Page 13

CHAPTER 13

YVETTE

I want to marry Yvette. I want her as my wife. I want her as my mate. Lucas’s pronouncement rings in my ears.

I swallow hard and glance from my mother to my aunt. Both appear shocked, and I can’t say I blame them.

“Prince Lucas doesn’t have a fated mate,” I find myself saying. Then I tense and look at him in question. “Is it okay to tell them what happened, or is it supposed to be a secret?”

“We can tell them, sweetling.”

“Perhaps we should go inside,” Mama suggests. “I’ll make some tea, and we can all sit at the table and have a calm chat.” I can’t help but notice her eyes slide over to my aunt when she says ‘calm.’

“That’s a great idea,” I say, and somehow, I find myself holding Lucas’s hand.

We go inside the cottage and gather around the table with steaming mugs of lavender tea. The first sip helps calm my continued trembling. I pray I never encounter another mangga again, though I trust Prince Lucas will keep the wards surrounding the cottage intact.

But how much longer will I be staying at the cottage?

Lucas and I exchange an affectionate look, and I can’t help but flush and scoot closer to him. He might be a Summer Court prince, but he makes me feel safe and treasured. If he asks me to marry him again, I’m not sure I’ll be able to refuse.

Realization sets in, and my breath leaves me in a rush.

I want him. I ache to belong to him.

The very idea of becoming a fae prince’s bride seems fantastical, yet I cannot imagine sending him away again. I’m starting to believe that perhaps this strange new adventure is the path I’m meant to take.

I remind myself that Mira made it work. Yes, she’s part-fae and is also Warden Valloc’s fated mate, but she viewed him as the enemy when they first met. It’s my understanding that despite being mates, they still had a lot of differences to overcome.

Could Lucas and I make it work? Could we find true happiness as husband and wife?

“Well,” Mama says, breaking the silence. “Let’s hear what you need to tell us about Prince Lucas not having a fated mate. I have a feeling I already know where this story is going, which is why I added some whiskey to my tea.”

Aunt Heather balks after she takes a sip of her own tea. “I can’t believe you didn’t add any to mine. Some sister you are.”

Mama sticks her tongue out at Aunt Heather, and we all share a laugh that serves to lessen the tension.

I glance at Lucas. “It’s your story. Would you like me to tell them, or would you prefer to do the talking?”

He places a comforting hand on my thigh beneath the table. “Why don’t you start and I’ll fill in any gaps or answer any questions they might have.”

“Okay.” A sense of giddiness spreads through me, because I have a feeling that after tonight, my life is going to change forever. “Well, it’s like this, Mama and Aunt Heather. A long time ago, a mage cursed Prince Lucas’s parents’ mating union and proclaimed that any children born of their union would never have a fated mate of their own. And so, Prince Lucas and his two brothers don’t have mates. As you might imagine, this is a huge problem when you’re a fae royal.”

“Are you the oldest child?” my aunt asks, and I’m pleasantly surprised that she’s no longer glaring at Lucas.

“No, I’m the youngest.” He goes on to explain that he likely won’t inherit the Summer Court throne and neither would his future children. He also mentions that arranged marriages with other fae aren’t an option, a fact that causes my mother and aunt to exchange yet another knowing look.

“That’s rather tragic that you and your brothers will never have fated mates,” Mama says in an overly dramatic tone, and I think the whiskey might be kicking in. “Your people typically live for thousands of years. That’s a long time to be alone.” She aims a pointed look at me. “But I suppose that’s why you want to marry Yvette.”

“I must be completely honest with you,” Lucas says. “My father recently ordered me to marry a human female. Only days after he gave me this command, I met your beautiful daughter and found myself being… changed by her.” He places a hand over his heart. “Right here.” He draws in a long breath and appears to be gathering his thoughts. “You see, it’s because of Yvette and the profound effect she has on me, that I didn’t steal away with her and force her to become my wife. As you must know, most fae would think nothing of kidnapping a human, but I cannot fathom hurting Yvette or scaring her. I want her as my bride, but only if she’s willing, and I am prepared to continue courting her if that’s what it takes.”

Aunt Heather leans back in her chair, her lips pinched together. “My niece is a sweet girl, and I cannot fathom her being subjected to the cruelty of the fae. I cannot imagine her living among your people.”

“I would keep her safe,” Lucas says in a voice brimming with conviction. “I’m one of the most powerful highborn fae in existence, and there are very few who would dare to cross me or harass my mate.”

A spasm of worry hits me when I consider my future living arrangements should I agree to marry the prince. Would I be expected to travel with him as he led the Summer Court army across the realm? Or would he leave me in the large Summer Court city that I’ve only heard stories about? Both possibilities give me pause.

“Obviously, Yvette and I have many things we must discuss. But I want you both to know that if she agrees to become my wife, that doesn’t mean you’ll never see her again. I would never keep her from spending time with those she cares about.” He gives my thigh another squeeze. “If she marries me, you won’t be losing a daughter, Carol, and you won’t be losing a niece, Heather. Yvette would still remain a huge part of your lives. I give you my word.”

I’m about to ask Mama and Aunt Heather if they could please give us some privacy, only for my mother to suddenly blurt the question I’m most afraid to ask Lucas.

“If you do get married, where would you live? Surely you can’t take my daughter on the road and let her watch as you conquer human city after human city. I know my daughter, and she would have a few things to say about that.” Mama takes another long sip of her whiskey-infused tea, then sets the mug aside and gives Prince Lucas an intent look.

“We would have options.” He aims an assuring look my way, but it doesn’t quite help me relax. I picture myself sitting inside a tent as he goes off to slaughter thousands of humans in battle and a shiver passes through me.

“What kind of options?” Aunt Heather asks.

“I wouldn’t take her on the road with my army, if that’s what you are worried about. I would either take her back to the Summer Court, where we could live in the palace or even in a house of our very own, or we could settle somewhere in the human lands. We could even move into this cottage. I don’t care where we live. All I care about is that we’ll be together and that Yvette is happy.”

“If I’m not on the road with your army,” I say, “wouldn’t that mean we would be separated for long periods of time?”

His eyes gleam with hope. “Why, sweetling, it sounds like you’re giving some honest consideration to becoming my wife. It also sounds like you will miss me terribly if I’m off at war. Not that I can blame you. I know I’m a catch.”

“I’m being serious.” I resist the urge to stamp on his foot.

“So am I.” He straightens. “I would let you decide where we live, and I would make whatever arrangements I must with my family to make that happen, whether it means returning the leadership of the army to one of my brothers or even my father. It’s also possible my father will agree that General Dalgaard is capable of leading the army on his own without the presence of a Summer Court royal.”

Mama stands up, and she grabs hold of Aunt Heather’s arm and pulls her upward. “I’ve heard enough, and I’ve decided to give you both my blessing.” Her eyes glimmer with tears as she looks at me. “Yvette, darling, all I ever wanted was for you to find a kind man who would treat you well and protect you. I know what cruelty looks like, and sadly, so do you. But the prince isn’t cruel. It’s clear to me that he has a conscience on him, at least he does when it comes to you, and I believe he’s shown that he can be trusted.”

Aunt Heather opens her mouth and draws in a long breath, but Mama pushes her out of the dining room before she can offer her opinion.

“We’ll leave you two alone now so you might talk things over. Goodnight, Yvette. See you in the morning… or maybe not.” Mama sends me a tearful smile just before she departs the room.

“Goodnight, Mama. Goodnight, Aunt Heather.”

Prince Lucas turns to me and takes my hands in his. My pulse quickens and I suddenly forget all my reasons for resisting him, all the reasons I didn’t accept his marriage proposal a week ago. Except… it wasn’t really a marriage proposal. He’d simply stated that he wanted me to become his bride. Now that I think about it, he’s never asked me outright.

“Miss Yvette Harmon,” he says in a deep rumbling tone, “will you take a moonlit walk with me?”

My mouth goes dry. “Yes, Prince Lucas Brossnin,” I force out. “Yes, I will go on a moonlit walk with you.”