“It would be the only command I would fail, because I have no life without you.”
“Then we have no other option,” Ronan said firmly.
Aiden’s heart picked up its pace, hope and fear warring in his chest. “What are you thinking?”
“That we keep walking tonight. We disappear into the woods and head south until we reach the ocean. We buy passage on a boat and we cross into a new land. We walk until we find a place where the world does not know us, and we can start new.” Ronan’s hand returned to Aiden’s cheek, and he stepped close enough that their chests brushed against one another. “We save money to buy a farm or maybe a tiny inn. We let the world forget about us and build the life we want.”
Aiden’s heart ached in his chest, and his throat was raw with unshed tears. Ronan painted a beautiful fantasy for a new life. It was more than he’d ever let himself dream. The way Ronan laid it out so clearly and quickly made him think Ronan had been pondering this idea for far longer than just the march home.
Ronan loved him. He’d always believed Ronan loved him as a brother, but this…it was so much more. His beautiful, brave prince loved him. He was willing to walk away from everything, a grand destiny and life, so he could have his Aiden.
For one shining, perfect heartbeat, Aiden let himself believe they could have that dream, that they could escape and build a happy life together. He let himself believe that he could hold his Ronan and feel the beat of his heart, the tender brush of his lips. That they would share a lifetime of laughter and heartache together.
But he couldn’t.
More people than just Aiden needed Ronan and his good heart.
“My prince,” Aiden murmured. He paused and swallowed hard against the words that needed to be said, though he hated them all. “My love, what about your father? The kingdom? The people who need you?”
Ronan jerked away from Aiden, snarling in his obvious frustration. His lip curled and one fist trembled at his side. “What of them? What have they ever given us? Pain and death. We leave, and they will continue to fight over the land and its riches. Let them. I will have already stolen the greatest treasure—my Aiden.”
A sad smile touched Aiden’s lips. For the first time in his life, he let himself reach out to Ronan, and his heart soared when the man rushed back to his side, grabbing Aiden’s hand in both of his rough ones. There was a part of him that hated his loyal adherence to duty. He wanted to escape with Ronan but knew they’d never be truly happy.
“You were meant for more than being a farmer or an innkeeper. You were meant to be king,” Aiden said firmly.
“I don’t want it,” Ronan growled. He began to pace away, but Aiden held tight to his hand, keeping him close.
“And the stars do not care about our wishes. They have made their plans for us, and we must play our parts. You are to be king, and I am to never leave your side. Even if I must watch you marry and father endless children. Even if we never have more than this moment right now, I know in my heart that I am yours. It is enough.”
“Aiden, I—”
Whatever he’d been about to say was forever cut off by a man’s voice raised in alarm. They both turned toward the camp, where frantic shouts and pained screams were heard. Someone was attacking the soldiers they’d left behind.
There was no hesitation. No more talk of escaping and starting a new life. No dreams. Only their duty.
Aiden was a half step behind Ronan as they ran to the camp. They both held their blades in their hands, ready to jump into any battle and protect their men. For a second, a smile toyed on Aiden’s lips as he stared at his friend’s back. Ronan dreamed of building a life away from this world with only him, but he didn’t hesitate to fulfill his duty, to face his destiny, and Aiden was proud of him. Would always be proud of him.
Would always love him.
The screams grew louder and more frantic with each passing second. They hurried, their footsteps pounding on the hardened earth. But they never reached the camp.
A large black mass swept out of the trees and slammed into Ronan, throwing him to the ground. Aiden drew in a breath to shout for him when something heavy hit him, knocking him off his feet. The air rushed from his lungs, but Aiden kept rolling, moving away from whatever had hit him. Settling on his stomach, he tried to push up to his feet. Ronan was lost to the darkness, but there was something crouched on the ground. Was it on top of Ronan?
Roaring, Aiden tried to rise, but the creature hit him again, knocking him to his back. Where was his sword? He had to find his damn sword.
He blinked up and found that the new weight on his chest was a woman. Her dark hair was wild and her face smudged with dirt. Blue eyes glowed down at him with a frightening light, and the last thing he saw was a pair of sharp white fangs.
Forgive me, Ronan. My prince.
April 14, 1827
Aiden sat in his carriage, staring up at the brightly lit town house in the very stylish neighborhood, trying to ignore the frantic pounding of his heart. He’d called himself a fool a hundred times in the passing minutes. It would be so easy to just tell his driver to return to his home and forget about this nonsense. After all these years, it was unbelievable that the dead heart in his chest would finally beat for someone.
But Julianna Varik was not simply someone.
She stood above all the world, a beacon of light and hope. She was joy.
And to his utter surprise, he loved her.
He’d been sure that he’d never love again. Not since…
Not that it mattered that he loved her. Half of London fancied itself in love with the stunning woman.
No, the real test was winning her love. Tonight was the first true step forward in that battle. Oh, there had been some minor skirmishes in the past several months as they’d gotten to know each other. He’d acquired an introduction through a mutual friend, and like so much of London, he’d courted the woman. And for reasons he simply couldn’t fathom, she favored him. They’d gone for walks in the park, and she never questioned his inability to stroll in the daylight. They’d attended museums and dinner parties together. There had been stolen kisses and secret embraces. There had been laughter, but Aiden knew that in the grand scheme of their future, none of it compared to what he still had to face. All his future happiness with Julianna rested on what he did tonight.
Cursing his ridiculous nerves, Aiden knocked on the door once, signaling to his driver to open it and let down the stairs. He refused to let himself wonder what the man thought of his panicked indecision. He handed over the large box resting in his lap and the extravagant bouquet of flowers he’d chosen from his own hothouse. As he climbed to the sidewalk, he slipped the box under his left arm and carefully took the bouquet in his right. He could do this.
Of course, it wasn’t until he was climbing the stairs to her home that he realized that he didn’t have a free hand to knock on the door. Luckily, the butler was watching for him and swept the door open before he had to pause.
“Good evening, sir. Lord Martin, I presume,” the butler said in stiff, officious tones that nearly brought a smile to Aiden’s lips. The title and last name were fabricated, but the money he’d amassed over the years convinced most people to not look too closely at either.
“Yes. Lady Varik—”