Page 49 (1/2)

Would she have any reason left when he was through with her?

“They agreed that you can ?” she paraphrased slowly, as if toit Then she shouted, “So why did you abdicate?”

He sht reaction “Simply because I would have ed me in a totally different sphere from the one you move in as a doctor They tried to convince me I could still be a doctor, ith you, but I realistically know I can’t be both a hands-on doctor and a king, and I had to choose Not only you as ether

“I chose the only life where we’ll be happy, together and fulfilled What I have to offer the world ofno one else can My cousin is a better statesman than I am It was decreed that he won’t make pivotal decisions without do force behind advance each day to the full in each other’s nearness and nurturing, doing e do best, being healers Though we may have to take it a bit easier when each of our children is too young I hope to have one more”

And she wept Felt like she’d dissolve

What he was saying, what he’d done was so huge it left her shocked, mute, awed, humbled, elated Oppressed

She launched herself at him, sobbed the excess of emotions into his chest “How did I ever deserve all that? How can I ever deserve that?”

“Without the least effort,” he insisted, all pride and indulgence “Just being yourself, the woenerosity frome my first real taste of what life means My life started for real after weemotion with you and on your account And you are the only one who shares ether we’ll be an unstoppable force for good” He hugged her fiercely “It’s a relief you’re giving hter, who can act as a safety valve for the dangerous accumulation of love I have for you” He pinched her cheek softly “I wouldn’t want to exhaust you”

Stu with so ister and savor theed him, took his lips

“Our child will have to be satisfied with a separate reservoir of love,” she said, her voice ragged, drenched in tears and s me, no way In fact, I’ency You should do so about it”

And he did How he did

After onejourney to their private place in heaven, melted with pleasure and security in his arms, she mumbled, “I’ll have to disappoint you on one account Your firstborn will regretfully be the wrong gender And that sounds so weird now I said it out loud I thought you desert knights valued s”