“I…I hadn’t considered it because I did not want to put this on you. You don’t deserve that.”
“Don’t deserve it? Nattie, I know I don’t deserve you but…I’d at least like the chance to be your everything.”
My heart hammered against my ribs, a warm feeling spreading all over me. “You would marry me? You would do this for me knowing the challenges we would face?”
“I know we haven’t known each other long, but…I can’t imagine a life without you. I have nightmares about it, actually. I’ve never felt a connection like this before. I don’t want to lose it.”
I stood stunned, unable to say a word.
“Nattie, please. I know you may not love me right now, but I think it can happen. I just want the chance to prove myself to you. I don’t want to lose to you this craziness. Give us a chance.”
He sank to one knee, his eyes pleading. “Marry me, Nattie. Let’s tackle this together.”
My chest tightened as I stared down at him. This was everything I’d dreamed of–someone choosing me not because of the crown or the country, but because of me.
And yet, I hesitated. Could I drag him into this world, knowing how much it would demand of him? How it might ruin him–ruin us? Could I take that chance with someone I was starting to…love?
CHAPTER 25
KYLE
Ipuffed out my cheeks as I made my way through the wide halls of the palace, my temples throbbing a little from the knock-out juice they’d used on me. I rubbed the back of my neck, still disappointed that no one trusted me enough to let me stay awake when we’d left the lab behind.
I puckered my lips as I recalled the intense conversations that had happened inside those walls. Before I could think about it further, I arrived at the double doors leading into our suite.
My heart beat a little harder against my ribs as I considered the conversation that I was about to have.
But I didn’t want to delay it. Actually, I didn’t have time to delay it.
I pushed into the living room.
Ava leapt from her seat, her eyes wide. “Doc! Where have you been?”
“Uhhh, doing some things,” I murmured.
“Dude, you were like gone…for a long time,” Alex said. “Like a long, long time.”
“I know,” I said, rubbing the back of my head as I tried to figure out where to start.
Ava stretched her hands to the sides. “You couldn’t have said something? We thought the ice queen put you in jail for making eyes at the queen.”
“Queen Regent,” I corrected, “and no. Also, I didn’t really have the option to tell you. Stuff happened really quickly.”
“What does that mean?” Ava demanded.
I licked my lips, crossing to them and perching on the armchair’s edge. “Well, some stuff has happened that we really need to talk about.”
Ava dropped onto the cushion next to Alex, her eyes wide. “Why does that sound really bad?”
“Yeah,” Alex echoed, leaning forward to balance his elbows on his knees, “should I be firing the jet asap? Or are we going to soon be escorted to a dungeon?”
“No, not that,” I said with a shake of my head, my voice tentative.
“Doc, what happened? Why do you look like you’ve been through the war?”
“Do I?” I asked, my features wrinkling.
Ava smacked a palm against her forehead. “Please tell us what’s happening. We have been worried sick about you.”
