Page 48 of Stolen Princess's Secret

‘Yes.’ The answer was his alone, but no less compelling than the hundreds of voices that had gone before.

‘Will you cherish her?’

‘Beyond measure.’

‘Will you protect her from harm?’

‘With my life.’

Lor smiled proudly. How much more was there to go? ‘Do you love her?’

There was such hope in her eyes and a faint plea not to embarrass her by saying something ridiculous like ‘No’ or ‘I might’ or ‘We’ll see’. That time had passed.

‘I love her with every breath I take, yes.’ And probably beyond, but no one had asked for that.

Yet.

Lor turned to Claudia, who stood tall and still, eyes shining. ‘Princess Claudia of Byzenmaach, Lady Falconer of the North, he is worthy and he is yours. Will you have him?’

Claudia stepped up close and trailed a finger around his jaw, tilting his face first to one side and then the other. She was enjoying this horse-trading segment just a little too much. She strolled a leisurely circle around him, measuring the breadth of his shoulders with her fingers and the strength of his patience while he awaited her answer and his army looked on.

‘Yes.’

And the celebrations began in earnest.

‘I can’t believe you didn’t have to say any of the vows,’ he muttered hours later in the privacy of the tavern’s second-best bedroom. The room had been lit with so many candles, he figured the Vatican must surely be missing some. And Claudia sat in a chair with her hair down, her feet up and her tiara on the table while the celebrations continued elsewhere.

She looked tired but gratifyingly content. He, on the other hand, rubbed at the place where his heart used to be, firmly convinced that she’d picked it up and put it somewhere with casual abandon. It was probably underneath that priceless diamond and sapphire tiara on the table.

‘I still don’t believe that there I was, lying prostrate at your feet...’

‘Figuratively speaking,’ she said airily, with a languid wave of her hand.

‘Pledging my all for eternity...’

‘Or face a public hanging, I did like that bit.’

He’d always suspected she was the bloodthirsty sort.

‘And all you had to do was say, He’ll do, thanks. Yes.’

‘You’re the one who thought an Aergoveny village wedding would be a cinch. I mean, who knew they’d make you their essence of masculinity for the day? That looked fun. Was that fun?’

Maybe if he’d known what he was doing...

‘I thought you represented them very pleasingly. I counted at least three new unions to come of it.’

‘Please tell me Caitlin didn’t corner Balo.’

‘Not yet. Her father knows her heart and so does Balo. It will happen in time, but not yet.’

‘Alya and Ildris?’

‘I saw them leaving together arm in arm,’ she murmured.

‘Ha.’ His gaze flew to Claudia’s stomach. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Married.’

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