Page 44 of The Prince and His Stolen Groom
“I probably wouldn’t have done it,” he said.
I frowned, trying to figure out what ‘it’ meant in that context. “Done what?”
“Run away. I had a whole plan to travel somewhere far away from the Desolated Lands. I’d fantasized about the opportunities I’d have if I wasn’t a prince bound by duty—the chance to choose my own profession, to fall in love. But every time, someone else appeared in my daydreams—my parents, Kit, or my other friends—and everything stopped, because I’d remember that they wouldn’t be there. I wouldbe alone. So, while I considered running, in the end I knew that an unhappy marriage would only be one part of my life. It wouldn’t have to define it.”
I thought hard about his confession while he continued wrapping my leg. Then I repeated, more sincerely, “I’m sorry for kidnapping you. I’m sorry I took that choice away from you.”
He shook his head, his lips quirking slightly. “Why of all things was kidnapping your Plan B? You couldn’t think of anything else first so it would at least be bumped down to Plan C? Or Plan D?” His eyebrows arched and he said, “Orwasit Plan D? Maybe this is all just an elaborate seduction—”
I clapped my hand over his mouth, blushing so hotly I almost felt feverish. “It was not a Dick Plan!”
His laughter rumbled through my fingers and then I felt something soft and wet brush against them. I snatched my hand back and wiped his saliva off on the couch cushion.
“Are you sure?” he asked, the laughter lingering in his voice. “Since you already had this tower arranged, I thought you might have a confinement kink.”
I groaned and muttered, “Can we please not bring my kinks into my very serious apology?”
“I mean, if they affect your motive—”
“I don’t have a confinement kink!” Too late, I realized that yelling wasn’t very apologetic or sincere of me. I took a deep breath and tried to order my thoughts so I could explain properly. “I just needed some way to buy time until I figured out some alternative. It felt like … once you and Franny met, the future would be set in stone. Fran would have smiled and accepted whatever our parents asked of her, no matter how miserable it made her. Youseemedhappy, even if I know that’s a lie now. I thought no one would listen to me unless I had a solid alternative ready to go.”
“The wedding date’s been set for months,” Brendon pointed out as he returned to wrapping my leg. “Why didn’t you talk to anyone sooner?”
“To be honest, I didn’t realize how unhappy Franny would be until a few hours before I made the whole stupid plan. Our parents rarely mention the marriage, at least not in front of me, and Franny always smiled when wedidtalk about it. I hadn’t recognized how fake those smiles were.”
His hands paused and he looked up at me, scanning my face. “So,she didn’t go around bemoaning her fate? Cursing the heavens, my kingdom, my name, any of it?”
“No. I just …” I hesitated, not wanting to explainhowI had found Franny. “I talked to her that day, and she mentioned feeling trapped in the marriage. Not like she wanted to get out of it—I need to make it absolutely clear that Franny isn’t in on this plan, she has no idea I kidnapped you. She was just so … sad and resigned. I acted on impulse.”
“Your first impulse being to kidnap me.”
Well, I sounded like a villain when he said it like that. “Second impulse,” I muttered, not that it really made a difference.
He was silent as he finished the job, carefully tucking away the ends of the bandage. He extracted himself from my limbs and helped me settle on the couch, even pulling a blanket over me. “You rest up while I make dinner.”
I slumped back against the pillows, covering my eyes again, jaw clenched in anger at my own stupidity. It didn’t escape my notice that he’d never accepted my apology.
Kit Takes Over the Narration
Katherine Holmwood’s past was simple—a guard’s daughter, a prince’s best friend, no grand adventures or great loves. Her present was much more complicated. Not to say it wasn’t enjoyable. She was currently cuddling—as well as one could cuddle while wearing a full suit of armor—on a couch in a castle with a princess’ head gently resting on her lap, only a fluffy pillow and a layer of metal separating them.
The sun had set a while ago. Kit knew she should probably wake Fran or she’d have a rough time sleeping that night. Then again, if Fran was awake, and the rest of the castle was asleep, that would give them an opportunity to—
“Oh, there you are, Brendon,” the queen greeted as she breezed into the room.
At this reminder of Kit’s borrowed identity, she stiffened and looked guiltily at Fran. Even for an engaged couple bound to marry in less than two days, their position was a bit too familiar. “Uhhh.”
The queen only smiled softly. “I’m glad you two are getting along. I had a few … concerns, but ever since Fran met you, she’s smiled brighter than I’ve seen in years. I’m happy you’re the one she’s marrying, Brendon.”
Each word cut sharper than an enemy’s sword. The queen only approved of the arrangement because of Kit’s deception. If she knew Kit was but a lowly knight, the guards would probably be called to execute her for taking liberties with the princess.
“Have you seen my son?”
Kit blinked at the queen in surprise. Not that the blinks were very effective, since even her eyes were hidden behind a metal visor. “Rick? Not for a while.” She hadn’t seen him at dinner, but that was expected. Fran had specifically sent him on a wild goose chase to the tower so he would spend more time with Brendon.
The queen touched her mouth in that soft, delicate way some women did to convey both concern and disapproval. Kit wasn’t sure which the queen felt—probably a mix of both. “He’s been acting so strange lately. I have no idea why.”
Kit refrained from commenting. Lying by omission was much easier than coming up with a plausible lie for the prince’s behavior. Instead, she asked, “Are you worried something’s happened?”
