He offers a wolfish grin. “Okay. I’m proposing.”
I snort. “That was convincing. A proposal forced out of pressure. Holy Crawford, Rain. You’re the ultimate romantic.”
He narrows his eyes. “Who said it was forced?” He lays beside me, propping himself on his elbow. I forgot how hot he is, shirtless. My gaze drifts over his cross tattoo, and I’m briefly reminded of how he saved my life that night from the prison pit. Seemed like ages ago.
He slides his hand under his pillow, then pulls out a black box.
A string of curse words flutter through my brain, and I struggle to pick just one that matches my utter shock right now. I’ve only heard of these sorts of things happening. I mean, proposals weren’t that popular in the Garden. People just got hitched. No rings, no ceremonies. They just agreed to live with each other and signed some document and that was that.
But Rain cracks open the box, and staring back at me is a ring with a gold apple-shaped engraving with a diamond in the center. I bolt to a sitting position, as if that will clear my mind from this daydream. But it’s not a daydream. I cover my mouth. Every word I’ve learned goes on vacation somewhere, and I’m left speechless.
“So,” Rain says, looking up at me, his eyes dead serious, yet full of so much passion. “Ember Carter Whitcomb, Sister to the Chief—”
I burst out laughing. I can’t help it.
“Listen, Ember,” he says, fighting a smile. “I’m proposing. You need to hear what I have to say.”
I look away and smother my laugh and tears at the same time, then look into his gray eyes again.
“Ember Carter Whitcomb,” he begins again, slipping the perfectly sized ring onto my finger. “Sister to the Chief, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
I nod. I nod and nod and nod and throw my arms around his neck, but I throw myself too hard and we’re tumbling, we’re rolling off the bed onto the floor, but somehow my lips find his and I kiss him. I kiss him, and I never want to stop kissing him. I want this moment to last forever, and I want him in my arms forever, and I want him, Rain Turner, forever.
A knock sounds at the door, but before we can respond a maid steps in. She sees us tangled up on the floor, the sheets wrapped around our bodies, and her eyes widen. “’Scuse me,” she spins around and walks out, but not before Julius bounds in. He sees us on the floor and leaps on top of us with his massive black tiger body and licks Rain across the face.
Rain groans in disgust. “Julius! Gross! You smell like rotten meat!”
I pull away, laughing hysterically. “I don’t think I’m going to be kissing you any time soon.”
“Julius!” Rain groans. “You just ruined my game!” He shoves Julius off of him, then seems to feel bad as he grabs the black tiger around the neck and pulls him into a hug.
I can’t take my eyes off Rain. The son of a jackal, who I hated months ago, is now my whole world. Holy rot, I missed him so much when I was in Indy. I feel terrible that he’s had to deal with the grief of losing Forest. The grief of realizing his mom was mothering someone else this whole time.
“How did your talk with Krin go last night?” I ask.
His eyes snap to meet mine, and his smile fades. He sits up and drags his hand through his hair. “It went well.” He sighs. “I realized, when I was traveling the country with Aurora, that she needed a mother figure more than I did. I had a host of maids at my disposal. Aurora…she had no one. My father beat me when he was angry. Aurora was abused and violated. I was able to leave my home whenever I wanted. Aurora never had that freedom. Mother apologized when we talked.” He shrugs and looks at me. “But I don’t need her apology anymore. I’m the one who needs her forgiveness for not understanding. For being so angry at her.”
I nod. “That’s wise, Rain. I’m sure it means the world to her for you to understand her reasons for being absent.”
He looks at me and offers a lazy grin. “So, what about that coronation?”
Typical Rain, moving on to the next subject quick as lightning.
I look at the antique clock on his mantel. “Yep. Definitely time to go.”
* * *
The Coronation Ceremony takes place on the front patio of the capitol building. The event is open to the public, and thousands of people—Patrician, Proletariat, Resurgence, and even the president of the Indy Tribe—attend. From the base of the stairs to as far as I can see, dispersing through all the streets, people crowd together to watch the new dawning emerge.
And there are so many people.
I’m wearing a beautiful red ball gown for the celebratory ball taking place after the ceremony. This is the first ball I’m actually excited about. I think I’ll dance with Rain.
If he’s lucky.
