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She leaned into him, feeling his warm arms wrap around her, holding her tight. ‘Don’t let me go,’ she whispered against his mouth. ‘Don’t ever let me go. I love you, Galen Kouros, and I want to spend for ever with you. Promise me.’
‘I promise,’ he murmured. ‘You’re mine for ever, silver girl.’
Then, because they had duties to fulfil and from now on there always would be, he pulled back and wiped away her tears, helped her fix her make-up, and then they went to the ballroom doors to be announced.
The evening went off without a hitch, and she was note-perfect with her story. Even Kostas couldn’t find anything to be suspicious about.
Not that the majority cared. All they wanted to know was where she got her gown from and all they wanted to say was how beautiful she was, and lucky Galen to have caught her, and how in love they both seemed to be.
He didn’t let her go all evening, not once.
It was the most magical night of Solace’s life.
After it was over, even though it wasn’t quite the done thing since they weren’t married, Galen picked her up and carried her to the wing of the palace where his private rooms were and took her into his bedroom.
And right in the centre of the room was the biggest four-poster bed, piled high with pillows and hung with gauzy curtains.
A princess bed.
Solace had no words. She couldn’t even speak.
But when he took her in his arms and carried her over to the bed, putting her down onto it, she pulled his mouth down on hers and showed him exactly how much it meant to her with all the passion in her soul.
And all the love in her heart.
They were married the following week, in a small, private ceremony, attended only by two kings and one very small boy.
And they lived happily ever after.
EPILOGUE
Twenty yearslater
GALENSATAThis desk in his office, staring at the email from the DNA company. He hadn’t opened it yet and he didn’t know if he wanted to. He didn’t even know why he’d done the test, though, to be fair, he’d been thinking of his children and the legacy he would leave them. He didn’t want them to feel the same uncertainty he had.
Then again, did it even matter after so many years? Kostas had passed away not long after he and Solace had married, taking the threat that had been hanging over Galen’s throne with him. And Galen’s four children were happy and healthy and thriving, so maybe it didn’t.
At that moment, the door opened, and his wife came in, looking stunning in one of his favourite dresses, a simple white one with ties at the shoulders he could undo whenever he wanted to. Her hair was loose and there was a stormy expression on her face.
He loved it when she looked like that. It meant she wanted to argue about something, and he adored it when they argued. Especially when making up was so sweet.
‘I have something to tell you,’ she said, frowning.
‘Oh? Wait, you’re pregnant again?’
‘No, of course not,’ she said crossly. ‘I’m way past that.’
He pushed back his chair and held out his arms imperiously.
She let out a little breath, jutted her chin a second, then finally came around the side of his desk and settled herself in her favourite place: his lap.
He put his arms around her, feeling her relax against him, the tension leaving her. ‘Are you sure you’re way past that?’ he murmured.
She gave him a light swat then put her head on his chest and sighed. ‘Don’t get your hopes up.’
‘My hopes are firmly centred on the conceiving part, it’s true,’ he admitted, settling her more comfortably against him. ‘What is it you want to tell me?’
‘You know, I can’t even remember now.’ She smiled and looked up at him. ‘You still make me forget whatever it is that’s bothering me almost immediately.’
