Chapter 22 Of Glass and Gold #2
As the procession stood at a halt, Prince Jacob's gaze fell upon the glass coffin, and his breath left his lungs in a rush. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, though she was.
It was a sense of recognition. He stared at the girl in the intricate coffin, heartbeat quickening.
He dismounted with practiced grace, eyes never leaving the girl's lifeless face.
There was something in his expression—surprise, wonder, and a deep, aching longing. He moved closer, his steps measured but urgent, until he stood directly beside the coffin. The men bristled, hands going to their weapons, but Dax held up a hand. “Wait,” Dax assured his men.
Jacob knelt by the coffin. He looked at her closed eyes, her dark hair.
Then his gaze dropped to something shiny at her neck.
His eyes widened as he noticed the simple necklace—a delicate cord with a small silver pendant.
His hand touched the matching falcon embossed in his chest plate.
Recognition dawned in his features, followed by a look of profound emotion.
“This is her,” he whispered to no one, his voice filled with awe. “The girl from the stables.”
Bennett, noticing his matching falcon chest plate, and feeling hope and heartbreak at once, confessed, “She wore it every day. She cherished it. She said it was a promise.”
Jacob looked at Bennett and then back at her. His heart beat louder. He had looked for her in every ballroom, in every court. The men exchanged confused glances, but before anyone could ask what he meant, the royal chaplain began speaking the funeral rites.
Ignoring the proceedings, prince Jacob stooped forward, his hand reaching out to gently cup her face.
His eyes filled with tears as he looked down at her, his expression one of heartbreaking tenderness.
“I've dreamed of your lips since that day,” he crooned, his voice barely audible but carrying clearly in the hushed courtyard.
A feeling of regret and action washed over him at once.
Before he knew what he was doing he leaned down and kissed her cold lips in a gesture that surprised everyone present.
For a moment, nothing happened. The prince lingered, his lips pressed gently against hers, his hand still cradling her face. The crowd held its collective breath, some turning away in sorrow, others watching with morbid fascination.
Then, something extraordinary occurred. A warmth began to emanate from where their lips met, subtle at first but growing stronger.
Prince Jacob felt it immediately—a softening, a responsiveness that hadn't been there before.
He pulled back slightly, his eyes wide with disbelief.
At that very moment, color returned to the dead girl's cheeks, and Shay's eyelids fluttered open.
Her gaze was hazy at first, clouded by the lingering effects of the poison, but it cleared quickly. Where am I? What happened? Who is this—is that…?
She blinked again as she tried to focus on the face above her. Recognition sparked in her eyes, followed by confusion, then amazement.
“You? You're…you're alive,” Prince Jacob breathed, joyful and relieved.
Shay blinked slowly, a small smile forming on her lips. “I think I'm dreaming again,” she whispered.
The courtyard erupted in cheers as the reality of the miracle sank in. The men who had carried her so faithfully stared in stunned shock, their grief transforming instantly into overwhelming happiness. Even the king looked astonished, though a proud smile soon spread across his face.
Shay's eyes searched Prince Jacob's face, her expression filled with gratitude and something deeper. “I've dreamed of you. All this time,” she said softly, “I never even knew your name.”
“You must be Princess Shay, daughter of King Wilhelm,” he replied, his voice warm with affection.
“And I am Prince Jacob.” He took her hand gently, helping her sit up in the coffin as the crowd continued to cheer around them.
“I never stopped thinking about you,” he confessed, his eyes, still full of amazement, never leaving hers. “Even when it didn’t make sense.”
Tears welled in Shay's eyes. She reached up to touch his face, as if confirming that he was real—that she was real. “I've thought of you too—so often,” she admitted. “I wore your necklace every day, hoping I might see you again.”
Again, action overtook logic and Jacob leaned in quickly for another fast kiss, as if his lips would cement her in life.
Shay’s gaze flew past the prince’s shoulder, latching onto the six men who were slowly retreating toward the gate, eyes on the ground, heartbroken.
She scrambled to sit up further. Panic spiked in her chest. “No! Stop! Don’t you dare,” she cracked, her voice fierce and breaking. “You cannot leave me now,” she cried.
“You have finally found where you belong, princess,” Dax admitted. “You will be happier here than you ever were in our cottage.”
“No! You are my family,” she pleaded.
“Family,” Drew responded. He nodded and turned back toward her. The other five followed suit.
The men circled them as the celebration continued.
The poison that had claimed her had been broken by true love's kiss—not just any love, but a love that had endured years of separation, uncertainty, and longing.
As Shay and Jacob held each other in the sunlight, surrounded by cheering crowds and six faithful friends, it was clear that their story was far from over. It was just beginning.