The village chiefs insisted that our people needed a celebration and we would prepare for a three day ceremony to formally commence my rule as the new Prophet of the Valley.

I didn't mind a good party, though I worried about our enemies taking advantage of the occasion to attack, something I'd counter with some proactive diplomacy–or rather, threats. News about our battle spread quickly throughout Skia Hellig, helped along by our spies, and Marcus spearheading a campaign to strike the proper tone for our new kingdom. He figured the world could use a little fear when it came to the Prophet Eclipse.

So while all of that was fine and I figured I would have a nice time with my people, it wasn't what I was certain I would remember and cherish for the rest of my life. Because I did not feel the most myself as the Prophet Eclipse, or the renowned demon, or even the warrior Max the Sharpshooter.

I felt the most myself in the quiet with Nash and Elsie when I needed no name and no kingdom. No power.

With Elsie perched on the chair across the narrow table from me, I strived to memorize every second of this week, when finally after so many tireless days and nights of battle, I could live the life I wanted most in the world.

She closed her eyes for Wren to smear the black war paint across her lids and in stripes on her cheeks. Her mother covered her lips with her fingers seeing her daughter's requested makeup choice actually get applied. I couldn't stop smiling watching Elsie get painted up for war.

"Do you like it?" I asked and held up a small mirror for her.

She admired her dark hair, tied into plaits, and the war paint on her eyes. "I love it." Elsie bounced on her knees. "What about you, Ma? Do you want the war makeup too?"

"I think I've worn enough war makeup for now."

Elsie nodded. "Yep, you and Daddy can't go to war for a whole week. A whole week!"

Not unless a crisis came about that our army could not respond to, though I doubted that. Gael kindly offered to keep the increased forces active for the next month while we prepared our government and my family stole a much needed week to ourselves.

I couldn't believe that after how hard I'd fought to avoid taking leadership of the valley so I could have the chance at being with my family, the position actually allotted the time I needed. It changed everything to switch from fighting all battles myself to uniting with my people to defend the valley together, and to give others the opportunity to grow into the warriors they wanted desperately to be.

Trin sat down beside me and patted the powder with the brush before dabbing it against my cheeks and my forehead. "I hope you know that I am here to fight alongside you."

My jaw tightened to stave off the emotion welling in my chest.

"I'm honored to have you in the family." She smiled and patted my chin with the powder. "Keep taking time for your life. I want Elsie to grow up with more of you and Nash."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there."

Trin caught a tear that strayed from my eye. "No apologies. We all did the best we could. Today is a new beginning."

At one time, I hadn't been sure that Trin would ever accept me. There hadn't been time for us to get to know each other, so it meant more to me than I could comprehend to hear her say this today.

Soon, the women of my village crowded around us to wish their blessings and feed us fruits and candies. Elsie begged for more, while the ladies happily obliged.

Wren helped me into a flowing lavender dress and fastened bracelets around my ankles and wrists.

"Perfect," she said, applying one last coat of lipstick for me.

We walked out to the field, set against the distant Mountain of the Gods, and woods that were green and full of life for the short summer season. I walked up the stairs to the short stage my people had erected and turned to face away from the place where Nash would stand.

According to our customs, we would see each other before the ceremony started, but only once everyone had gathered outside the curtains that enclosed our perimeter.

I heard Nash's steps behind me. Felt the warmth of his back pressed against me.

"Hi," he said.

My stomach flopped inside of me. "Hi."

Only a few people had entered the ceremonial space inside the curtains. I anxiously waited for the bell that would tell us our people were ready outside. Finally, for the first time since killing the god and the Prophet, it felt like everything had stopped.

The bell rang and I held my breath as I turned around to face Nash, feeling giddy, like I was about to see him for the first time.

The sight of him stilled my breath and my heart, maybe even time. Those curls I loved were full and pinned back so nothing covered his defined cheeks or the gold band around his neck. His close shaved, dark beard was perfectly trimmed and contrasted with his bright eyes. A green tunic tied over both his shoulders with golden beads that matched the band. Nash looked perfect.

