The audience came to their feet in raucous applause and Mina let Zayn clasp her hand, lifting her arm high as they came to their feet before he led her off the stage.
As soon as they entered the green room, however, Mina shook her hand free.
“No,” she said.
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” he asked.
“I’m not going to marry you again in a big public display in order to distract your people from your recent behavior. Our relationship will not be a tool in your arsenal, and what’s more I will not be Queen on your terms. I’m tired of being swept up in the plans and requirements of the men in my life, never being asked what I want. If we’re to do this like colleagues, then we keep to business hours and business topics. If we’re to be more—” she took a breath before meeting his eyes “—then you owe me an apology.”
He stared at her, left her words hanging between them.
She frowned as his silence grew, her eyebrows drawing slowly together and the corners of her mouth tilting down just slightly, her always too revealing eyes wounded. He just watched her as she gave up hope and then squared her shoulders.
She took a breath and said, “I’ve lived my entire life on other people’s terms, Zayn. My father’s, academia’s, yours...” She used a finger to quickly dash away a falling tear. “I’m done with that now. I will be Queen on my terms. You can contact my secretary to coordinate our activities, but I will not put my heart on the line for a farce.”
And she turned her back on him and started toward the door.
“Stop.”
The word wasn’t a command, but a plea.
She stopped, blowing out a frustrated breath, her heart in her throat.
“You’re right. I apologize, Mina.”
She turned around, her attention caught.
“I should never have left you like that. I was scared—of what I feel, of how I lose control when it comes to you.” He laughed, and the sound was self-recriminatory. “It’s not comfortable to know I have it in me to cause a diplomatic incident where you’re concerned.”
“About that—”
She opened her mouth, ready to tell him that she had secured the relationship with Farden. It had taken a long video-call, in which she had explained what had happened to the Chancellor and bonded with her over their shared love for the same chocolate bar. The call had ended not only with the establishment of a diplomatic relationship, but also a sincere apology from Farden over Werner’s conduct.
“It’s not important, Mina. Nothing is more important to me than you. Not Cyrano, not being King—not a thing.”
Mina’s heart thundered but she kept her eyes shuttered. “What changed?”
Facing her, he smiled. “The difference between a boy and man is that a man can admit when he’s wrong,” he said. “You have made me a better king at every instance, Mina. My loving you is not only no threat to the nation, it will be its savior.”
“How do I know you won’t disappear again?”
He smiled, likely sensing the weakening of her defenses. “You will have to trust me. But to help...no more separate wings. And we’re going to have a real wedding, with both of our mothers in attendance. And this.”
He dropped to one knee again, pulling out a small black box.
Opening it to reveal the astounding diamond ring within, he said, “Dr. Amina Elin Aldaba. You alone have shown me what it means to truly love. I can think of no woman better suited to sit at my side as my Queen. Will you marry me?”
Mina nodded through happy tears and a wide grin stretched across her face, her wild curls bouncing with the movement. He slipped the ring on her finger before coming to his feet. Weaving his fingers through the soft springs to cup the back of her head, he pulled her close, and as their lips met she realized that, although she hadn’t always known their shape, her dreams had finally come true.