Page 28 of Treasured By the Fae Royal

“What kind of options?” Aunt Heather asks.

“I wouldn’t take her on the road with my army, if that’s what you are worried about. I would either take her back to the Summer Court, where we could live in the palace or even in a house of our very own, or we could settle somewhere in the human lands. We could even move into this cottage. I don’t care where we live. All I care about is that we’ll be together and that Yvette is happy.”

“If I’m not on the road with your army,” I say, “wouldn’t that mean we would be separated for long periods of time?”

His eyes gleam with hope. “Why, sweetling, it sounds like you’re giving some honest consideration to becoming my wife. It also sounds like you will miss me terribly if I’m off at war. Not that I can blame you. I know I’m a catch.”

“I’m being serious.” I resist the urge to stamp on his foot.

“So am I.” He straightens. “I would let you decide where we live, and I would make whatever arrangements I must with my family to make that happen, whether it means returning the leadership of the army to one of my brothers or even my father. It’s also possible my father will agree that General Dalgaard is capable of leading the army on his own without the presence of a Summer Court royal.”

Mama stands up, and she grabs hold of Aunt Heather’s arm and pulls her upward. “I’ve heard enough, and I’ve decided to give you both my blessing.” Her eyes glimmer with tears as she looks at me. “Yvette, darling, all I ever wanted was for you to find a kind man who would treat you well and protect you. I know what cruelty looks like, and sadly, so do you. But the prince isn’t cruel. It’s clear to me that he has a conscience on him, at least he does when it comes to you, and I believe he’s shown that he can be trusted.”

Aunt Heather opens her mouth and draws in a long breath, but Mama pushes her out of the dining room before she can offer her opinion.

“We’ll leave you two alone now so you might talk things over. Goodnight, Yvette. See you in the morning… or maybe not.” Mama sends me a tearful smile just before she departs the room.

“Goodnight, Mama. Goodnight, Aunt Heather.”

Prince Lucas turns to me and takes my hands in his. My pulse quickens and I suddenly forget all my reasons for resisting him, all the reasons I didn’t accept his marriage proposal a week ago. Except… it wasn’t really a marriage proposal. He’d simply stated that he wanted me to become his bride. Now that I think about it, he’s never asked me outright.

“Miss Yvette Harmon,” he says in a deep rumbling tone, “will you take a moonlit walk with me?”

My mouth goes dry. “Yes, Prince Lucas Brossnin,” I force out. “Yes, I will go on a moonlit walk with you.”

CHAPTER14

LUCAS

The moment we step outside,I summon a majestic summer night. A warm, fragrant breeze. Buzzing locusts, singing crickets, and trilling frogs. I also call forth fireflies, varrins, and derlotts to flit through the trees.

I wrap an arm around Yvette and guide her beyond the garden and into the forest. Despite her recent encounter with the mangga swarm, she doesn’t hesitate, and I know it’s because she trusts I’ll protect her. Her trust gives me hope for our future.

It gives me hope that she might say ‘yes’ to the question I’m preparing to ask her.

“Gods, it’s a beautiful night.” She snuggles closer to me as we continue down the path, past the thick ferns and the pear trees. The ussha glow is all around us, more radiant than ever before.

“If you think this is beautiful, then you must one day visit the Summer Court.” I lean down to place a kiss atop her head, and I revel at the soft, appreciative sigh that emits from her throat.

“You know, when I was a child, I used to dream about traveling across the entire realm,” she says in a faraway voice. “I used to fantasize about journeying to all the human and orc territories, and I used to imagine what it would be like to visit each of the fae courts.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh, yes. I think it’s why I fell in love with books. I started reading adventure stories that were set all over the realm. Mama used to clean house for an elderly woman who had a large home library. Mrs. Gibbons. I always came along to help, and Mrs. Gibbons would let me borrow anything I wanted.”

“I also enjoyed stories about grand adventures when I was a child. In fact, I still do, but I’ve also developed an appreciation for both fae and human poetry, as well as orc battle narratives.” I help her duck beneath a low branch that’s covered in glowing moss. I consider how reading was an escape for me when the cruelty visited on me by my father and brothers became too much, and given what I know about her father, I wonder if perhaps it was the same for Yvette. Thankfully, my relationship with my father and brothers improved as I entered my second century and started winning battles and proving myself in their eyes, but I will never forget the lonely nights I spent curled up with a book as my only companion.

“I must confess, knowing you like to read is a huge plus,” she says. “I also appreciate that you didn’t mock me the other night when you found my stash of romance novels.”

“I’ve never read a human romance novel,” I admit, “but after glimpsing the titles in your stash, I am curious. Perhaps you’ll let me borrow one, and you could borrow one of my books, and then we could discuss what we’ve read.”

“I like that idea.” She laughs. “But be warned. I intend to select the naughtiest book from my collection for you to read first. It’s my goal to make you blush again. In the time I’ve known you, I’ve only seen you blush twice.”

I pull her to a stop and circle my arms around her. My hardening cock presses against her stomach, and I long to rut her in the middle of the forest. But not yet. I won’t claim her until we’ve exchanged marriage vows. I won’t claim her until we’ve promised ourselves to one another in the human fashion.

“When have you ever seen me blush?” I ask in a dubious tone.

“Whether you realize it or not, you blushed, for just a moment, when I introduced you to my aunt.” She playfully pushes at my chest. “Remember when I referred to you asa very kind and very skilled highborn fae? Your face and your ears went dark pink for a few seconds.”

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