Page 21 of Royal Mate

21

P aige

The gown felt like a dream. If I’d been about to marry Addan, it would have been better than a dream.

Ivory and gold silk cascaded over my body, layers of fabric shimmering as I moved. The skirt flared out dramatically from my hips, its intricate folds edged in dark blue—the royal family’s colors. Embedded in the fabric were tiny flecks of crystal that caught the light, creating the illusion of stars sparkling in a midnight sky. Golden threads wove an elaborate pattern of constellations across the bodice, while the high neckline dipped slightly in front to reveal a delicate chain of diamonds that shimmered against my skin.

The sleeves—long, fitted, and tapering into a point over my hands—were translucent and adorned with more golden constellations, creating the illusion that the stars had settled on my arms. A train stretched out behind me, so long it required two attendants to manage it as I moved. It flowed like liquid light, heavy yet ethereal.

My hair, a riot of red curls, had been swept up into an intricate crown of braids pinned with sapphires and gold. Curls cascaded down my back, their rich color contrasting beautifully with the gown’s pale tones. Around my neck rested a statement piece—a heavy choker of gold and dark blue gemstones, perfectly matched to the earrings that dangled against my neck. The final touch? A delicate tiara perched atop my head, a symbol of the new role I was reluctantly stepping into.

A week ago I was cleaning offices and now I was…a queen.

I raised my wrist, fingers brushing the bracelet hidden beneath the sleeve of my gown. The cool metal hummed faintly against my skin, a piece of alien technology crafted to look like a simple gold accessory. But it was so much more than that. The Coalition’s transport tech really was spectacular. The bracelet had appeared in the middle of my bed as if materializing out of thin air, a gift from Commander Zeus. When the moment came, a single touch would signal Commander Zeus that it was time to act. And when we were finished with this mission, I was told to keep the bracelet. Any time I needed assistance, for the rest of my life, I would have an entire battleship full of warriors at my disposal at the touch of a button. It paid to be queen of a planet, because when I asked for help, I had the entire Coalition at my back.

I would not be caught helpless like my mother had been. Ambushed. Murdered without a weapon or any hope of defending herself. Rage and grief poured into me like molten lava in my veins, making it hard to breathe. To think. I’d watched the video of my mother’s murder twice.

Once with shock, grief and tears blinding me to the scene.

Once with the stone-cold heart of a queen who would bring the traitors to justice someday.

Today was that day.

I ran my fingertip over the bracelet, over the activation switch coded to my DNA. I longed to activate the beacon, make the people who’d murdered my parents face justice.

I sighed and dropped my hand to my side. Not yet. Not until all the players were in position.

It was reassuring, but I was still nervous as hell.

What if things didn’t work and I ended up married to Martainn?

No. That was not going to happen. I’d push the hell out of the button on the bracelet before I said “I do”. Even if the Coalition didn’t answer my call, I wasn’t marrying the prince, no matter how good looking he thought he was.

I took a deep breath, forced myself to focus. Shoved down the nerves and the constant ache. I missed Addan. Craved him. Longed. Pined. Whatever the word, I felt it.

When his sisters told me being separated from one’s Resonant could cause pain, I hadn’t really believed them. Now I knew the truth. I fucking hurt. My heart. My chest. There were moments I could barely speak past the pain in my throat. It squeezed like angry, desperate fists. Made it difficult to breathe without him. His touch. His voice. Just…him.

Soon. Soon this would all be over and I could go to him. Claim him.

The small waiting chamber was quiet except for the faint hum of distant music and the soft murmur of voices filtering through the walls. My heart raced—not with nervousness, but with anticipation. My plan was in motion. Everything had been accounted for.

I simply needed to make sure everyone was here.

I turned to my lady maid, who hovered nearby, her expression a careful mix of deference and curiosity. The guards posted at the door stood silent, their gazes fixed forward.

“Have all the guests on the list I gave you arrived?” I asked, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

“Yes, Your Highness,” she said with a bow. “The last guest was seated moments ago.”

“Excellent.” I smiled faintly. “Please inform Queen Alienor and Prince Martainn that I’m ready.”

She curtsied. “At once, Your Highness.”

