The risk of ripping her stitches was the last thing on Iona’s mind as she sprinted through the palace to find Leo. She checked his bedroom, office, the dining room, and throne room, all to no avail. Every staffer she questioned hadn't seen him in hours. Corso was still in his stall when her carriage arrived, so he wasn’t out for a ride. Where the fuck is he? she wondered, wandering the halls. Iona stopped in her tracks when she realized the one place she hadn’t looked.

“There you are,” she called, walking towards the old training ring. Leo stood in its center, training clothes stuck to his skin from sweat, gazing out into the horizon. “Hiding in the ring is my move, remember?” She pulled herself up onto the canvas, Leo once again hustling over to help her duck under the ropes.

“Have you been running? You shouldn’t be moving around so much, you’ll aggravate your wound,” he scolded, dropping her hand and turning back to his view. Even his criticism brought a faint smile to her face.

Iona cleared her throat. She had envisioned looking at him face to face when she gave this speech, but if she had to talk at his back instead, she would. She wasn’t here to fight, she was here to lay everything she had out on the table for the man she loved. Mustering all the strength she could, Iona began, “Leo, I should have said this days ago, but...I’m saying it now. I’m sorry for walking away from you. As hard as it is for me to admit, I was scared. After Heston told us he was leaving, everything felt different. I thought the worst possible thing was to be forced to leave behind all my hard work, the role I’d spent my life chasing. My purpose in life. I panicked.” She took in a deep breath, steadied the uptick in her beating chest and clenched her trembling hands.

“I was wrong,” Iona declared, Leo’s amber eyes finally meeting hers. His mouth parted, but she had too much left to say, and started to hurry through her thoughts. “What I want now, all I want, is to be with you. What good is holding onto a title if I’m miserable? If I have to keep a distance from you for the rest of our lives, to love you from afar because of my pride? I am so sorry, Leo. And I understand if things have changed, I do. But I need you to know how much I love you. Even if you don’t feel the same anymore.”

Leo dropped his gaze to the canvas below them, shaking his head. Iona bit her tongue, trying to remain calm. She had tried to prepare herself for his rejection, but now, at the edge of that reality, the heartbreak could prove to be too much.

Then, in a flash, Leo closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers, his hands gliding through her hair, across her back, and hips. Iona melted into his embrace, relief coursing through her body with every touch. She’d missed him so much, like a piece of her had wandered off without knowing if she’d ever get it back. But now, here he was in her grasp, and she would never let him go again.

Leo pulled away, leaning his forehead on hers, “I’m sorry, I was so angry, Iona. Angry at Heston, angry at you, angry at myself. I didn’t give you any time to think or breathe or explain. You left, but I pushed you out the door.” His eyes welled, Iona grasping his face in her hands. “And then I was so worried the damage was done, that if I tried to get you back, I would fail all over again. But of course, I love you, Iona. I’ll say it over and over, and I swear, whatever comes, I want you at my side. Forever.”

“Forever…” she whispered back, “Are you sure?”

Leo’s tearful smile warmed every bit of her heart, “I’m sure.”

With another soft kiss, she answered, “I’m sure, too.” Iona kept her arms tight around Leo’s shoulders as they stood together, immersed in their shared devotion.

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“You need to sit,” he advised, leading Iona back to the middle of the ring. He sat down and tugged her onto his lap, where she curled up and rested her head against his chest. The sun had begun to set, painting the sky with shades of dreamy pink and gold.

Iona could feel Leo fill his lungs with a deep breath. “I have to tell you something, and you may not be very happy with me,” he said, glancing down at her. Iona raised an eyebrow at him, curious to hear what he was about to say. “I, uh, told my father about us. Before he passed away.”

She shifted onto the ground to face Leo straight on, “You did? What did he say?”

Leo’s grin was answer enough. “He was completely unsurprised, said he saw it coming since we were training partners.”

Iona smirked, “Your father was a smart man, but I have a hard time believing that one.” She sighed, “I wish I could have been there to see his reaction. Ask for his blessing, even.”

“Oh, I got his blessing,” Leo stated, “I didn’t exactly explain our…rough patch. But I just had this feeling that we still had a chance, and I needed to make sure my father was supportive of my plan if we did.”

“Your plan?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. Leo’s arms still rested gently around her waist, clasped behind her back. He slid her closer before he explained.

“I thought a lot after you left about what you said. That you’d have to give up your command to be with me, and I knew it wasn’t fair of me to ask you to do that. And then it occurred to me, the problem may not be all that difficult to solve. I asked my father not only for his blessing for us to be married, but for you to be coronated alongside me. Your own throne and crown, your own advisors, your own authority. A real queen. Other kingdoms do it, why can’t Chrysos?”

A burst of gratitude overwhelmed Iona- how silly she felt now, having ever doubted Leo. “He approved of this?”

“He did, without hesitation.”

Iona nodded, delighted at the news. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she asked.

“I didn’t want you to think I was trying to lure you back to me or making false promises.”

“I wouldn’t have thought that,” she replied, “But I appreciate you giving me time. And I need you to know, if you’re not positive about it, you can tell me. This is a huge decision, literally the first of its kind in the whole kingdom.”

Leo rolled his eyes and laughed, “Iona, you’ve always pushed me to be better. You’ve taught me how to lead and how to follow. It would be asinine to think I could rule without you or that I deserve to. We’re in this together.” He paused before taking her hands, “I don’t have the ring or the flowers or the proper outfit on, so please forgive me but I just can’t wait any longer. Iona, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving it. Will you marry me?”

“Of course, I’ll marry you,” Iona beamed, her ears and every other little bit of her tingling as they sealed their engagement with a fervent kiss. Many, many kisses, in fact. The future queen sat back to catch her breath.

“Wow, two marriage proposals in a week,” Iona teased, looking up at the sunset, “I am in high demand.

“What do you mean two?!” Leo blurted, his mouth agape.

“Oh yeah, Desmond proposed in the carriage ride from Achrysee. I said no, don’t worry,” she assured, giving him a playful shove.

“I hate that asshole,” he laughed, snatching up Iona’s face for one more kiss.

Hours passed as they chatted, the sun steadily disappearing and a bright moon taking its place. Iona filled Leo in on her visit with Jessa and Kono, and he told her all the gossip she’d missed from around the palace. Soon enough, she was nodding off, so Leo picked her up and began the walk back to the palace.

“Hey Leo,” Iona mumbled.

“Yes, my love?”

She peered up at him through her heavy eyes, “I think we should hire someone to plan the wedding party this time.”

Leo grinned, cheek to cheek, “I couldn’t agree more.”