All Chapters of The Kingdom of Light: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Luckily, Lily arrived during the afternoon to help me get ready. When she arrived, Nicolais and I were lying, talking to each other out in the garden, just reveling in the heat and light breeze. We had talked about my previous birthdays, laughing about the stupid things I used to do with my friends once a little alcohol found its way into my system.She smiled during our preparations, all smug and happy, and especially when she saw the exquisite necklace around my throat. “You’re going to get married soon,” she had said, almost sung at me, like it wasn’t up for debate, like it wasn’t a question if but rather when.I took a lot of deep breaths while she got me ready. Every few seconds, I would need it, just to calm my nerves, just to stay sane, just to keep convincing myself that everything would be fine. Because it would, right?!Lily had found the most beautiful tiara I had ever seen. She explained that Nicolais had dug it out of his treasure chest—me paraphrasing, of course—because

The party was already well underway inside the ballroom. Music filled the space—fast music you could dance to. The kind I imagined people danced folk dances to. But the moment the doors opened in front of Nicolais and me, the music stopped. Everyone smiled at us, because for just a short while longer, there was still a difference between royal and commoner—but in a moment, those lines would blur, and we would all dance, laugh, and talk together.Nicolais led me out onto the center of the floor, where people stepped aside to make room for us. He flashed me a cheeky smile, and my thoughts went to his poor feet.Let the man lead you.Let the king lead you.He bowed to me, deep and respectful. I curt

The sun had already risen when I came to myself again. We had managed to hold out for the full forty-eight hours, though many of the last ones were spent in his bedroom, and I hadn’t fallen asleep until the sun went down.A smile tugged at my lips when I felt his heavy arm around my waist. His breathing was calm, relaxed. He deserved the rest, too, after all the hard work planning the celebration, carrying it out, and then our escapades yesterday as well.I let my fingers trail up and down his arm, stroking him gently. If this was happiness—if this was what marriage would be like—then I could survive it.I was certainly not inexperienced, but everything Nicolais had done to me yesterday felt as though I were experiencing it for the first time. As if no one had ever touched me like that before. My g

Sunlight spilled over us as another day dawned. He lay with his back to me. For the first time since we had slept together, I didn’t wake with him holding me. Usually his heavy body rested over mine, but today—today he had turned away.I rolled onto my back, the sheets gently caressing my skin as I stared up at the canopy above the bed. It was filled with suns, flowers, and clouds—almost as if it embodied the Kingdom of Summer itself. It was becoming easier and easier for me to see it, to recognize their own branding. The sun appeared everywhere, as if it gave the place extra strength, as if it ensured the Mother’s protection.Religion was truly a big thing here—something that touched everyone, something everyone talked about. It was so incredibly different from where I came from. Still, Nicolais didn’t seem to force any reli

“Okay,” I said as I entered the dining hall where Sicca and Nicolais were seated, “isn’t there a chance,” I caught both their attention, “that I could wear something other than dresses?”Once again, Lily had dressed me in a beautiful dress, a delicate summer dress in a soft pink hue.“You look beautiful in dresses,” Nicolais smiled at me.“So… I don’t look good in my night shorts?” I knew I was bating for the correct answer, I knew exactly what I was doing. I’d been thinking for a while about how to get them to give me what I wanted.“You look very good in your night shorts,” he said with a smile that made me blush.“So then