I nodded, and she turned to leave. Before she reached the door, it swung open, startling her. And me.

General Addan strode in, his presence dominating the small space. His gaze locked onto mine instantly, dark and intense, and my breath caught in my throat.

No, not General Addan. My Addan.

“General Natosi,” I said, swallowing hard. Could he hear the pounding of my heart? Every cell in my body responded to his presence. I was suddenly, desperately eager. Needy. It took every bit of self-control I possessed not to run to him and fling myself into his arms. Instead, I gestured to the guards with a royal wave of my hand. They had their hands on their weapons, ready to protect me, even from one of their commanders.

“It’s all right,” I said. “Leave us, please.”

The guards hesitated, but I shot them a firm look. Once the maid and guards exited, the door closed with a soft thud, leaving us alone.

Addan’s gaze swept over me, lingered on the gown before meeting my eyes again. He looked torn—his usual command replaced by something raw and unguarded. This was hurting him, and I hated myself for it.

“You’re really going through with this?” His voice vibrated over my skin, low and rough. I’d heard this tone before, when he was making me beg, feasting on my pussy, when his emotions were raw, and he was on the edge of losing control.

Like I was right now.

“I have to do this,” I replied. My heart ached at the frustration, the hurt in his tone, but I didn’t dare say what I was thinking, not when I knew there were dozens of strategically placed sensors and security feeds recording every moment, every whisper. I knew the entire palace had extensive surveillance technology. I knew, because I’d spent hours over the last two days—with help from the house’s AI system, who had revealed several more hidden screens and gadgets in my royal bedchamber—eavesdropping on Queen Alienor and her clueless, arrogant son. My betrothed. My prince.

The guy was a total player, had a new girl in his bed every night.

Logically, I could blame that on Insuri custom, on their societal expectation that an unwed males’ duty was to service a woman in need. Wasn’t difficult to imagine a new woman asking the prince to take her to bed every night. Still, he was a prince. Surely, he could have said no if he wanted to.

Then again, he was young. Rich. Royal. I wasn’t sure I knew any men who would turn down that kind of action. Didn’t make me want him, not when the man I desperately wanted stood before me.

“You cannot bind yourself to him.”

“My betrothal to the prince is the law.” I spoke, not for him, for the security feed I was quite sure was being monitored by one of Queen Alienor’s loyal minions. “My mother’s final wish. She promised me to Prince Martainn when I was a baby. I must honor her promise.”

I should get a fucking Oscar for this performance. Most actors had to learn how to cry on command, but I had to work hard not to burst into tears. They were stuck in my throat, and it ached.

He took a step closer, his broad shoulders tense. He loomed. Big and foreboding. Yet I knew he would never hurt me. “I know you don’t understand Insuri ways,” he began, his voice faltering slightly. “But I believe I’m your Resonant, Paige. I’ve felt it since the moment I touched you. And I—” He exhaled sharply, his jaw tight. “I love you.”

I love you.

My heart thudded painfully in my chest as he continued, his voice growing hoarse. “I can’t allow this. I can’t stand by and let you marry another.” His eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a low growl. “The thought of him touching you makes me want to tear this place apart.”

“Addan,” I whispered, my throat tight with emotion.

He took another step closer, until there was barely a breath of space between us. “Tell me I’m wrong,” he said, his voice breaking. “Tell me I’m imagining the connection we have, the resonance between us, and I’ll walk away.”

I reached up, my hand brushing against his cheek. “Hermione?” I said aloud, speaking to the house’s computer system.

Silence.

Damn. I forgot. The system would not reveal itself to anyone without my express permission. It was very used to hiding its existence. “Hermione, it’s okay. I trust Addan. You may reveal yourself to him.”

“Yes, Paige? How can I assist?” It responded immediately, as I’d known she–it had a female voice–would. I’d caved in and told the intelligence system that operated the castle that it needed a name. I was tired of saying “computer” or “house.” And Hermione Granger was one of my all-time favorite book characters. She was smart, brave, loyal and a kick ass witch. Seemed fitting, especially with all the magic the alien technology could do.

