Page 8 of Cage of Darkness
“Jarvik told my parentsabout the incident. He didn’t come to me because he was afraid itwould affect our friendship. Yet, he knew the marriage couldn’t gothrough if Shelene’s intentions weren’t honorable. My parentsimmediately severed the contract. I was furious and threatened toleave with the princess. That’s when they told me thetruth.”
“Were you upset with yourfriend?”
“I was hurt and angry, butnot with him. I was mad at myself for falling for her tricks, fornot seeing what was right in front of me. Shelene was furious overlosing the alliance. She swore we would pay—Jarvik for not keepinghis mouth shut and me for refusing her. She returned home. By thenext season, our border was lined with Russek soldiers threateningto invade. Then your well-timed letter arrived. Your parents statedthat they were interested in a potential union between our twokingdoms. My parents didn’t divulge all the details of the letter,but they were fairly impressed with the proposal and insisted I goand meet you for myself. They said the decision was ultimatelymine.” He finally glanced at her, his eyes pleading for her tounderstand.
She was still trying to figure out whyOdar and Jarvik had switched places.
“I had no intention ofmarrying you,” he admitted. “I assumed you were greedy and wantedFren’s army for power. Unfortunately, we needed Emperion’s strengthto stop Russek. I was bitter, mad at Shelene, and furious at theposition I was in. At the time, I assumed I brought this uponFren—that the threat from Russek was my fault. So, to get back atShelene, I decided to switch places with Jarvik. I assumed youwould be taken with him. I had intended for the two of you tomarry, for you to send troops to Fren’s aid, and I hoped whenShelene heard about the union, she would be livid.”
Allyssa was certain she’d heard himwrong. “Did you say you were going to let me marry Jarvik, thinkinghe was the prince of Fren?” He nodded. “My parents would have goneto war with Fren once the truth came out.”
“I thought you’d be so inlove with him by then that it wouldn’t matter. Your kingdom wouldhave what it wanted, and so would mine.”
“Sod off.” She triedyanking free.
“There’s more,” he mumbled,not releasing her. “You agreed to hear me out,” hepleaded.
What else could he possibly say thatwould justify his behavior? “You’re an arrogant prick,” shesnapped.
“Please let me finishexplaining.”
She stopped fighting and gave a curtnod. When he was done, she would trounce him.
“When we arrived atEmperion’s court, my plan didn’t unfold as I anticipated. Youbarely looked Jarvik’s way no matter how charming he was. Youseemed dead set against the union. I hated you because I assumedyou were just like Shelene. But the self-absorbed, snotty princessI expected to find didn’t exist. Instead, there you were. Aprincess who snuck out at night simply to spend time with herfriend and put criminals behind bars. I’d never met anyone likeyou. And once I started to see you, the real you, everythingchanged. I realized how wrong I’d been to set my deceptive planinto motion.” He reached up and gently placed his free hand on hercheek.
“Once you realized you werewrong, why did you continue the ruse? Why did you allow Jarvik tosign the marriage contract?”
His hand dropped from her face. “Don’tget mad, but…that’s not exactly correct.”
“What do you mean?” shedemanded, her temper barely under control. Her feelings were atodds. Should she kiss him? Punch him? Perhaps both.
“I signed the marriagecontract as myself, Prince Odar, and Jarvik signed as the witness.You and I are officially engaged.”
She recalled the day the contract wassigned and how it required one additional signature—a witness.Jarvik and Prince Odar were there, sitting side by side, and bothsigned the contract.
“If my father knew, he’dkill you,” she said.
“Darmik alreadyknows.”
Chapter Four
“What do you meanhe knows?” Allyssa askedwith disbelief. She squeezed her hand from Odar’s grasp andclutched onto the fabric of her pants, trying not to lose hertemper.
“Before the ball, I had along conversation with your father. I told him that I wasn’t asquire but Prince Odar. I also explained the reason for the falseidentity. That is why your father entrusted you to mycare.”
“He wasn’t furious withyou?” She thought her father would chop off Odar’s head for hisdeception.
“Once I explained it tohim, Darmik told me he suspected as much. The Prince Odar he’d metdidn’t coincide with his reports; however, the squire Jarvik did.He said it wasn’t hard to figure it out after that. He thought itbest to continue the ruse until you and I made it toFren.”
She sat there, stunned. Her fatherknew?
She whacked his arm. “Do you have anyidea what you’ve put me through? I have been going out of my mindthinking I had to marry someone I only cared for as a friend. ThatI would have to share a bed with him. Do you have any idea whatthat’s like?” She shook her head, hitting his arm again. “You driveme insane. At first, you were so degrading and condescending. Ihated you. Then you helped me with Grevik, and I realized I waswrong. You’re intelligent, cunning, and everything I want in ahusband. But you were only a squire, and we couldn’t marry becauseI had to save my kingdom from a bloody war with Russek.” He blinkedseveral times but didn’t interrupt. “But you’re not a squire.You’re a prince. Your name is Odar, which doesn’t feel right to me.Gah, you’re infuriating.”
“I love you.”
She froze. “What?”
“I love you. I love yourtemper, your devotion, your friendship, and your loyalty. I loveeverything about you, and I’m sorry for lying and deceiving you. Inever meant to hurt you.”
