The Gender End by Bella Forrest (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📕

denied them their entire lives. I was thrilled beyond words for them—it was hard to imagine Morgan going through with a wedding without the new drugs.

Beyond that, Cody was more stable too. He’d chosen to live with Morgan in the palace, and she referred to him fondly as her little brother—and she had just finished establishing a sister school in Matrus, so the boys could decide where and how they were going to live, and hopefully be reunited with their families.

“I’m just glad I could do something to help them,” I replied. “And Josefine isn’t a fan, she’s a friend. One I’m happy to see alive and well. She suffered greatly under the past regimes. Her father was Patrian, her mother Matrian, and the law broke them apart.”

“Really? Then it’s a good thing she got to meet the woman who was directly responsible for making a lot of those changes. Y’know, before she got so famous.”

“Ugh, that really is Owen’s fault,” I said with a chuckle.

“He took to art. It… It helped him to draw it.”

“But those books are so topical,” I insisted as we walked down the long tunnel. “They skip over the horrific stuff.”

“He painted the horrific stuff too,” Morgan said quietly, her gaze directed far away for a moment. “All of it. The pieces are in a studio if you want to see them—he won’t go in there though. Once he paints them, he never wants to see them again.”

I felt my heart clench in my chest. “Oh.”

“He doesn’t like to talk about it. I can imagine you don’t like to talk about it either. But please tell me you at least talk to someone about it.”

“I talk to Viggo. We share everything, including each other’s nightmares.” I thought about it for a long moment, and added, “And there was the oral history thing. I included an audio file. It was… cathartic, actually. It hurt, of course, like tearing duct tape off of my heart, but afterward, everything felt a little better.”

“Good. I worry about you sometimes.”

“You could pick up a handheld and call,” I replied tartly, and she chuckled.

“You know the council hates that,” she replied. “They don’t like the idea of me having so many direct conversations with various people in Patrus, actually. They prefer to work as intermediaries. Maybe it makes them feel important?”

I chuckled, but a pang of sadness washed over me. She was right, of course. We were friends, but we were citizens—no, not just citizens, leaders—of two different countries, and unfortunately, there was always going to be someone upset with the status quo. Someone who wanted to change things or interfere with what we had built.

And who knew—maybe that change could be good. All I could do was hope and pray that for now, our way was working, and would continue to work for as long as possible.

“How do I look?” she asked, and a peek over her shoulder told me we were near the main chamber. There was a murmur of voices coming from it—a soft din of hushed conversation that was happening everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

“Perfect,” I replied as Amber pressed by, followed by Meera and Dr. Tierney. I smiled as I saw the two other women, and moved back a few steps to let Meera go first—she was the matron of honor, after all. Sierra took up the front as Morgan’s family member, consenting to the union, just as Cody did for Owen on the groom’s side.

“I’m really sorry I couldn’t ask Margot,” Morgan whispered from ahead.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Henry has the flu anyway. They weren’t going to be able to make it.” Especially since Margot was pregnant with baby number three, but it wasn’t my news to announce, especially not right now.

Not to mention, my Aunt Sarah and Uncle Kurtis were spending time with their grandchildren. We still hadn’t really formed a relationship, although to be honest, they didn’t seem particularly interested. Neither was I, for that matter—their behavior after I rescued them from Tabitha hadn’t really bred the happy warm feelings of family between us. Then again… I had all the family I could possibly hope for, so it was a moot point. If they didn’t want a relationship with me, I could accept that. Even if it drove Cad crazy.

A hush filled the hall, and I heard the strong voice of the chamberlain filling the room.

“We are gathered here, in the eyes of the Mother, in the home she provided us, to unite our queen and her chosen in a bond of love, honor, and respect. A united front to stand as both shield and sword against all foes and evils that would do their people harm. As per the queen’s wishes, they will co-rule Matrus with a strong and united rule, further cementing the queen’s belief in a better and brighter future. Will the petitioners of this union present themselves?”

“That’s me,” Morgan said excitedly, stepping forward. I waited for Meera to move, then a heartbeat longer, and followed. The room was quiet, reverent, as Morgan stepped through the archway, shimmering in her white, gauzy gown.

From the other side of the room, I saw Owen stepping out from his own archway, Cody leading the way with a familiar wooden box in his hands, his face a bright smile. The box was the same one Henrik had given Viggo and me, but the rings were different—Morgan had wanted something special to carry them in, and I had thought this would be perfect.

Viggo stood directly behind Owen, and I smiled at how amazing he looked in his formal attire. Then I heard, rather than saw, Cruz—also in the chosen’s wedding train—speaking in a loud whisper that echoed throughout the cavern.

“But Viggo, I’m telling you, reinstating the Power Fight League could really be—”

“Anello!” Dr. Tierney whispered indignantly from behind me in the procession, and Cruz blinked and then immediately looked contrite.

“Lo siento, mi amor,” he whispered. Dr. Tierney gave him a pointed