My father smiled at me, but it was a sad smile. I didn’t mean to offend him, but it was different with my parents. They were mated; it wasn’t a bullshit arranged marriage. Of course, I wouldn’t have objections if I was in a similar situation, but I wasn’t. Not even close. Besides, I didn’t want to be tied to someone I didn’t love. Maybe seeing Damien with Erina today made me realize that, but I wanted a love story to rival that of my parents, and an arrangement sure as hell wasn’t the way to make that happen.
“Father, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” But I meant what I’d said. I just hadn’t meant to insinuate that what he and my mother had was anything less than honorable or true love.
He waved me away. “I know what you meant, my dear. But you know it’s not as simple as replacing people you disagree with. You have to learn to work with them and a compromise will have to happen, eventually.” He paused, studying my face. “I have to ask… And I do hope you don’t take offense, but would you ever consider a betrothal to Damien?” He looked down at me curiously. “He’s a fine man, Eva. We’ve known his family for centuries…” He trailed off, waiting to gauge my reaction. He had always allowed me to make my own decisions, but even as I hated to admit it, my father had a point. Damien would make an excellent choice, and it wasn’t like we hadn’t spent our lives together so far. But if we pursued it, would it give him hope that wasn’t there? Sure, I’d marry him… But he would never really have my heart. Fuck, it would be so easy if that was the case. All problems would be solved. It made me uneasy to think of us as an arrangement, though.
“Father…” I shook my head. “It isn’t something that he would want. He wants a mate.”
He simply patted my hand and looked into my eyes. “Just think on it, my dear. You would be happy with him at your side.”
“But would he be happy with me?” I breathed.
“That’s for him to figure out. You can’t answer that question for him.” With that, my father let go of my hand and left me standing in the middle of a crowd.
My mind was a fucked-up mess after our conversation. I strolled through the crowd of people, making my way to a dark corner of the ballroom, where I watched Damien charm every single person he spoke to. I didn’t have any doubts that he would fill the role of consort wonderfully. People would probably like him more than me if I was honest. I wasn’t born to kiss ass, no matter how much it had been instilled into me as a child. But Damien had such an easy-going nature that people gravitated toward him without thinking. Most of the time, he didn’t even have to try. It didn’t matter how much I tried to convince myself how good he would be for me and for my kingdom, my heart wasn’t in it. I didn’t want to bind him to a life by my side, even though I knew he would choose the life for himself if he could.
10
MATTHEW
Princess Evalyne Chevalier was a light in the darkness. An ember that burned so bright, you couldn’t help but take notice of her when she entered a room, and I was no exception to this rule.
It was a wonder we’d never met before this night, with both of us so deeply involved with the war. I’d heard stories, though. Stories of the noble princess who had charged into the thick of battle next to her soldiers, who had taken down gods only knew how many enemies with her powers. The damage she caused was astronomical, apparently. A true testament to not only the strength of her abilities, but the love for her people.
It wasn’t unheard of for royalty to join in on the violent side of war, however it was incredibly uncommon. The only commonality between them? Most of them had hailed from Helia - a kingdom of vast riches, and one that held the training of their soldiers in the highest regard.
The royals were no exception to this rule; all being forced through battle training from a young age to instill some aspect of protection not only for themselves, but their people, should they be called upon.
Even more impressive when one considers the fact they were ruled primarily by women.
Eva, though… She was something else entirely.
I hadn’t wanted to attend this stupid ball. I hadn’t wanted to step foot in Helia ever again after the war, yet when the musicians heralded her arrival on her father’s arm, every excuse as to why I didn’t want to be here had slipped from my mind.
As she stepped through the ornate double doors, the air caught in my lungs. I was unable to breathe. With each step she took down the grand staircase, I felt my heart constrict further. She’d be the death of me, I was sure of it. But at the same time, even to be in the same room as her was to be in the presence of life itself. She was radiating with it.
The black gown she was wearing hugged every facet of her body, the satin material giving off a slight sheen that caused her skin to glow. Her dark hair glimmered under the bright lights in the ballroom. It almost reflected blue, similar to the midnight black of a raven. The way she carried herself, she didn’t need the diadem on her head to remind the crowd who she was. She could have shown up in a potato sack and she would have had the same command of the room she did now, albeit a more comical version.
Time seemed to slow down, or perhaps it was just my concept of time, because I couldn’t take my eyes off of her and the way she moved. Her eyes darted around the room, soaking in every facet of information. I watched as they narrowed as she drew near the thrones that were set up for her and her father at the center of the room. A young woman, her sister if my information was correct, and italwayswas, clung to the arm of a man.
The man in question? Damien Carnell.
I knew him. In fact, we’d run into each other a few times. Rather anti-climactic, but I suppose I expected more out of the offspring of Orion Carnell since he was such a revered war hero, turned advisor. But I knew things about their family no one else knew, things that would destroy lives if they ever got out.
What I didn’t know was the depth of their relationship, at least until I found them together on a balcony.
I’d stood in the deepest part of the darkness, the shadows hiding me in plain sight, as I listened in on their conversation. He was in love with her, that much was obvious from the way he immediately left her sister’s side to follow her out here, but what were her feelings for him? Did she care for him the way he did for her? And if she did, why did that bother me so much?
I didn’t know her, had never even spoken to her before, however I found myself innately protective of her. I wanted to covet her like she was my own, and this weasel of a man didn’t deserve her. Regardless of his pristine reputation, there was a darkness that clung to his aura; one that didn’t come from killing enemies in a war. No, this reeked of desperation and obsession, and I had a feeling that came with regards to Eva.
So I had stepped out of the darkness, just as he was about to profess his love to her and interrupted their conversation. The flare that sparked in his eyes gave away how truly furious he was, but Eva had stood her ground. Something about reminding everyone that she was, in fact, still eligible. A fact that had my heart soaring in my chest.
I held my hand out and the moment she grasped it, I felt it. An electric bolt shot through my body, cementing my affections for this woman. If she felt it as well, she didn’t show any indication. But like the proper man I was raised to be, I escorted her out onto the dance floor. The feeling of her body next to mine had certain…repercussions. Something that made me feel like a pubescent teenager. My cock was rock hard, and it took every ounce of strength I had not to grind it against her and let her know just how much she had affected me.
Fuck.
I was no stranger to the affections of women, and I craved the soft, subtle ways a woman could touch me, but never in my long life had it been this instantaneous. Never had I wanted to bury myself inside someone and never leave.
She smelled like the fields of lavender that were just north of the city proper, the soft way the breeze carried it across the land. Almost undetectable, but it was there beneath the cloying scent of perfume from the other partygoers. Of course, this angel didn’t need that. She was natural, decadent, even sinful.
