And then there was no more waiting.
Theo led the way to the press room. He stopped just outside the door and turned to look at Meg and Galen. Galen was as handsome as ever in one of his many black suits, though he’d left off a tie like normal. Meg looked resplendent in a gunmetal gray dress that managed to be demure and make him want to rip it off with his teeth at the same time. “You look beautiful. Both of you.”
“Thank you.” Color dusted Meg’s cheeks, though she looked a little ill as she took in the door they were about to go through. A low murmur on the other side was the only indication of the rat race they were about to set off.
“Second thoughts?”
“No. Nothing like that. This is just… new.”
“We’ve got you, princess.” He pressed a careful kiss to her lips, mindful of her lipstick. “Let’s go.”
Camera flashes blinded him as he stepped through the door and walked to the small podium set up at the front of the room. Even after all the time away, Theo fell into autopilot, smiling though spots still danced across his vision. He leaned down and spoke into the mic. “I’ve missed you.”
Questions were fired from every single person packed into the room. He let them yell it out for a few moments, and then held up his hand. “There will be time for questions later this week. This press conference is purely to inform you of the new development.”Should have found Edward and Camilla and told them before I did this. Fuck, I didn’t even think of it.Too late to go back now. He kept his smile firmly in place. “New evidence has come forward to correct the mistake made several months ago. My parents’ marriage was, in fact, legal, and Parliament has already voted to reinstate me as Crown Prince of Thalania.” Another uproar at that. He let them have longer this time before he called for quiet again. “My coronation will be scheduled shortly, and you’ll be the first to know once the details are finalized. In the meantime, there’s one more matter of business to attend to—or matter of the heart, as it may be.”
That got their attention.
Perfect silence fell, filling with the kind of anticipation that only a reporter on the verge of a particularly juicy story could manifest.
He glanced over to where Meg and Galen stood just inside the door, both of them watching him closely. As he met their gazes, they each nodded. No change of heart there.Thank fuck. He turned back to the mic. “Once I am King, I’ll be naming my Consort. Meg Sanders… and Galen Mikos.”
No going back after this.
Good.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thankyou so much for reading FOREVER THEIRS! Theo, Galen, and Meg’s story continues in THEIRS EVER AFTER. Life in the palace isn’t nearly as easy—or safe—as any of them hoped.
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Enjoy a sneak peekof THEIRS EVER AFTER now…
“Not that way, Consort.”
Meg Sanders veered to the right instead of the left in response to the whispered words. She’d officially been Consort to the King of Thalania for six months, and she still couldn’t quite figure out the palace. Itshouldbe straightforward enough, but they never seemed to take the same path twice. Supposedly it had something to do with security and safety, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the staff here just flat out didn’t like her.
“Consort.” Another whisper behind her.
She bit back a sigh and raised her gaze to find none other than Noemi Huxley bearing down on her. Oh, Noemi was too perfect tobear downon anyone. She practically floated across the cool stone floors, her classic dress kicking out gently around her heels.
Meg had no illusions about her appearance—she was attractive and knew how to maximize that as needed—but Noemi made her feel about two feet tall and stunted without even trying. She had model-sharp cheekbones, a generous mouth, and honey blond hair that never seemed out of place. “Consort,” she said with a smile and leaned in to press an air kiss to each of Meg’s cheeks.
Another Thalanian custom that Meg would never get used to. It didn’t matter that Thalania was far from the only European country that employed air kisses. She had a choice whether to accept them in other countries. As Consort, she was chained by a set of rules she still didn’t have down pat.No use thinking about that now. You made your choice.
Yeah, she had.
She chose Theo.
And Galen.
Noemi stepped back, oblivious to the turmoil of Meg’s thoughts and gave another warm smile. “I was hoping you had some time in your schedule in the next few days for tea. I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
They had tea only last week, but Meg didn’t have the heart to say it. It wasn’t Noemi’s fault that her every breath highlighted how perfectly she fit into life in the palace—and how the same couldn’t be said for Meg. To her credit, Noemi never went out of her way to point that out. She was kind enough and seemed to genuinely want to spend time getting to know Meg. Which was more than Meg could say for most of the other noble Families.
Stop it. Focus. You can’t afford to be distracted, even with Noemi.
