Page 141 of The Backup Princess

So, that’s it. I’m to be Queen. There’s no other option.

Suddenly desperate to get out of here, I weave my way through the dancers, a swirl of wings and otherworldly costumes.

It’s then that I come face to face with Alex, and everything feels totally overwhelming and all I can think of is escape.

“I need to get out of here,” I say.

He takes my hand in his. “Come with me.” He leads me through the throngs of guests, behind one of the tall hedges lit up in fairy lights. There we find a statue of two lovers entwined in a kiss, lit in a soft glow, the sound of the music dulled. It’s an utterly romantic spot, one I would love to spend time in with Alex under normal circumstances.

But tonight is the very opposite of normal.

Without even uttering a word, he pulls me against him and presses an urgent kiss to my lips. “I’ve missed you so much,” he breathes before he kisses me once more. It’s dizzying and passionate and makes the lid that’s barely holding my emotions threaten to pop right off.

“I’ve missed you, too,” I reply.

He wraps his big arms around me and holds me close against his chest. It’s exactly what I need right now, and I hang on, soaking up every drop of reassurance.

“Everything is going to be all right,” he murmurs against my ear once more.

His warm breath tickles the skin of my neck, and all I want to do is stay in his arms forever—and for his words to be true.

But the heavy brick I’ve been carrying around fills my belly.

“Alex, I need to tell you something,” I say, pulling back to look up into his eyes. “Nicolas has abdicated.”

His eyes widen. “He’s finally done it?”

I bite down on my lip and nod.

“So, you’re going to be Queen.”

“I—” I steel myself before I say, “Alex, I need to tell you something else. Something to do with us.”

“I know,” he replies, his voice tender.

I crinkle my brow. “You know?”

“Sofia told me about it today at the pool, and then I confirmed it with Father. You have a terrible decision to make. A future with me, or your Crown.”

My throat tightens as my eyes fill with tears. “Then how can you say everything will be okay? I love you but I can’t be with you if I’m to be Queen, and you know how much that means to me. To my family. I can’t let them down, but I don’t want to lose you, either.”

The lid on my emotions falls to the ground. Tears spring to my eyes and begin to spill down my cheeks, my throat tight and hot.

“You love me?” His voice comes out in a whisper, and I nod as I bite down on my lip.

His face creases into a heart-stopping smile. “I love you, too,” he says, his eyes like fire in the evening light. Softly, he wipes my tears away with his fingertips. “Which is why I know we can find a way, Maddie, just as your parents did.”

“But…but my mom gave all this up for love.” I gesture around me. “I don’t know if I can do that, even though I know I love you so much.”

His smile reaches into my heart and tugs on it. He places a hand softly on my cheek. “One thing I promise you, Texas, I don’t want to wait any longer for the rest of my life to begin, and I want that life to be with you.”

I want to ask him how, to reiterate what an impossible position I’m in, but all I can do is gaze back at him, this man I love.

This man who’s changed my world forever.

He pushes my hair behind my ear, his eyes soft. “Today, after Sofia told me, I made a decision of my own.”

I try to swallow down the lump in my throat, my heart banging to the beat of a frenetic drum. “What did you decide?”

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