Page 59 of The Rejected King
She shuddered. “No. I can’t let you do this.”
Davin pulled his head back. “Iwantto do this. Iwantyou. More than I want to be king. More than anything else in this life. In my mind, in my heart, you come first.” He shrugged, a small smile forming on his lips. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
Emree closed her eyes. She wanted to laugh or cry or maybe throw her arms around Davin’s neck and kiss him again. Instead, she stood there speechless, letting his words weave inside her mind and soul. This was what she’d never had with Portlend. This was what her heart had ached for, someone who truly loved her more than himself. She had found it with Davin, and it made her heart leap with happiness. She was a pre-Desolation firework shooting across the sky, sprinkling lights and sparks of joy everywhere.
Alarms went off in her head, blaring that same old message she’d been telling herself ever since she’d gotten the job: they couldn’t be together. The Promenade and Davin’s public image were the reality that brought her back down to earth. Her job was to “save” the Promenade and the king’s reputation. Not ruin it. There were too many obstacles to overcome, their difference in class the biggest among them.
Emotion filled her eyes. “Thank you for loving me that much, but I can’t let you ruin everything.”
He shook his head. “Don’t do that. Don’t give up on us before we even get started.”
“Your reputation can’t handle a scandal like this.”
He threw his arms out. “So what?”
“Davin, don’t you want to be king?”
His eyes lit up, and his lips curled into a smile. “You said my name.”
“What?”
“That’s the first time you’ve said my name. Except for when you were heavily medicated, but that doesn’t count. Although, you did say I was handsome when you were medicated, and Iamcounting that.”
She stared back at him, blinking.
“Sorry, I digressed.” He sighed. “Yes, I want to be king, but I also want to be happy and if there’s a chance that I can have you and remain king, then I’m willing to risk everything to make that happen.”
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
He reached for her hands, interlocking his fingers with hers. “Then we’ll still have each other. But Emree, what if it does?”
Emree studied his handsome face and kind eyes. She wanted a life with Davin and everything that came with it. If there was a chance at that future, she wanted to go after it, too. She loved him, and now she wanted her happily ever after.
“Okay,” she said.
Davin laughed. “Okay?”
She nodded, laughing too.
He pulled her into a hug. “We’re doing this?”
Emree let out a deep breath. “Yes, we’re doing this.”
26
Emree
Guests slowly streamed into the grand hall, trilling with excitement. Black suits and long colorful dresses filled each corner of the spacious room. Servants in gray blouses stood behind tables covered in bubbling drinks and lavish appetizers. A full orchestra on the balcony matched the fervor of the crowd with their thrumming stringed instruments. Nobody danced yet. Instead, everyone mingled in small groups, waiting on the arrival of Queen Arillia and King Davin.
Emree tried to keep her breathing even, but nothing could stop her racing heart. She glanced across the room at Patrice Kenson, standing in a group with her father and some other high rulers. Her coral dress set off her long blonde hair and tanned skin, making her stand out as much as she had the first night. Although tonight, the cut of her dress was more conservative than it had been at the Promenade opening dinner. What would Patrice do when Davin made his announcement? Emree looked away as soon as her guilt took over.
She wished Davin didn’t have to make the announcement at the ball in public. But it would be better for his reputation if he faced their relationship head-on in front of all the newswriters and high rulers. Emree closed her eyes, trying to prepare herself for the moment Davin would say her name. She tried to see the shocked faces and hear the gasps of the crowd. She flipped her eyes open again. She could do this. It would all be over soon, and then Davin could hold her in his arms and make all her anxiety fade away.
“Emree?”
She turned and looked directly at Fennish and Yvonne Kemp’s smiling faces. They reached out to hug her.
“You look so beautiful,” Yvonne said.
