Page 34 of The Prince's Wife

Aradishir had to laugh at that, wobbly though it was. "So you think I should be engaged to Relanya instead."

"My son, half the kingdom already thinks the two of you are," Fahima said dryly. "That the rumors of her and Bakhti is just a strange mix up and people spreading falsehoods, thatobviouslyyou are the one engaged to her, just look at how well the two of you get along, and you've been seen with her son just the two of you…"

"I…I don't know how to respond to that."

"Say you agree to the change in plans."

"If Relanya is not upset with the change, then neither am I,obviously. I didn't realize I was being so pathetically obvious."

"Love should never be easy to overlook, even when it's new and still growing." She reached up to brush a strand of hair from his cheek, another motherly gesture she'd done a thousand times and always made him feel better for no reason at all. "I think you two will do very well together, and that will make the whole family and court better. It already shows. But I willlet the two of you speak, of course, and make the final decision together."

Aradishir could only nod, not sure what to say, even if he could form the words.

Fahima left, and Aradishir paced restlessly around the room, pulling random books off the shelves, flipping through them without reading a single word before shoving them back into place and moving onto the next.

When the door finally opened, he nearly jumped right out of his skin. He turned around, heart in his throat—and all his worries and hope turned to anger. "You've been crying! Who—"

Relanya laughed. "You truly are the sweetest person I know, Your Highness. I was crying because I'm happy, silly thing. Come here."

Helpless to do anything but obey, Aradishir crossed the room—and very nearly stopped breathing as she cupped his face, her hands soft and warm, the scent of roses and honeysuckle surrounding them. "I am told you would not be opposed to marrying some older woman who already has a child and a dark past."

"You should be a queen," Aradishir said. "You deserve to be queen."

Relanya sighed softly, slowly pulling her hands away, leaving a tingling warmth in their wake. "Darling, all I want is a family that loves me and a home that feels safe. Also to never see snow again if I can help it."

"I…I am pretty certain I can offer most of that. If we have to travel, you might be forced to see snow again," Aradishir said, offering a smile as the last of his anxiety faded, making room for tentative joy. "I'm not nearly the catch my brother is."

"You bought me wonderful presents based on nothing but a dossier, my son is already convinced you're his future stepfather, and—well, I could go on for quite some time. I wasdistraught and seething with jealousy when I thought you had gotten engaged this morning. I felt so silly."

Aradishir offered his hand and squeezed gently when she took it. "Lady Kubra is my colleague, nothing more. It never occurred to me to see her as anything else, except perhaps a friend. I've been quite dazzled by you since your arrival."

"And we met because my son ran away to play with frogs," Relanya said with a sigh. "What a first impression."

"Well, it worked, because I have agreed quite happily to steal you from my brother, if you are amenable to being stolen."

She pulled her hand free, and entirely nonsensical panic overtook him for a split second before she threw her arms around his neck and dragged him into a kiss that banished any lingering worries. She tasted sweet, and kissed like he belonged to her, an arrangement he could find no issue with.

The rest of her was as soft as her hands had been, as warm as the lips claiming his, the scent of roses and honeysuckle sinking into his very bones. He slid his arms around her waist and went easily as she backed him into the nearest bookcase. "Relanya…"

"I like hearing you say my name," she whispered before kissing him again. "Are you this sweet and pliant in bed?"

"Maybe," Aradishir muttered, cheeks heating, before kissing her again.

When they eventually parted again, flushed and mussed, she said, "Your concubines call you Shir. Can I call you that too?"

"Of course. You can call me whatever you like, my princess."

"Good." She kissed him one last time then pushed away and set to straightening her clothes and hair. "Fahima said—"

"You can't call my mother by her name, oh my god!" Aradishir said. "That is entirely too familiar and scares me."

Relanya burst into giggles. "What else should I call her? You're so silly. Anyway, she said we should join her in the azure dining room when we were done talking, to enjoy a private celebration of our engagement? I spoke to Bakhtiar too, you know. We were both quite relieved to be parted, it's honestly quite ridiculous."

"Is that how you knew I actually bought the gifts?"

"I figured that out on my own, actually, but he confirmed it."

Neat and tidy again, Aradishir offered his arm as they headed out. In the hallway, his harem and her handmaidens waited for them, all grinning shamelessly. "Not a single word from any of you," Aradishir said uselessly.

"Congratulations," Heydar said, the others echoing the words. "We told you so."

"I told you not a word," Aradishir said with a sigh, not bothering to hide his grin. "Come on, dinner and a barrage of teasing awaits us, if you're ready for it, my princess."

"More than ready, my prince," Relanya replied, and kissed him quick and sharp right there in front of the guards, servants, and passersby before they continued on their way, conversation exploding in their wake.

End