Page 144 of A Court Bright and Broken

“And it’s not the wedding ceremony that binds you, but… what we were about to do?”

Stellon nodded again, crawling toward me. “What weareabout to do.”

“I might never be able to give you children,” I said, distressed. “You said no one knows if Elves and humans can even conceive.”

Lowering his mouth, he started kissing from my knees upward. “Let’s find out.”

I pushed at his head. “Stop that. This is serious.”

He did stop, but he looked perturbed.

“Believe me, I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”

“But you’re not thinking clearly,” I said, understanding his one-track mind completely. “If I can’t give you children, if you produce no heirs, the throne will pass to Pharis.”

“I don’t care,” he said. “I want you more than the crown—more than anything.”

“Youshouldcare. Imagine the kind of king he’d be. Think of the citizens of the kingdom. Think of the poor humans who’d be under his reign.”

“We don’tknowthat my father won’t allow our marriage,” he argued. “We don’t knowhowhe’ll react when he finds out we’ve bonded.”

“Which is why we have to stop. Let’s say he did allow it, and I did become princess and eventually queen when you became king… how will you feel when I die at the end of my normal human lifespan?”

Stellon looked away toward the dark window, clearly not wanting to discuss this.

“Heartbroken,” he said finally. “Destroyed.”

“It could turn you into the same kind of bitter, unfeeling man your father is. You could become like him—maybe even worse.”

His gaze returned to mine, and it was so sad my heart cracked a little. I couldn’t fold now though. I had to do what was right.

Stellon swallowed hard. When he spoke again, his voice was a gaunt whisper.

“But I love you, Raewyn. I need you.”

A mixture of joy and absolute agony filled my chest, wrestling until I feared the adversaries would break through its battle-scarred walls and leave a gaping hole behind.

“And I love you,” I admitted at last on a sob. “Which is why my answer to your question has to be—”

A loud ruckus from the hallway caused both of us to turn our heads toward the wall.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my heart making the quick jump from melted to icebound.

“It’s fighting,” Stellon said, straining to listen. “I put extra guards on the door before coming in here tonight. Sounds like someone’s attacking them.”

Then his eyes came back to meet mine. “Damn Pharis.”

He rolled off the bed and grabbed his sword from the corner where it leaned against a wall.

“He must have broken his promise and told our father about you.”

Chapter 39

The Real Question

Pharis—half an hour earlier

Stellon might have been convinced his little humanfriendwasn’t a threat, but I knew she hadn’t been honest with him.

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