Page 10 of A Royal Promise
After lighting a tea light candle, he placed the stick of blue wax over it. While he waited for it to melt, Drew ran his thumb along the metal edge of the seal. It was a replica of his family crest, complete with a white horse on top. The king’s seal was used as a way for other members of the royal court to “sign” a document when the king wasn’t present to make it official, although the method wasn’t used often.
When it was hot enough, Drew carefully dripped a small amount of the wax underneath their signatures and then pressed the seal down on top of it. He let it cool for about a minute before pulling the seal away, leaving a perfect replica of the stamp on the paper.
He blew out the candle and carefully folded The Marriage Pact in thirds. After putting everything back as it had been, he peeked out the door. When he found the hallway clear, Drew sprinted through the palace halls until he reached his bedroom. He set the document on his desk.I’ll find the perfect hiding spot for it tomorrow.
Once he’d brushed his teeth and changed into his pajamas, Drew hopped into bed. As he pulled the covers up to his chin, he couldn’t hold back the smile that spread across his face. It may not have been the prettiest document in existence, but The Marriage Pact he’d made with Bri was as legal as he could possibly make it. And the pinky promise on top of it all sealed the deal. If they took anything seriously, it was their love of sweet tea and the sacredness of their pinky promises.
That night, he fell asleep with only one thought on his mind:One day, I’m going to marry Brielle Margaret Elizabeth Clairmont.
Chapter Four
Drew
Drew had lain awake last night, trying to figure out what he was going to say to Bri. How did someone tell their best friend,“Hey, I told my parents we’re engaged. Surprise!”
They didn’t.
Last week, after he’d shared with his parents that he was already in love with someone, they’d grilled him until he’d finally admitted his love for Bri. That muchwastrue.
Drew was completely, madly, totally in love with his best friend. The never-turning-back, there’s-no-one-else-for-me kind of feelings. He had been for as long as he could remember.
If he’d thought there was even a chance she returned his affection, over all the years they’d been friends, he would’ve made his move. But since she’d never seemed to look at him as anything more than a friend, he hadn’t pursued her. He’d been patiently biding his time, and now might be his moment.
However, he might’ve taken things a step too far when he informed his parents that he and Brielle were secretly engaged. That muchwasn’ttrue.
Drew leaned his head against the car window as his driver chauffeured him to Westridge Palace. He needed advice—and fast—before talking to Bri in their treehouse. He couldn’t talk to his parents or Bri, whom he would normally reach out to for advice.
He rolled up the soundproof panel behind the driver so his conversation wouldn’t be overheard. Drew pulled out his phone and called the one person he believed he could trust with his thoughts—the other woman who rounded out his childhood friend trio: Rosalie.
She picked up after a few rings. “Drew, what a pleasant surprise.”
“Hey, did I catch you at an okay time?”
“Yeah, I just got Addie set up with her tutor for the morning.”
“I can’t believe she’s already starting school,” he said. Rosalie had married Colin, the king of Edgemont, the year before. Drew had attended their vow renewal ceremony just last weekend, and he had seen the joy and love in their little family, including Colin’s five-year-old daughter. Rosalie had stepped right into the mom role and was thriving at it.
“You’re telling me. I feel like she’s growing an inch a day. Enough about me. I’m guessing you have a reason for calling?”
“A man can’t just call his friend to catch up?”
“He can, but you and I both know you always have a tight agenda, so I can only assume you’re calling me in a panic about something. And since you’re calling me and not Bri, I bet it has to do with her?”
Drew blew out a breath. “Forget being the queen of Edgemont. You should work for a detective agency.”
“So I’m right?”
“Yeah, I need to talk things through with someone without it getting back to Bri.”
“You can trust me, Drew. Plus, I already know you’re in love with her, if that’s what you’re scared of saying out loud.”
His mouth fell agape. “You…how?”
“Your feelings are obvious—to everyone except Bri, that is. Now, stop sitting there with your mouth open and tell me what you need advice about.”
He spun the friendship bracelet under his sleeve and took a deep breath. Drew released it slowly before spewing out the words he’d yet to tell anyone. “I might have told my parents I’m engaged to Bri to keep them from forcing me to marry Clarissa.”
“You did what?” Rosalie sputtered. “Why are your parents trying to make you marry Clarissa?”
