Let’s do this.”

He faced the double doors then, which opened wide, revealing the expanse of the cathedral within, and all of the people I had learned to call family.

***

WES

Watching her walk down the aisle toward me…my heart stopped.

It froze mid-beat, and I wasn’t sure I wanted it to restart.

Because I would have remained forever in that moment, watching the woman I had fought so hard and so long for come to meet me.

And later, when I was instructed by Sergeant Major Giza to slip her wedding band on her delicate finger, I dove into the depths of her big brown eyes, desiring nothing more than to lose myself in her forever.

And that’s exactly what we had.

Forever.

I had an entire lifetime of forever with Mara, and there was nothing else I could have ever wanted more than that.

So when Giza finally announced that I was allowed to kiss the bride …

When I tasted her sweet sugary notes on my lips and savored the decadent flavors of chocolate and caramel on my tongue…

I was the happiest I had ever been.

And when I held her hand and faced a crowd of cheering friends and family, I thought of nothing else but the future that lay in front of me.

And that night, when I lifted her over the threshold of the little cottage nestled in the pine forests of the North, I smiled like a young boy. Because this was home.

Not my father’s house.

Not the Presidential Palace.

It was home .

Our home.

A place meant just for her and me to finally experience a life without the chains of our past or the reminders of those who tormented us before.

Home.

My gift to her. And I almost withered into stardust when I saw the light in her eyes—the joy exuding from her every pore—as I shared that this little slice of heaven was ours.

“Really?” she whispered. “This…this is for me? For us ?”

I smiled, bringing her into my arms. “Yes, love. For us. Welcome home.”

“Wes,” she whispered, taking my face into her hands and sealing her lips against mine. “I was home the day I found you.”

My heart swelled .

My stone crumbled.

And I was nothing more than a fresh white rose enjoying the breaking light of dawn.

“I love you, Wes,” she whispered into me.

“And I’ve always loved you,” I breathed back into her. “Always.”

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Next, interested in learning more about Javier and Liddy? Discover their fast-paced, breathtaking romance in Revile !

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