Page 47 of Glass Hearts
“You are right, Sy. That is why Winnie, though I don’t believe she likes that nickname, is going to be my wing woman tonight and trick my duchess into going into town for her. Then I am going to sneak up on her and take her out on the town.” I pick an imaginary piece of lint on my dress shirt, smiling a devious grin, knowing my brothers will be quite jealous.
“Gray, you cannot do that!” Archer shoots up from the couch, his coffee almost spilling in the process. Sylas sat, a picture of stoicism, his brow furrowed in thought. That man is always thinking.
“Gray… I am not sure that is the best idea,” Koi bites out.
“I am pretty sure I can. And I thinkourgirl needs to get out of this castle. I can see her already getting restless. She is made to run free.”
“Our girl?” Koi asks.
“Yup. Our. Girl. I am just waiting for you idiots to catch up. Since the ball, she has been the flame we all can’t seem to look away from, nor stay away from. She feels the same way, too. I see the way she looks at us, blushing and responding to our attention. Koi, Bri already snitched to me that she saw you embracing Arabella, close to kissing her before she interrupted. Sylas, I know you already kissed her last night.” He shoots up with a shock. “And Arch, you carry that bandana everywhere you go. And don’t get me started with how stupid you are for going for the blonde, blue-eyed woman who looks almost like her. Which, by the way, you are going to need to stop doing. She noticed, and she looked hurt last night. So, actually now that I think of it, I am kind of pissed at you for hurting her. And I am so not going to help you grovel for being such a stubborn jackass.”
My normally very opinionated brothers all stare in silence as I fill my own coffee cup.
Not surprisingly, it’s Syals that breaks the silence.
“Gray, I know we have shared women before, but not in the romantic sense. Could it even work? The council would lose its mind with just having one queen.”
“You are over complicating it, my friend.” I sip the delicious coffee. Everything seems to taste better when you’re in love. “What is the council going to do? Remove all of our prince titles? There are no other male heirs. They need to be reminded of who actually is in charge. We may not be kings yet, but we will be. I think it’s time to start acting like ones. And I, for one, will not lose the chance of having my cake and eating it, too.” I wink at my fun little play on words while I watch Archer’s anger turn into pensiveness.
Koi interjects, “Gray is right. We have been giving the council too much say in our lives. They were just supposed to guide us. Not to control us. Technically, they work for us. Yet here we are, pandering to them like fools. Getting ready to go to anotheruseless courting event when I know my heart already belongs to Ella.”
Sylas’s smile grows. I knew Koi would always be on board. But seeing Sy come around has my heart hopeful. What I hadn’t planned was for Archer to storm out. My smile falls a little, really thinking he had wanted our girl just as much as us.
“I think he may need a bit more time, Gray. His trust issues have been getting the better of him since Arabella entered our lives. I agree with you; he is just as smitten, but he fears feeling so drawn to the vixen.”
I nod to Sylas. We will have to play the council’s game a bit longer. But in the end, it seems we are finally on the same page… mostly.
* * *
The day drags on so slowly as I anticipate my date with my duchess. During the brunch event, I saw Winona talking with my duchess, luring her into the night for me. A thumbs up is all I need to know Arabella bought the trap.
So now I stand in the shadows outside the castle, where Arabella should sneak out from at any moment. I check my hair again, smooth down my clothes and check my breath. I have never been so nervous to court a woman before, not that I have ever properly courted a woman… it usually is a straight to the bedroom kind of thing. Honestly, I don’t know if I am doing anything right. Luckily, Winnie gave me many tips on how to woo the woman of my deepest desires.
Hmm.. Maybe she will needtwofruit baskets.
I hear soft footsteps round the corner; her delicious smell already envelops the warm evening air. I pop out from behind the corner, and instantly, she has me backed against the wall, that same gold knife she threatened the doctor with, propped upagainst my throat. It’s dark, so I don’t think she can see my face, and she doesn’t pull away right away. I was already smitten, but now I am a goner.
“Fuuuccccckkkk. I have been dreaming of you pulling that blade on me, Ella. Show me all of your darkness, Duchess.”
“Oh my gosh, Grayer!” Sadly, she moves away, withdrawing the dagger. “Why are you sneaking out of the castle!?”
“I could ask the same of you, Duchess.”
“It’s not what it looks like… I-I am not trying to escape, nor am I going out to steal…”
She is so cute when she is flustered and worried. I pull her close, my hands framing her face as I lean in to capture her lips in a passionate kiss, a taste I’ve craved since our first evening encounter. Her arms wrap around my neck, not breaking the kiss just yet.Anything you want, love.
Sadly, she breaks the kiss first.
“Now, Duchess. Don’t be mad, but my friend Winona may have been acting as my wing woman to get my girl out here for a date. Would you want to go on a date with me tonight, Duchess?” For a moment, she looks at me questioningly. I grow a bit worried.
“Wouldn’t Adrianna be displeased?” She raises one of her perfect eyebrows.
“Adrianna? Why would I care what she thinks??”
“I overheard that you requested for her in your bed… that night. You may be used to multiple partners; but I am not tangling myself in that mess.” She crosses her arms. Looking away, unhappy.
Well, fuck. I have already boggled the shit of this.
