Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
“Well, now that we are all here, perhaps someone would like to tell me what the hell is going on in this kingdom.” Elise’s mother is staring at her like the world is ending. I suppose Elise knows what that look means.
“Your majesty,” Elise’s mother says. “May I have a moment with my daughter?” Dad nods his head.
Leaning down, I kiss her cheek. “Everything will be alright, my love. Remember, you are mine,” I whisper into her ear, before kissing the side of her head. Elise leaves the room with her mother, and I’m left to defend us, which is as it should be.
“I know,” she whispers back.
“I regret to inform you all that I cannot marry Princess Lavender. I’m sorry, Lavender, but my heart belongs to another. Princess Elise.”
“That’s unacceptable,” my father thunders. “The contract has been signed by King Payton and me. You will marry Lavender.”
“Then I will abdicate.”
“Let’s not be hasty,” Lavender says.
“You cheated on Lavender?” Rudy shouts before his fist lands in my face. The room erupts in chaos. Rudy keeps coming at me. I get in a few punches of my own.
“You can’t cheat on someone you were never with,” I say as he continues to punch me.
“Father, do something,” Lavender says. “I don’t wish to marry Prince Frost either.”
“The contract states that the Lavender will marry a prince of Wintergreen. No name is specified; any prince will do.”
“Me. It will be me. Lavender is mine,” Rudy says.
“I’m his,” Lavender says, moving to him. She lifts his bruised and bloodied hand to her lips and kisses them.
“Your poor knuckles, my love. I’m so sorry.”
When Elise comes back into the room, she moves right to my side.
“Why do you want to marry my daughter?” King Leyland asks.
“Because I love her more than I ever thought possible, and our love will save us all.”
“What?” Dad asks.
I quickly explain what I learned from the crones, keeping the private things to myself. No parent needs to hear about their children's combustibility in bed.
“There is still the matter of my betrothal,” Dorian says.
“In three years, I’ll marry you,” Vixen says, making everyone still in the room swing their heads in her direction.
“Three years?” Dorian asks.
“I’ll be of age then, and you’ll still be aligned with Evergreen and Wintergreen.”
“This is acceptable. Three years,” Dorian says, barely looking at Vixen.
“You don’t have to do this, daughter,” my dad says.
“I know, but I’m going to.”
“Then it is done.”
This won’t be done until my ring is on her finger and my baby is in her belly, but at least that’s closer now.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
ELISE
This is definitely not the first impression I wanted to make with his family. Or him with mine. My parents are both looking at me like I am a virtual stranger to them, but you know what? I feel the same way about them. “Mother. Father.” I am standing across the room from them, but it might as well be another planet.
“Well, now that we are all here. Perhaps someone would like to tell me what the hell is going on in this kingdom.” His father demands, pacing back and forth. I don’t dare speak, especially since this is not my country or home. I wait for him to defend us. My eyes, however, are glued to my mom, who is giving me her best icy glare, though her eyes are far from cold. My mom has the warmest eyes ever, but when my siblings and I are in trouble, they shoot through you like ice spears.
“Your majesty,” my mother interjects. “May I have a moment with my daughter?” The King nods his head, but I am reticent to walk away from Frost. I know if I am not here to keep him calm, it could turn into something else. Of course, he knows what I am thinking and leans down into my ear.
“Everything will be alright, my love. Remember, you are mine,” Frost whispers into my ear. He kisses me on the cheek before also kissing the side of my head. I can feel our parents' eyes on us, but right now, I don’t care.
“Are you sure?” I raise my eyebrow, so he knows I am on to his temper. Smirking, he grips my chin between his two fingers and bends down to my mouth.
“Positive, princess. Go talk to your mother.” The kiss may be chaste to those in the room, but I can feel the possessiveness in it, not to mention the heat. When he pulls back, he lays his forehead on mine before chuckling. “You better go before I throw you over my shoulder and say fuck all of this,” he says it as a joke, but I know if they try to come between us, he will do it.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I joke before letting his hand go and following my mom. Of course, the minute we get to the door, I turn to look at him, only to see his eyes are already on me.