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

ally to help us with food and supplies for the winter while we get things together. So… who do you know who could help us? Is there anyone who stands out to you?”

Morgan shifted and let her gaze tilt upward, clearly thinking about it. “Alyssa Dawes,” she said after a few moments. “She doesn’t hold an office anymore, but she did serve as a special advisor to my mother and grandmother.”

“Why?” I asked.

“She was a political activist,” Violet said, answering for Morgan. “She caused a lot of social changes, especially regarding Patrian husbands and treating them the same as Matrian husbands.”

“If anyone could turn the citizens against Elena, it would be her,” said Morgan. “Then you wouldn’t even need a coup. The Matrians would take her down on their own.”

“And lose a lot of people trying,” said Henrik.

“Good,” retorted Drew. “Maybe we should even up the score a little.”

Violet bit back a growl, her hands clenched, and I could tell she wanted to say something scathing to Drew, probably mixed with a few insults. I was feeling a bit of the same anger myself, to be honest, but now wasn’t the time to be getting emotional.

“That’s not how we do things here,” said Ms. Dale, and I was relieved that she’d been feeling the same way. “No innocents hurt, if we can avoid it. But it seems like this might be a better solution than trying to go after Elena in her palace, so we’re going to consider it.”

Henrik nodded in approval, and then Violet was standing. “Viggo and I should be the ones to go to Matrus,” she said, resting her palms on the table and leaning forward. “We can give Alyssa the information she needs, and that’ll leave everyone here free to start working on the other stuff.”

There was a long pause, and then Ms. Dale looked at me. “You sure about this?” she asked, and I looked up at Violet for a second.

“Absolutely,” I replied. “It’s smart, relies on only two agents. Violet and I are great at improvising when things go horribly awry. But best of all, with this solution, you three”—I indicated the Patrian rebel leaders, focusing on Drew, who needed the most convincing—“could work on the provisional government and get it off the ground faster. The people are looking for leaders to trust, and this is the time to show yourselves to them.”

“Not to mention, I have leverage on Elena. Leverage I can use to our advantage.” Violet looked around the room, her face and body exuding confidence. “If we are torn between these two things, then let Viggo and I handle Elena, while the rest of you take care of this place.”

“This is dangerous,” Amber said with a grin. “Which is why I think I should be the one to pilot you over there.”

“Hold your horses, young lady,” Henrik said. “I’m really not sure I like the idea of only a two-man team going into Matrus. We wouldn’t be able to back you up if you got in trouble.”

“A larger team could be more dangerous,” I said. “More chance of getting caught. Just think it over. But we’re happy to volunteer.”

Henrik sighed and looked around the room. “Any objections?” he asked.

Nobody raised their hand, and I felt a curious mixture of disappointment and excitement. We were so close to doing something about Elena that I could practically taste it.

I was glad Violet had suggested it, but I also knew the odds. I didn’t even have to ask Thomas. Chances were if the two of us went into Matrus, we would probably die there. Violet knew this, and still she wanted to go—she was willing to make that sacrifice for the good of everyone, and I was so proud that I could call her mine.

“No objections noted,” Henrik announced as the room filled with silence at his question. “Then let’s all get some rack time, all right?”

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17

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Violet

I slowed to a stop as we rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs leading away from the conference room, letting my arm stretch out as Viggo continued to pull away, my fingers still laced through his. He felt me stop and came to a halt, turning slowly, his expression inquisitive. I smiled, melting as I looked into the angular planes of his face, trying to make my love for him shine through my eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.

I had to laugh—he sounded so baffled and confused, and I couldn’t blame him. I was acting weird, but… this was the time. It was right now, and it was going to be perfect.

“Because I love you,” I said, and he smiled, although the confusion on his face was still there. I’d told him that enough times, I supposed, that it had stuck. I took a step closer to him, holding up our interlocked hands between us. “And I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. Well, since The Outlands, anyway. I… I want to marry you, Viggo. Now. I can’t wait anymore. I am so hopelessly in love with you that it leaves me breathless and shaky, and I feel sick thinking about us not being married. It’s time, Viggo. Will you marry me? Today?”

As I spoke, Viggo’s face broke out into a smile, and then the smile merged into a thoughtful expression, his lips moving up and down with the gentle rocking of a body of water. When I was done with my proposal, he exhaled slowly.

“Violet, what brought this on?” he asked gently. He didn’t say it with alarm, just a genuine curiosity, which was good, because as excited as I was, I was also a little bit nervous.

“It was something Belinda said on the heloship,” I said softly, licking my lips. “And I realized she was right. Viggo, I don’t want to die having never been married to you.”

“Die? Violet—”

“Please don’t tell me that we’re not going to die. We’re going into Matrus. Soon. That’s where