Chapter 38 #2
She opened her eyes. Leo interlaced their fingers. Not-so-many minutes ago, Haydn had been the one touching her.
This wasn’t supposed to happen, especially not right now.
“I love you,” Leo said softly.
Evelyn blinked back tears but didn’t look away.
“I know I hurt you,” Leo continued. “I don’t deserve your smile, much less your heart.
I would give up my crown for the chance to go back in time and fix my mistakes.
I should have proposed the night we met and spent every moment after that convincing you to say yes.
I’m sorry it took me so long to figure that out.
Your voice is the only one I ever should have listened to. Will you let me try again?”
Oh gods.
Evelyn gaped at him. “Why now? Why today?”
“I realized last night how close I am to losing you, and it terrified me. I thought my soul would rip in two when I saw you walk upstairs with Ritter.”
Frustration swept over Evelyn. “You kissed Hannah!”
“And I regret it. You pulled away from me and I was trying to do what everyone wanted me to do.”
“What you did isn’t my fault!”
“No, it’s mine. I’m not blaming you for any second of what happened. I am promising that I never felt anything for your sister, and I am begging you to forgive me.”
“I listened to your meeting with the lords and my father,” Evelyn admitted. “You agreed to propose to Hannah.”
“I didn’t know what else to say after your father told me not to marry you. Is that why you stopped talking to me? Because of what you overheard? Is that why you were with Ritter?”
“Damien told me not to say anything to you. He said if you were determined to ruin your life, I should stay out of it and let you.”
Leo scoffed. “That certainly sounds like Damien’s idea of good advice.
But I want you to talk to me when you’re upset.
And I’m not going to ask what happened with Ritter.
I understand you were angry with me, and I’m sure he offered you a lot more than I had.
But I know he didn’t stay here last night.
I saw him leave not long after you went upstairs. ”
Evelyn’s stomach bubbled with guilt.
He cannot learn what really happened. Ever.
“Please tell me it’s not too late. You said Ritter proposed—”
“I didn’t say yes.”
But I almost did.
Leo let out a sigh of relief. “I want to marry you, Evelyn. I want to be your husband so you never have to doubt that I am yours.”
It can’t be that easy.
“The lords want you to get married. Is this all about magic in case we go to war?”
Leo frowned. “Yes and no.”
“I’m going to need more than that.”
“I’m under pressure to get married quickly, but I’m not going to marry just for magic.
I want to marry you. There won’t be a wedding if you say no.
I won’t go to Hannah or find someone else.
If you are not my bride, then I won’t have one and that’s the end of it.
I will ban the lords from this palace if they have a problem with that. ”
“Even Lord Robert? You would give up the best wine on the continent?”
“It’s also the worst wine on the continent, but yes. No one except you and me gets to decide what happens next.”
“That’s how it always should have been.”
“You’re right. I know you hate me, Evelyn. But I know you love me, too.”
Leo presented a ring with a large, round sapphire surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds on a silver band. He slipped it onto her finger. Evelyn’s eyes went wide, both at the beauty of it and the fact this wasn’t the first engagement ring she had worn that morning.
“Marry me, Evelyn.”
This is actually happening. He’s proposing. Leo wants to marry me.
“Kiss me.”
I need Leo to be my most recent kiss. I can’t consider his proposal when Haydn is the last man I touched. And I need Leo to be the one to kiss me this time.
Leo didn’t wait to be asked twice. Their lips met, and Evelyn felt every ounce of his love and apology and hope flow into her.
“Please, Evelyn,” he breathed.
“I want you,” she whispered.
“Is that a yes?”
A voice in the back of her mind screamed at Evelyn to say no.
You were just in bed with Haydn! Leo lied to you and went to Hannah! He hasn’t been willing to even hold your hand in front of other people, and now he wants to marry you? This doesn’t make any sense! Even your father thinks this is a bad idea!
But Leo’s ice-and-cobalt eyes were pleading with her to stay.
I fell for those eyes. I can forgive him for everything else. I can do this.
“Yes!”
Leo kissed her again, and Evelyn could feel him smiling. He touched her face and stroked her hair like he was reassuring himself it wasn’t a dream.
“What happens now?” Evelyn asked.
“I think we panic the staff by asking them to plan a wedding in two days.”
“Two days?”
“I would marry you this very minute if I could.”
“You did say we’re in a hurry.”
“But then we will have forever.”
Evelyn hugged Leo, clinging to him.
I was a fool to think there could be anyone but him.
“I hate to leave you, Princess,” Leo mumbled into her hair, “but there is a lot to do.”
Evelyn let go. “I can imagine.”
“Don’t listen to Damien anymore, okay? Tell me when you’re mad at me. Or set my boots on fire and I’ll figure it out.”
Evelyn laughed. “I can do that.”
Leo kissed her one more time. “I’ll come find you later, okay?”
“You gave me permission to burn you if you break that promise.”
“I won’t. I love you.”
The words were at the tip of her tongue.
I… I love Leo. Of course I do. He chose me and we’re getting married.
“I love you, too.”