Page 31 of Dueling the Suitors

Just grab his pants and pull him towards the door. Bounce if you have to, with wide eyes, to show him the urgency, and pull at him again.

Oh, the things I do for you. Fine, I shall make myself an idiot, then.

Did you enter the library?

Yes, I am running through the bookshelves. I think I can hear them.

Them?

“Princess Astoria?”

Astoria snapped back to focus and looked at Lord Fern, immediately pulling off an apologetic smile. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

The man cleared his throat. “I was asking if you have anything you wish to add.”

She blinked. “Add to… I apologize, I was a little distracted. Could you please repeat that part?”

A muffled snicker reached her ears and she snapped her gaze to her right. Silas had that infuriating smirk on place as though it was a permanent feature on his face. He rested his chin on his hand, elbow propped up on the armrest, and watched her withamusement. He used his index finger to tap thrice on his temple, his smirk growing.

He knew.

Ugh. She hated his observance.

Astoria brought her attention back to Lord Fern, who watched them with interest, along with her father, before he cleared his throat and went back to reading the part she had missed.

He had been asking if she had anything to add to their vows for the wedding.

Astoria shrugged and opened her mouth to tell himnowhen Silas beat her to it.

“I would like to propose something, if I may.”

Astoria turned to him, surprised. What could he possibly want to add to their vows? Wasn’t what they already had torturous enough?

“Of course, son, you have a say in this as much as Astoria does.”

Son?Astoria gaped at her father. When was the last time he called either of her brothers ‘son’? Vicious snake. He only cared about his gain, and he was trying to get into her betrothed’s good graces.

Astoria could only imagine what they would plan together if these two bonded. If it ever came to that, Astoria swore to herself that she would do everything in her power to overthrow her father and give the throne to Emmett, even if doing so would paint her as a wrongdoer.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Silas began in his smooth, deep voice. “I was wondering if we could add something like not using our powers against each other. I believe it would be a wise and rather safe move towards the beginning of my and the princess’ life together, given that we are rocky at the moment.” He finished with a nervous chuckle as if to prove his point.

Her father’s eyes lit up at his suggestion. He turned to the scribe and asked him to add it to their vows, not even asking Astoria for her approval. But Lord Fern did. He met her eyes as if silently asking if she agreed.

Astoria gave a stiff nod. “I suppose that’s indeed wise and safe.” She spared her betrothed a glance and added, “Who knows what would’ve awaited me otherwise?”

She watched as his smirk slowly disappeared and the intensity from last night’s dinner took over his eyes. Astoria didn’t look away this time. She wondered what it meant. Only when he showed no sign of looking away did she decide to avert her eyes to the scribe, who was scribbling the addition into one of his papers.

Once he was done, Lord Fern straightened and continued reading. Astoria tried not to telepath with Skylar and zone out on him again. As anxious as she was to know if he was able to get her brother, she didn’t want to be caught distracted and risk one of Silas’ smirks again.

The door flung open behind them.

“What is the meaning of this?” The king jumped to his feet.

Astoria turned to see Emmett barge in, Skylar in his arms, his dark hair disheveled and his attire slightly wrinkled. Astoria’s hand flew to her chest. Heavens, did he spend the night away in the library looking for a loophole?

That was when she realized he wasn’t alone. Silas was behind him, giving the impression that he too had been in the library all night. Astoria thought her heart couldn’t take anymore when her eyes landed on the last person.

Jasper.

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