Page 35 of Night's Fall
“We’re alone, in your home.Thereare no formalities here, so that isn’t necessary.”
“Oh.Right,”Imumbled.
Now, his full lips twitched. “Like, you didn’t curtsy to me whenIwalked in.”
Whoops!
“That was more about me being surprised you were here,”Iexplained.
“The element of surprise is often a useful tool.”
I’d never used it, but his recent use of it certainly worked for him.
“I understand,” he said softly, so softly, his silk became velvet again and lured me in so completely,Iwas riveted to everything about him.
“You understand what?”Iwhispered for fearI’dbreak his spell.
“You’re frightened.”
I was?
“Obviously,Idon’t understand from a place of actual understanding, since it’s allI’veever known, but instead, from a place of empathy,” he clarified. “Igarner a great deal of attention.It’srareIcan go anywhere without it being digitized within instants in allFourRealms.Andmyself, or anyoneI’mwith, is scrutinized and commented on with alacrity and swift judgement.Thisalone would give any female with even a modicum of sense, pause.Onewith a good deal of it would need time to consider if she wants it to be a part of her life.Alongwith that, there have been…”—he dipped his head to the side with a self-deprecating slant to his lips—“numerous females before you.Notto mention,Iended a highly publicized engagement not long ago.”
Oh.
Okay then.
And…well,yeah.
That was all pretty scary.
“It’s…” he seemed to be struggling, then he stated, “difficultfor me to make this admission, but much of that,Ican’t protect you from.It’sa large part of my duty as a royal to be seen, to be available, to be present.Theextent of it is maddening, andIdon’t agree the media deserve every pound of my flesh, like they think they do.Nordo the beings, as loyal asIam toNight’sFalland its citizens.ButI’velearned in my time to find ways to keep my private life private and protect those in it.Andthat would, most especially, be extended to you.Thatsaid,Icannot protect you from all of it.Itis their due.”
It was their due?
Whose due?
BeforeIcould ask, he said, “So,Isuggest, in our beginning, we have times like this, where you can get used to me.Andtimes, like tomorrow evening, whenItake you to theCataloguesof thePalaceso you can see the troll skins.Inother words, times whenIcan be whoIwill be to you.SimplyAleksei.”
WhoIwill be to you.
SimplyAleksei.
“Why did you mark me last night?”Iasked quietly.
His brow furrowed in open bewilderment. “Becauseyou’re mine.”
An enchanting shiver glided over me.
Because you’re mine.
I wasn’t.
It was well-known the royals didn’t marry their mates.Theydidn’t even seek them.
In days gone by, they married for alliances, for power, money.
More recently, it might be cynical (but the factQueenCalisawas the top vid star of her generation, and ridiculously beautiful to boot, before she became queen (and the beautiful part held true to this day), offered evidence of this), they married for the media.
