Page 10 of Three's A Crown

I hate that he’s right. It doesn’t mean I have to like it, and I’m sure as hell I can find a loophole, no matter how long it takes.He is mine. And I am his.I give him one last look as I walk out of my suite and into the hall, where Joss is waiting with his brows pulled together.

“Do you have something you would like to say, Joss?” I question him as we head down the long corridors to my father’s office.

He’s quiet for a moment as he tries to straddle the line between professional and concerned father. “I know you love my son, sir,” Joss starts as we stride quickly down the long marble hall toward my parents’ wing of the palace. “But you must love your country more,” he says, reiterating his son’s words. I understand he’s trying to help, but it’s not one or the other as far as I am concerned, I am going to have both.

In an instant, I stop striding down the hall and turn to the man who is like a second father to me. “I love Greyson, and I love my country. Iwillhave both.” Joss nods in understanding before I turn on my heel and continue toward my father’s office. Moments later, Joss knocks on my father’s door, and his deep, booming voice echoes down the hall as he tells us to come in. Joss releases the door for me, and I walk into the imposing room before he closes the ornate door, leaving us alone. Floor-to-ceiling, deep mahogany shelves filled with books line one entire side of the room. On the opposite side is a large picture window that faces out over the city so he canlook at his people. Those are his words, not mine. On another side, where his large wooden desk sits, hangs a portrait of my mother and him in an oversized gilded frame.

My father motions to the chair in front of him to sit, and I do as I am told. “Thank you for coming. You know why I’ve summoned you here.”

“Yes, Father. I know my duty. You didn’t have to call me all the way down here to remind me about it.”

He lets out a frustrated sigh as he leans back against his chair and steeples his hands in front of him. “I understand your heart lies somewhere else, Auggie.” His voice is calm. “You know Greyson cannot be anything more.”

“Greyson isn’t going anywhere. You understand that don’t you?” I see my father wince at my words.

His nostrils flare angrily. “Things change, especially when you have a wife and a family. They will be your priority. There can’t be any distractions from that.”

“Greyson isnotgoing anywhere. Whomever my wife will be, she has to understand that fact, too.” I know I sound like a petulant child at thirty, but he needs to know my feelings for Greyson are true. That what we have is more than sex.

My father’s forehead crumples in a frown. “You’re that selfish that you would hold Greyson back from having a family of his own? Don’t you think he deserves that happiness? Doesn’t Joss deserve to be a grandfather?”

His words hit me square in the chest, and my heart constricts with sadness as I close and reopen my eyes.A family.This is something I know Greyson wants. We’ve spoken about having children before, and his eyes light up at the mere mention of them.Am I selfish to take that away from him?Of course, I am. Greyson will always have to sit on the sidelines while I play happy family with another. All he will get is secret rendezvous in the palace or late-night calls while my family is sleeping.

Shit!

I rake my hand through my hair.

“I understand you two are close, but duty calls,” my father reminds me.

My heart feels like it’s being ripped out of my chest and stomped on. “You know I will do what I must for my country. That I’m duty bound, no matter what,” I tell him.

My father nods in understanding. “That is why your mother and I have decided that you should be the one to choose your wife.”

Did I hear Father correctly?

“Next month, we will hold the Summer Ball and invite the most eligible women in society for you to meet. Lester is getting all the folios together as we speak, so you may peruse them before meeting the women. You will find the perfect wife at this ball, Augustine, and if you cannot make a choice, then your mother and I will. Do you understand me?” he warns.

I can’t help but frown; he’s giving me a lifeline, but he will cut it if I don’t make the right decision. “I understand.”

“Lester will drop off the information about the hundred women who will be in attendance. That is all,” he says, dismissing me.

I turn on my heel and walk out of my father’s office and back toward my wing. My feet pick up pace as I rush along the empty hallways of the palace. When I reach my room, I pull the door open and slam it shut behind me, my chest heaving.

Greyson sits up on my bed in alarm. His brows furrow and he quickly jumps out of bed and rushes to me, pulling me into his muscular arms as he grips my body tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” he tries to soothe me.

Looking up into his loving eyes, I notice the crinkles at the edges of his eyes becoming more pronounced each year we are together. Stubble peppers his square jaw. Unlike me, he doesn’t have to shave every day, and I like the roughness.

“He’s giving me a choice, Grey.”

“A choice?” His brows rise.

“Lester is delivering folders of eligible women for me to choose from. They will attend the Summer Ball next month. I must make my decision then.” Panic fills my body over this decision that will affect me so much. I don’t want to make the wrong choice. This will be for a lifetime—a lifetime that I will be tethered to this woman—and she will be my queen. Not only do I need to choose wisely for myself, but I also need to pick the right woman for my people.

His grin lights up his sun-kissed face, and my heart somersaults as I take in his handsomeness. “This is good, Auggie. You having this choice,” Greyson states.

“A choice that has strings attached,” I grumble.

“It’s better than none,” Greyson states. He’s right. “Guess we’re going to need snacks. Looking at images of women all night is going to make me hungry.” He chuckles.

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