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Chapter Twenty

 All breath in Kat's chest was sucked out as she stared up at him. Marry him? He wants me to marry him? He wants me to be his wife—his queen. But... we haven't known each other for very long. Yes, it is common practice for people to marry shortly after meeting, but do I know him well enough? She stared into his eyes, lips slowly parting. She thought about his smile, his charm, how he called her "gem," the way his lips had felt for just that one moment against her cheek. There was no doubt she could see a future with him, and there was no one else she would rather spend it with.

"Jayden..." Kat nodded, a smile beginning to form. "Yes. Yes!" She flung her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly.

"Yes," Jayden whispered, putting his arms around her. He laughed. "Yes! You said yes!" He spun in a circle, taking Kat with him. "You said yes." Kat leaned her head back so he could see her overjoyed eyes and smile reflected in him. He set her on her feet, but didn't increase the distance between them. In fact, he began to lean closer. But then he stopped.

Kat momentarily panicked. Why did he stop? Is something wrong? Then it hit her. He's waiting on me. He wants to make sure this is what I want. I think the star brought me here. I was meant to help Riolf, but he has helped me. She tilted her head closer. Riolf. Just as their lips were about to meet, she jerked away.

Now Jayden was the worried one. "What is it?"

She took a step back. "I... um... Riolf... I'm already married. Or, I'm supposed to be. It just... it doesn't seem right for a married woman to... kiss one who is not her husband. What will people think?"

He kept his arms around her. "I'll be sure that your false marriage papers are destroyed, but that's all they are, false. They have no legal bindings. We can tell everyone the truth now." He drew her close again. "You are a free woman."

Free. I am free. Free to marry Jayden. Free to love him. Free to be myself. Free to make my own choices. She stood on her toes, sliding her arms up to his neck, and placed her lips on his. The result was a burst of excitement and ecstasy pounding through her body. It was the best feeling ever.

Jayden put a hand on the side of her face, the other hand holding the small of her back. He pressed his lips just a little harder against hers, sending a thrilling bolt through her gut.

When they pulled away, foreheads touching, Kat had stars in her eyes. She could feel them. They were glowing from inside her, shining her love for everyone to see. For Jayden to see. Her mind was empty for the first time. She wasn't thinking about assassins, or watching over anyone, or wondering what would happen next. Jayden consumed it all, leaving a beautiful, quiet hum in her mind like a delightful adrenaline rush.

"I love you," she said. No overthinking. No debate. She loved him and that was all she had to say.

"I love you." He stroked her cheek with his thumb. He kissed her again. The sparks this time were just as bright as the last. He tasted like the chocolate he so loved.

Kat drew her lips away and rested her head in the crook of his neck. She loved the way he smelled. It was soap and ink, but it felt like kindness and confidence. His arms were wrapped around her securely, protecting her from the world. Jayden nuzzled her head, smelling her hair. She wondered what it felt like to him.

A thought occurred to her and she leaned back. "I don't know how to plan a wedding." She didn't feel any panic, just realization. Weddings had been small affairs in her part of the city, not that there had been many. Sometimes there were rowdy celebrations, sometimes just the couple going to a legal office. Sometimes the weddings were technically unofficial. "I've never been to a wedding, much less planned one."

"Don't concern yourself. I'll have someone hired to plan it. We'll just have to make the decisions and they'll ensure it's done. In fact, we can start thinking about that right now." He picked her up by the waist, hoisting her into the air, obviously intending to put her on the tree branch they had claimed last time they were out there. Kat lifted herself with her arms, sliding onto the branch with Jayden's aid. He joined her, pecking her cheek when he jumped up. "Shall we start with the color theme?"

They talked long into the night about their wedding. It felt like they had discussed everything that needed to be done, but Kat got the feeling it wouldn't be that simple. Eventually, they began to drift inside towards her room. They spoke outside her door for another little while before she finally decided they had been talking long enough.

"The children are probably beginning to worry," she said, putting her hand on the door handle. "I've been gone a long time. I hope they got themselves to bed."

Jayden smiled at her. Stars, she loved his smile. "I'm sure Sam'ara took good care of them." He leaned in, and Kat happily obliged his hope for a kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow, jewel."

"See you tomorrow, my king," she said, putting a hand on his chest with a sweet smile.

He put his hand over hers. "Always and forever." He kissed her again.

Chocolate. She would never be tired of that taste. They parted slowly, achingly. But Kat finally forced herself to slip into her room and close the door.

"You were out late," a hushed voice commented in the darkness.

Kat flinched a little, but quickly relaxed. "Sage, you should be asleep."

He shushed her. "Jill is sleeping. I wanted to make sure you came back all right. If Riolf has friends, they might attack the castle to free him."

