5. James
James
F or several days, I’ve been unable to get to Anna. One would think being a prince, or any royal, would come with privileges—it does not. I’ve been treated like I’m under damn house arrest. All I want is a few hours to sneak off and find her, but I’m never alone for more than four minutes to use the lavatory. I suppose that’s one of the few things I miss other than Anna. While I’ve enjoyed being in this book of hers, I wish there was traditional plumbing.
It’s my dream. Why must it be historically accurate?
When I woke up, I was informed that Eliza was the long-lost daughter of a duke and that arrangements were being made to marry her. Anna must’ve woken up in the dream before me and made quick work to adjust the story.
With the wedding later this morning, I’m hoping Anna will be there. I took extra care to ensure her family was attending. However, they were less than thrilled to receive an invitation. I’m not sure how much of this is from the new story—or the old one. My only hope is that Anna can somehow stop the wedding. We agreed to return everything back to the way it was before our dreams, but after a few days without her, I refuse to marry anyone but Anna. Even if it’s all fiction.
I should’ve read the book—both of them—before we did this. I don’t know what to expect, or if any of the story has changed for the worse or better. The lack of control is driving me mad.
Once I’m dressed, I make my way to one of the dining rooms. The table is large enough to seat no less than twenty people, though it’s the smallest of the three in the castle. Even with all of my years of research, I can’t fathom the purpose of such an extravagant table; it isn’t as if they are having family breakfasts. My mind wanders to what that would be like with Anna—cutting this monstrosity in half, her at the other end while our six, maybe seven sons fill the table.
Perhaps we should stay in this dream. In no way could I ever afford a tenth of this on a professor’s salary.
What does she do for work? How do I not know this? I’ve been inside her, for fuck’s sake.
I shake away the thought as servants enter with breakfast. The past few mornings, breakfast has been less than desirable. I’d give anything for eggs, seasonal fruit, and properly cooked bacon or sausage. When I suggested it, I was served overcooked fried eggs and liver. Toast will have to do until Anna and I can get out of here.
I quickly eat my toast with more butter than I’m accustomed to since it’s drier than paper. When I’ve had this dream before, my focus was solely on Anna, and I didn’t give two shits what I was eating unless it was her cunt. Now, it’s all I have, souring my mood.
After breakfast, I change into more formal attire and am ushered out of the main part of the castle and into a carriage. An entourage of a dozen people I’ve never met enter their own less salubrious carriage, and we’re escorted to a large church fifteen minutes away. The streets are lined with people from all walks of life, cheering as I pass, and the attention makes me uncomfortable. Ignoring the shouts and applause, I scan each face, searching for Anna. Since she’s not here, I’m optimistic that she may attend the wedding after all.
We enter the church, and I find my way to the front of the altar. The pews are already filled with unfamiliar faces until my gaze falls on the one woman I haven’t been able to forget for weeks.
My Anna.
A devilish grin appears as our eyes meet, and I’m unsure what to make of it. She wanted this, she willed it into existence. I don’t want any of it, but I’ll do it if it means I can get back to my bed that I have somehow convinced her to share with me.
The clergyman clears his throat, and when I finally tear my eyes from Anna, I’m startled by a woman in all white standing beside me, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. She’s beautiful, but she’s no Anna. My sight wanders back to her, but her playful smile is replaced by a glower searing into me.
He begins the ceremony, and I only last a couple of minutes before I can’t take it a moment longer. “Stop! There will be no wedding today.”
Gasps and whispers fill the space, and while I address the vicar, I don’t look away from Anna. “You claim a love match is ideal for all marriages. Yet, you sit here and watch as I marry a woman I hardly know… All the while, the one who stole my heart is seated amongst you.”
“This has to happen to save the story,” my bride whispers, and I’ve never turned my head so quickly; I’ve nearly given myself whiplash. Keeping her voice low, she repeats, “You know this has to happen.”
“This is my dream. And I refuse to marry you,” I grit out. She pulls me aside to keep our conversation private, but as I catch Anna getting up and rushing down the aisle, I call after her. “Anna, stop!”
“Let her go. This is how it’s supposed to be.”
“And what happens if I go after her?”
She chews on her lip and calmly explains, “The story could remain forever changed; you may not be able to get it back to the way it was.”
Could she be any more vague?
“And if I marry you?” I plead.
“No one can know for sure,” she sighs, “but there’s a possibility Anna may not exist in your world. But this isn’t your world; it’s the author’s.”
“May not exist? You mean to tell me if I marry you, I won’t have Anna?” I don’t allow her to answer and rush down the aisle, ignoring the murmurs and chatter in the pews. When I reach the end, I ask one of the men, who I presume is an usher of sorts, “Where did she go?”
“You must marry Miss Eliza, Your Majesty,” he replies with a bow.
I push past him and catch a glimpse of her emerald gown turning down a hallway. “Anna!” I shout, running after her. I trip and fall on the long, ornate rug with a thud. Her footsteps halt, and a moment later, the hem of her dress comes into view. “I’m sorry. I can’t marry her.”
As I push myself up to my knees, she sits beside me on hers. “If we want to preserve the story, you have to. Someone warned me it could change our reality. At first, I thought maybe it meant I needed to stop the wedding. But… I’m not supposed to be here. I’m not a side character or even a character the author mentions in passing. I don’t exist.”
I pull to my feet and help her up, not letting go of her hands. “Anna, this is all make believe; a fantasy. When we wake up, I need to be sure you’re still in our world. Story be damned.” Bringing her palm to my lips, I speak against her soft skin. “It may be a dream, but I can’t lose you.”
“No matter what happens, it’s just that—a dream. When we wake up, we’ll have that dinner you promised. None of this is real, even if the book is.”
I’m too scared to risk it. Rushed footsteps approach, and with no knowledge of when or if I’ll see her again, I cup the back of her neck and bring her lips to mine. It’s unlike the other kisses we’ve shared, almost as if it’s… No. This isn’t goodbye. We may not be real, but I refuse to believe this is the end.
She’s mine .
Anna pulls away from me as three men appear behind her, and she whispers, “I’m sorry, Prince James.” They help her to her feet, and in an instant, my heart breaks into a thousand pieces, tossed onto the damn rug I tripped on. “You have to marry Eliza.”
Thinking back to the original dream, I was only meant to marry Eliza so that my fictional brother wouldn’t inherit the throne.
What if this isn’t my story? What if it’s his?