Snow
Two Years Later
The crowd was still cheering as the newly-crowned Queen Snow exited through the door. She closed it behind her, leaned against it and sighed, smiling.
“You made it,” Hunter said grinning in his sharply-tailored military dress uniform. He stepped toward her and slipped his arms around her hips.
“Mhm, I did. So did you, General.”
He looked away, bashful, but the grin stayed there. They’d come a long way to end up at this point. Endless debates, revisions to laws, and a complete overhaul of the government at-large. There had been countless appeals from people wrongly imprisoned, reparations made to the families of those slain under the Irida’s regime, and monuments erected to those lost in the battle. Snow wanted to make sure that what Irida had done could never be done again. She happily forfeited some of her own power to ensure the integrity of the Empire.
It hadn’t all been easy though. There were pockets of resistance, planets that wanted to be out of the Empire all together. She’d let them go without a fight. Snow didn’t want to rule over anyone without their consent.
So the Empire was smaller now, and they’d held their first parliamentary elections just a week ago with rousing success. She was sure her parents would be proud of the new democratic slant they’d adopted.
“You’ll have to tell your father that he did a brilliant job on the flowers,” she said, their lips so close to touching.
Hunter’s eyes gleamed. “You haven’t seen the ballroom yet.”
“And what awaits me there?”
“A surprise,” he teased, kissing her lightly.
She sighed. “Is it terrible that I already want this day to be over?” Planning her own coronation had been exhausting enough — she’d scoured records in the archives to make sure it was keeping with tradition. There weren’t really any people left who’d planned them in the past. Irida had made sure of that. But as exhausting as all the planning was, the event itself was a hundred times worse.
After a week’s worth of rallies, dedications, and parades, she’d had to stand for hours in front of a massive crowd — tens of thousands of people came from all over the galaxy to witness it — in a heavy gown, reciting oaths and promises in between military displays and encouraging words from members of her cabinet. And now that the hard part was over, there was the ball. A huge party for the political elite, military heroes, friends, and family that would likely stretch late into the night.
Just thinking about it made her want to crawl into bed with Hunter and sleep the day away.
He chuckled. “No, it’s not terrible, but I think you might end up disappointing a few people.”
She slumped forward, resting her head against his chest; the steady familiar beat of his heart always soothed her. The chip was still there, no one wanted to risk removing it, but it was benign now, no danger to him at all. When he’d disabled it, the shock had actually induced a heart attack, but Hunter pulled through. He was resilient like that. Great at surviving.
And when the rest of the Empire realized the chips were dead, it had sparked a wave of rebellion against what remained of the Queen’s Guard. The people were the real heroes of this, and she’d never forget it.
“I guess you’re right,” she finally said with a groan. “Five more minutes?”
He shrugged. “I’m not going to force you to leave my side,” he teased. “But you know someone probably will.”
She laughed. “And I know who that someone will be.” Tanna, co-owner of the Rusty Brew, as it turned out, had worked for the palace back in the days before Snow was born. Back then she’d been an assistant to Queen Adriana’s personal assistant, so she had more knowledge about the day-to-day operations of the palace than Snow ever did. She was an invaluable addition to the staff, but a strict taskmaster all the same.
“I just can’t wait for this all to be over with, when I can finally sit back and breathe again. Maybe take a vacation.” In the past few months, they’d begun the reconstruction of the Summer Palace. Maybe they could visit for a while when it was complete.
Hunter looked away, fidgeting. She knew that look. “What?”
“Nothing,” he muttered.
“Hunter,” she said in a warning tone. He couldn’t fool her. She’d known him long enough now to recognize when he had something he wanted to say.
“I knew you were too busy with the councils and meetings and the coronation, so I didn’t want to bring it up…”
She narrowed her eyes, pursing her lips. “Just tell me, you goof.”
He took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb over her mother’s ring. She hadn’t taken it off since they day they recaptured the palace. He still had her father’s, too. She never did let him give it back.
“I was just thinking… Maybe it’s time we make this thing official?” he asked, sounding hopeful as he reached for her other hand, holding them both.
“This thing…? Us?” she asked, her heart suddenly in her throat. Was he asking what she thought he was asking?
He nodded. “Yeah, us. Don’t you think it’s time we got married? I’ve been saving a particular bottle of wine for the occasion.” His golden eyes glittered, playful, happy, but lurking in their depths there was an undercurrent of uncertainty. Of worry. He thought she might reject him.
What a ludicrous worry.
“The Avuuna Gold?” she asked after pondering his question for a moment.
He seemed exasperated that that was what she focused on. “Yeah. Good luck for newlyweds, remember? Seemed a shame to waste the luck.”
“I think we’ve been pretty lucky,” she said, grinning still, and still not answering his question.
He growled. “You’re going to drive me insane. Will you marry me, Snow?”
She lifted herself up to her tippy toes and kissed him. “Of course I will.”
The moment the words were out of her mouth, he sagged with relief, sweeping her into his arms and peppering her with kisses.
“I hoped you’d say that.”
A knock rang through the door, sharp and swift. “Your Majesty, it’s time for your entrance,” Tanna said.
Snow rolled her eyes, giving Hunter another quick kiss. “Duty calls. Be my escort?”
He gave an exaggerated bow with a flourish. “It would be an honor.”
Tanna was knocking on the door another time when Snow pulled it open and the other woman almost fell forward. “Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure you heard me.”
Hunter chuckled. “We always hear you.”
Tanna started leading them toward the ballroom, rattling off the itinerary for the rest of the night, but Snow didn’t pay any attention. She focused instead on the feeling of Hunter’s hand wrapped around hers, the warmth he created in her heart. She never would have been able to do any of this without him, and now she’d never have to. He’d always be there, and that was more than she could ever ask for.
The grand doors to the ballroom swung open and the lights fell, a spotlight appearing on the pair of them. Tanna urged them in and Snow stepped forward just as the room came alive with glowing flowers.
Others noticed, too, some murmuring about the display, but almost every eye stayed on her. Snow didn’t care that everyone was watching. She turned to Hunter, saw him positively beaming with pride and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him again.
The murmurs turned into quiet laughter, even a whistle or two, and Hunter’s face turned bright red. “Thank you,” she whispered. He squeezed her hand, still looking sheepish. It was about time she made him feel tongue-tied and giddy for a change.
“What do you say, do you want to dance with me?” she asked, the heat of the spotlight making the moment feel like it stretched on and on.
He nodded. “Anything for you, My Queen.”
And they lived Happily Ever After…
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