Page 107 of Dueling the Suitors

“I suppose. But I think all she needed was a little time,” she said, “Time to see and understand for herself that he wasn’t what he seemed at first or what others said about him.”

“There is something you need to know,” Cyrus blurted out. The impassive tone of his voice made her shift towards the wall and lean against it.

“What is it?”

“You are definitely not going to forgive me for this. It might even change your view of me—”

“It’s a little too late for that.” She chuckled solemnly.

“It’s about Jasper,” he said with a sigh. Her heart raced unexpectedly. “I never thought I would find myself in the situation to tell you this. I thought it would always be my secret and your never-ending mystery. But I don’t want secrets between us, even if you don’t feel the same way about me after this. This is me baring my heart to you.” He paused for a beat and said, “I sabotaged your wedding to Jasper that night.”

Astoria froze.

“I overheard your brothers in the library. They were talking about ‘wedding,’ and I had to eavesdrop. When I caught wind of what they were up to, I couldn’t let it happen. So I went forth and sabotaged it. Jasper never bailed on you, Astra. He was right where he promised to be, waiting for you. I was selfish and cunning and used my illusion to prevent you and your brothers from seeing him and him from seeing you. Shortly after you went to that cottage, he came there as well, thinking you had bailed on him.

“The illusion I cast was a very advanced one. Even if the two parties on either side of my illusion walked into each other, they wouldn’t feel it. Nor would they hear a noise or sense anything strange. The longer I had to hold it up, the more it drained me, but I had to. And I did. I stopped the wedding. The worst part is that I don’t regret it.”

Astoria stared at the opposite wall in utter shock. When her silence stretched too long, Cyrus said—begged, “Say something, Little Dragon.”

Astoria shook her head, trying to shake herself out of the shock. All the time she thought Jasper had betrayed her, had he waited faithfully for her? No wonder he looked so wounded and cold when she saw him from the carriage that day. He thoughtshehad bailed on him.

Because Cyrus interfered. Because he wanted to marry her and eliminate the threat to his empire. To use her as a pawn in his game.

For so long, Astoria had tried to understand what his games were. For so long, she had tried to play against him. And she had failed. Now, she wanted to play with him, side by side, and win.

“Have you ever wondered why I agreed to stay without rebelling too hard?” she asked instead.

“No?” he answered uncertainly.

“Be honest.”

He sighed. “I thought… you realized it was futile to keep fighting and decided to accept your fate. Why?”

“It was actually the prophecy that stopped me.”

“The one that traitor was talking about?”

“Yes,” she said. “I thought that my being here was the beginning of the prophecy’s fulfillment. That it was how I was going to bring you to your knees; the angel of destruction.”

Cyrus released a humorless chuckle. “And it seems you did.”

Astoria imitated the sound. “I beg your pardon?”

“Come on, darling, just because you decided you didn’t want to fulfill the prophecy anymore, because you grew to care for me, doesn’t mean it’s not the Creator’s plan. If He spoke those words through the seer, He would fulfill them no matter what. And He did.” He paused and said, “Truly, it may have seemed like I knelt to that traitor, butyoubrought me to my knees, Astra.”

“B—but that’s not how it was supposed to be…”

“Darling, the prophecy doesn’t sayhowthings would happen. Sometimes, you won’t even realize it until it is fulfilled.For example, when a seer tells you there is lavender-grey in your future and youdecideto fulfill it by making the emblem of your flag lavender-grey. But the prophecies are not ours to fulfill; they belong to the Creator. I only realized what a fool I had been until I met you and realized it was all about you.”

Astoria sat dumbfounded and heard him whisper, “I had no clue what it meant until I realized the girl I was about to marry has lavender-grey eyes.”

His words washed over her like an embrace. They were reverent, adoring, and awe-struck. Astoria wanted to say something—anything. But then the scurrying of paws reached her ears.

Skylar skidded to a stop in front of her cell and slid a folded parchment and an enchanted quill beneath the gate. Spyrah appeared beside him and passed her a small bundle through the bars. Astoria uncovered it and saw it was bread. She smiled at them in gratitude before tearing it in two.

“Give this to Cyrus,” she murmured to Spyrah.

But Spyrah shook her head, and at the same time, Cyrus said, “You have it, darling. I asked Spyrah to get it for you. You haven’t eaten anything.”

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