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His Royal Mate 30
“No!” I shouted to Lex. “No. I’ll handle this. You will not.”He sat down and closed his mouth, fuming with anger, but he was staying silent. Bastien looked at Lex and nodded his approval. I was not going to lose Lex again, not because of a tyrant like Polonius.Polonius looked at me and smiled as he let go of Gabrielle’s hand, who was still not making eye contact with me.“Good, my dear,” he said. “I warned you about making political decisions based on your personal preferences. Remember, you were given to me in a treaty that defined terms forbidding me and my army from invading Navarrah City. I have a copy of that treaty here.” Polonius took a stack of papers out of a leather satchel. “As worded, the treaty also protects the other kingdoms of Tobran from an unprovoked attack.” He sneered.“That treaty was never signed,” King Helix interjected.“Exactly,” Polonius said. “The treaty was never signed, but the marriage contract that was included with it was. And here I have Aria’s signa
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Was he giving up on me, too?“But I can’t,” I choked out.“It is the most strategic move,” Lex said. “He has the manpower to bring Onyx Rah to its feet, and at the moment, he has Amadeus. Don’t get me wrong, I want the man dead—we all do. I’d throw Polonius over the falls in a heartbeat.”At the mention of murdering Polonius, Bastien cleared his throat.“But,” Lex segued, “if Polonius thinks he’s going to marry you, we have a chance to build our armies.”“Lex has a point,” King Helix added. “If we have Polonius’s compliance, we might be able to get Amadeus away from him as soon as he lets down his guard.”I could see Queen Nadine’s wheels turning. “Do you have a way to postpone this wedding, Aria?”“Yes,” I said. “I believe I do.”As we were speaking, I’d devised a plan that I hoped would work. I knew what Polonius wanted, and it wasn’t just me, but Onyx Rah for the crimson pitaya and the potential to rule the world by withholding it from everyone. I realized that I knew what was most
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“I know, but he cares little for me,” Gabrielle said. “He’s obsessed with you. He’ll not call for me tonight. Rather, he’ll want me ready to journey with you tomorrow.” She shook her head again. “I hate that Amadeus has done this to me. I’m just an ugly servant girl who everyone dismisses. You two, you and Halo, are so beautiful, so regal. You’ve always been a queen, Aria. I don’t deserve to be among you.” She kept wringing her hands.“No, you can’t say such a thing,” I told her. “You are beautiful, and I plan to have you in my court as soon as I am crowned. We’ll have you married to the finest of men. I promise. Your life will change.”“But Polonius would never allow it.” Her head dipped to her chest.“No, he won’t, but that won’t matter. I’ll be happy to have you with me.” I smiled at her and took her wringing hands into my own. “Go back now. Don’t get caught, and thank you for telling me about the truth spell.”“Of course,” Gabrielle said, finally smiling a little. “Always.” With t
His Royal Mate 33
“Are you done?” I asked, hoping I’d have Aria to myself for the rest of the evening.“For now.” She smiled at me with that big beautiful smile of hers.I didn’t know how she was staying so calm.“So, what is the plan?” Cheyenne asked, looking worried.“I’m going to let Polonius marry me,” she said as her smile widened.“You can’t,” I protested, feeling myself jump out of my skin.“I won’t marry him, but I am going to tell him I will.” Aria sat down with us and poured herself a cup of tea.“How will you keep him from making you his wife tomorrow?” I asked her point-blank.“I can’t tell you, Lex,” Aria said regretfully. “I know you too well. First, you’ll not agree, and second, you’ll lose your head and do something that will put us all in danger. You’ll just have to find peace with the fact that I have a plan.” A triumphant grin crossed her expression as if she’d just outwitted the world.“Good. I just hope your plan works,” Cheyenne said as he stood up. “I need to get some beauty rest
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“I don’t think he’ll hurt you because I believe he’s fallen in love with you,” I said truthfully. “He’s moved up the timeline because he’s jealous and knows that the more powerful you become, the more likely it is he’ll lose you.”Aria only stared at me, unable to deny it.After dinner I brought her to bed and slowly stripped away the camisole and panties she wore to bare her supple pale breasts to the cool night air. Her nipples were small and rosy, peaked with the cold and her arousal. I was hard and ready for her, but since our last love-making had been quick and furious, I wanted to make sure we fully enjoyed one another.I kissed her lips and neck, and she spread her legs for me so that I would fit better between them. I tasted her mouth as our tongues danced upon each other. My fingers threaded through her soft, silky auburn hair as I brought her naked body closer.“I could worship at your temple for all of eternity,” I said as I breathed in the light floral fragrance of her ski
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“We should get ready,” she said with words that held too heavy a meaning.Ready? Ready for Polonius and his hideous ultimatum? Ready to let her go? Ready to part? No, I wasn't ready for any of it, and I knew I never would be.Aria kissed my chest, then my lips before peeling herself away from me to enter the bathing room.I lay there for a moment, not wanting to move as I heard her turn on the shower. All sound was instantly drowned out by the din of rushing water. I dragged myself out of bed and joined her in the shower. We didn’t say anything to each other because there were too many words to share.I took the lavender and mint soap provided and used it to wash the night and our lovemaking off Aria’s body. I wanted my scent to linger with her, but we were to return to our hiding places. We were no longer allowed to be lovers in the open. Again, we would be relegated to the shadows or the veil of magic to share what was our right as lovers to exchange.Aria let me wash her and dipped
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“Why would I kill my wife?” he asked, feigning loyalty.“Why would you let her live after you’ve gotten what you wanted out of her?” I asked. “You need me to establish the crimson pitaya crops, but after they’ve been instated, I would no longer be of use to you. As your queen, I’m entitled to half of what you own by the laws of Tobran.” I stared Polonius in the eye. “We’ll see who our kingdom comes to love, who they will fight for, who they will protect in the end?” I raised my chin in defiance.“Or I can attack Navarrah City, as I am poised to do. You think you can outwit me? Outplay me?” He laughed.“And you don’t think that the armies of Navarrah City aren’t ready for your soldiers?” I challenged. “Do you really believe that the Obsidian Valley and Angeline Falls would sit by and allow your troops to simply destroy them as your ancestor did with Onyx Rah? I might dare to say that all the soldiers in Tobran who are not enlisted in your Crypt Claw army might also be at the ready, wai
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“I’d be delighted to host the prince as my guest, of course. Anything for my beloved,” Polonius said with such saccharine mockery, I nearly burst out laughing.“Great, well, then it is all settled,” I said. “We’ll return to Onyx Rah in the morning, and Lex will join you in Brahman’s Peak.”Polonius smiled at me and nodded, then turned abruptly and walked out of the room with determined steps, not saying anything more. My stomach was all butterflies and knots.“I hope you know what you’re doing, Aria,” Lex said under his breath.“It is for the best, son,” King Helix chimed in. “Aria is doing what she must for her kingdom. She’s offering a sacrifice only the bravest of queens can make,” he said with a softness in his voice.“I still wish it were different,” Queen Delia added.“We will support you,” Ellestria Culp interjected.“Yes,” Xavier Goldlace jumped in. “Whatever you and Halo need. You will win the love of your people. You’re playing the long game, but one day, we will find a way
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