His sharp gaze travels over Ella with a lustful stare. Yes, I can already see the possessiveness in his eyes as he looks at her. Who can blame him? She is the most beautiful female I have ever seen.
My stomach twists in a violent knot as the king informs them that all they must do to seal their marriage is consummate their bonding. The prince wastes no time leading her away while we watch in despair.
Chapter 40
Ella
As the prince leads me down the hallway to his chambers, I cannot stop feeling like this doesn’t seem right. I know I should be willing to sacrifice for my people, but this is asking too much. How can I give up my mates? I love them.
“Alexander, stop,” I tell him.
He pulls me inside the bedroom and closes the door.
“There’s something I have to tell you,” I state firmly.
I cannot do this. I love my mates, and I don’t care about treaties or kingdoms. Not if it means I cannot be with them. I’m selfish, and all I want is my mates. I will not marry the prince. I refuse.
He stares at me with a look somewhere between uncertainty and hunger. “I cannot deny that I am attracted to you, Ella. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, but is this what you want as well?” he asks. “I must know because my parents do not have a marriage based on love, and it has not served either of them well. I do not want a match like theirs. One that is based simply on the good of the kingdom.”
The prince is a good man. “Then, I must tell you the truth.” I meet his gaze evenly. “The men I was with, the ones who saved you... they are my guards, but they are also my mates. I have bound myself to them. I love them, Alexander. And I cannot give them up.”
He blinks at me in surprise. “You have bound yourself to shifters?”
“Of course, they are mine.”
“But you are human,” he says, confusion lacing his tone.
I smile at him. “Appearances matter not in the eyes of love.”
He nods. “I understand this.” He clears his throat. “Very well. We do not have to marry, you and I.”
“But can we still have peace?”
“Yes. I vow we will always have peace between us.” He tips his head to the side. “I think I know of a way my father will accept it.”
“How?”
He grins. “By promising that we will eventually unite our kingdoms through marriage someday.”
I stare at him in confusion.
He continues. “We will tell him that our children will marry when they come of age, thus uniting our two kingdoms.”
“And what if they do not wish to?” I ask because I have to know. I will not bind my unborn children to something that even I would be hesitant to accept.
He smiles. “You are already the queen of your people, and I will be king of mine by then.” He shrugs. “If our children refuse to marry each other, so be it. We only need to convince my father it will happen someday, and that will be good enough.”
I narrow my eyes. “Do I have your word?”
He nods. “You have my vow, Ella.” He reaches out and gently lifts a lock of my hair, allowing it to trail over his fingers. “I would have made a good husband to you.”
“You will find love,” I tell him. “After all, there are many who desire a prince.”
He gives me a pained smile. “But they will not be you.”
Chapter 41
Kai
“It’s that room.” I point down the long hallway. “I’m certain of it.”
“Hurry, you stupid bird!” Devon hisses. “We have to get to them before it’s too late!”
As soon as we reach the door, Cash tries the handle. It opens, and we rush inside to find Ella standing in the middle of the room, talking with the prince.
She blinks up at us, stunned. “What are you—”
I rush toward her and drop to one knee. Everyone else does the same behind me. “Do not marry him, Ella. We cannot let you go. We love you. Please.”
Devon lifts his head to her. “There has to be another way to secure peace. You are ours.” He growls at the prince. “He cannot have you.”
The prince laughs and arches a brow. “Which one of you will father the child that will marry my son? Or my daughter?” he adds. “I hope it is you.” He looks to Devon. “Fire like yours would surely strengthen our line.”
Devon blinks at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Ella moves forward and takes Devon’s hand. “I’m not going to marry the prince. I told him I couldn’t forget all my mates.” She smiles. “I love all of you, and I won’t give you up.” She looks to the prince. “So we agreed that our children will marry each other when they come of age, cementing an alliance between our two kingdoms.”
I look to Ella in alarm. I do not know which of us, if any, will father any children with her. But I cannot bear the thought of shackling the poor child with such a huge weight of responsibility before he or she is ever born. “What if our child does not want to do this?”
The prince nods. “Then, they will not have to. We are simply going to present this to my father to appease him and move forward with the treaty.”
A slow grin curves my lips. Ella and the prince are both wise. This is a good solution. I note how his gaze travels over her with a look of intense longing. I feel sorry for him in a way. No one will ever compare to
