Page 65 of Enchanted Shadows
“You already are,” Keir snapped. “How many times has Krew tried to make you Commander?”
Here I was, offering myself up on a silver platter to be marriedto a princess in a pickle, and everyone was just biting my head off.The audacity.
“Won’t Calix hear that you were granted princedom recently?” Emric asked me.
I gestured with a hand. “So we spin a story. You started on my training team. You fell madly in love with me immediately, due to me being dashingly handsome, of course. So naturally, you couldn’t keep your hands off me.”
Keir choked on a laugh.
“To avoid getting in trouble for an inappropriate relationship between a general and a trainee, we were married quickly. True love doesn’t wait and all that. And if I’m a prince then politically it’s an even more acceptable move. So Krew took pity on us and granted me a princedom so we could be together.”
A few others were smirking, but Zara wasn’t.
I continued, “We will be married. You can stay in Kavan Keep where you are safest, and Calix will have to go home with his tail tucked between his legs.” I beckoned with two fingers for Krew to get another drink. “We can travel to Agria, speak to your parents about your brothers, ensure Damek doesn’t take the throne, and then leave. Once it is safe, your brother can return. We can go back then too, if you would like.”
It was Amos who spoke up first. “I have to say, this plan covers everything. It’s smart, granting you protection and citizenship from Wylan immediately as well as a way to avoid Calix.”
It was about damn time someone got on my level. “I know.”
“But you do not love me,” Princess Kessara finally said.
I made sure to look her in the eyes. “I do not dislike you. Marriages have happened with far less.”
Jorah added to just me,Are you attracted to her at all? If so, it will complicate this, but I might be more for it if there is even a chance you want it to be real.
My eyes went to hers.Of course I’m attracted to her. Look at her. Idon’t know that it will ever be real, but I do know we owe her the opportunity to get to know her brothers and to live a safe life. That should be more than enough to convince you.
“Out loud, please,” Krew barked.
Jorah’s lips pulled up into a quick smile. “I have a stipulation.”
I smirked. “Oh good, me too.”
She began, “Mine is that you do not bond your magic unless you both want that. Owen is already bonded to me, and I was holding out hope the second time he bonds, it will be with his soulmate.” To a confused looking Kessara, she quickly added, “Our sages believe the more you bond, the weaker the bonds will be. Two to three strong bonds is the maximum amount any of us should have.”
“Tell that to Theon,” Kessara muttered.
“Oh. They tried,” Keir agreed. “He just didn’t listen. It was kind of his entire mode of operation, really. Rational thinking and logistics optional.”
Kessara turned back to me. “What was your stipulation? If you demand we consummate the marria?—”
I held up my free hand. “Hey now. Do you really think I would? Go straight to manipulating you for your body after the hell you’ve just endured at the hands of another man pulling all the strings of your life?”
“No,” she admitted.
“I don’t bribe women into my bed.” I stopped to glare at her. “My stipulation is that you stay on the team.”
“What?Why?”
I tipped my head back. “Because you are an integral part of that team and while all of this was going on around you, those women made it past your defenses. You love them. They love you.” And then I went in for the kill shot. “I would think that leading the team of women here or even just being part of it would be a good excuse to your mother as to why you need to stay here. And notreturn to Agria. It will give you an exit strategy. For as long as you want or need it.”
“The team will never believe it,” she argued. “Believeus.”
I nodded. “We will have to bring them in on everything. Including your true identity. Along with at least Team One. For security purposes.”
She opened her mouth. Closed it. “You are an infuriating man.”
That had me grinning. “I know.” Krew had poured me a fresh whiskey and he swapped it out with my old one. “So marry me already, Princess. Make me your fool.”