She had sat down with him one night while Jill was playing with Sam'ara and explained everything to him. He was angry at Riolf, and not in the least bit upset about his imprisonment, sure that the man had deserved it. But now he was especially protective and careful with Jill, some of that even extending to Kat. He was a far cry from the bitter voice she had fought in the prisons.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern though. Jayden and I just stayed out later than we planned. I'll tell you about it in the morning."

She could imagine the wrinkled face her was making. "I don't want to hear about whatever it is you and the king do on your outings. Keep it to yourself and just try to let me know if you're going to be late again."

She laughed quietly. "I will. Now go to sleep."

When she finally slipped into bed after changing, she sighed deeply. There would be little sleep for herself tonight. She was too excited about her upcoming wedding, set for two weeks from tomorrow, or rather today since they had spoken for so long.

The blankets were warm compared to the outside, which had started to get chilly, and they were so soft they soothed her racing mind. Jayden is more than I ever hoped for. But... what if he gets tired of me? What if after he learns everything about me I am no longer interesting to him? Then she remembered how Jayden had said goodnight. "Always and forever." He loves me. That's not going to change, not in a thousand years. I'll be his queen, his gem, for the rest of our lives. And he'll be my Jayden.

#

True to his word, Jayden came by Kat's room the following morning. She let him inside, and while she was brushing Jill's hair, he laid out his plans for the day. First, he was going to hire a wedding planner. Then they would send out the word across the kingdom. After the riders were dispatched, he would have the royal seamstress summoned to begin Kat's wedding dress. Jayden would plan who would come to the wedding, as well as the banquet afterward. The wedding planner would be in charge of getting the floral arrangements, decorating the church and castle, and keeping an eye on the wedding feast. Jayden assured Kat he would do his best to keep her part in the planning worry-free.

"Are you getting married?" asked Jill when Kat was done with her hair. She turned around to face them curiously.

There hadn't been much time to speak with Jill before Jayden arrived. The little girl had taken a bath as soon as she woke, then gotten dressed, and Kat had just begun to brush her hair when Jayden knocked. Kat herself had been up since sunrise, so she was bright-eyed and prepared for the day when Jill got up.

Sage was watching them warily, clearly the same question as Jill on his mind, although he had stayed quiet the entire time Jayden had been talking.

Kat glanced at the king, who put an arm around her waist and gently pulled her close =. "We are," he said.

Sage snorted, glancing away.

"Oh," Jill whispered, looking at the floor.

Kat tore herself away from Jayden to kneel in front of the girl. "What is it?"

She looked at the woman with tears in her eyes. "What's going to happen to us when you get married?"

Sage grabbed Jill's shoulders from behind, pulling her up and out of the chair to stand in front of him while he looked stonily at Kat. "You said you thought of us as a family, but I know how this works. As soon as the two of you get married and become an actual family we'll be forgotten."

Kat's heart squeezed as she looked into their frightened eyes. I didn't even think about them, did I? They're afraid of losing me, of losing their family. She glanced up and back at Jayden. His eyes were tender as he stepped over to put a hand on her shoulder. He was quiet for a moment, perhaps battling within himself what his answer should be.

Finally, he looked at the children. "You will stay in the castle with Kat and I. If you would like, I will find your parents and discuss your adoption with them. Or, if you prefer, I'm sure Sam'ara would love to have you as well."

Both sets of brown eyes lit up with hope. "Really?" Sage asked carefully.

Kat broke into a smile. "Yes, of course." She threw her arms around them, breathing in the sweet smell of her family.

"How about breakfast together?" suggested Jayden. "You can tell us where to find your parents and we'll discuss what life will look like for us now." He crouched down to be eye-level with Jill, smiling gently at her.

She shyly beamed at him and reached out for a hug. He accepted it willingly, tucking his chin tightly behind her shoulder. When they parted, he stood and held out his hand to Sage. The boy hesitated, caution and hope warring on his face, but he finally took Jayden's hand and gave it a firm shake.

The man was grinning when he reached a hand down to Jill, who took it with a giggle. He put his other arm around Kat's waist, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "So, breakfast?"

#

The first day passed in a mad dash of planning, but the following time seemed excruciatingly slow. Each day was inching its way towards the wedding as if it was purposefully trying to torment her.

Thank the stars it's tomorrow. I'm not sure I can bear anymore waiting. Kat sighed a little as she finished brushing her hair out for the night. She plaited the long, shiny strands into a loose braid, remembered when that same hair had been oily and unclean. Never again. Not with Jayden as my husband. That thought brought a smile to her lips.

Someone tapped on the door. 

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