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Intrigued but mistrusting, I remained in place, waiting. “If not keeping me under lock and key, whatareyou proposing?”
He quirked a smile at me. “That’s exactly what I’m doing,” he replied slyly. “Proposing.”
Blood drained out of my face, and I couldn’t find my voice. My lips moved, but no words came out—and I was glad they didn’t because Jace was quick to clarify what he meant before I could say something stupid.
“It wouldn’t be a real engagement, of course,” he continued. “But as far as the world is concerned, we would be betrothed.”
A bolt of disappointment hit me so strongly, it almost took me out of the chair and to my knees.
“You’re suggesting a fake engagement?” I asked dubiously. “How? Why? For what purpose?”
My voice was back and firing out questions one after the other before I could clamp my mouth closed and stop myself.
He smiled patiently.
“Firstly, it will get all these animals from looking at you like live bait,” Jace replied firmly. “I’ve already staked my claim to you, but making it official will ensure that no one comes sniffing around if they value their lives.”
I smirked. “Right. Because otherwise I’d just be like that herd already flocking you at the throne earlier?” I quipped sarcastically. “Just calling me your partner isn’t good enough because you’ve had so many?”
“You don’t know me,” he barked with surprising annoyance.
“I know what I saw,” I retorted. “Are you going to deny that you enjoy the attention?”
Jace’s eyes narrowed. “You think it’s easy being ‘on’ all the time? I’d like to see you handle it, being set up on dates with every eligible bachelorette across the kingdom, regardless of my opinion.”
“Oh, boo-hoo,” I moaned sarcastically. “All the females want the royal dick. Your life is so complicated.”
His face hardened. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand the demands and responsibilities of someone in my place,” he said coldly. “But with great power comes great responsibility. Among them, providing an heir to the kingdom.”
I snorted again. “Not ready to play daddy, huh?”
Stoicism overtook his face, and he turned away. “If we can both keep the influx of suitors away while we sift through and find proper matches on our own terms, it's beneficial to us both. But if you’d rather just keep fighting them off and inevitably end up locked away, that’s your call, I suppose.”
I cringed because I knew he was right. Inevitably, that’s where I would end up; locked away in some turret, waiting to marry the first “proper” fit.
I considered his inane suggestion.
“How, though?” I insisted. “If no one will come near me thinking I’m with you, how will I ever get suitors?”
He waved a hand without turning around. “Don’t worry about that. Your brother and I will sort through possible matches and ensure that those who can be trusted know the truth. You’ll meet the right partners—but only after they’ve been thoroughly vetted.”
I disliked the sound of all of it, but I had to admit that this took some of the outside pressure off me. I still failed to see how it benefited him. Surely, he couldn’t be willing to give up all the attention so he’d be spared a few uncomfortable dates…
Unless he didn’t intend to give up his nights at all. He’d keep doing what he was doing with a security blanket to keep him from his social obligations.
Gods, he was such a pig.
“How long will we have to keep this up?” I sighed, relenting. If I laid out the alternatives, this was my only choice.
“As long as it takes to find you a good husband.”
That wasn’t an answer.
“Ballpark figure?” I insisted. “It’s all a little vague.”
He stared at me, his eyes again traveling down to the curve of my cleavage before falling back onto my face. Goosebumps flooded my body with his mere stare, and I swallowed my nervousness.
“Let’s say three months. In three months, if we haven’t found you a suitor, we’ll end the charade and start from scratch,” he decided.
