Page 44 of The Crown Prince and the Traitor

Her dark eyes filled with warmth for the first time since the cave.

A throat cleared, reminding him both of their fathers were watching. He handed the ring to his dad. The king took it solemnly and pocketed it, not saying anything, though his blue eyes were bright.

Tristan climbed out of the Kawasaki and rushed around to assist Jennifer.

The king turned to him. “Wait for the guards to clear the cottage before you enter. William might be gone, but Naomi is just as lethal and possibly smarter.”

Tristan nodded. Their dads waved and drove away together. His dad spoke to a guard at the gate. The well-built guard rushed to them and bowed slightly. “Please allow me to escort you. I’ll check the cottage and watch over you.”

“Thank you, Ollie.”

“My pleasure, sir.”

They walked up the sheltered path to the cottage and waited outside while Ollie went through it, disabling all the recording devices. Finally, they were allowed in. Ollie promised to stand guard outside until he was relieved that evening. They thanked him and walked in.

Jennifer was withdrawn and not herself. He knew she was exhausted, and everything they’d gone through weighed heavily in the air between them. He called the castle, and they sent down some clothes for him and a load of food. They each showered and then sat and ate. Well, Tristan ate. Jennifer just pushed food around her plate.

Halfway through the meal, he met Jennifer’s gaze and saw that her chin was quivering. “Jenn?”

She burst into tears.

Tristan stood and hurried to pull her up and into his arms. “Jenn.”

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “Everything is such a mess. My mum’s probably dead or being tortured by Naomi. Your mum’s dead because of my mum. My dad helped William and hid this awful secret to protect us. I watched Philippe and William die today. I don’t even know Philippe and I despised William, but I …”

Tristan held her as she cried. It was a mess. He’d shot Philippe and felt regret for taking his life, but he’d protected Jennifer. He didn’t know how to make things right about her mum and dad. It would take time.

“I’m sorry …” he began.

“No,” she snapped. “Don’t you apologize. You protected me and saved my dad.” She shook her head, her dark eyes bright with tears. “How are you and your dad both so incredible? He simply forgave my dad. For all that pain. All that time hiding and lying. You were joking with my dad when you should despise him for being part of the queen’s death, for being so weak and allowing William to manipulate him.”

“Oh, Jenn.” He escorted her to the couches and sat down, wrapping her up and holding her close. “Love. It’s going to take some time to heal, truly forgive, and put it behind us. But despising your dad won’t bring my mum back. I wish it had been different, but William was insanely brilliant in all his manipulations. Your dad was trying to stop his schemes and protect you and your mum.”

“Why couldn’t he have found a different path?” she asked in a small voice.

“I don’t know. But there’s no way to change it now, just to learn from it and heal and move forward. I don’t want to know how I’d react if you and our children were in a similar situation.”

She blinked up at him. “Our children?”

Just her looking at him like that healed so much of his pain. They could get past this. Together. A fire burned inside his chest as her dark gaze consumed him. He wanted children with her. He wanted her. All of her. “Yes, ma’am. Our children.” He slid her legs over his lap and pulled her closer.

“Oh my, Mr. Crown Prince, what huge plans you have.”

He smiled. “All the better to plan our future with, my dear.”

She returned his smile, but it quickly faltered. “You think your dad truly forgives mine? I’m afraid the king will come to his senses and throw him into prison.”

“All of us have suffered long enough with my mum’s death and the uncertainty of how she died hanging over us. Making your dad suffer any longer when he’s already obviously been through pain, guilt, and to purgatory and back is not in my dad’s nature.” Henry would probably have to step down. Tristan didn’t know how it would all play out, but his dad wouldn’t be vindictive about it.

“Thank you.” She studied him and whispered, “And you don’t think how your mum died will cast a pall over our relationship? Cause a rift between us?”

“Jenn, you know how you see me deeply? You see past the crown prince, and you hardly noticed my scars?”

She nodded, but her eyes questioned how this related.

“I see you. I know you. You aren’t your father or the choices he’s made. You are the woman I love.”

“I love you.” She leaned up and softly kissed him. Tristan returned the kiss, and soon she was clinging to him and kissing him desperately.

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