People manning the cameras stand on the sidelines, broadcasting the event live for the whole country to watch. Bouncing-Curls-Cherry stands in front of one of the cameras, wearing a pink dress. She’s all smiles and giggles—except when her gaze catches mine. She’s not exactly pleased that I returned to reclaim my little Rain-Drop.
Judging by the newsfeed this morning from all over the country, the citizens are thrilled about the coronation of Aurora. Besides the positive gossip spread by Olivia Doss and—surprise, surprise—Cherry, I think mine and Rain’s support gave Aurora’s popularity an extra boost. Not to brag or anything, but Rain and I are sort of like Ky’s sweethearts. Interview questions from reporters make it clear that Patricians are more interested in our relationship than how we’ll help bring Ky back to its feet.
Typical Patricians.
I link my arm through Rain’s, and we step onto the stage. I twist my engagement ring around my finger, and butterflies fill my stomach. I can’t believe we’re going to get married. As soon as they can see us, the crowd goes wild. All butterflies disperse. My stomach turns with the dread of all the people’s attention. It was easier to watch them while they were talking and arriving and focusing on where to stand to watch this event. But now that they turn to face the stage—now that their eyes are on me and Rain—I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“Remember,” Rain whispers in my ear as the crowd begins quieting down. “Chin held high, bold eye contact, and never ever underestimate the pep in your step.”
I grin. I can’t help it. Leave it to Rain to ease my tension and completely make me feel at home. Those were his same words when I made my first appearance as a Patrician. Oh, how I hated Rain then…and how I adore him now. We take our place on the stage, and I sneak a glance at him. He smirks down at me, gray eyes shining like dark thunderclouds with silver linings, and the energy is suddenly charged between us. I tighten my grip around his strong arm, inhale the peppermint scent that always surrounds him. His smile fades as he searches my eyes, something deeper and stronger and carnal taking over. Then he leans down. And his lips claim mine.
I don’t think I’ll ever get my fill of Rain’s kisses. I don’t think I’ll ever get my fill of Rain. I’m like a bucket, an empty bucket, and he’s pouring his love into me, but it’s never enough. I need more, so much more Rain. I reach up and wrap my free hand around his neck and deepen the kiss. He pulls away slightly, his heavy breaths filling the space between us.
“I think we might be stealing the show right now,” he whispers.
With those words, I become acutely aware of the wild cheers filling the air. I pull away and glance at the JumboTron zeroed in on us. Heat creeps up my neck and pools in my cheeks, and I bury my face in Rain’s jacket. But that only seems to encourage the Patricians’ attention, because now they’re chanting, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” and I’m horribly humiliated.
“They’re not going to stop,” Rain murmurs in my ear. He pulls away, tips my chin up. His eyes are bright and he’s grinning ear to ear. This might be the first time he’s actually enjoying his Patricia popularity. “We have to give them what they want, Flame-girl.”
I laugh. But before I can get a word in, he’s kiss
ing me again, and the crowd is going crazy, and I think this might just be one of the best days of my life.
Walker steps onto the stage and calms the crowd down, while casting me and Rain a disapproving frown. We pull away and straighten. Back to business. Walker begins giving an introductory speech, and I survey my surroundings.
Thorne stands on the other side of the stage, erect and suited up as the Captain of Defenders, a steady oak of support for Aurora. Everything is just…too crazy to comprehend. Because less than a year ago I was a nobody, preparing to leave my family and fulfill my role as a Farmer in a flawed country with no freedom. And now I’m second only to the chief in a country that is free and whole.
Off to the side of the stage, Krin stands beside Dad and Elijah, holding the wiggly Gideon. The nephew I never knew about. His brown hair is combed nicely, his little suit buttoned up to his chin so he looks like a young gentleman, but one look into those green, green eyes, and anyone can guess mischief is about to ensue. I smother a snort. Gideon is going to be trouble in the most adorable way possible.
Walker finishes giving his introduction speech, then he gestures for Aurora to rise from her throne. She stands and walks steadily to the front of the stage. She looks stunning, wearing a shimmering silver ball gown, her long hair falling over one shoulder in wavy curls.
She’s glowing like a sunrise.
