Page 75 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
And now I’m going to my execution—which is an unkind way to describe it, but it’s still how I feel. Somehow this is even worse than preparing for my wedding, because I’ve just spent days with Justice, surviving a firecat attack and experiencing wonders like being led through a forest by a fawn. We’ve shared so much closeness, so much intimacy, and today it will end. The princess is here. She and I can talk and sort this out. I’ll find out why she thought she needed to stage a kidnapping, and then we will have to go through with this wedding.
There’s no other choice.
Correction: There is another choice—but I’m not going to take that option. Sacrificing my happiness is the lesser evil. Better I suffer than see my entire realm burned—or given to the fae.
Quit it, Kalle. Stop being overly dramatic. It’s nothing but a little marriage between strangers who aren’t into each other.Except, no, that’s what it was to begin with, and I could resign myself to that as long as I didn’t care deeply for anyone else—but now that I’ve had a taste of what it’s like to be with Justice, it’s a hundred times worse.
Our escort stops at a door guarded by two armor-clad knights, who open it and wave Justice and me in. They ask Hazel and Martin to stay outside, although, surprisingly, they don’t take away my sword.
That worries me a bit. Maybe they don’t feel threatened by me. Is that because they can just burn us with lava? Or have a firecat attack us? That might be worse.
We step into a dark, tapestry-laden throne room, but instead of Princess Eleanor, her older brother, Prince Eckhart, is standing there to greet us.
Prince Eckhart has jet black hair, dark brown eyes, and dark tan skin. Like everyone here, he’s wearing an outfit that’s all black, with buckles along his torso, his sleeves, and his pants.
I glance at Justice and nearly laugh at the appreciative look on his face. He is so easy to read sometimes. It’s clear that he thinks the prince is handsome. But more, Justice likes the man’s clothes.
A twinge of jealousy flares up inside me—which makes no sense. I am here to marry Prince Eckhart’s sister. To sort out whatever happened on our wedding day. To ensure that my duty is done and my realm is safe.
I should not be focusing on Justice. Or finding him amusing. All I need to do is to marry my princess, and that will be enough.
Lies. I want so much more.
Do your duty. Save your realm.
I square my shoulders. “I am here for my bride.”
Prince Eckhart gives me a supercilious look. Though something about it makes me think that he’s not actually like that. That it’s an act. Maybe because it takes one to know one.
The prince raises an eyebrow. “And what makes you think that Princess Eleanor is here?”
“We know she’s here. Your guards all but confirmed it.”
Again with the cool look. “Perhaps.”
“Come on, Eckhart. We just don’t know why she arranged—or at least participated in—that charade at the wedding.”
A woman steps into the room. “Because I didn’t want to marry someone I barely knew.”
We all turn and look at Princess Eleanor.
Two things happen in quick succession. First, some heavy weight inside me is lifted, and my chest expands until I’m almost lightheaded. She’s safe. Even though I don’t know her well, I didn’t want her to be suffering or in danger, and the confirmation is a relief.
Then that weight comes back to crush me tenfold, because after she and I talk, we need to reschedule the wedding, the sooner the better.
“Princess Eleanor,” I croak. “Is it true that you came back here by choice?”
She scoffs. “Of course—better that than marrying you.”
Justice growls, “There’s no reason to be rude.” Then he mutters, “What’s wrong with me? Why am I arguing for this wedding?” He says that part low, so that only I can hear, and it gives me strength.
“What happened?” I ask Eleanor, as gently as I can.
“I’m not in love with you.”
Those words don’t hurt. They’re just the truth. I could repeat them back to her, but that seems unkind. “And the kidnapping?”
Eleanor shakes her head. “We staged that. Gabby helped me.”
