Page 65 of The Wanted Prince

“Yes,” I said. “Of course I love you.”

He leaned in and kissed me, just a soft, gentle kiss, but I felt the promise of a lifetime of kisses. Our whole lives ahead of us, a love story in waiting, and who could say what twists and turns might come? With Alessandro, I couldn’t wait to find out.

He pulled back and smiled. “Have you felt the baby kick yet?”

I laughed. “It’s too early for that.”

“But when you do, you’ll tell me, right?

“Of course I will. We’ll feel it together.”

“Together.” His smile widened. “I can’t wait. In fact, I’ve been thinking?—”

A shout from inside cut him off mid-thought.

“Unbelievable,” snapped Carlo. “I should arrest you right here.”

My mother shouted over him, berating Hugo. “Gambling? You’re gambling? How much have you lost? I knew there was more to this. When I get you home?—”

Alessandro sighed. “They never stop, do they?”

“They’ve been holding back a long time, all that ’frenemy’ act.”

“Well, that ends today.” He took my arm. “Ready to face them?”

“As ready as I can be.”

We marched in together, and at first, no one noticed. Father was defending Hugo to all who would listen… which seemed to be no one, as they were all talking. Mother kept switching between scolding Hugo and shaming Carlo for trying to arrest him. Carlo was citing criminal codes. Dom was correcting him.

It was the king who spotted us first. He paused in his efforts to calm my father, and when he fell silent, Father did too. From there, the quiet spread like a ripple, as all heads turned to see what came next.

“This needs to stop,” said Alessandro. He gripped my hand tight, then raised our clasped hands. “We’re one family now, and sure, families bicker. But any feud, any grudge you might be nursing…” He swept the assembly with a hard, stern gaze. “That ends today. One day, our child may well rule Santaviedo, so what’s left to fight over, with both sides on the throne?”

Nobody moved. Alessandro pumped our hands.

“If I can take Laura’s hand, what’s stopping the rest of you? Go on, shake hands. Shake hands and make peace. It’s been hundreds of years now. Generations of feuding. Let that be enough, and let’s admit we’re all sick of it. Let’s learn from history, and rise above.”

Hugo and Dom exchanged wary glances. Mother stepped back from Carlo, shaking her head. Father made the first move. He reached out to the king.

“All right,” he said. “I’m game if you are.”

The king blinked, then laughed. He shook Father’s hand. At that, the dam broke, and the mood shifted, smiles and handshakes taking over from shouts. When the chatter died down, the king took his seat.

“I’m dismissing these proceedings,” he said. “There’s no point in them now. We have the amulet, and we have the truth. Hugo Cardona, let me say as your… uncle… you will get some help. You’ll deal with your gambling. And you’ll make restitution to all that you’ve hurt. But this will be dealt with as a family matter, because Alessandro is right. We’re all family now, and, Alessandro…” The king stood and stepped down to face Alessandro. He set his hands on his shoulders and shook his gray head. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I’m sorry I didn’t listen. Carlo was right: you’ve put your past behind you. You’ve been an exemplary prince and an exemplary son, and I truly am sorry I couldn’t see that.”

“Thank you,” said Alessandro. The words came out choked, and he cleared his throat.

“And you.” The king smiled and turned to me. “I’d have liked to welcome you to the family with a grand ball, not in this stuffy room, surrounded by guards.”

The guards all stepped back. A few laughs went up. The king kissed my cheeks, one then the other.

“Welcome to the family, Laura. We’re honored to have you. I couldn’t have chosen a better bride for Alessandro.”

I blushed at the thought of myself as a bride, but if anyone noticed, they were too busy cheering to care. Mother called for champagne to toast our engagement. Hugo leaned in to whisper, “Has he even proposed?”

“That’s coming,” whispered Alessandro, in my other ear. Then he kissed me again to a surge of applause, and my heart raced, and I clung to him tight. I felt if I didn’t, I might float away. All my fondest wishes had come true at once, peace for our families, forgiveness and love. Even Hugo, it seemed, would have a chance to make good.

“Congratulations,” said Carlo. “Really. This is perfect.”

---