Page 56 of Promoted To His Princess

It made her weak, made her vulnerable, caused her pain. That was why she wore armour. To protect her heart.

But you can’t wear armour and love him, too.

Calista wiped her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks, feeling hollow and raw. Because that was true. And the choice had always been one or the other for her. There was no in between. She couldn’t do both.

But he did.

A shiver shook her then, right down to her core. And all she could think about was Xerxes. He’d been broken, but he’d got back up. He’d been tortured and afraid, but he hadn’t let it beat him. He’d been banished and he’d returned. Because he loved his country and he loved his brother.

It had been his love for Adonis that had kept him from taking that capsule, no matter what he thought. And it was that same love that had brought him home.

Love had never made him weak. Love had made him strong.

How can you repay that strength by walking away from him? When it’s what your mother did to you?

Her heart froze in her chest, the pain shattering her. Yes, that was exactly what she was doing. She was leaving him as if he wasn’t important, as if he didn’t matter, but hedidmatter and hewasimportant, and she couldn’t do that to him.

She couldn’t leave him the way her mother had left her. Somehow, she had to find the strength that would take her back to him.

But she knew where that strength would be found. It was in her love for him. And it would bring her home.

Calista stepped out of her armour, burned it to the ground, and set herself free. She let love surround her instead, making her whole, making her strong.

Then she pushed herself out of her chair, went into the bedroom, showered and washed her hair. She went to the wardrobe where the clothes she’d brought from the palace were and took out the uniform that was hanging there.

Her uniform. And she dressed slowly and carefully, brushing all the dust and lint from it, polishing the buttons to make them shine.

Yes, she was a soldier. She had a soldier’s courage and a soldier’s endurance. But she was also a woman, with a woman’s strong heart. A woman’s deep love.

It might not be what he wanted. It might mean she’d end up being hurt.

But he was worth the risk. He always had been.

She waited, and when the helicopter arrived to pick her up she got in without a word.

The trip to the palace didn’t take long and she was surrounded by guards when she got there, men she knew, who nodded to her, escorting her to a room where a wedding dress hung, along with a long white veil, a make-up artist, and a stylist ready to turn her into a vision.

But she shook her head as they approached. She didn’t need that. She would come to him as she was, offer him what she had. And hope that it would be enough.

She only paused for one thing—the veil. Taking her cap off, she put the veil on her head, along with the tiara that went with it, because after all, she wasn’t just a soldier, and, still dressed in her uniform, got back into the car that would take her to the cathedral in the middle of Itheus.

There were people everywhere when she arrived, and news media, crowds of people thronging the streets. And they all looked at her as the door was opened, and just for a second her heart quailed inside her chest.

But it was only for a second. Because he was here, waiting for her. And love had made her strong. So she got out of the car with her chin held high, in her uniform and veil, walking straight up the steps, the crowd roaring in her wake.

Just inside the great double doors her father waited.

He said nothing as she appeared, giving her an up-and-down look. And she met that look, let him see her pride. Let him see her love. Because it wasn’t a weakness, no matter what he thought.

Her father gave a single nod and offered her his arm, and then the doors into the cathedral itself were opening, and the aisle was in front of her.

The vaulted space was full of dignitaries and aristocracy, but she didn’t see them.

The only person she saw was the man at the other end, waiting by the altar. Tall and strong and powerful in his uniform. His gaze met hers across the acres of space, and even from where she was she saw the flare of his expression on his face.

The hope. The joy. The pride. The love.

Her heart throbbed, full and painful. There were tears in her eyes.

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