While I'd been marveling at him, he'd done the same to me, eyes on my dress and my long hair lying over my shoulders. My silver jewelry caught the sun and shone against my skin tanned from the summer days. He lingered on my dark lips.

"I think I'm ready to go now," Nash whispered.

I laughed hard enough to draw curious looks.

He let out a tisk. "You always think I'm joking when I'm serious."

"Oh, I know you're serious." I placed my hand against his cheek, melting beneath his gaze. "First, you have to see your daughter."

"What?"

I nodded in her direction where her little hands ripped the curtain open and she leapt through. Trin caught her by her dress and yanked her back. "I told you no."

Nash's eyes widened at the war paint covering her cheeks. "What did you do to my child?"

"Her request. You raised her. It's your fault."

He eyed me again, easing closer. "I think she gets it from her Ma."

I gave the little girl who'd stolen my heart one more glance. "She'll be a fearsome warrior. It was hard to convince her to leave her training swords at home."

Nash chuckled and then ran the back of his knuckles down my cheek.

"Max," he said in a husky voice. "Do you think we've ever done this before?"

The unknown grave of our past lives gaped like a numb hole in my chest. "I don't know how long we survived, but I do know Dr. Henderson can't steal this from us this time."

His lips hovered close to mine, so close to breaking tradition that I'd never cared much for to begin with. Not even to say no to this man.

"Not the Prophet either," Nash said in defiance of the man who had stolen years of his life.

"Not Lote or the flatlanders or that creepy cult."

Neither of us spoke of the mysterious man, though I felt him hanging over us.

"I've loved you in every life, in every world," he said.

"I'll love you in the lives to come."

Nash tilted his head and brought his tender lips to mine, his taste and smell overtaking my world. Ours bodies knew each other so well, perfectly in sync in battle, and . We were drawn together and long past trying to deny that.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

A loud groan almost distracted me. "You're not supposed to kiss yet," Wren said. "The elders will complain if they see."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and he lifted me off my toes. Unhesitating, we kissed each other deep and full and with the promise of the rest of our lives, whatever lives may come, binding us together.

Elsie's voice rang out in a mixture of squeal and horrified scream. "Icky! Icky kissy! Icky, icky!"

We laughed against each other's lips and looked deeply into one another's eyes.

Had we done this before?

For once, it was a thrill to not know.

When I lowered back onto my heels, Leif smacked Nash's chest once and then gave him a firm shove away. "I can still rip your throat out, you know. We put too much work into getting this ready today for you to piss the elders off and cancel on us."

Nash smirked. "You get your power to work yet, buddy?"

Leif bared his teeth in a smile. "Ha."

Wren hung her arm around my neck. "I have and I can rip everyone's throats out."

I rubbed my throat. "You guys know you can just say you love us instead of you'll kill us."

Leif shook his head. "You know we love you. You forget we can kill you."

Wren nestled her cheek against mine. "Are you all moving back in with Leif now that you'll be in the village again?"

Leif glared at her. Nash grinned.

Elsie ran up the steps and pushed her way to the center of us. I bent to pick her up.

"I can live with Rune?" she asked.

"You want to?"

"I don't have to marry him, do I?"

We all laughed hard at that.

"I don't want to get married," Elsie whined.

I kissed her forehead. "Okay. You never have to get married if you don't want to."

"I want to fight, though."

"Well, obviously," I said. "All you have to do is convince your dad."

"Daddy?"

Nash sighed. "Keep training and ask me later."

"That means no." Elsie pursed her lips in a pout. "It always means no."

I treasured hearing them all laugh, having them all close, because I never knew how long it could be before we had this again.

Our guests started to gather before the stage and Elsie scurried to her mother's side. Rune found her and poked the dark streak on her cheek. "You look weird," he said.

