AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And then, he breaks our kiss. We’re both panting, but he stares down at me with absolute shock, which I almost believe. How the hell is this man good enough of an actor to make my legs shake, and my body ache?
Damn this beautiful fae prince.
The light between us finally begins to dull, then fades. Prince Sulien keeps hold of my hand as people surround us, giving their congratulations. I force a smile that I hope doesn’t look painful and take their kind words, trying not to think about how badly these same fae treated me in my maid uniform. How little Prince Sulien noticed me before today, at least since we were children.
This is all a show. A show I’ll be part of for the rest of my life, so I better learn to compartmentalize. To know what’s real and what’s pretend.
More sparks go off around the room and people rush from one place to another, getting drunker with each passing second, or at least that’s what it feels like. The crowd around us starts to shift away as Prince Sulien pulls me a little closer. I want to ask him a thousand questions about what will happen from here, but I know it’s not the time or place.
Music continues. Dancing resumes. The mating hour hasn’t passed yet. So, many more fae should find their matches in the minutes that come. And, it seems, they’re eager for exactly that because I can’t imagine any other world where the king’s match would so quickly be forgotten.
Don’t these fae have some sucking up to do to their new queen?I almost smile at the thought.
I glance at Prince Sulien, and his countenance hasn’t changed. Except, maybe, he looks a bit confused. He drops my hand, and again I desperately want to ask him questions.Are we going to have to publicly kiss a lot, or was this a special thing? What do we do for the rest of tonight? Do I return home after?My thoughts continue spinning, running over everything that had happened so far.Was the brightness and size of our light just a normal fae thing when it comes to royalty? Or did he fuck up the spell?
No one is asking questions about me and us right now, but tomorrow they just might, if things weren’t done right. I have no knowledge about what’s normal or strange to compare this night to. I just want to know why the hell he looks so confused.
Something is off.
“Congratulations!” Prince Zane approaches, clapping Prince Sulien on the back, his expression almost cheerful. “There’s no more beautiful woman than her here tonight, you did well, my friend.”
Prince Zane turns to me and tilts his head, and again I feel that strange heat crawling beneath my skin. “And it’s no surprise to me that you were meant to be a queen.” He takes my hand as if to kiss it, but suddenly, the candlelight flickers again and sparks fly from our hands.
What. The. Fuck.
This isn’t possible.
Another light show begins. Sparks dancing between us while I try to pry my hand away, and he holds on tightly. My heart races as I try to understand what’s happening. The spell has to have gone wrong, which means everyone will know what we did.
I flinch, expecting shouts of anger or surprise. Expecting… I don’t know, I need to start running like hell. No one knows me after all. I can just run all the way home and forget tonight ever happened.
Instead, someone shouts, “She matched with Prince Zane too! A Summer and Winter Queen.”
An uproar of conversations takes over the crowd.
What. The. Actual. Hell. Is. Happening.
“This hasn’t happened in at least three generations,” another person shouts.
No. No way.The spell went wrong, and now it looks like I’m mated totwofae princes? How will this even work? Prince Zane doesn’t know about the deal, and we can’t tell him, or I’ll lose my damn head.
This is bad.Realbad.
I yank my hand out of Prince Zane’s and survey the crowd, looking for my escape. But, they’re everywhere, a mixture of amusement and amazement on their faces. Obviously, they think this is real because their excitement fills the room. Applause breaks out, and people continue to shout.
So… my brain is trying to catch up with the scene in front of me. This must have happened before. A fae must have had two mates before. In the back of my mind, something scratches at it. Memories of fae guests at the castle with two husbands. But I… this wasn’t part of the plan.
I need to get out of here.
“My lady,” Prince Zane says softly, then moves closer. “I’m honored that the magic has chosen me as your mate.”
It’s hard to swallow around the lump in my throat. “I guess I’m a real catch.”
His icy facade crumbles, and his lips curl into a smile. He looks at me like he’s looking at all the hope in his world, and it steals my breath. It makes me forget all about the screwed up potion, Prince Sulien, and my life without choices. I’m not some worthless human, I’m the mate toroyal fae.
When he leans in and kisses me, I’m frozen for a minute in shock. But then, his cold lips on mine send warmth blossoming through my body in the most unexpected way. Goosebumps erupt across my skin, and my head spins. His lips are soft, gentle, teasing. Like he’s tasting me, and I’m just letting him.
My hand curls into his shirt, and he shifts closer. Close enough that I can feel his erection pressing against my stomach. Close enough that I can hear the beating of his heart matching the fast rhythm of my own. So close, and yet, I want him closer.
