“I’m not mad,” I explained. “I’m so fucking thrilled. Amazed. Shocked, yes, but Elena. Sweetheart. This is it. We will start our family with this one and?—”
She reared back and gaped at me again, almost comically. “Thisone?”
I kissed her again, unable to help myself.
“I just found out and you’re planning more?” she squeaked.
“As many as you want,” I promised her before kissing her slowly and leaning her back against the bed again.
“Adrik, I’m… I don’t know what to say. This is so sudden and I was crying because I was so worried you wouldn’t want a baby or me and I’d need to leave because I’m not giving up this child. And I didn’t have anywhere to go and, and… and…”
While she rambled, I got the ring box out of my pocket and brought it up to her eye level. She stammered, trailing off at the end as she peered at it.
“And…” She tilted her head to the side.
“You sayyes, sweetheart.” I popped the box open, revealing my mother’s ring, the one my father had given her so many years ago.
“Oh, fuck.” She opened her eyes so wide, they were practically bugging out.
I laughed, amused by how shocked she was. Perhaps this was taking it quickly, but who ever said I had to do anything slow and normal?
“Adrik.” She volleyed her gaze between me and the ring. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am serious. I would like to mark this as the day you can prove me wrong.”
She furrowed her brow.
“I told you on the day we met that you wouldn’t be a Volkov, when you didn’t see yourself as your father’s daughter anymore.”
She nodded.
“I was wrong. Because I intend to take you as my wife and make you my partner, Elena. To know that you willalwaysbe guaranteed my protection. Both you and our children.”
“Adrik!” She laughed once. “Singular. One child at a time,” she teased.
“We could have twins.”
She stared at me, alarmed.
“I love you, Elena. And I would be honored if you would accept my declaration with the promise to be my wife.” I held the ring out to her and searched her face as she bit her lip.
I never begged, but I wasn’t above starting now. I was that determined to secure my future—not the one that dictated I would be taking the throne once my father passed, but this one.
The future with this gorgeous, intelligent woman as my wife and my child on the way.
34
ELENA
Adrik lifted the dazzling ring toward me. The question of a lifetime showed on his face. Hopeful. Curious. Pleading, even.
I opened and closed my mouth, not exactly looking graceful at the moment.
So long as he was staring at me with such commitment and love in his dark eyes, though, I would be fine.
He wanted tomarryme.
Me.
