Page 47 of The Broken Elf King
“That’s me… a greatfriend,” I muttered. This was the worst idea I’d ever had. While he was commending my friendship I was dreaming of ripping that silk tunic off and bedding him.
He rushed forward then, taking me into his arms and pressing me to his chest. He just… held me. It was the deepest, longest hug I’d ever gotten from anyone, and it nearly brought me to tears. There was no passionate kiss, no seductive feelings coming off of him; it was all respect and loyalty, and my heart melted a little. “I’ll never forget this. What you’ve given me. A chance at justice for my family,” he whispered in my ear.
I sighed, relishing being in his arms and also hating it. I wanted so much more than he was capable of giving. It made me sad, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that it was an honor to help Raife get the justice he deserved for his family.
“It’s my pleasure, Raife,” I told him, and when he finally released me he was smiling.
“See ya soon, then.” He waved awkwardly and backed out of the room. When he stopped in the doorway, he looked me up and down again. “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” he said, and then left.
Why did he do that? Call me afriendone second and then beautiful the next? Didn’t he know the torture it caused me?
I shut the door and then dropped my forehead against the hard wood.
Why?Why did I agree to this fake marriage? I was horrible at following directions. I’d clearly gone and fallen for him.
A light knock rapped at the door and I peeled my face away from it, yanking it backwards with hope that he’d come back to kiss me or something. When I saw Mrs. Tirth, my face fell.
“Oh, hi.”
The lead housemaid put a hand on her hip. “Oh, hi?You look beautiful! Why the long face?”
I swallowed and then gave a nervous laugh. “I’m just anxious. There will be a lot of people there,” I told her.
She nodded. “But the king will be there to get you through it. He’s used to these big events.” She reached out and clasped my hands. “Lean on him. He’s your life partner now. You two will need each other.”
I hated that I’d agreed to this. A fake marriage. It was starting to feel real. Lines were blurring and people were going to get hurt.
And by people I meant me.
I was going to get hurt and there was nothing I could do about it. Raife was going to go after the queen whether I married him or not. He’d find someone else to appease his council, and then my aunt would be stuck in a war-torn country. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let Raife down. When I’d suggested the fake marriage in the beginning, it had been out of a duty to Raife. As his assistant, I took my job seriously, but I’d never thought he would suggest me for the part.
“Ready?” Mrs. Tirth held her arm out to me and I nodded.
As we traversed the halls, I couldn’t help but feel a somber resonance settle into my bones. The dripping flowers everywhere and the magical harp music playing in the garden… I tried to just enjoy the beauty of the day, even if it wasn’t unfolding exactly how I wanted it to.
We passed the exit to the garden on our way to the main hall, and I noticed that the silk tents were already full of people.
“Overflow crowd that couldn’t fit in the ballroom. You will greet them after, before the reception,” Mrs. Tirth told me.
I nodded. I was going to be aqueennow. Duty came before comfort.
When we reached the closed doors of the ballroom, my stomach clenched. This was it. There was no turning back now. If I did this, I tied my life to Raife’s forever. Long after we divorced there would be a stain on my heart. That one time I fake-married the king would be a funny story that turned too real.
“Congratulations,” Councilman Haig said behind me and I stiffened, snapping myself from my thoughts.
I swallowed hard and planted a huge smile on my face. “Thank you, sir.”
The rest of the council fanned out behind me and my heart jumped into my throat.
This was it. This moment would change everything. Sadness tried to work its way into my chest then, for the war that had yet to be won, for the heart I had not captured. But I pushed it away and nodded to Mrs. Tirth.
Raife needed me, and although he did not care for me in the way that I had grown to care for him, I wouldn’t desert him now. He’d been abandoned by his family at a young age, not willingly but abandoned nonetheless. I would not do that to him now. Even if it killed me, even if it left scars on my heart that would never heal, I would not desert Raife Lightstone. I was loyal to him to the end.
* * *
The doors openedand the magical harp music started. An airy voice trilled throughout the space and I followed the sound to an elvin woman who stood in the corner of the room as she sang a wordless tune. Her lack of lyrics made the song all the more beautiful as I walked down the aisle of people. I recognized a few faces—Bow Men in uniform with their wives and children, castle staff, and the families of the daughters I had considered marrying Raife off to.
It had all come full circle now. Out of my periphery I could see Raife standing at the end of the aisle. I purposely did not meet his gaze; I wasn’t ready to do so yet. Smiling at those who had come, I recognized Autumn in the crowd with her sister and gave her a little wave. Before I knew it, I’d reached the end and my moment of truth was here.
