would’ve given anything not to utter the words. ‘Then tell me in your own words.’
He stared at her for a long time. Then shook his head. ‘I don’t have the luxury of being whimsical about this situation. It is what it is.’
The vice tightened around her heart. ‘What about love, Reyes? Surely you have a view on whether you want love in your life or not?’
His hand slashed through the air. ‘My father married for love. Look where that got him.’
‘Are you saying if you fell in love and were loved back, it wouldn’t be enough for you?’
‘I’m saying love is never equal, no matter what anyone says. Someone always loves more, and that person has the most to lose.’ Shadows flickered in his eyes before he turned to pace the room again.
Her beautiful eyes clouded. ‘You really believe that, don’t you?’
Striding to her, he grabbed her arms. ‘I don’t believe in fairy tales. And my reality speaks for itself.’
She pushed out of his arms and padded to the window. Tugging the sheet closer, she wrapped her arms around herself.
Reyes watched her, the action both angering and disturbing him. ‘Jasmine?’
After a moment, she turned. ‘How is your father?’
He frowned, struggling to keep up with everything she was throwing at him.
Waking up to find her gone, he’d had a chilling sense of déjà vu, before he’d remembered he was back home, in a place where Jasmine wouldn’t be able to escape him easily. Except she was trying now. The woman he’d gone to sleep certain of spending the rest of his life with was having second thoughts.
And probing subjects he didn’t want to discuss. Yet he found himself answering. ‘As well as he can be considering his heart and organs are days away from failing.’ The throb of pain the thought brought made his breath catch. His father had had a good day today. Straight after his council meeting, Reyes had gone to see him. They’d talked for a full hour, during which Reyes had stumbled over himself in his plea for his father’s forgiveness for treating him so harshly.
His father had merely smiled and said, ‘Finally, you love,’ before he’d fallen asleep.
‘Can he speak?’ Jasmine asked.
He shoved a hand through his hair. ‘A few words when the medication isn’t strong enough to make him sleepy.’
She nodded. ‘Can you do me a favour? The next time you see him, ask him if he’d do it all over again. Love your mother with unconditional love.’
His insides clenched and he exhaled. ‘I don’t need to ask him. I know he would.’
‘Do you think that’s foolish? Those brief moments of happiness to balance the pain and the betrayal?’
‘Jasmine—’
‘Just humour me. You have no idea how many times I wished for my mother to just tell me she loved me, or for her to remember it was my birthday without the shopkeeper down the road having to remind her. Was it always that bad between your parents?’
Reyes thought back to birthdays, skiing holidays, family gatherings. His mother had made an effort on those rare occasions. Those were the happiest he’d seen his father. But as with all things, the happy moments were fleeting, the painful moments lingering the longest.
He shook his head. ‘It wasn’t, no. But it was a life...so-called love...without trust and respect. And to me that’s no life at all. Do you not agree?’
Her shoulders slumped. A flare of panic lit his insides.
‘It doesn’t really matter what I think, does it? You’ve made up your mind. We have a wedding to plan and a baby to look forward to.’
She was staying. The panic should’ve abated, yet it escalated. ‘We can make this work, Jasmine.’
Her dejection grew even more palpable. ‘Reyes—’
He cupped her shoulders. ‘We will make it work. That is my edict.’
Her chin rose and although her eyes filled with more tears, they didn’t spill. But they spiked her lashes and clung like tiny diamonds.
‘I know you’re the Crown Prince, possibly soon to be King, but I’m really tired of you ordering me around like I’m some type of minion. Get over yourself already.’
She flung away from him, trailed the sheet to the bedroom and then reversed her trajectory back to the living room to snatch up her gown.
Watching her try to manoeuvre the dress on while keeping hold of the sheet tugged a reluctant smile from his lips, despite his churning feelings.
She saw it and glared at him. ‘You think this is funny?’
‘Firstly, I don’t think I’ve ever been told to get over myself before. Secondly, I suggest you stop hopping around like that before you fall over and break a bone. Or worse.’
‘Firstly, I think it’s high time someone told you to get over yourself. Secondly—’ She yanked the dress up, dropped the sheet, and tripped over her feet. He lunged forward, all mirth gone from the situation, and caught her in his arms.
‘You can let me go now. I’m done putting my dress on.’
His chest tightened again, harder than before. ‘And where do you propose going at three in the morning?’
‘Back to the palace, of course.’
‘No. If you’re upset we’ll talk about it now.’
That look of inevitable acceptance of defeat crossed her face again. Dios, what was going on? ‘You can’t will something into place that doesn’t exist, Reyes.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘We’re only marrying because of the baby. I think we should focus on that and not fool ourselves into thinking this can ever be something more, okay?’
Something more. A part of him wanted that. The part that wanted to say to hell with everything and jump in blind. But he couldn’t afford to do that. This time the stakes were much too high. ‘Jasmine, I can’t give you what—’
She held up her hand and shook her head. ‘I know. I’m not what you wanted. You don’t need to spell it out.’ She turned away. ‘I’d really like to return to the palace now, please.’
He dressed. Made sure she was warm enough in the pre-dawn air as he settled her into the buggy. All the while feeling terrified that he had lost the most important battle of his life.
THEY WERE MARRIED two days later in the largest
