Page 30 of The Crownless Prince

“I know.” She gave an abashed smile. “Four years ago, the news from Alimer Principality was jumbled. Initially, it was reported you were soon to be married. I refused to believe it. If it had been true, I wouldn’t have wanted to hear your name again. Then the true news came, including the fae curse on the tower. That was the only thing that stopped me from trying to rescue you myself.” She laughed softly. “I don’t blame you for thinking I’d moved on—even if I am a little hurt you believed I’d forget you so easily. I thought of you so often…oh!”

Adriana leapt up. “I wrote to you, but Father wouldn’t let me send the letters. Prince Arlius had forbidden anyone from approaching thetower without his consent. I kept writing anyway, hoping someday I could get them to you.”

Curious, Marcus followed her to the wardrobe. She dug out a velvet sack from behind her gowns and turned around, almost running into his chest. He looked from the wardrobe to her hazel eyes with a soft smile.

“I remember hiding in there,” he said fondly. “And falling out.”

By the way a blush spread up her throat to her ears, she remembered, too.

“I also remember wishing we didn’t have to hide.” His smile fell.

“After we ruin this wedding, we will find a way to be together. Preferably without hiding.” Adriana held out the bag, and Marcus accepted it from her.

Less than three days didn’t seem like enough time to stop a wedding mandated by a king, but they’d find a solution. He would do whatever it took.

Marcus pulled open the drawstring on the bag, revealing a mound of folded letters. Emotion tightened his throat. “You kept them after you thought I was…gone?”

“Of course I did.”

“I saved all the letters I wrote to you, too, but there’s not this many. My father refused to send more parchment.” He ducked his head. “I’m afraid I left them in the tower. But…I reread them so many times I have most of them memorized.”

“Really?” She dragged him back to the bed. After they were sitting with their backs against the curtain covering the wall, she snuggledagainst his side. “Would you recite one of your letters to me? Please?”

Marcus shifted to wrap his arm around her shoulders. “All right.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before beginning.

“Dear Adriana,

I’ve been in this tower for three months. Only just over three months since last I saw you, but it feels like an eternity. A part of my soul is missing without you.

The moon is full and bright tonight, and as I look at it, I wonder if you’re looking, too. If I could send my love to the moon so you could feel my dedication to you in a moonbeam, I would.

Do you remember that day last winter when we stayed out too late, and I rode with you almost to your castle? The moonlight bounced off the snow, creating a perpetual twilight. It was like riding through a dream, all the more so because you were beside me.

Keep holding your hope for the dream of us like a bright candle in your heart, the way you did for the last year and a half.

With all of my love,

Your Marcus”

He finished reciting the letter and opened his eyes. Adriana had closed her own eyes, tucked her arm around his waist, and pressed closer against him. He wished they could stay like that forever, but she looked sleepy.

As if in confirmation, she yawned.

“As much as I’d love to sit with you all night,” Marcus said, “Ishould sleep in case Lord Thorne calls on me to serve him tomorrow.” He wasn’t even sure what that might look like.

“And I’m supposed to spend most of tomorrow with him.” She wrinkled her nose. “I suppose if we want to appear unsuspicious while we plot, we should both rest.”

“Agreed.” But he couldn’t seem to make himself move.

Adriana craned her neck back to look up at him. “You were given a tour, right? Do you know where the sitting room is on the ground floor?”

He nodded.

“Meet me there tomorrow night after the ninth hour.”

“I’ll be there,” he promised. At last, he made himself release her shoulders and move, but Adriana gripped his tunic.

“Please be careful climbing down. I can’t lose you again.”

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