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A smile touches his lips before he looks again at Charlotte. “My wife and I have spoken about this before. If both of us consent to another person entering our marriage, then we would welcome them with open arms. Of course, if that person wanted only to court my wife and they weren’t willing to share her with me then that may be a problem for us.” He tilts his head at her. “But I would never stop her from exploring a relationship with someone else as long as she still had a big enough appetite to let me enjoy her afterwards. But like I said, my wife is a particularly ravenous woman.” He laughs huskily.

Discomfort twists inside me. I’ve enjoyed Lady Charlotte alone before. At this point, there’s probably not a single man, or woman, in this realm who hasn’t. But the thought of Eden enjoying another’s company in a romantic setting without me…

I don’t know how to feel.

“Women are beautiful, soft creatures,” William sighs. “And some are so beautiful that it would be a crime against the realm to not let others enjoy them too. Consensually, of course,” he adds, not taking his gaze off his wife. “After all, if you discovered a bakery hidden deep within the forest that baked only the sweetest cakes, you would want to share it with all your friends, would you not?”

I narrow my eyes. Eden is not a bakery… But I suppose that, yes, if I did find something wonderful in the forest, I’d want to share it with those closest to me.

“Enjoy the rest of your time here.” I nod at William, heading towards the tavern.

He dips his head at me. “Enjoy your little blonde bakery!” The door to their private room locks before I can glare at him.

35

EDEN

Somehow I left the faerie village of Nettlestone with two new things. One, a large bottle of orange juice because the oranges squeezed to make that juice at the tavern must’ve been infused with magic to taste that good. And two, a safeword. Because after Lux joined us again at the table, in an oddly much calmer mood, both the men decided it would be a good idea for me to have one.

Even if I use it every day to keep them both away from me.

‘Twelve’.

I said yes as soon as Castor suggested it. It’s unique enough that I won’t use it accidentally, and it’ll remind me of my sisters and Father. Two topics that’ll help break any romance spell I feel myself getting pulled under if the princes get too close again.

That being said, I forgot to use it after dinner when Lux lured me into his bed. I also forgot to use it when Lux begrudgingly let Castor into our bedchamber so that he may wish me goodnight. He didn’t kiss me, but his gaze was powerful enough to make me feel like he did.

The following morning, Lux greets me again with another plate of my usual breakfast, but for some reason I find the entire thing repulsive.

“You’re sure you want only orange juice?” His gaze narrows, the silver tray filled with ugh… bacon and eggs now sitting far outside our closed door.

“I don’t think I could stomach anything else.” I grimace, feeling my forehead while Maxine stretches out beside me.

Perhaps I’m coming down with something. I was quite tired yesterday.

“If orange juice is all you desire, then I shall have our kitchen staff prepare an entire pitcher.” He kisses me on the cheek.

The second he’s gone, I leave Maxine on the bed and push open the window in the hopes of clearing the smell of my breakfast.

I don’t know how I ever liked the stuff.

Orange juice on the other hand… I inhale the brisk morning air. Damn having kings, we should be worshipping orange trees instead.

Propping my elbow against the window sill, I take a few moments to wake up properly. Snowflakes flutter through the winter sky, sprinkling onto the grass like icing sugar on a cake.

Hmm. A cake could be nice. Anything sweet, really. A big glass of orange juice, vanilla cake, chocolate muffins…

I’m seconds from wandering off to the kitchen myself when I pause by Lux’s desk. My gaze hooks on his quill and ink pot. Oh no…

Here I am daydreaming about a feast of sweet treats when I still haven’t written to my sisters. After what happened at the faerie village, I completely forgot!

I need to write to them before I let myself near any kitchens. One letter won’t take long.

Taking a seat, I search around for spare parchment. There’s nothing other than his writing tools and a few books on the desk, and when I try the drawers they’re all locked.

Bending down, I check under the desk for a key. I learnt that trick from Blossom when we snuck into Father’s office after Dahlia had been kidnapped.

I grin when I see it. Just like under Father’s desk, there’s a little key hanging from a hook. When I try it in the first drawer, it’s a perfect fit. It slides open to reveal at least a dozen sheets of parchment.