Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“Very well.” I stand up taller in my spot by the window. “Because I also respect you and…feel for you both, I will apologize first. I should have told you both that I had seen another man within the hours of seeing each other. I do not believe it was wrong for me to find pleasure, but…I should have been more forthright.”
“Princess,” Jasper says and I stop him from continuing by raising my hand.
“But you have not been honest with me either.”
The princes exchange a glance, then look back at me.
“I’ve heard from my father,” I continue, “that there is another reason both of you are here.”
I look Jasper in the eye. His cheeks go red, but he does not flinch away.
“There is,” Jasper admits. “I meant to tell you in the garden, before—” At Jasper’s side, Casen shifts his weight. “It does not matter now. The truth, princess, is that I am not able to conceive children.”
Hearing the weight of agony in his tone breaks my heart. For the kingdoms to continue, heirs are required.
My father hinted as much during our brief conversation, but my stomach clenches with sorrow for Jasper. There is pain in his eyes as he speaks the words.
“It is important that I have an heir to carry my crown when I am gone,” he says. “The fate of my kingdom rests upon this. So we had discussed—we had thought it might be possible, with the right queen, to—”
“You wanted me to have your brother’s child, instead of yours?”
Casen nods. Jasper does not say anything to correct him. My heart races. It is obviously a topic of such pain, but the idea of it is thrilling to me.
“Is it not unfair to expect that of your brother, to have a child the kingdom would not know was his own?” I ask Jasper softly. “And I think it is unfair to expect that of me, to bed another man without having feelings for him. Was that your intention?”
“Not entirely,” the prince speaks quickly. “We extend our sincere apologies to you, Princess,” says Jasper. “I extend them personally as well. We had not exactly known the manner in which—”
I cut him off once again, my nerves rattling. “I accept your apology, and now I will tell you my wishes.”
Jasper nods to me. Both men straighten, as if they think I might deliver a blow with a sword.
“My heart belongs to both of you,” I say, my voice trembling. “That is the truth. I have found pleasure with each of you. I have found companionship as well. I know it is not conventional, but I do not wish to decide between you. I wish to have you both as my husbands.”
Jasper
* * *
For a moment, I cannot make sense of Cora’s words. Both of us? Such a thing is not possible.
Princess Cora is flushed and beautiful by the fire, and faces us with her chin up.
“Both of us,” I repeat. “Both of us in your bed?”
“And as my husbands.” Cora takes a deep breath. “I am to be queen of two kingdoms. I wish to be an honest queen. I do not wish to bed one man and be the wife of another. I do not wish to come between you. If one must be in secret…so be it. But no secrets between us. And a true ceremony is desired.” She blushes harder at the innuendo she has just made. “I have come to know you both, as much as I can in such a short time, and I know what you mean to each other. If you will accept it, I would have you both.”
I turn to my brother. Casen looks at Cora for a moment longer, then turns to face me. I can tell that he does not trust this good fortune.
“I’m sorry, Casen,” I murmur, and offer him my hand.
He puts his hand to his chest, silently offering his own apology, then clasps my hand back. I do not know which one of us pulls the other in for an embrace, but we do. The hug is short-lived, but the healing in the gesture is not. We do not need to speak the mutual understanding aloud. If this is what the princess wants, she shall get it.
“Now please,” Cora says. “Please, come to me. I can’t stand it any longer.” Her small plea is spoken with a touch of playfulness. One I’ve come to fall weak for.
She is ours.
I know what we have just agreed to, but as Casen and I cross the sitting room to Cora, it does not feel that it can possibly be this simple. It is only a matter of steps, but all the while I wait for Cora to laugh or perhaps change her mind.
She does not. The princess holds her arms out to both of us, and we wrap our arms around her, standing together for a few moments, saying nothing.