Chapter 3: I love you, Angelique.

It is the morning of my wedding day. The greatest comfort I have is that people will not approach me until I am to be prepared. I have all morning and half the afternoon to myself. Hera is off somewhere helping with the preparations and my parents are arranging the final terms of the marriage contract. Damien is strictly on the other side of the venue and is forbidden from coming near me before the wedding.

I found myself hiding in the garden. I found peace here. I never fancied the scent of flowers, but somehow, I came to appreciate it today. The sound of chirping birds was also music to my ears. I never appreciated them before. In fact, I found them a nuisance. Perhaps the freedom they possessed is a factor in my sudden appreciation of them.

"I thought I might find you here," said the all too familiar voice.

I turned around immediately to meet his warm, brown eyes. He looked ever so princely and noble. No one could ever compare to him. He is the embodiment of Prince Charming in fairytales. To me, he is every ladies' dream come true. He's a prince who's loyal, loving, and kind. He's the opposite of Damien Cross.

"What are you doing here, Jonah?" I asked, taking a step back. I fear that if he stood too close, I might break and actually take him up on his offer.

He smiled, pulling me into a deep, long embrace. It felt like a warm cup of cocoa on a cold winter's day. He never fails to make me feel loved and cared for. Alas, he is only but a brother to me in this lifetime. I would be lying if I said that I never thought about what life could be if I had accepted his offer. Perhaps with him, I might've had a shot at happiness and real love.

"I wanted to see how you're holding up," he said, pulling away. He noticed the mark on my collarbone, shaking his head in disapproval. He then turned red in rage. He's different went enraged. He appears calm, but the aura surrounding him will suffocate you and that's when you know that he's angry. He rarely gets this way.

"Did he do this to you?" he asked sternly, "Did he hurt you in any way? Because if he did, I'm prepared to get you out of here right now. Better yet, slay him for what he's done to you."

I cupped his cheek, shaking my head in response. "That mark isn't the mark of being hurt, Jonah," I explained, rather embarrassed by it. "He... um..."

He turned red, his eyes growing wide in shock. "Did you..." he asked embarrassedly, "Did you... um... do it with him yesterday out of wedlock?" He adjusted his collar, looking away in awkwardness.

"I didn't!" I said rather loudly. I covered my mouth with my hands in embarrassment. "It's a really complicated thing, Jonah. It happened so fast."

"Did he force you?" He asked, "Because you know I'd defend you. Just say the word, Angelique! I'll get rid of him."

"You'd go so far as killing him for me?" I say, taking his hands into mine, "That would mean war, Jonah. I don't think your family would be happy about that."

"I have their blessing of having you as my bride," he said, tightening his grip on my hands. "It's not too late to change your mind, Angelique. I may be just a second son to my parents, but I can promise you a home. My family adores you, too. They would be happy to protect you."

His words are tempting. I would gladly accept it, but that would bring him down, and I can't do that. If I accept his offer, the war will not end. My downfall will be his, and I might someday cost him his life. I can't do that to Jonah. He will also face the wrath of my family for breaking the possibility of peace between the White's and the Cross's.

"You're doing this out of pity," I say, releasing him from my grasp. "I'm afraid I can't accept this offer."

He knelt before me once again, pulling out the ring from his pocket. "Princess Angelique of White, I am not doing this out of pity."

"I can't accept this, Jonah," I say, stepping back, "I won't. This isn't right."

"We're friends," he argues, "Angelique, marry me and we'll become partners for life. Isn't that what people expected? Way before your engagement to Damien was announced. Everybody expected us to be together."

"No," I refused, "This is silly, Jonah. Come on and get up."

He shook his head in refusal. He just wouldn't give up. He stared at me with his beautiful chocolate eyes, refusing to admit defeat.

"Being married to your friend is better than marrying that monster," he reasoned, "Marry me, Angelique, and let's be happy together."

"Happy?" I asked, laughing. This is completely absurd. We can't even do this properly without arguing.

"Jonah," I say, "I can't give you the happiness you deserve. Don't just settle for me because I need you."

