Moments later,

Author

For a long, suspended heartbeat after Malphas finished speaking, the entire great hall waited. The air hummed with residual magic, the crimson light of the sky outside gilding every face turned toward the center aisle, every eye fixed on Aria.

They expected tears. They expected a soft, trembling smile. They expected her to step forward, to bow her head, to melt into his arms, to let the weight of his title and his protection wrap around her like a cloak.

They expected her to say yes - immediately, gratefully, humbly - to accept the greatest honor any being in this realm could ever receive, to fall into...