Page 41 of Desperately Yours

“What if I’m not enough?” I pulled away, just far enough to meet his eyes. “What if we do this, and I’m a terrible queen and an even worse wife? What if they make you walk away and abandon all of this? What if you regret it?”

Lines appeared between his brows, deepening with every worried word I uttered. A gentle shake of his head gave me his position on the topic early. “Not possible.” Our sway stopped. His hands shifted from my waist to cup my chilled cheeks in tender warmth. “The only path of regret that exists is the one that leads away from you.” He drew in a slow breath. “Marry me, Michaela. Whatever that looks like. Whatever life throws at us. Marry me.”

Goosebumps prickled all along my arms. Shivers shook my frame, but he still held me steady. My mind flashed back to that cavern, to those hours that stretched for eons, never knowing if I would ever be found and yet sure that Fitz would never stop trying.

Because it was always him and me.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

It took a full five seconds for it to register. Raw and perfect joy seized his features as he finally realized what I’d said. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me tight. Wrapping me in a love that would stay forever.

Come what may.

If only I had an idea what that looked like.

Fitz made quick work of the saddles and horses while I waited, a bit dazed by the night’s turn of events. We rode back in some kind of dreamy, love-soaked delirium. Engaged, but no one would know until tomorrow. Our plan depended on the shock of his decision. Both Sadie and I would attend the ball. Near midnight, the cameras would record the final choosing ceremony live. And Fitz would say my name, not hers.

But would the pressure of cameras and the pull of love’s heartstrings be enough to carry us through? Or was Fitz about to lose everything for me?

“Hey.” His arm slipped around my waist as we stood in the stable. He slid the latch through the lock on his horse’s stall before he pressed a kiss to my lips. “It’ll work out. As long as we have each other, we’ll be fine.” With a grin, his gaze dipped to my mouth before he leaned closer. I never tired of his kiss. I drank it in, bending to his desire, eager for a life with him.

My soulmate.

My friend.

My true love.

“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat from the mouth of the barn. Fitz spun me away, shifting me behind him as if to protect me. He held up the lantern, ready to fight, but Kabir only chuckled. “At ease, Your Highness. It’s only me.”

Fitz nodded and sighed his relief. “I should have known you would be watching.”

“Someone has to watch your back.” He smirked. “And some of us can’t sleep until we know her answer, Your Highness.”

I peeked around Fitz, unable to hide my smile. “You don’t want to wait to find out with the rest of the country?”

“After years of military service, m’lady, I’m afraid I’ve gotten bad at patience.” Kabir’s eyes narrowed as though he sensed something. “But you both appear rather chuffed, don’t you?”

Fitz pulled me close. “Then I think you have your answer, my friend.” He cast a worried look toward the palace. “I don’t suppose you can get her back in unnoticed? The way she came wasn’t… secure.”

I almost offered to go, bats and all, but Fitz tightened his grip, like a secret message not to speak. Did he keep the secret passages hidden from even his security detail?

I thought he trusted Kabir.

“As you wish, Your Highness.” Kabir cleared his throat. “I’ll give you time to say goodnight.” With a curt bow, he turned and exited to wait for me.

“What province is Kabir from?” The question popped out without much thought, but, by the same token, instinct told me I needed to know.

“I honestly can’t remember. Princeborough, perhaps. Many guards come from there. They had royal roots at some point, but the lines were contaminated.” He frowned, but it quickly morphed to a smirk. “Concerns, my future queen?”

I shot a glance at the mouth of the stable, unable to put my thoughts into words. “No, I guess not. It just struck me how little I know about the man who is supposed to protect me with his life.”

Eyebrows high, he tilted his head to capture my gaze again. “His allegiance is yours, I swear it. You can trust him.” I must not have looked thoroughly convinced because he added, “You can trustme.”

It softened me. That was a truth I could latch onto. “Of course I can.”

His lips met mine, urgent and passionate, as he tried to convince any lingering parts of my mind that I was safe. When we parted, my worries were far away.

“Tomorrow night,” Fitz whispered. “Everything will change.”

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