And that’s exactly what she is. The dawn of Ky. Bringing our country out of darkness and into the light. How fitting. How completely perfect her name is. And all I can think about—as she takes the scepter and begins giving her speech—is, how did Mom know? How did she know I would be the ember to set things into motion? How did she know Aurora would be the dawning of a new era? Is it coincidence? I don’t know. I don’t have to know.
Aurora gives a short speech about hope and fresh beginnings and justice and peace and equality and freedom of mind. She talks about Mother and Walker and how it’s because of them this revolution came to be. She gives me and Rain more credit than she gives herself, and then she takes a moment of silence for Titus and everyone else who died during the near-apocalyptic takeover of the White Plague. She talks about how a new system will take place where people will get to choose their careers. She talks about how the Indy Tribe is going to step in and help rebuild the crumbling parts of Ky, how they’re going to offer fair trade for goods like food and clothes. And most importantly, she offers freedom for anyone who wants to cross the river and leave Ky forever.
And while I watch my sister become the new chief of Ky, I realize that my life was worth losing. That every risk we took to get here was so worth it.
I was the dirt.
Aurora was the seed.
And God was the Sower.
Everything was set into motion from the very beginning when Mom ran off. And as long as we continue to do what is right and good, Ky will continue to thrive.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Replenish bad air for good.
Everything is okay.
END OF BOOK THREE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Okay. Since you’ve probably already read my acknowledgements in the first two books, I’ll try to keep this short.
Sarah Kate, thanks for being my endless form of support. For listening to my doubts and rejoicing in my accomplishments. I’m constantly astounded at how far our friendship has come in such a short amount of time, and can’t help but feel like fate brought us together.
Sarah Grimm. Best. Editor. Ever. Need I say more?
To my parents and in-laws, thank you so much for watching the kids so I could have some quiet time to write. Love all of you.
Laura Grace at God’s Grace Blog Tours, thank you for all your hard work in helping my books get visibility. You’ve certainly made this series go farther than I ever could have.
Becky Metcalf. Possibly my number one fan. Thanks for offering to be a beta reader before you even knew me. And for fan-girling all over this series. And for coming up with Ember’s and Rains’ ship name: #TeamSteam. Can’t wait until we can meet in person.
To my other betas and to my street team: seriously. This series could not have made it without you all! Your kind reviews, blogs, and just the time you took too read these books means more than you could know.
Finally, to my family: thanks for your unconditional love and support.
Rain’s Playlist
1. Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons (Will always be Rain’s theme song)
2. Yesterdays by Switchfoot (Rain’s Memories of Forest)
3. Ride by Twenty One Pilots
4. All Time Low by Jon Bellion
5. Cheap Thrills by Sia (Bar scene)
6. I Took a Pill In Ibiza by Mike Posner (Bar Scene)
7. Heathens by twenty one pilots
8. Unsteady by X Ambassadors (When Rain and Ember reunite.)
9. Sugar How You Get So Fly by Sugar Fix (Rain and Aurora post-attack.)
10. Warriors by Imagine Dragons (Battle Scene in Frankfort)
Aurora’s Playlist
1. The Sower’s Song by Andrew Peterson (White Dawn Theme)
2. Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde (Aurora’s theme)
3. The Greatest by Sia (Aurora’s song at the beginning)
4. Don’t Let me Down by The Chainsmokers (After the attack in the Garden.)
5. Sail by AWOL Nation (Arena Scene)
6. Pompeii by Bastille (Jasmine Thompson cover)
7. Team by Lorde
8. Skyscraper by Demi Lovato
9. Rise by Katy Perry
10. Wooden Heart by Listener
DEAR READER,
Whew. What a ride! I had so much fun writing these books, and I seriously appreciate you pausing your lives to share in these stories. I hope you enjoyed The Black Tiger Series, as I had a blast writing them. If you want to read more from me, you can visit my website at https://sarabaysinger.com or follow me on social media (below) for updates on future books.
To stay in the loop with other readers about The Black Tiger Series, official hashtags are: #BlackTigerSeries and #TeamSteam
Also, I LOVE hearing from my readers, so if you want to connect, you can find me at any of the links listed below!
Website: https://sarabaysinger.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarabaysingerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarambaysinger
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white dawn (Black Tiger Series Book 3) Page 43