Page 92 of The Dark Prince
“My wife and everyone else around me have shouldered my burdens. I find myself lost. I was supposed to be king,” I admitted, taking in the smoke from the village as they doused the morning fires for the day.
“Do you want to be king?” she asked simply.
“No,” I replied, almost immediately, “but that doesn’t mean I wish to sacrifice everyone else. Especially you.”
Isadora chuckled at me. “You’re one to talk. You’ve spent your whole life sacrificing. Think of it as us just wanting to help you. If you take it away, you’ll make everyone dreadfully unhappy.”
And there it was. I’d never do anything to make Isadora unhappy. My wife seemed to be in her element organizing and leading; maybe it came from years spent forced to serve under someone else’s will. Either way, my wife was currently thriving, and despite how I felt, everyone was adjusting to the new normal.
Perhaps it was my turn to change.
“Ok,” I whispered, bowing my head. The moment I said it, the invisible weight I’d been carrying my entire life felt easier—like I could properly breathe for the first time in my adult life. I wondered at the possibilities that lay ahead of me; without needing to spend time ‘hunting the beast’ or having to be afraid I’d shift. The amount of good I could do for my people was limitless.
We could dig another well for Puth’s people, and maybe fortify the road in town and make a better path to connect the two villages. There were a few other remote areas I hadn’t visited in years, and maybe we could—
“Tyr.”
I stopped and glanced down at Isadora. She looked radiant today in a purple dress that was cinched around her waist, letting the chiffon fabric flower loosely down to the ground. A heavy black fur cape wrapped around her neck and shoulders.
I recognized it as my mother’s.
For the first time in my memory, it didn’t hurt to think of her. I only felt a small ache, because I knew she’d fucking love Isadora, and she’d laughed her ass off when she learned my father had made her queen on his deathbed.
A small smile to my lips.
“Tyr, I have to ask you something.”
My head dipped to leave a kiss on Isadora’s brow. “Anything.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “This is serious. I think we should ride out with the party tomorrow, and stay in the capital until Aella gets her feet under her and marries Maddeus. And … and Aella had a crazy idea. Say no, but I think it would be good for public image, and—”
“Darling, just tell me,” I encouraged her, wondering what scheme Aella had concocted now.
“Aella thinks a double wedding would bring great joy and stability to the kingdom. In front of everyone.”
My grin vanished. “We are already married.”
Isadora patted my arm. Her smile was wistful. “Of course we are. And no one is contesting that. She just thinks it would help the transition if we re-said our vows. I don’t know about you, but I think it would be nice to actually compose something thoughtful to say now that I actually know you as a person.”
Heat crept across my cheeks at the reminder of how I’d essentially wedded her at sword point—me, forcing a young girl to marry a stranger.
I couldn’t bring myself to regret it, though, not for a moment. I was too selfish. “I’m not apologizing,” I grunted defensively.
Her laughter eased my heart. “Nor should you. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m just excited to stand before the entire kingdom and tell them I choose you.”
The very thought sent a flutter through my stomach and lust straight to my groin. I would have to pack my mask. Then again, perhaps not. Let everyone see this beautiful woman choose me, disfigurement and all.
“I have one request,” I answered, feeling uncharacteristically nervous.
Isadora’s face tilted up toward mine, the few candles along the corridor highlighting her face and lips. Her brown eyes almost looked gold with the candlelight shimmering against them.
Like mine.
“I … that is, only if you wish it,” I stammered, my throat tightening as my words lodge in my throat.
The corners of her lips twitched upwards, silently encouraging me.
“I have had a few volunteers from the village working on my room,” I managed, sticking just to the facts. “It will be complete before dinner on the lawn. I would … I would like to show it to you,” I finished lamely, unable to ask her what I truly wanted.
