Page 49 of Glass Hearts
We finish our pastries and throw the empty wrappers into the bins. I can see why Arabella loves the area. Though it is a bit crowded and falling into disrepair, the community seems to shine. How we hadn’t noticed prior, I am unsure.
We continue to peruse the market. Talking and flirting. Occasionally being stopped by another admirer ofThe Shadow. Honestly, I can’t blame them. The more and more I hear of her work, the more deeply I fall in love.
“Come, I want to show you my favourite spot.”
She leads me up an old stone building that seems to have once been a church, which now houses a brothel. Instead of going inside, we head to the side of the building, where a ladder hangs with access to the roof.
“A brothel, Duchess? You can have me for free.”
She rolls her eyes but laughs all the same and starts climbing the ladder. I take a moment to appreciate that stunning ass as she climbs up.
“Stop staring at my ass, Gray, and start climbing.”Busted.
Once we get to the top, I am left speechless. The town glitters with lights and buzzing people all around. The castle shines in the distance with the moonlight. But it’s the view of my duchess, looking at her city, that has my heart beating rapidly into my chest. She takes off the bandana, her loose strands of hair blowing in the wind; and when she looks back at me with a smile, I know I can never let her go.
She ends up sitting on the ledge, feet dangling into the open air like she belongs there, fearless and free. When she pats thespace beside her, it’s not a demand, just a quiet invitation. And somehow, that’s enough to get my feet moving again to sit next to her.
She leans into me without a word, resting her head on my shoulder like it’s where she was always meant to be. I wrap my arm around her, and something inside me exhales. Like my chest has been too tight for too long, and only now remembering how to soften.
We don’t have to say a thing. Just being here, beside her, feels like coming home.
“I wish this could all be real.” Arabella sighs, breaking the delicate silence.
“What do you mean, love?”
“You and I. That you weren’t a prince, or that I wasn’t just a servant. I am waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop.”
I turn to her. “Arabella, you are mine. Ours. We are going to confront the council. Not only about us, but about everything you said. You have the potential to be the best queen. Clearly, you have a connection to the people. You care. Which makes me fall for you even harder. To be honest, I never cared about being a king. It’s not something I had thought would happen. But we could change Velora, make it even better, for citizens of every class. That makes me now want to be a king. Especially with a lovely lady by my side.”
“You never thought you would be a King? Why?”
“I take it you know little about my father, the Water King?” She shakes her head. I pull her in tighter and blow out a heavy exhale before I continue. “He is, to put it simply, a giant asshole. You would have targeted him long ago if he lived here. He was married and expecting with the gorgeous Queen Edith, Koi’s mother, when he came to the Fire Isles for the first time. He decided to cheat on his pregnant wife with the princess of the Fire Isles, my mother. She was slated to be the first ever queensince my grandfather and grandmother had no male heirs. My mother kept me a secret. Koi was born, and he seemed focused on his new heir and never returned to my mother. Until he showed up with a young Koi, almost the same age as me, unexpectedly at my mother’s coronation. Of course, I was there, only ten. It was unmistakable that I was his son; I have always looked like the darker version of my brother.” I blow out a breath, not wanting to continue my sob story.
Arabella must feel the tension emanating from my body. She turns to hug me. Looking into my eyes, asking me without words to continue. I squeeze her back.
“Of course, he didn’t take well to my mother hiding my birth. The Water King was furious, threatening war if she didn’t hand me over to him. It broke my mother’s heart to watch me go. Well, it broke both of our hearts. So, I had to move to the Water Isle. It turns out he didn’t want me because I was his son. He knew I could be a pawn for him to take over the Fire Isles, since I am of both bloodlines. He then resented me more once his wife, the queen, pulled away from him after learning of his affair. So, he took out his anger on me. I lived most of my life in the dark basement of the Water Isle’s castle. I would get one meal a day, and that was only after I received a swift beating from either him or one of the guards. Koi would come down every night to bring me more food, medical supplies, or really just to be there for me. To keep me sane. But then after a year, my… my mother died.”
Arabella gasps, pulling me even closer. Tears gather in her blue eyes. I thumb away a loose tear that falls. I thumb it away, not wanting her to spill any tears for me.
“Oh my gosh, Grayer, I am so sorry.”
“Me too, Duchess. Me too. I will never forgive him for keeping her away from me. For not letting me say a proper goodbye. Especially since he used her death as a power move. My people knew I was the rightful heir, but he swooped in andgained the power—the council approved of this because of my age. Only until I was ready to become king. He treats my people like resources to take from and ignore. My people and the land aren’t doing so well. Honestly, I sometimes think my father is just buying time, trying to figure out how to get rid of me, to stay king of both isles. I think he truly loves Koi, but he loves power more.” Her sadness turns into anger, her eyes darkening as her fists clench.
“I don’t like that asshole. How is he not imprisoned for villainy? Again, I thought the council was supposed to stop things like this!”
“I wager they just don’t want another war. Perhaps that’s why they offered control of us to our parents in exchange for their power to maintain. A marriage of convenience to a random woman seemed like a fair price to pay to eventually free my people and get away from him. I just didn’t know I would meet someone who made me realize I didn’t want to just settle. To not be lonely anymore.”
Arabella moves so quickly to straddle my legs. I almost miss grabbing her, my grip holding her so tight so she doesn’t fall over the edge of the roof. My heart quickens at just how close to falling she was.
“Fuck! Don’t scare me like that, Duchess!”
“I wasn’t going to fall; I knew you had me.” She grabs my collar and pulls me in for a flaming kiss. My hands tighten on her hips.
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Grayer,” Ella says softly, her gaze locking with mine. Steady and full of something that feels too tender to name.
I don’t respond with words. Instead, I lean in, pressing my lips to hers in a kiss that’s quieter this time. Something meant to soothe the ache she uncovered with her kindness.
She must feel the effect she has on me—my body’s response undeniable—as she lets out a soft moan against my mouth, her hips shifting just enough to draw a low growl from my throat.
