Page 79 of Royally Tempted

“Do I?”

“Yeah you do,” Caspian growled. “You know you do, because you know how we all click.”

I looked away, trying to will that single tear not to fall down my cheek.

It did anyways

“You talked to Emilia.”

I whirled back, the anger bubbling up. “Yeah, I did.”

“And you don’t think thatmaybeshe had ulterior motives to fuck with us? With you?”

I shook my head. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying it’s all bullshit,” Caspian gritted out. “I’m guessing she saw us with you earlier, saw us all disappear, and put two and two together.”

“She’s a bitter, broken woman, Ilana,” Cade said softly.

“Choice words,” I spat. “Coming from the guys who almostmarriedher.”

Caspian’s face darkened.

“She tell you that?” Cade hissed.

When I didn’t answer, he swore loudly into the darkness.

“I could laugh, except it’s not funny right now.” He shook his head. “No, Ilana, we never came close to marrying her. Us with her before?” He shook his head again. “It was never real. It was never evencloseto what we’ve found with you after one night.”

“It was a pale imitation of the girl we hadn’t found yet,” Caspian growled. “You.”

My heart tensed.

“Listen to what we're saying, please.” Cade’s eyes burned into mine as they moved towards me. This time, I didn’t move away.

“She said that shit to you to get to us. To fuck with us.”

“Why?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. She’s a bad person I guess.”

“But youknowwe’re not,” Caspian said, stepping forward. “You know we meant everything we said, and I know you know that.”

I looked down, feeling them move even closer.

“Ilana.”

I looked up, gasping at how much closer they were as I glanced up and lost myself in both of their eyes.

“I love you,” Cade whispered, reaching out with a hand and taking mine.

“And I love you,” Caspian said as well, taking my other hand. “We’ll never hurt you, ever.”

Cade shook his head. “We’ll never treat you as anything less than the love of our lives.”

I was on the edge. I wanted so badly to say yes, and fall into them, but I hesitated. And I knew why.

Fear.

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