Page 115 of A Kingdom's Heart
“They gave up,” I said softly. “But we won’t.”
Her eyes softened, though her tears still clung to her lashes. “But what if we’re not given a choice?”
“Then we’ll make one,” I whispered. “No matter what happens, I’ll keep finding my way back to you. Even if the world keeps us apart.”
She looked at me for a long time, her eyes searching mine as if
trying to hold on to every word. Then, slowly, she nodded. The faintest smile touched her lips, small but real.
The sea whispered behind us, the sound mingling with the wind. She leaned forward until her head rested against my chest again, her hands clutching her skirt as though she could anchor herself there.
I ran a hand through my hair and closed my eyes. For that
moment, nothing else mattered. Not the crown, not the vows, not the morning that waited us. Only her heartbeat against mine, and the quiet promise that lived between us.
If the world tried to tear us apart, I would still find her. Somehow.
CHAPTER FORTY SIX
WILLIAM
I had been right about one thing. I would come back for her. If it took a lifetime, I would find her again. I would wait a hundred years if I had to.
But staying? That wasn’t something I could do. Not to her. Not to myself.
After she left for her chamber, I stayed by the water for a while. The night was quieter, the sea stretching endlessly under the moon. Every sound, every breath felt heavier than the last. I tried not to think, but everything reminded me of her. The way she smiled, the way she said my name, the way her hand had fit in mine like it had always belonged there.
Eventually, I moved toward the small dock behind the castle. There were a few boats there, tied loosely against the posts. I found a small one, worn from years of use but still sturdy. It would be enough. I checked the ropes, the oars, the boards. I worked in silence, letting my hands move while my mind stayed far away.
I would stay for the wedding. I owed her that much. I would stand among the guards, silent and still, and watch her walk down the aisle in white. I would watch her say vows she didn’t mean to a man who didn’t deserve her. And when it was over, when theball had ended and the castle had gone quiet again, I would leave before the morning light touched the sea.
I would give up my title, my knighthood, my life here. None of it mattered anymore. Not if she wasn’t in it. But staying would only break us both. I couldn’t look at her and pretend that I was fine. I couldn’t stand there and watch her become someone else’s forever.
I straightened and looked toward the castle. The lights glowed softly in the distance, gold against the night. Somewhere inside those walls, she was preparing for her wedding. For a life she didn’t choose.
My chest ached. When God allows it, I’ll find my way back.
I stood, listening to the sound of the sea for a moment longer. Then I turned away.
Tomorrow, I would watch her marry another man.
And then I would leave.
Possibly forever.
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN
IRIS
The servants were hurrying around me. One fastened a necklace around my neck while another adjusted the silver pins in my hair. The gown was white and heavy, embroidered with silver thread that shimmered with every move. It was beautiful, but it didn’t feel like mine.
“Hold still, Your Highness,” one of them said as she tied the corset tighter. I could barely breathe.
Meanwhile, the others continued to fuss around me, their chatter blending into a dull hum. Somewhere below, I could hear the faint rhythm of footsteps and laughter as others prepared the grand hall for the wedding ball. The air carried the scent of roses and fresh polish. Every corner of the castle was coming alive for the day that would change everything.
My chest felt tight, and I couldn’t tell if it was from the corset or from everything pressing down at once. My hands were trembling slightly in my lap when the door opened.
Raven stepped inside.
