I lean closer to press a soft kiss to his lips. “I’m so proud of you. You were so brave.”
“Thanks to you,” he murmurs. “You gave me the strength to do it.”
I offer a gentle smile. “So what is this wrinkle you mentioned in our plan to get married?”
“Ah, yes…that. You’d think it would be simple, seeing as how same-sex marriage is legal in Korova. But there are opposers that will argue that this law doesn’t apply to the monarch because they’re not considered an ordinary citizen.”
“So where does that leave us?”
“When Parliament sits again I’ll put forward a Monarchical Act declaring that members of the royal family can marry whom they choose, regardless of gender. That will make things simple for the future.”
I grin at him. “Perfect. And do the kids know you’re planning to marry me?”
“Yes, and they’ve both signed off. They’ve decided they’re going to call you ‘Dad’, because Katya thinks two papas will be confusing.”
I let out a rumbled laugh before crashing my mouth against his, clinging tight to him as the kiss becomes completely devouring. God, I can’t wait to marry him and be a dad to those kids.
Epilogue
LUKAS
“People are crowding the streets of Vlalens and other major cities as the Korovan Parliament votes today on a law that will enable the current and all future members of the Korovan royal family participate in a same-sex marriage. This law, if passed, will allow our current king, Lukas III, to make his partner Jai Winters the official Prince Consort of Korova.”
I cling tight to Jai’s hand as the broadcast crosses to the floor of Parliament and we get footage of the members debating the bill in question. The Prime Minister assured me when I put the Monarchical Act forward that it would be a done deal, that there would be no trouble securing the votes to get this law through both houses of Parliament, but even so, as the debate continues I can’t help the ball of nerves that squirms around in my chest. What if it doesn’t pass? What if they say no?
“Stop stressing, brother,” Alik says from where he’s standing behind me. “They can’t not pass it. If it doesn’t pass there’ll be rioting in the streets.”
“He’s right,” Jai says, squeezing my hand in reassurance. “The people all love you. The members all know that, and they won’t go against the people.”
We watch as the debates wrap up and the Speaker calls for a vote on the bill. I’m on the edge of my seat as I watch, one by one, the members of Parliament vote to pass my Monarchical Act. And there’s not a single nay vote.
A chorus of cheers sounds around the room—between the children, Penny, Veronika, Alik, and Alik’s two boyfriends, it’s quite a crowd that’s gathered for this moment—but it all becomes background noise as I lock gazes with Jai. His eyes are alight with joy, his smile stretched wide across his handsome face. I splay my hand against the back of his head and draw him toward me, claiming his lips in a hungry kiss that I really wish I didn’t have to keep child-appropriate.
“We’re getting married,” I say once we’ve broken away from each other, still finding it a little hard to believe.
“Are you actually going to ask me?” he says with an arched brow. “Or are you just making assumptions?”
I let out a soft laugh and slide off the sofa, getting to one knee before him. “Jai Winters, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my husband, my prince, and the father of my children?”
He grins and tugs me up so he can kiss me again, and I’m going to take that as a yes.
I feel little flutters of something landing all over me and I glance around to see Jai and I are both covered in colorful confetti. I look for the source, unsurprised to find Katya holding a bag of confetti in one hand while using the other to throw clumps of it all over the place. “Katya, you’re supposed to wait until the wedding day for the confetti.”
“But I wanted to do it now,” she says, as if that explains everything.
The wedding is going to be broadcast live all around the world, and I was told yesterday that they’re expecting around two billion people to watch. Two billion people. It’s absolutely staggering to me that a quarter of the world could possibly care that much about my wedding. But apparently this is a pretty big thing to a lot of people—the first reigning monarch to participate in a same-sex marriage anywhere in the world—and they’ll be tuning in from all over to share their support.
To me, it’s just a wedding. The chance to marry the man I love and make him my official Prince Consort. But that doesn’t make me any less nervous.
“Doing okay, brother?” Alik asks me, clearly sensing my tension.
I study my reflection in the mirror, smoothing my hands down over the front of my uniform. I’ve never served in the military, but nonetheless have kept a collection of dress uniforms for very formal occasions, as is customary for Korovan royals. Today I’m wearing a navy blue one with gold fringe and a gold sash that denotes my position as reigning monarch. Alik is dressed in a similar navy uniform, as is Tomas, although neither of them have a sash.
“Fine,” I say, letting out a deep breath. “Just thinking about the two billion people that will apparently be watching.”
“Don’t think about them,” Alik says. “Just think
