Page 124 of The Reluctant Wife

"The troops are getting antsy for the birthday girl. I’ve entertained them for as long as I could, but best you get over there and talk to them." He smirks.

I roll my eyes. "Like it was such a chore for you to flirt with the women."

He holds up his hands, an innocent look in his eyes—as if I’m going to be taken in by that. "I was simply doing my job as host and being polite."

"My ass," I snort.

"Why, Aura"—he shakes his head—"how frightfully impolite of you."

"Ha!" I toss my head and am about to leave, then look between them and hesitate.

My husband interprets the expression on my face correctly. He leans over, takes my hand in his and kisses my fingertips. "Go on. Viktor and I are due a catch up."

60

Ryot

"I’d say you were pussy-whipped, except it’s my sister you’re married to, and it’s evident to everyone who comes within a mile of her, how happy she is." The Crown Prince of Verenza remains standing. At six feet three inches, he’s as tall as me. And as broad.

We both come from money and have had privileged childhoods. The only difference is, I chose to forge my own path when I joined the Marines. And chose not to join the Davenport Group as CEO. The only reason I embraced my wealth was because it was going to help her country, and that was important to her. The crown prince, though, has no such compunctions. He’s in line to succeed the throne. He has no qualms about owning his birthright as the successor to the King of Verenza.

"I’m the one who’s deliriously happy that she accepted me as her husband.” I sprawl back in my seat. “I consider it my duty to help her fulfill her dreams, her goals, and her aspirations. Tobolster her when she’s down. To lift her spirits when she needs a reminder that she's got this."

I mean every word I said. I want her brother to realize I don’t take Aura’s happiness for granted. That I’ll do everything in my power to take care of her.

He blinks slowly, a look of such comical surprise on his face that I chuckle. "You haven’t got a woman in your life, I take it?"

He scoffs. "Not going there, mate. I have enough on my plate, focusing on the country. Verenza is a demanding mistress."

"Wait until you meet and fall in love; that will change your mindset, and your life,” I say with a knowing smirk.

"Which is why I plan on getting married only to perform my duty. None of that falling in love bullshit for me."

I could point out he’s tempting fate, but that would have no effect. Sometimes, you need to go through the ups and downs that come with finding your soulmate to realize they are the most important thing in your life. Not money. Not power. But love.

The kind of love that has you sacrificing everything, so your other half is happy. The kind that makes you do anything, so they can fulfill their dreams. The kind that makes you put them in the center of your life and do everything in your power to protect them, to keep them safe and to provide for them. The kind where, every time you’re in the same space with them, you can’t stop yourself from touching them to feel their skin with your fingertips and reassure yourself they’re fine. The kind where, when you’re not with them, you miss them. The kind where you respect them enough to give them agency to make up their own mind and believe in the power of your love that they’ll find their own way back to you.

"Only time will tell." I tilt my head.

He must read some of my thoughts, for a flush steals across his features. Then, he sinks down next to me. "Nothing personal, of course."

"Of course." I smirk.

"What you and my sister have is different."

"Hmm…" I drag my thumb under my lip and stay silent.

He moves around, trying to make himself comfortable. "I mean, it’s clear the two of you love each other. And there is a deep bond between the two of you. And thanks to you, Verenza’s future looks far more promising than it did a month ago."

"I did it for her." I hold his gaze. "If she wanted me to burn the world down?—"

"Let me guess, you’d give her the match and not stand in her way?"

I bare my teeth. "And after it’s reduced it to cinders, build her a brand new one in which she never has to do anything against her will. I’d take my own life, if it meant she could live hers in a way that makes her happy."

His jaw drops, then he rubs at his neck. "Damn, you have it bad, mate."

"You mean I have it good, don’t you?"

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