Ethan’s face was hard to read. He didn’t say anything for a long moment. I couldn’t even read the emotions behind his eyes. It was like they were completely closed off to me. I had no idea what was going through his head right now.
Then he made a careless gesture. “It’s fine. We’ll figure that part out later down the line. Heirs aren’t important at the moment. We have to win the Contest first. But Emma, I need your answernow.”
I was shocked to hear that answer. Even though he knew I couldn’t give him a prince or princess— something crucial to the security of the monarchy— he still wanted me anyway.
That was a huge sacrifice for him to make. And it was one that sealed my fate.
I made my decision. If Ethan was willing to give up the chance to have blood-related heirs, then he truly did deserve to rule. He cared more about the Arcanea than he did himself, and he was certain I was the right choice for his queen.
The Phantom wasn’t coming for me, and I was tired of waiting around for him— tired of waiting around for true love. I wasn’t like my mom. I’d choose duty and practically over romance, unlike what she’d done. Maybe things would work out better that way. A marriage of convenience.
If I had to settle, at least it’d be for a prince.
“What if I say yes? You realize if we lose the Contest, you still don’t get to be king, and you’re stuck with me,” I said. “You can’t go back on mating decisions once they’re publicly announced.”
“Yes. It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Ethan said.
Of course it was. Because he couldn’t give me an easy out. This was all riding on me. A million images flashed through my mind— Gabby’s shocked face when I stole the crown away from her. My dad being murdered by the Black Claw. Me gaining my revenge on the cult as queen…
… And perhaps the sight of a very naked and very muscular shifter boy with a missing leg lying in my bed. If we ever got that far.
It was the last thought that convinced me. “Fine. I accept your proposal. I’ll become your mate.”
Ethan’s shoulders sagged, and he smiled in obvious ease. “Thank you, Emma.” He took my hands in his and squeezed them. “You don’t know how happy this makes me.”
“No problem.” It’d be nice if we kissed or something, but I wasn’t about to expect that from the Prince of Abstinence. He’d had an opportunity to kiss me before, and he hadn’t gone through with it. Now that he knew I couldn’t have kids, he’d have an excuse to never fuck me. We’d work our way up to a peck on the lips by the time we were fifty.
“It’s getting late,” Ethan said. He rubbed his thumb over the backs of my hands, and damn if it didn’t feel good. “You should probably get some sleep. We have a lot to do to prepare for the Contest.”
“When do you want to announce our bond?” I asked. Gabby and Elijah had wasted no time telling everyone they were mates.
“At the Choosing,” Ethan said. “It’ll give us an advantage. No one will see it coming. They’ll have expected me to drop out by then.”
Was Ethan really that ashamed to be with me? “Fine. I guess we can use the element of surprise.” Gods, our marriage was already like a chess game.
But this is what I’d decided. And in my gut was a feeling of firm satisfaction. My intuition told me I’d made the right choice. Duty over love.
I needed to get a dress for the King’s Ball. No future Queen of the Arcanea could show up wearing jeans.
Chapter Nineteen
Ethan
The illusion took all my energy and made me weak for days. It was powerful sorcery— stuff I shouldn’t be messing with. Duplicating yourself and powering the illusion with enough magic to become a solid form was extremely difficult. Arcanea had died from it. The spell itself had made me sick. I could only sustain it for a short period of time. I’d cast the duplication spell the night before, and made sure that the clone would be seen on live TV so Emma would witness the broadcast as we studied the next morning.
The spell had completely drained me. But I had no other choice. I was certain that Emma was onto me. If I hadn’t done something, she’d have discovered my secret identity, and then there’d be a whole list of things to explain alongside asking her to join me for the King’s Contest.
I already had to convince her to marry me against her will— while lying to her about the fact we shared a mating bond. I didn’t want to admit I was a vigilante on top of it. I debated back and forth for days about confessing to Emma that we were fated mates, but if I did that, I’d have to tell her the truth about the Phantom. Knowing the man behind the mask would only put Emma at risk, and now that we were contestants for the Contest, she would be in enough danger as the bride of Prince Ethan.
I needed her to be focused on winning the King’s Contest. If she knew I’d been lying to her about being the Phantom, she’d be beyond furious— along with distracted.
And if sheeverfound out I lied to her about her being my one true mate… she’d never trust me again.
Trust was the one thing we needed in order to win the Contest. We had to get that throne. One way or the other.
The night of the King’s Ball had arrived. But first, Emma and I had to go through our Choosing ceremony, declare ourselves to our gods, and announce that we were mated.
The ceremony was to be held in Dolinska’s square. Every Arcanea had to go through their Choosing ceremony once they’d found their mate at the end of that particular year, but the King’s Contest participants were going first.