Elsie turned her nose up at him. "What do you care what I look like? We're not getting married. Ma said I never have to get married, ever."

His face scrunched. "Why would we get married?"

"We aren't, dummy."

I smirked when Trin chastised Elsie for name calling.

The head elder came to stand beside Nash and me and everyone quieted.

I never cared much for ceremonies before. If I'd always had Nash dressed like this then they might have been my favorite thing in the world. We couldn't stop staring at each other like we hadn't seen one another almost every day for more than a year. Warmth burned inside of me like my power, or like when I'd first met him, so tempted to kiss him after the initial battle with the Flatlanders.

Bonding had always seemed silly to me before too. Nash changed a lot of things for me. It felt so true after learning that we'd been together in our previous lives. Our people could bind ourselves to anyone, but often people only married each other. They were too superstitious to go further when it involved the next life.

Elsie joined us on the stage halfway through the ceremony and Nash picked her up. She lifted her small hand between us like we'd practiced. The warmth of Nash's amber eyes filled me as we closed our hands around hers. The elder wrapped the satin ribbon around our wrists and over our hands.

"I bind this family," the elder said, "in this life and in the next."

Elsie looked between us with tears coating her eyes. We drew close to each other and settled our foreheads against her temple on either side. Nash's hand slid tenderly over the small of my back.

"My life is yours," he whispered to us.

I kissed Elsie's cheek. "Mine too." Not just my death or my protection, but my life–a life I would fight to live fully.

Elsie returned to her mother and Nash clasped his hands with mine.

"The gods gave us marriage that we might have a partner to cherish our best times with and to hold us through our worst."

I'd thought about asking to break tradition and leave the gods out of the ceremony, until I spent more time considering the truth of it. The gods did create this world and giving us the library at the Sacred School changed our world in ways that only they could as the knowledge trickled down into the world. I could not erase them from my life, no matter how much I wanted to. Pretending I could wouldn't help me protect my world from them.

The gods gave and so the gods thought they could take. Humanity had a way of ascending.

The bond with this family we had created would last into the next life, and no god would ever break it. This was ours and ours alone.

"As your people, we bless your marriage and your bond. We will honor and protect your unity."

Our people raised their forearms in their vow.

Nash settled his forearm against my chest. I clutched his.

"Will you give both and life and death to one another? Will you give flesh and blood?" the elder asked.

"I give everything," Nash and I said together.

He took my face into his hands and kissed me without anyone complaining this time.

Our people shouted for us and held onto one another, celebrating a bond they'd promised to uphold.

Then Nash lifted me into his arms and held me close against his chest. He ambled down the stairs, pushing through the gathering of our people.

"Bye," he said to a chorus of laughter. "See you in a week."

I threw my head back, laughing as well.

"No one call on us," he yelled. "I'm not joking." Then, walking past Elsie, he slowed to a stop. "See you tomorrow, baby girl."

She clutched his leg and hugged him tight. "Bye, Daddy. I'll miss you."

I reached down to take her hand. "We'll miss you too."

Trin lifted her to plop a quick kiss on each of our cheeks.

And then Nash whisked me away without looking back on our people.

The chuckle on my lips died when we walked through the curtain and our eyes met for the first time since we'd promised our lives to each other.

Face as serious as when he charged into battle, Nash said, "I only ask one thing as your husband."

My chest tightened. "Anything."

"I fight in every battle from now on."

I nodded. "Yes."

"The next one, I won't ask, because I know you'll always fight it with everything you have. But just know, Sharpshooter." He held me closer. "I will die for you."

"Nash–"

"The world needs the Prophet Eclipse. Elsie and I need Max. You need to live."

"So do you. I'll die for you."

"You think I don't know that?" He started walking again. "We're going to have a long life of arguing about who gets to die for the other."

I smiled and ran my hand up the back of his neck, lifting, to kiss him with no one watching.