I was quite sure if my cousins knew Queen’s Castle was instantly loyal to me, they never would have let me set foot inside the place. In fact, the house itself had hidden knowledge, and blocked vital information, from Queen Alienor, her son, and all her staff. Thank god the house was on my side. Or, should I say, my mother’s side. My family’s side.

“I need total privacy for a couple minutes,” I said. “And delete our conversation from the records.”

“Of course, Paige.” I smiled at the frustrated tone of Hermione’s voice. I’d insisted she call me Paige, not Princess Edelene. I wouldn’t be having it call me Queen Edelene either. “Privacy shield in place. I will monitor all exterior entrances for your security.”

“Thank you.”

I caressed Addan’s cheek with my thumb and looked up into the face of the man I was totally, hopelessly in love with. The second he’d walked into the room, my body lit up like a rocket blasting off. “Addan, you’re not wrong,” I said softly. “You’re my Resonant. I realized it the night Prince Martainn came for me.”

His eyes widened in shock, disbelief flickering across his face. His pale gaze roved over my face as if memorizing me. “You… you knew? For two days, you’ve known and said nothing?”

I nodded. Two and a half days and two very long, lonely, sleepless nights. But I didn’t correct him. “I realized the truth after talking with your sisters.”

“You said nothing.”

“I didn’t know if you felt the same,” I admitted. “And—” Shit. How was I going to tell the man I loved that I considered his mother a murder suspect?

“And what?”

“I didn’t know who to trust. I trusted you, of course. But I don’t know your family. I didn’t know any of the people at your house. There was no proof that Alienor was a traitor. I had to be sure.”

His jaw clenched as he stared into my eyes. I watched him process everything I’d just told him. Emotions flashed behind his eyes, then vanished. Disbelief. Shock. Rage. Resignation. Frustration.

Desire.

“My family would never betray House Peigi.”

“I’m sorry. I?—”

“Shhh.” Addan placed his finger over my lips, and I bit my tongue not to suck it into my mouth. “I understand why you had to be sure.”

My knees nearly gave out in relief. “Thank you.”

“But are you sure now?”

“Yes. And I know you’re mine. I thought I’d have to wait until all of this was over to ask you if you wanted me to claim you. I can’t believe you’re here.”

A loud pounding came from the door. “Princess Paige?”

Shit. Talk about bad timing. I hesitated, glancing a little desperately toward the door. “Addan, I have to go. The ceremony needs to start.”

His brow furrowed, his hand catching mine. “You can’t mean that. You’re not seriously going to marry him?! We’re Resonants. Are you confused as to what that means? Perhaps my sisters did not explain properly.”

I shook my head. “No, I understand. Trust me,” I said, holding his gaze. “I have a plan. Everything is going to be fine. But I really, really need you to trust me.”

He searched my eyes, his grip tightening. “I can’t be by your side. I can’t protect you. I don’t like this.”

“I know,” I said softly, then smiled, hopefully healing the sting to his Insuri male pride and protective streak. I understood because I was equally protective of him. “But you will.”

The intensity of his gaze burned into mine, and before I could say anything else, he leaned down and kissed me.

It wasn’t gentle. It was fierce. Hungry. Full of everything we hadn’t said until now. Equally potent, but nothing like any kiss we shared before. I melted into him. My hands clutched his shoulders as the world spun around us.

A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment.

“Your Highness!” a voice called urgently after trying the door handle. “It’s time!”

We pulled apart, both of us breathing hard. Addan’s eyes blazed with frustration and longing. I placed a hand on his chest, felt his heart pounding, maybe even harder and faster than mine.

“Trust me,” I whispered.

The knock came again, louder this time.

“Princess, are you all right? Do you need assistance?”

“Just a moment! I’m coming!” I shouted toward the door, my heart hammering in my chest.

Addan caught my wrist, his voice a low growl. “Paige?—”

The door burst open, three very agitated guards burst into the room, weapons drawn. I gave them a stern look as I stepped away from Addan. “I’m fine. Put those away.”

My hand lingered on Addan’s shoulder. “I’ll see you after the ceremony,” I said firmly. “Trust me.” I slipped free of his grasp, forced myself to step away.

I gave Addan one last glance before they whisked me away.