Page 132 of A Court Bright and Broken

Abruptly I pushed away from him. “Stop.”

“Why?” His face was troubled. “I can feel your heart beating fast when I hold you, and you look at me like you want me, too.”

“I don’t. I mean… we can’t. Youcannotlove me, Stellon.”

“But I do,” he said. “Can you not see that? Feel that it’s true?”

“You cannot love me when you’ll be marrying someone else in a few days,” I said.

What was wrong with him? He knew what was expected of him better than I did.

The corners of Stellon’s mouth turned down. “I don’t want to be with anyone else. Ever. I want you to stay here with me.”

“How would that even work?” I asked. “I can’t stay in these rooms forever. You’re going to… what? Introduce me to your father and say you’ve fallen in love with a human and have decided not to marry a highborn Fae lady after all? I’m sure he’ll beveryunderstanding.”

His tone was sullen. “No. I can’t do that. You’re right, he’d never accept it. But Ihavethought of another way.”

I waited, all ears.

“I’ve told you, repeatedly, that I have no interest in keeping a retinue,” he said.

Lifting a hand toward me, he went on. “And I’d never insult you by suggesting you should stay in that capacity. But there is another possibility—an official role that would eliminate the need for hiding, that would elevate you to a position of honor, of respect.”

He stepped closer and took my hand inside his, drawing it to his chest where he flattened it over his pounding heart.

“I could take care of your family openly, not in secret,” he said. “You could accompany me in public, go to all the balls and official events. I could openly declare my love for you.”

My head was spinning. What kind of “role” would make all that possible? Was he offering me some sort ofjobin the palace?

“What are you talking about?”

“You could be my official consort. You’d never want for anything. I can’t marry you, but I could give you everything else. It’s an accepted practice in some of the other Fae courts. Why could it not work here as well?”

It took a few moments for my stunned brain to comprehend what he was proposing.

“Are you saying that you would just never marry? That you and I would be together, and if one day we were to have children, they’d be… royals?”

His expression changed, becoming more guarded. Lifting a hand, he scratched his face.

“No. That would be impossible. I’m not sure an Elf and a human could even conceive children. Even if it were possible for us to have children, the royal line of succession canonlybe carried on through me… and my bond-mate.”

Seeing the confusion on my face, he clarified. “My wife. Whomustbe Elven.”

“Your… wife,” I repeated.

My lips drew together, and I pulled the bottom one inside my mouth, biting on it as I worked to piece together the scrambled bits of information he’d given me.

“So then… youdostill plan to marry in a few days,” I said.

Stellon nodded, a grave expression on his face.

“But only because I have no other choice. I wouldn’t love her. It’ll probably be someone I barely know.”

“But you’ll have children with her,” I clarified for myself. “You’ll sleep with her?”

“I’ll have to—only until she produces an heir.” His gaze swung up to the ceiling. “And probably a second child.”

His eyes came back to lock with mine. “But it would be only a matter of duty, nothing I’d enjoy. Once our children have arrived, I’ll send her away to one of our country homes so you won’t have to see her and feel uncomfortable. You’ll be myreallife partner, my only true love. As my official consort, you’ll have nearly as much power as a princess.”

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