Page 96 of The Betrothal

“I could marry you,” he whispered.

My mouth formed an O.

“I could.” He took my hand tighter into his. “I would. We could.”

“Seb,” I breathed his name. “I would marry you in a heartbeat.”

His eyes widened, and I knew it was completely true. I adored him, both him and Ben. Even if we hadn’t voiced whatever that feeling was.

He would be an incredible husband, and that thought had gravitas given I knew exactly what a shitty husband looked like.

“But my guardian has to authorise the match, Seb,” I added, my heart breaking as I did. “He never will. Ever. He would annul it. And going home after a shotgun wedding to someone he didn’t know…” I let the suggestion hang in the air.

“Her future would be far worse than the one she’s already facing,” Alex supplied. “Now she’s running, maybe the politicians can smooth that. But a marriage. That’s not panic, that’s a choice.”

Seb and Ben glared at him as if he was responsible for those facts. Although he stole me away, those observations weren’t his doing and he didn’t deserve any more ire than he was already in receipt of.

“The fall-out would be significantly worse.” I paused, trying to be clear without upsetting anyone any more than they had to be. “Compliance measures.”

Seb paled as Ben’s hands fisted on the table.

I floundered for a way to put us back on track.

“We knew it was temporary,” I chirped, even though I felt completely desolate. “We have to enjoy our last few days, that’s all we can do. It’s all we have.”

I could see Seb visibly trying to pull himself together. He schooled his features and clapped a hand onto Ben’s shoulder, looking at me meaningfully.

“We love you, Killer.”

My eyes watered, my chest filling with warmth at their admission and my heart shattering like glass at the same time.

“Do… do you?” Ben whispered, his eyes downcast.

I pulled my hand from his and stood. Ben froze, his shoulders dropping, his body caved inwards and he shrank.

I closed the distance between us, reached for him and lifted his chin with my fingers until he faced me.

I waited for him to look at me, but he didn’t.

“Ben.” My voice was calm, but I was anything but. “Look at me,” I commanded him.

His eyes fluttered and he lifted his gaze, slowly, until he finally met mine.

I nodded, steadily. Clearly.

All his sadness puffed out of him on an agonised breath.

“It doesn’t change my future. But it’s true.” I leaned down and kissed him, gently. He nodded into my kiss and I knew he understood.

By the time our kiss was broken and I offered a similar kiss to Seb, Alex was gone.

I told myself it was understandable. After all, it had been a long few days and in the brief time we’d been back, after a long morning cutting and dragging around huge logs, he’d argued with his brother – the most important person in his world – and now we were all professing feelings for one another over his kitchen table.

That would be a lot for anyone.

So why did I feel so disappointed?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN