So, I escaped to my room where it's quiet. After all, the princes have been dealing with the guests who came to our court from far away kingdoms for a wedding that never happened, not to mention the princess and her family. Everyone has been welcomed to remain a few extra days so they may attend the real wedding.
A buzz runs down my spine at the thought of my marriage, and those butterflies spring up in my stomach. This is happening.
This is actually happening.
Goosebumps cover me with elation.
A knock at the door has me spinning around to find Michae in the doorway, hands stiff by his side, a relaxed expression on his face. “Prince Ahren has requested your presence.” He bows his head forward. “He has something to show you.”
“For me?” My nerves start dancing beneath my skin.
Michae smiles calmly, reassuring me. Then he gives me a cheeky grin. “Shall we go, my lady?”
I follow him out into the hallway where it's quiet. Majority of the staff are in the palace to clean up after yesterday. Others are helping with my wedding. Apparently, I don't get a say in how it runs. Under Fae customs, it's up to the mothers of the bride and groom to arrange all the whole event. I am hoping this means my mother and the princes will start to get along.
Michae walks me through the mansion, over the bridge and soon brings me to a small enclosed courtyard with a clear ceiling to view the sky. The castle walls surround the gardens on four sides. Flowering trees of pinks and whites dot the land. Roses and flowers scatter in between, along with shrubs. There’s a small vegetable garden to my right, and even a round marble fountain, spouting water. This is a greenhouse, and it’s spectacular.
Half a dozen butterflies flutter through the air, and I already want to move my bed here.
“Follow the path,” Michae tells me, and when I turn toward him, he's retreating inside and shuts the door.
There's only exhilaration in my veins. The two fae from the court who wanted me dead are gone, and I doubt Michae would put me in danger after everything we'd all experienced recently.
I take a step forward, then another over the cobblestones dotting the ground, while flowers of every color surround me while the butterflies sweep around. I pass trees with gold and red globes like apples, the air heavily perfumed with lilac and vanilla scents. I feel like Alice in Wonderland, my stomach a buzz with adrenaline of what I’ll find. And why haven’t I been taken to this garden before? Only once I curve around a large weeping tree, does a wooden hut with a pointy roof come into view. No windows, but there’s an open doorway.
Curiosity has me lifting my deep red dress that dances around my ankles and hurry forward.
Stepping up to the doorway, I meet Ahren inside, sitting on a black leather chaise lounge that looks more like it belongs in the throne room, rather than as garden furniture. My prince stands at my presence, his smirk captivating. White long hair is combed and parts just over his temple. Full lips pull into a devious grin, while those jeweled green eyes draw me closer. There is a different air about him today. Gone is the sorrow and anger on his face because now he knows he doesn’t have to marry someone else. That memory knots in my chest with a surge of desperation at how close we came to having both our lives ruined. But that’s the past now, and I refuse to hold onto that fear any longer.
“Is this your secret getaway place?” I ask, stepping inside, taking in the little clear globes filled with lights hanging on the walls, making the place appear magical.
Ahren steps toward me and takes my hand, drawing me into his arms instantly. The magnetic attraction is instant between us as I push myself onto my toes, our mouths meeting. His kiss is hungry and fast like we haven’t seen each other in months. I return the passion, grasping onto his shoulders, pressing my breasts against him.
Strong hands wrap around my back, sliding down, cupping my ass.
I can’t breathe with the desire of how much I crave him. Mouths join together, our bodies pressed tight, it hits me how much I would have lost if he married someone else. To never feel his touch, his lips, his body would have killed me.
“I never thought I’d be with you again,” he breathes against me. His lips fell to my neck, where his licks and small bites sent shivers through me.
His words coat me, as does his fear of losing me. The breath I suck in is hitches because it mirrors my own dread. I knew this already but to hear it from him means everything to me.
I cup the sides of his face, whispering, “We’re never going to be apart again.” Then I kiss him with an addictive fever, and he responds with a raw, primal growl, his fingers digging into my lower back. I give a soft moan as he takes handfuls of my dress, bunching it up around my waist. He breaks from me suddenly and kneels in front of me.
My chest heaves with breath as I wait to see what he’ll do.
Fingers curl over the top of my underwear and tug it down my legs. I step out of them as his hand, feather-soft, touches me across the apex of my thighs, over the small mound of hair, while holding the material of my dress up. Ahren just stares at my pussy like he’s taking in what he hasn’t seen for a while, and kisses me there so tenderly, my heart flutters. Though he moans with a hunger that drives me crazy with lust.
He’s on his feet in seconds, a hand behind
