Page 134 of The Promised Prince
Tears gathered in the corner of her eyes, but she blinked them back. Why hadn’t her mother told her that?
“Not that you’ll believe me now.” Trev let out another frustrated breath.
“If that’s true, why didn’t you write to me or come for me? It’s been almost six months.” She struggled to control her emotion, hoping he didn’t see how hurt she was.
“I wanted to.” He bit his lip. There was a vulnerable honesty in his eyes that made her want to hug him. “I didn’t know how to balance my feelings for you with everything that happened with Seran. I felt like being with you would somehow betray her.”
Renna sighed, knowing exactly how he felt. “Why now? What makes you think we can be together now?”
“King Bryant. He’s the reason I’m here. His forgiveness and blessing were enough to make me realizewedeserve to be happy.”
Renna wanted to be happy with Trev, but she’d spent the last six months convincing herself of why they could never be together. “Even if we put everything with Seran aside, we still would never work. I can’t be the queen of Albion, and you can’t be a farmer. I would never fit in your world, and you would always be trying to get me to. It just wouldn’t work.”
“You’d be a great queen of Albion,” he said, the sincerity in his voice saying he really believed it.
“I don’t know the first thing about being queen.”
“Yes, you do! You’re strong. You don’t let people get away with things just because that’s how it’s always been done. You fight for what you believe in, even if it isn’t popular. You care about the working-class people and bring so much perspective to those who don’t understand what it’s really like out there. You’re kind, compassionate, and full of ideas. I would be proud to have you by my side.”
Renna couldn’t believe he saw all that inher.
“Besides,” he gestured to all the transporters behind him, “there are a thousand people who will happily tell you what to do and say every minute of your life.”
She shook her head, not knowing how to get past her insecurities, doubts, and fears.
“Can we just start over?” Trev asked, throwing his hands out to the side.
“It’s a little too late to pretend like we’re just meeting for the first time.”
“No, just startthisconversation over. I’m going to go back to the transporter and get out again, and you’re going to respond differently this time. You’re going to tell me how you really feel.”
“Thisishow I really feel.” At least a part of it, anyway. She was upset with him, but underneath it all, of course she loved him.
“No, it’s not.” He called her bluff.
“Yes, it is.” She meant to hold her ground.
“That was the anger and logic talking. It’s good we got it off your chest.” He smiled. “Did it feel good to say all those things to me?”
She bit back her own smile. “Yes.”
“Are there any other angry things you want to say to me?” He stood tall like he could take whatever beating she wanted to give him.
Renna opened her mouth to speak then shut it dramatically. She didn’t want to rehash all the pain and heartache. Trev was here, and he wanted to build a future with her. It was her turn to let go of the past. “I guess not.”
“Okay, then.” He took a quick breath. “I’m going back to the transporter, and we’ll redo the entire conversation—with you being happy to hear that I love you and excited that the love of your life has arrived.” He started jogging back to the vehicle. “And depending on how you respond,” he turned, walking backward so she could easily see his adorable face, “we’ll see if I get enough courage to ask you to marry me. Okay?”
The butterflies were back, stirring inside her. “Okay.”
“All right, Trev loves Renna, take two,” he said as he opened the transporter door, ducking inside, then shutting the door.
Trev
Trev sat againstthe black leather seat of the transporter and took a deep breath.
“How’s it going out there?” Drake asked from across the seat.
Trev looked at his friend. “It could be going better.”