"Who said that I'm settling?" he says with a straight face. With a determined face, he says, "I'm not settling for you, Angelique."

"What?" I asked in confusion. My heart was pounding a million times faster and I felt like I couldn't breathe, but in a good way. I couldn't describe what I felt, but I knew it wasn't right. But is it wrong? Perhaps.

He got up and before I knew it, my face was but a centimeter away from his, and his lips pressed onto mine. His lips were soft and sweet like the peaches he liked to eat. The kiss felt different than the one I had the night before. This kiss was passionate and filled with emotion. Maybe love has something to do with it. Could it be? Could this be love? I didn't know and I didn't care. For some reason, I knew how to react to his touch. My lips and his were in sync, moving together in harmony. It's as if we've been doing this forever. Like we knew each other's movements by heart.

I pulled away to catch my breath, staring into his brown eyes. His eyes were full of passion and longing. I could hear both our hearts beating loud like fireworks exploding in the night sky. I wanted him and he wanted me. This is real love.

He pulled me back, sinking his lips into mine. I didn't resist his touch. I let him run his fingers all over me, and he in turn allowed me to trace mine all over him. Every touch was like a firework burning my skin, filling me up with excitement. He planted a kiss on my neck, taking me to paradise. I felt joy and excitement.

He slowly pulled away, resting his forehead against mine, catching his breath.

I stared into his eyes. Never have I ever thought he desired me in this way. I don't feel shame at all. I felt comfortable and safe. He makes me feel safe.

"I am not settling for you," he clarified, holding my hands. "This is me asking you to marry me because I..."

"Don't say it, Jonah," I pleaded.

He said, "I love you, Angelique."

All my walls came crashing down as tears ran down my cheeks. I wish he didn't say it. It makes no difference. I'm still going to marry Damien.

I let go of his hands, taking a step back.

He shook his head in disappointment. "Fuck," he said, tugging on his hair. Frustration was evident on his face. He can't undo what he did, nor can he turn back time and unsay what he said. Everything's out in the open now. Now more secrets. No more locked-up feelings. This is the first time I heard him cuss.

He looked at me. The warmth in his eyes was replaced by coldness and held back rage. "You won't marry me, will you?" he asked, shoving the ring back in his pocket. "You don't love me."

He turned around to leave, but I caught his wrist just in time.

"You know that I do, you idiot," I said, holding him firmly. "I don't have to say it for you to know that. If you had the courage to say this to me then, we wouldn't be in this situation. All you had to do was say it."

"You called me a brother," he argued, turning to face me.

I fought back, "Because you said I'm a sister to you! Damn it, Jonah. There's nothing we can do to turn this around."

"You love me?" he asked, cupping my face, "Then come with me, and let's be happy together. I'll talk to your parents. We can end this war together. Don't marry Damien Cross."

My heart was shattering into a billion pieces. How could we be so stupid? We messed up. It's all too late. If only we said these things sooner... I love him, huh? And he loves me... No matter how much I want him, I can't have him. I have a duty to fulfill. And though I have Hera's blessing to accept Jonah's offer, I can't do this to her.

"I love you, Jonah of Polaris," I said, "But this is the end of us. Thank you for letting me know the truth."

"I can't change your mind then?" he asked, hugging me tightly. I could feel the tears in his eyes landing on my back. Both of us were in tears.

I gripped his shirt, fighting the urge to accept his offer. "You will find happiness one day, Jonah," I said, pulling away, "Just not with me. One day, you'll marry someone more deserving of you and she'll make you happy."

"In another life, you and I'll be happy together," he said.

I nodded, "Yes."

He planted one last kiss on my lips. "I'll see you later then," he said as he pulled away.

I watched as he turned his back and left. I broke his heart and he broke mine. Marriage is a political alliance. If we had been engaged months ago and had married, we would've been happy. Our marriage wouldn't have been just a political alliance. It would've had love, respect, and friendship; not like the marriage, I'm getting into tonight. If only we were honest from the start. But that's over. I'm closing the book and putting it back on the shelf. The story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now.