Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
“The only plan I had was to ruin Cordelia,” I tell her.
“You said it was over.” Her voice is barely audible. “You said you should have listened to her.”
“I was setting her up.” I move closer. “I got her. She stepped right into my trap. It’s all on camera. I wanted to out her directly, Mable. It was more than her trying to come between us. From the moment you said you didn’t care for her, I started paying attention to everything and digging. She’s a snake; her transgressions go a whole lot deeper, and I don’t know when I would have figured that out without you.”
I rake my hands through my hair. Mable isn’t saying anything, but at least she’s not telling me to leave, so I keep going.
“I thought the trap would cause less fallout. For our families. For you. I told her to leave the country; if she comes back, I’d let it all out and throw her in prison for her crimes.” I let out a deep breath. “I was trying to protect everyone, and I ended up hurting the only person who matters.”
“You should have told me.” She steps close; her chin is up. “You should have trusted me.” I can hear the hurt in her voice, and it almost breaks me.
“I know. God, I know.” I’m close enough to touch her now, but I don’t. I need to get this all out. “I hate the idea of anything hurting you. I’ve never done this before. Never been in love, never had someone who—” The words catch, and I force them out. “I’ve never loved anyone. Until you.”
She blinks. “You love me?” Mable’s eyes widen, as if that’s a foreign concept.
“Yes, I fucking love you!” The words explode out of me. “I love you so much I’ll give up the crown. I’ll walk away from all of it. I’ve been trying to get you pregnant since our first night together because I’m a fucking psycho and knew you could never leave me then. I mean, you’re the only person I’ve ever even slept with, the only one I’ve ever wanted, the only—”
She’s fighting a smile. I see it—the corner of her mouth twitching, the tears still wet on her cheeks but for a different reason now.
“You agreed to let me lead,” I say, quieter, reaching for her hand. “And that’s what I did. But you’re stronger now. You know that?”
“Yes, I am,” she agrees. “Because of you and your country.”
“Our county,” I correct.
That makes her full-on smile now, no longer fighting it. “They love me just for being me. And you love me for just being me too.”
“We all love you. How could we not? So will you please be our future queen, my wife, the mother of my children?” I drop to my knees and pull out the ring box. “It belonged to my great-great-grandmother. I would have asked you sooner, but I needed the perfect ring. One that fits who you are but holds history from not only my family but also Solaria.” I open the box. The band is rose gold, not the expected yellow gold of royal tradition. No, Mable is different and deserves a ring that represents that. The center stone is an oval sapphire, the color a deep majestic blue, surrounded by a halo of tiny diamonds that catch the light. A ring fit for a queen, for her. “Mable Kittrick, will you marry me?”
She stares down at me, eyes wide, lips parted. I wait for my answer, but she doesn’t voice it.
Instead, she launches herself at me—half tackle, half leap, all enthusiasm. We crash to the floor, and she’s kissing my face everywhere—my forehead, my cheeks, my nose, my mouth—yes, yes, yes, her answer is muffled against my skin.
“Is that a yes?” I tease, pinned beneath her.
“Yes, you idiot. Yes.” She pulls back enough to grin down at me, hair wild, eyes bright, nothing proper about her. Everything that my country and I need. “I love you too. I think I have since the airport.”
I find the ring and slide it on her finger right there on the floor of Natalie’s dress shop and kiss her until we’re taking things too far for others to be privy to.
“We should get out of here,” she whispers against my mouth, a naughty, suggestive expression taking over her face. She licks her lips. “Take me home,” she says, and I finally know exactly where that is.
Epilogue
MABLE
TWO MONTHS LATER
My cheeks are going to hurt by the end of this day. I haven’t laughed this hard or much in my life. Everyone is here, and everyone is happy. And it’s all to celebrate Wells and me.
The palace is running at full capacity, buzzing with energy and love. We’re getting married today. If Wells were here, he’d be saying it’s about time. As if this wasn’t planned in two months.