A long life sounded nice.

----------------------------------------

The wavering reflection of torches danced upon waters so still it looked like black glass. With the cover of clouds, the darkness of the lake disappeared into the black surrounding me. The bugs were quiet here in Skia Hellig, much quieter than where we'd just visited Gael's people. That quiet slid through me like a breeze and gently pushed into the depths of my bones. Settling me to my core.

Nash stared out at the darkness, his face a mask of the ease I felt.

"It's amazing that moments of peace come no matter how tumultuous the battle. You can be covered in blood and find that surreal second where the sky looks beautiful and the air feels wonderful. I feel like we're still in battle, finding a glimpse of peace."

He met my eyes as he had so many times before, but it never got old. Each time was better than the last. Deeper. "It'll be better one day."

"Will it?" It was not a question meant to antagonize. I genuinely wanted to know. "I think we can survive no matter what. We're strong together."

His rough fingers gently brushed my hair back, the soft touch a contrast to skin toughened by steel and leather. By swords that he wielded as well as his own body. "It will. I have no doubt."

"One day…" My fingers wandered over the back of his hand, my look and touch driving deep into him like the peace of the quiet, so I could unearth parts of him unknown even to himself. "I want to lie out in the grass with nothing to worry about except for what to eat for dinner and how I'll beat you at sparring."

He chuckled, though the same want burned as bright in his eyes as the torchlight. "Then we'll fight for that day."

"It'll be me, you, and Elsie. And we'll have to make it happen before she's too grown and off fighting her own wars."

"Why just me, you, and Elsie? You don't think you'd want anyone else?"

"I love Leif and Wren and Piercey. But–"

"No, no, no." Nash drew me beneath the warmth of his arm and gazed down my face. "Another child."

My eyes widened. "We're literally starting a kingdom from scratch. When would there be time to start a baby from scratch too?"

He snorted. "Not right now. We're talking someday. The kind of someday we can dream about."

It wasn't something I'd thought about even once. We'd been too busy to even start our life together. "I never thought I'd get to have a baby. I guess I can think about things like that, can't I?"

"Yes, Max. It's okay. We have plenty of time to dream."

"I don't know if I've ever been as relaxed as I have been this week, which is sad, because I'm still really worried about the future."

"From now on, we're doing this once a year."

"One a year? What if we're at war?"

"Yes, once a year," Nash said.

"For a few days, maybe. Not a week."

"You're the ruler of the valley now. You have to take care of yourself."

"You know…" I chuckled. "I truly believed I didn't have time to lead the Valley because I didn't have time to even sleep. I realize now that leading the Valley gives me the time I need, because with leadership comes help. I'm not going to be doing it alone. I'm going to say no to battles I don't need to fight and stay where I'm needed most."

"I told you that you were made for more than you could imagine." Nash kissed my cheek.

I turned, wanting more while we still had time together, before the rest of the kingdom crept back in. The heat of his lips caught mine ablaze.

"I am bound to you, Max." The words came as a breath against my mouth. "Bound in this life and the next. In all the lives I will ever call my own."

I remembered when we'd first met and he'd said he thought he'd met me in a dream he couldn't remember. How lives I couldn't remember had played out on the walls of the white room, Nash with me in each. I had loved him in more than just this life, in more than just this world.

When Nash and I had decided to pursue each other and when I'd given up my fear of dying to the eclipse, I'd thought that we'd made the hardest decision–to be together. It turned out that living was far harder, especially in a valley at war. But Nash and I fought so well together.

We would fight many more wars together, wouldn't we?

I settled back against his thick chest and rested my head against his shoulder, feeling the kind of peace I wasn't sure I'd ever felt. It wasn't that I lacked any kind of tension inside of me, but rather that I knew what to do with it. I could sit with it and not slip away. I could sit with it and not fix it. I could sit with it and leave it for the future.

Nash and I fought well together. Now we would learn to live and to lead well together.