Page 55 of Crownless King

The image of Lady Lark’s hand on Voron’s arm wouldn’t leave me, making me want to scream. What would I do, knowing that he was spending a night with her or anyone else?

“What is it, Sparrow?” Dove set down her teacup, staring at me with a shocked expression.

Libelle blinked. “Poor thing, she looks white like marble, which, with her complexion, isn’t ideal.”

“You’re in love with him!” Dove gasped.

Libelle coughed, choking on her tea. “What? You love Voron?”

“KingVoron,” Dove corrected her mechanically. Her throat bobbed with a swallow. “Sparrow, sweetie, I won’t marry him, no matter what my father tells me. All right?”

“Thanks.” I shut my eyes and dropped my head into my hand, my elbow propped onto the table.

I loved Voron?

When did it happen?

How?

I distinctly remembered giving a resolution to hate him from the very beginning. He had approved of that, too.

But then…

Was it sex? The sex with Voron was insanely good. Physically, I’d always wanted him, even when I knew it was best to hate him.

Oh, but there was so much more between us than just sex. I’d gotten to know him well, and I felt like he was the only one who truly knew me.

I admired Voron’s strength, endurance, and determination. It was hard not to love those qualities in him. But I also knew all about his faults, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. And what was worse, I loved all of them too.

“I’m so screwed,” I groaned.

I’d hoped so badly to hear the three little words from him, first. Then, I could’ve loved him back with abandon, without any reservations or the fear of getting hurt.

Instead, I fell for him first.

Now what? What if he didn’t care about me as much as I cared about him?

“It’s not so bad,” Dove chirped optimistically.

I lifted my head, looking at them both for help, or advice, or something. Anything.

“What future can we have?” I asked. “It’s not like he would ever marry me, right? Not while he’s a king. And I’m… My status here is barely a step above a pet.”

So many fine ladies from noble fae families were vying for his attention. I brought nothing to the table—no title, no wealth, and no connections. I had nothing. Even my name was the one he gave me.

“What doeshethink about it?” Libelle asked.

I knew Voron cared about me. I felt it in his every kiss, every word, and every gesture. But was it enough?

“He said there would be no other man for me but him.” I remembered.

“That’s good.” Dove nodded encouragingly.

Libelle looked less optimistic, however. “It’s common for a favorite to belong only to her lord if the lord doesn’t like sharing.”

“He said that I would be the only woman for him, too. It was after he already knew he was the rightful king but before he took the crown.”

Before he faced the pressure of the lords to marry. Tomorrow, he’d be released from all his promises and will be able to have any woman in the kingdom. Would that change his feelings for me? Or his plans for us?

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