Page 124 of Royal Captive

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There was stunned silence as the yard emptied.

“No. Absolutely not,” Viana finally choked out, her hands also covering her face as she stared at Ellis.

Nessian reached us next, bending over and panting. He’d gotten a bit more round and lax in our decade of peace.

“Nessian, as the only other male royal present, tell Ellis he looks ridiculous and that he needs to remove it immediately,” Viana demanded, pointing at the beard.

Trust someone to turn back into a human from a dragon for the first time in a decade, and Viana’s first concern is a bit of facial hair.

Nessian blinked. “Uh … it does rather … overwhelm your face,” he managed.

I snorted.

Ellis opened his mouth and we froze, waiting.

“Aaaghh.” He coughed.

We leaned forward.

“Aaaahhheeee.” He cleared his throat. “I. I. I uuuuh.”

Viana clicked her tongue in impatience. I punched her in the gut. Nessian laughed.

“I love you.” Those gold eyes with a hint of blue met mine for the first time in a decade, a smile so large and goofy that it took up his whole face. His arms wobbled, outstretched for me.

My throat tightened, clogged with emotion.

“How?” I whispered.

“I … saw … you.” He croaked, every word sounding like it was hard and difficult. “And … I decided … I was in control.”

Say something. Anything.

All I could do was cry.

Lily (Nessian’s other younger sister) barged onto the lawn at seeing everyone streaming away.

“What’s this then?” She paused at seeing Ellis naked, head tilting to the side. She stared, grinning like a loon.

“Away!” Nessian ordered, grabbing his sister by the elbow and forcibly taking her away.

“Aw come on!” she griped, her complaints fading into the background.

Viana rubbed her face.

“Wow. What happened?” she asked, more to herself than anyone else.

Suddenly, I had words. “My birthday wish came true.”

I rushed forward as Ellis clumsily stood, gathering himself to stand like the king I knew he was.

“Everyone leave, unless you want to watch me fuck my wife.”

Viana huffed.

I cried.

So this was what happily ever afters felt like.

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