Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1)

Chapter 42

While we both are lying in a state of undress on the ledge that used to be his bedroom balcony looking out at the sunset with my head nestled against his chest and his arms around my waist, I ask the question burning in my mind, "What are we going to do, Alvar?"

"I don't want to leave you, Lucy," Alvar's voice is husky from the aftermath of our lovemaking. Tingles of pleasured appreciation shiver through me.

"Then don't," I murmur into his skin, inhaling his scent.

I will never get enough of him. My husband.

"What about the people of Underland?" Alvar asks, gazing tenderly down at me. "You are still so new to this place, but there is a whole line of corrupt people waiting to take it now that it's vulnerable. Right now all the people love you because you defeated Saul."

"I don't know the first thing about ruling by myself," I state. "And you helped defeat Saul too."

"Well, you wouldn't have to rule by yourself, Underland isn't a dictatorship. There is a group of leaders who are already set up to help you. These are good men and women I appointed myself while I was ruling and bringing about peace here."

"Will they accept a ruler whom is married to a Cursed?" I ask.

"Probably not, but that doesn't mean you and I can't stay husband and wife—" He pauses, then finally says what I know he's thinking: "Secretly."

I laugh and sit up from where I was snuggling. "Are you serious? What about providing a successor? I'm not marrying someone else."

"Yes, there is that to think about," Alvar says, laughing with me, but then he stops and tilt my chin up to look at his face. "Look into my eyes. See the effect you have on me?"

I smile as I gaze up at the beautiful blue eyes of the man I love. "Feeling more and more human?"

"Thankfully," Alvar says and kisses my forehead. "You bring out the best in me."

"Why can't we find a way for you to stay? Why can't we prove to these people that the very best thing they can do is have a Cursed as their king. Only, they should call what you are something different. The term 'Cursed' is so demeaning."

"Lucy, I don't know if we can change them so radically," Alvar admits, a bemused smile crossing his face at my relentless defense of him, "they'd have to decide to change all the prejudice of the past to accept me. That's not going to be easy."

"But what if they did change what they thought of someone with your condition? What if they took it as a sign of power rather than as an abomination? Saul ruled almost all of Axus because of you. Why not convince Underland that they have nothing to fear with a king who has your abilities on their throne?" It makes sense to me, but I know it's crazy to believe that could happen so fast.

Heck, even Leeza is caught up in it and she's always struck me as a humanitarian type of person.

"How will we do that?" Alvar asks hopelessly, "it's not as if I haven't already made a public announcement. Remember the uproar from some of the most powerful members in Underland?"

"I think they are threatened. They may believe that a person of your ability has too much power and that it will eventually turn into a dictatorship, just like what Saul did when he was controlling you. Prove them wrong. Those who don't want to be apart of Underland can leave," I snort, "But Underland will become strong under your leadership. We can start from the ground up. Restructure everything toward the people's safety so a disaster like Saul or the Sorceress can't take ahold again here."

"Easier said than done," Alvar says with a sigh.

"Just hear me out. We'll make another public appearance together. We'll explain how a Fe collar works and why it could never happen again," I continue, "We need to educate the people on the dangers of not having a weapon like you in their holster too."

Alvar laughs and gives me a comically surprised face. "You're going to make a better queen than you think. I love watching your determination, my dear."

"Shut-up," I say, giving him a shove.

"No, I'm serious, you're a strong woman who will make Underland an amazing queen, you also have the knowledge from another world backing you up, maybe there are things you can teach us from your world," Alvar says.

"I should hope so! For starters this whole betrothed thing you've got going on here is very backwards."

"Well, did save our worlds," Alvar mutters to my roll of eyes. We both laugh.