Leonix gave me a grateful glance. She was cousin to Haelian and Kloran, and older than the both of them as well. If she had been a male, she would have been promoted to general long ago. It was high time that King Brixta made that right.
But instead of agreeing, King Brixta slicked his hair back and bandied over to Leonix. He looked a little bashful as he took her hands in his.
“Beautiful Leonix,” he said softly. “Of course I have not forgotten about you. But a female general…what a silly notion that is! Tell me, pretty one, have you come into your heat yet?”
“I have not,” Leonix growled through her teeth.
“Ah, do not worry then, my dear. I am certain you will soon. A good alliance involves a marriage, yes? I think you would make a stunning queen.”
“I…must decline, Your Highness.” Leonix looked like she either wanted to hit him, run, or vomit. Possibly all three in quick succession. “Your offer is a political one as well as one of the heart, and I fear that I am poorly suited for court.”
“Aw.” King Brixta looked genuinely disappointed. “Well…I suppose I cannot force you—can I?”
He looked to Kloran, who had the good sense to shake his head.
“It would be unwise, Your Highness.” He glanced at Leonix, whose fingers were curled into fists. “You would likely get more than you bargained for.”
“Ah, well. I tried!” King Brixta shrugged and moved away from Leonix. She looked relieved to be out from beneath his gaze once more. A few more moments of his presence, and I was sure she would have done something rash.
Unfortunately, now that he was finished propositioning Leonix, King Brixta turned to me again.
“That just leaves you then, Apex. Surely you are wondering what your new orders are?”
“New orders?” I tried hard to keep my gaze neutral. But at the thought of taking orders from King Brixta, who was an idiot and a buffoon, among other things…it was no simple task.
“You are still sworn to my royal house, are you not? Now I control both the crown and the specters.” King Brixta chuckled. “You must do whatever I say now.”
I gritted my teeth and felt my fingers twitch for my blaster. I had killed one king already this week. If King Brixta intended to take me away from Atlanta to do his ridiculous bidding, I did not see why I could not simply kill another.
“So. I think, by my royal decree…” King Brixta looked to Atlanta and his smile broadened. “You should make your union with the human Atlanta official, Apex. Then take some time off. Do as you please. The two of you have done me a great favor, you know. Consider yourself released from my house’s service as a token of my thanks.” King Brixta patted me on the shoulder, then turned to leave. “You have done good work for my house, Apex. Now, your work here is done.”
21
Atlanta
“Are you sure this is the right way?”
“You doubt me even now, my love?” Apex offered me his hand to help me up the rocky side of the cliff. His lips were curled in a teasing smile. “It is the right way. I promise. Do you trust me?”
“Definitely,” I could finally say. “With my life.”
“It will not come to that, I am sure,” said Coplan, Savannah’s new…mate? Husband? We’d only had a little while to catch up so far, and I still wasn’t entirely sure.
“It’s your wedding, not a battle,” Savannah reminded me. Coplan put his hands on her waist and lifted her up onto a ridge too steep for her to climb by herself. “Although, admittedly here in space—”
“Usually the same thing,” we said at the same time, then giggled.
“Twins. Moons save us.” Coplan shot Apex a tired smile. “Do you think they read each other’s minds, or simply share one?”
“Let us hope it is neither,” Apex said, smirking. “I do not wish for your bride to know how well I bed mine—lest she get jealous.”
“Apex!” I swatted his arm and he caught my hand, then pulled me into a deep kiss.
“Do you not agree, my love?” he asked.
I glanced over at Savannah, who was trying not to giggle too hard at how wounded Coplan looked.
“I’m not sure, Apex.” I gave him a wink then trudged a little further up the cliff. “You’ll have to do your best to earn your keep tonight, I guess—then we’ll see.”
“I have never met a challenge I have not been willing to rise to,” Apex countered, following close behind me.
“I would hope you are able to rise tonight,” Coplan called out after him. “It would be a most disappointing wedding night for your bride if you cannot.”
We laughed all the way up to the top of the cliff, but I had faith in my husband-to-be.
When it came to rising to the occasion, Apex certainly hadn’t failed me yet.
We exchanged our vows in a set of beautiful natural caves. They were domed by a ceiling made of purple crystal. All nine of Lunaria’s moons shone through it overhead, casting the whole cave in a beautiful purple light. When Apex kissed me, a little wave of glowing beads on the moss beneath our feet rippled through the cave. They floated up to our faces and settled on Apex’s shoulders and my hair.
“It’s so beautiful here,” I whispered to him as Coplan and Savannah clapped and cheered. “What even is this place?”
“Sacred. Holy.” Apex took my wrist in his hands and fastened a bracelet around it. It was beautiful, fashioned from silver that twisted and curled like thick vines. “Just like you.”
“Which is why we’ll be going now,” Coplan said, clearing his throat.
“You two have fun now.” Savannah blew us a kiss as Coplan led her away.
“Aren’t we going with them?” I asked Apex.
“Not unless you want to.” Apex raised my fingers to his lips and kissed each of the tips. “As I told you,
