“I’m not just asking for your hand in marriage, but for a partnership for life. One full of adventure, rule-breaking, calamity, and chaos. I want it all with you, Daphne. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, no fire I wouldn’t walk through, no spell I wouldn’t break, no kingdom I wouldn’t burn. I’m asking you to be my wife, not to break a spell or to fulfill some narrative, but for the hope of a future I never dared to dream.”
“Damn, dude, even I’m tearing up over here,” Charming chokes out.
Even that’s not enough to pull my eyes away from the green ones holding me captive.
“Daphne Stone, will you?—”
I dive into his arms and tackle him to the floor. “Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes,” I say while smattering kisses all over his face.
“Marry me,” he finishes with a laugh as our mouths finally meet.
“It will be all of us eventually,” Malachi says, causing us to break apart.
“That’s right,” Nash adds, coming closer. “You aren’t saying yes to one, but four. So be sure, Daphne.”
I snort. “As if there’s any future worth living without us all together in it.”
His lips twitch. “Looks like I’m getting married, and there will be a double coronation.”
Wait. Oh, no. Me with throne rooms, crowns, and crowds? Not a good mix. There has already been an accidentally-on-purpose Prince Poopfloof poisoning and a king stabbing while on a mission to steal his precious broken sword.
“Can we keep this low key?” I whisper with a bite of my lip.
Hart’s gaze darkens. He thinks it’s because I don’t want to do this, but the reality is I do, a thousand times over. I just don’t want the pomp and circumstance of the whole ceremony.
“She wants you,” Theo growls from behind me. “She’s panicking that she’s going to mess it up or stab someone.”
“Valid concerns,” I whisper, keeping my hands wrapped around Hart as he shifts and lifts us both in a show of strength and dexterity I can only dream of.
“No, we only need us,” Hart murmurs. “And I suppose these idiots can witness.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll prepare the castle,” Theo growls.
“No, bring Merlin here. I don’t want to risk Daphne out in the open,” Nash decides.
We’re already over the chamber threshold when Malachi calls out, “Where are you two going?”
“To consummate our union,” Hart shouts with a wicked smirk at me. “We need to practice, given your desire not to mess it up.”
He throws me on the bed and pulls his shirt off. Oh, be still my beating heart.
“Now strip.”
Cancel that. Romance can wait. I’m still in myrough and tumble a maidenera.
Chapter Thirty Five
Daphne
There are things I envisioned for my wedding. No wait, that’s wrong. I didn’t envision anything other than becoming an old spinster with cats that lived in her hair and rambled nonsense at villagers for fun. It was the best way to avoid the expectations I could never measure up to. No one wants to even come within a foot of the old cat lady. It was on my plan, right after sausage domination.
Looks like I managed the sausage part, but alas, the cats have been replaced with sexy knights who know how to make my floof quiver.
“Please, I beg of you, do not think about your floof quivering,” Theo rumbles.
He and Malachi are on babysitting duty, making sure the bridal maiden doesn’t fall down a well or get her foot stuck in a drawer.
