Page 1087 of One More Kiss

Chapter7

Edanand I left the castle to confront Griselda and tell her the news. Instead of riding in one of his elegant coaches, I wished for nothing more than to bathe in the warmth and beauty of the day. I’d begun the day in a piss-poor mood, but now, all of that gave way to rainbows. Tonight, the stars would twinkle only for us, and in that star-studded sky, we’d dance.

Our fingers intertwined, and a warm, soothing heat radiated from his fingertips.

My stomach had tied itself in knots. Not because of my choice, but because I knew all of Fairy would explode into a gossip train. I honestly couldn’t have cared less about myself. I’d been exposed to nothing but gossip and the rumor mill most of my life, but Edan… He’d been protected by the castle walls, by his title, and social standing.

Instead of being suspicious of what may come, I wanted nothing more than to share every season of forever with him, whereby he’d be the magnanimous king of my heart. It wouldn’t matter if he were King of Wisteria, in that nearness, his promise of forever.

Some gifts one could only hope to receive. With surefooted steps, we left the safety of the castle’s rose-quartz walls to head toward the guild, only a few minutes’ walk away. By strolling through town, it signaled a great change as well. The townspeople might be suspicious of His Royal Highness’s desire to walk unaccompanied by guards, but by a fairy godmother instead? Sure, Edan had a tendency to skirt the rules of proper society, in that heoften wandered around town with neither guards nor men at arms. But hand in hand with one of the female persuasion may have the tongues wagging of those within the kingdom.

“I can hear you thinking again.” Edan interrupted my thoughts. “I see you.”

“Do I always think aloud? It seems to happen a lot.” I tried to smile as we walked along the path, while everyone in Fairy and Wisteria stumbled over one another and gawked. That part was funny.

“You fidget when you’re thinking, and you make this face…” Edan stopped and stared at me with a goofy expression.

“I do not. I don’t even know how to make that face.” I scrunched my nose and tried to do whatever he was doing with his eyes. Crossing them, maybe? I most certainly did not cross my eyes while thinking. He thought he was being comical.

“You do.” He chuckled and grabbed my hand. “Perhaps not the eye bit, but you do fidget and bunch your face.”

“Fine… I’ll work on it.” I smacked his arm playfully.

“No. I love it. It’s one of the things that make you who you are. You’re real and not afraid to be… just you.”

“Love? You love it?” My heart threatened to catapult from my chest. He said, “love!”

“Yes, I love all of you. I meant to tell you earlier, but Father interrupted that as well. Do you honestly believe I’d have asked you to be my wife otherwise?” He gave me a sidelong glance.

Who felt like a dummy? Me! “Well, no. I just like hearing you saying it. That’s all.” I was dying inside. Melting. And then dying again…

“Well…” Edan drew out the word.

“Oh, sorry! Yes, of course I love you. Did I not say it back?” I slapped my forehead. “Forgive me. I do tend to get lost in my own head. A lot. Something you’ll just have to get used to.”

He stopped again—on the pathway right in front of the guild—tilted my head back and kissed me. “We have forever, and I’d love to get used to all your quirks. I find them endearing, and all Tatiana. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He then kissed me again, this time, completely indecent for public viewing—but hell, who cared? Not me! If he didn’t stop, though, I would surely melt into a puddle right there on the walkway.

A slight, warm breeze scented with wild jasmine and lilacs wrapped around us, pushing us closer together—all thoughts of properness gone. For so long I’d stared into those green eyes and never once thought to see them reflecting my heart’s desire. So much more than physical attraction, but that his heartbeat echoed mine.

I’d been alone for so long, and now, there was no pretending of happiness. The air zinged, zipped, and whirled around us as if the universe embraced us in its creative magic. I wrapped my arms around him. As he was mine, and I, his.

I had to hold on to our love. It was true and mine, and something the guild could not take from me. I wouldn’t let them.

A familiar female voice cleared behind us, and I wanted to scream. Edan took his time pulling away from me and slowly wiping his lips with his thumb, a grin splitting his face.

It was bitch-face, Shallow Skirt, Princess Hadley. How the hell had she gotten here from Sandton Kingdom so quickly?

I made myself plaster a wide smile upon my face. “Hello, Princess.”

She glared at me, her blue eyes blazing. “Just what on Fairy do you think you’re doing with my prince?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but Edan stepped in front of me. “I am not your prince, nor will I ever be, Hadley. The farce of a wish you attempted to cast upon me did not work in your favor. As you can see, I’m in love with another. And there is nothing you can say or do about it.”

I thought Hadley’s head might explode. “So, it’s true, then? You’re to marry, this… this…” She pointed at me. “Fairy! Edan, she is not even capable of love. And look at her. She’s as insignificant as they come. What can she possibly offer?”

I’d had enough. I did not need a man to speak for me. “First of all, Princess, I am more than capable of love, and what you may deem as ‘insignificant,’ is nothing more than your arrogance and gross sense of entitlement speaking. And second, I, unlike you, do not have to buy the affections of men.” My blood was raging, and if I weren’t a good fairy, I’d set her up with a good case of the boils. Perhaps even warts!

“How dare you speak to me in such a manner?” She flipped her long blonde curls over her shoulder. “Wait until the guild hears about this. You’ll never—”

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