Ethan led me to a balcony that overlooked the forest beyond. The moon shone overhead while large snowflakes trickled down, coating his shoulders in white. The stars glimmered in the blackness around him.
Ethan looked gorgeous. I wondered if he was casting some sort of illusion over my heart. Choosing between him and the Phantom was impossible.
“What’s this about?” I asked.
Ethan stood in silence. The only sound that could be heard was that of the falling snow. Then he uttered something unbelievable.
“I was wondering if you would be my partner for the King’s Contest.”
My mouth dropped open in shock. My friends were right. Holy shit, this was actually happening. My heart thudded out of my chest as my lungs struggled to breathe. I gaped like some stupid fish for a moment, eyes wide like saucers, before I pulled myself together and said, “You have to be joking.”
He flinched. Did I offend him? Oops.
“Does this seem like a joke to you?” Ethan said. “I’m serious.”
“When you say partner… it’s more like mate,” I said.
“Yes. Itismate. I’m asking you to be my mate, compete in the Contest with me, and become my queen if we win,” Ethan said.
“You realize this is basically a marriage proposal,” I stuttered. I didn’t know how many surprises I could take today.
“Yes. And I’m sorry that this isn’t exactly elaborate, but I didn’t have much time to plan this out,” he stuttered.
“When did you decide to do this? Yesterday?” I asked sarcastically. “Was I your back-up choice?”
“Gods, Emma, no.” His brow furrowed. “You were theonlychoice.”
He probably meant it to be romantic, but it came out as insulting. I scoffed. “You had other options. Chastity being the first.”
“I don’t want Chastity,” Ethan said. “She resents me. It would be a long and horrible marriage.”
“But you’re giving her what she wants.”
“No. I wouldn’t be.” He shook his head. “She wants to be queen, but more than that, she wants me to love her. That’s something I could never do.”
“You think you could love me?” I dared to ask.
Ethan hesitated for a long moment, as if calculating his response. “I could try.”
Not a very convincing answer. His guard was up. I didn’t know why.
“Then let me ask you another question,” I said slowly. “Do you thinkwecould be mates?”
Ethan’s eyes widened. He nearly staggered with the effort of keeping himself upright. It’s like I’d punched him in the gut or something. “I… I thought you believed you were mated to the Phantom.”
“I am,” I said. “But don’t you think it’s possible I’m bonded to two people?”
“I didn’t know such a thing was possible.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“Do youthinkyou’re bonded to me?”
I shrugged. “I’m not entirely sure. I feelsomethingfor you, but it’s not anything like what I feel for the Phantom. That’s something much deeper. A bond I can’t explain. With you it just feels… normal.”
He frowned. “Then there’s your answer.”
“Not from you.”
