Page 30

CHAPTER 30

AMELIA

The sleep that I fitfully fell into after making the declaration to the people is interrupted by gunshots in the distance. Immediately, I shoot straight up in bed, worried about what this means. My heart is pounding, palms are sweating, and the worst-case scenario situations are running through my brain.

Are we under attack here? Have the plans that Tristan had gone sideways? Where is he, and is he safe?

Scrambling from the bed, I grab the cover and wrap it around my shoulders and run to the window, looking out to see if there are forces approaching us. This has been my fear since this started. That the enemy would find me, kidnap me, and use me to get to him. All I could think about was the torture both of us would be put through.

Me physically. Him emotionally.

I didn’t realize how much this has been affecting me. My hands shake and my stomach is tumbling as if it’s in the ocean below us. Where can I go? What can I do? But as I look outside, I see everyone who lives on the island outside our home. They’re holding up guns and firing at the sky. I’m not sure what to make of this. There are a few different scenarios that could be happening, and I’m terrified of most of them.

All I want to do is puke. Nausea is spiking my gag reflex, but I manage to push it down and run toward the door.

“Maddie,” I yell. “Shannon, what the fuck is happening?” There are equal parts fear and hope in those words. Still in my pajamas, I dash out of the bedroom and down the stairs. That’s where I meet Maddie, Shannon, and a few others I’ve met before. They’re members of Tristan’s detail.

“What is everyone doing here? What’s happening? Did I miss something?” Scenarios play in my head. Is he somewhere on the battlefield bleeding out? Is my name on his lips? Have they been waiting for me to wake up to give me the bad news? The room is starting to spin, and my hands are tingling. Looking around the room, I’m waiting on someone to be honest with me, to tell me exactly what’s happening.

Shannon smiles over at me. Tears in her eyes, but relief spread across her face. “It’s over. They surrendered and just signed a peace treaty. Tristan’s on his way home, which is why his detail is here—to make sure nothing has been planted around the house or inside it.”

I take a deep breath for the first time in a long while, not impeded by the tightness of everything happening around us. The shakes work their way through my body. “Is that why everyone’s outside with guns shooting in the air? They’re celebratory?”

“Yeah.” Maddie grins, shaking her head. “They’re celebratory. They really want their queen to come out, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea with what you’re wearing.” She glances down at my body, covered by my pajamas.

It only takes me a minute to think. They’ve seen us all at our worst. All they’ve ever wanted was a king and queen of the people. They’ve wanted two people who can understand what their lives are like. Not everyone has the option of deciding on how they’re being seen, and it’s important to me that I give them every bit of who I am. Which means they want my excitement, the emotional pieces that make us human. Right now I’m so excited that I don’t know if I can go upstairs, change, and then come back with the same excitement and honesty I have now. Throwing caution to the wind, I rake my fingers through my hair and pull the blanket tighter around me before walking out onto the front porch.

The people of the town are close and can see me, but they’re far enough away that I feel safe. Maddie stands over to the side, as does Shannon. I’m as protected as I can be.

There’s a loud burst of applause and greetings yelled as I do. I wave, holding the blanket tightly to me with one hand. I can’t hear what they’re saying—there are so many things being said at once—but I can feel it: the love, the appreciation, the relief. It’s all there, coming to me in a vibe that I can’t deny. It brings a huge smile to my face, and I’m grateful for every one of them.

I don’t know what to say, so I just blow kisses and yell that I love them and that we will rebuild. They start applauding again, and emotions overwhelm me. I sob, holding my hand up to my mouth. Their feelings come across the yard, and it almost knocks me over. Sharing this moment with these people is everything I imagined it would ever be. They deserve it.

I’m about to turn around and go inside when I get a whiff of it—the cologne that my husband wears. The door opens and loud screams and cheers, louder than anything I’ve ever heard, erupt. And I know, with everything I have, that the man I’ve missed so much is home.

I turn around, and there he is—the remnants of battles he’s fought on his face—but his eyes are everything I know. They’re him. He makes large strides toward me, and that’s when I forget the blanket. I let it drop and wrap him in my arms as he wraps his around me.

“You’re home,” I whisper, those tears falling freely.

“I am, and I’m never leaving you again.”

It’s the best hug I’ve ever had in my life—one I’ll remember forever—and I’ll cherish it close to my heart when I tell our children the story of us.