Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"It's an old custom," Maeve continues, and as more people gather around, someone steps in front of my line of sight, and then I can't see my mate any longer. It's clear she's entertaining the kef out of the room. I wonder if someone's going to ask at some point why such a charming, talkative human wants nothing to do with politics.
"She's too good at this," comes a voice at my side.
I turn to look over at Rem. He's dressed almost identical to me, except I'm wearing the medallion of office on my breast. His mane is the same short ruff it always is, his expression as remote as ever. He came in from a back hall while I wasn't paying attention, and moves to stand at my side.
"Maeve is terrifyingly clever," I agree.
"A good female to have at your side." Rem pauses and then turns to me. "If you kef this up for me, I will make you suffer for a very, very long time."
I scowl, because he's so damned prickly. Haven't I been doing everything he asks? "I already said I would abdicate in your favor—"
"Not that. The wedding."
He's more concerned over that than the official changeover of the throne? But I can tell just by the intense, slightly frantic look on his face. He's ready to snap if something doesn't go his way. "Why are you so focused on a female that doesn't want you?"
His smile is wintry. "Perhaps I hope she'll change her mind. Now get out there and give your speech. The longer this takes, the more things that can go wrong."
Right. It's time. I straighten the medals on the front of my clothing and step out into the spotlight for the last time.
CHAPTER
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE
MAEVE
"It was a lovely wedding," Milly va'Rin says at my side. We watch the bride glide past, pausing to greet noble family after noble family.
"You think so?" I haven't paid too much attention to the wedding itself, my focus on my husband instead. Zhur gave a very short, passionate speech about how he found himself longing for simpler things than public service, and how Rem was “called to it” more than he was. That he chose me over a life as Heir and how he was abdicating in his brother's favor because he wanted to spend time with me and enjoy the “simpler things in life.” I was so proud of him as he spoke, because he said his speech with such intensity that it truly seemed that it was what he wanted. Then he'd moved to my side and taken my hand, pressing a kiss to my knuckles, and I could have sworn there was a smattering of applause.
Not much, but I'll take a smattering.
Now we're at the reception after the incredibly awkward wedding in which Rem's virtues and lineage were touted for all and poor Leah's were cheerfully summed up with a handwave. I do have to admit that the audience is thawing at the sights of the humans. People are no longer baring their teeth or quietly hissing when she walks past. I like to think that my charm helps—I've spent all afternoon playing up how wonderful praxiian culture is and how “charmingly weird” and complicated human customs can be when it comes to weddings. If they think of us as backwards cousins instead of say, the family dog, I'll be satisfied.
"A great wedding," Milly continues, sipping her drink. "The bride was lovely, and did you see the way Heir Remrrrtel looked at her? It reminds me of my sweet Varrik and when we first met. He couldn't take his eyes off of me."
I hadn't noticed. But I've also been focused on other things. I eye the couple now, and Leah is smiling, even though her expression is strained. The look on Rem's face is, well...it's Rem. When does he not look intense and ever-so-slightly emotionally constipated?
Zhur crosses the room to my side, the medallions and chains of office no longer on his tunic. His brother wears them now, and there was a big show of Zhur unhooking them from his clothes and pinning them on his stoic, grim-faced brother. I scan my husband's expression, looking for signs of regret. Of remorse.
There's nothing. If anything, I could swear his step is lighter.
He holds a hand out to me, and I give Milly an apologetic look before abandoning her to join Zhur. He tugs me against him as music blares. "Rem wishes for us to dance a human dance alongside his bride. Then we are to exit the festivities to keep the focus upon them."
"Sounds good to me," I tell him as he leads me out onto the dance floor. "Please tell me this will be a waltz. The only other dance I know is the electric slide."
"I do not know either of those things but we saw a human vid and Rem wished to incorporate it into the ceremony."