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Loving the Forbidden Prince

[COMPLETE] Can a royal Romeo and Juliet find their happy ending? Ayleth, Princess of Zenithra, is secretly trained in hand-to-hand combat, and collects swear words she doesn't know how to use. During the Festival of Peace, in which every royal son on the continent will be at the castle for a month, she is instructed by her parents to find a husband. Yet, Ayleth has never even been kissed—until the very first ball, when she meets the man in the Lion mask. Etan is a seasoned warrior, and the Prince of Summitras. He attends the Festival hoping to find a powerful wife who will help him conquer the dark sorcery of their bloodsworn enemies, the Kingdom of Zenithra. But at the very first ball, he discovers the masked woman who captures his heart is the Heir to the evil empire. Ayleth and Etan face an impossible battle. Will their love survive? Or will their parents' dark dealings keep them apart forever? [Mature content. No sexual violence.] ****** “You…” She stepped back. Then back again, her mouth dropped open. “You… You cannot be…” “I am,” Etan said, and his hair raked back as he pushed his mask off his handsome face. So handsome her heart raced. His hair was ebony black, his skin a warm brown that threatened to fade in in the winter months. He stared at her with glittering green eyes, over high cheekbones and a noble nose, his jaw tight and shadowed this late in the day. His chin was high over the pillar of his neck that she’d just touched with its hard lines and steel strength, so different to her own. And his chest... She gasped and covered her eyes. She’d humiliated herself revealing her stupid, childish curiosity. “No, Ayleth. This changes nothing.” “How can you say that? It changes everything!” She was horrified to realize she was crying. “Ayleth, please.” His voice cracked on the plea and she stared at him, shoving her mask up and off, despite how it would pull her hair out of the beautiful twist the maid had managed for her. His eyes locked on hers and she couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. She had met her One. And he was the son of her bloodsworn enemy. She stared at him as he stepped forward again, offering both hands, palm up. “Touch me,” he whispered. “Hold my hands. This is real, Ayleth. I don’t know how it happened, but this is real. Please don’t deny it.” She couldn’t resist. She raised a trembling hand to his cheek, letting her palm catch on the scruff of his jaw. He blew out a breath and put his hand over hers, and that jolt that happened whenever they touched shivered through her again. “Please, Ayleth.” “I cannot deny it,” she whispered. [Cover specially commissioned and illustrated image by Same Van Rijn. See more of their amazing art on Instagram: @same.vanrijn]

AimeeLynn · ファンタジー
レビュー数が足りません
229 Chs

Found

ETAN

A few minutes later they got silently to their feet and she led him to the end of the loft—where they would be over tack and feed rooms, instead of the stables—and where a massive open space yawned into the night. It faced the castle and Etan didn't want to admit, it was an awe-inspiring sight. He walked right up to the edge of the loft opening, where the hay would be forked into wagons below once it had been restocked this autumn. He leaned on the wall of the loft and let out a low whistle looking out. The broad meadow in front of them was silvered by the moon, the grass waving in the breeze. Beyond and to his left crouched the forest, and the maze to the right, then the mighty turrets of the castle rose behind both, silhouetted in front of the indigo blanket of sky punctured by the pinpoint stars.

He stood there for a moment, one arm up against the frame of the wall, just to enjoy the peace and beauty of it.

"Your home is beautiful," he said quietly.

"I've never enjoyed the view more," she murmured and the tone of her voice… Etan turned to find her standing several feet back, her eyes on him, bright and shining.

He smiled and beckoned her to join him. But that light in her eyes died and she shook her head and took two more steps back. "I don't like heights. I'll endure them when I must, but… perhaps you could come back here?"

Smiling, he walked quietly back to where she stood, that light inside him thrumming because she was so close. And in trousers that fit her like a glove.

Dear Lord.

He couldn't resist. He walked right up into her space, smiling when she didn't give ground, but craned her neck up to meet his eyes in the dark.

"It's good to see you again so soon, Ayleth," he breathed, lifting a hand to touch her face.

She looked at him through her lashes. "It's even better to be seen, Etan." And she put a hand to his chest. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew if he did, he'd do nothing else and being here, alone… he refused to be the brute who stole her virtue. But, dear God, the Father liked to tempt him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I couldn't sleep. I come here sometimes, when I'm… tense. Horses calm me."

"Me too," he admitted and they both smiled.

"We must find a way to ride together," she said.

The memory of Borsche's parting shot echoed in his head: Just make sure she's not a horse herself… I want to help you train your children for Court, not break them to saddle.

Etan pushed it away, along with the wave of laughter that wanted to rise.

He put his hand over hers on his chest and said, "Well, I thank the Father of Lights that He's seen fit to bring us together tonight. There's much we must discuss."

She nodded slowly, and her eyes dropped to his lips.

Stifling a groan, he turned away, but kept her hand in his, pulling her gently towards the hay-strewn floor behind them and spreading his cloak over it before looking at her. "Ladies first," he said.

She settled herself on it, her knees together, leaning on one hand, and Etan lowered himself to lay alongside her, leaning on one elbow, so she sat above him. "Very well," she said, once he was settled. "Where should we start?"

He held her gaze as he considered. "Perhaps with the true history of my people. Followed by the truth of yours."

She tipped her head. "What histories of mine have you heard that were… problematic?"

"Are your people sorcerers and slave owners?"

"What? No!" she squeaked.

"I suspected as much," he said, putting a hand to hers when she looked like she might leap to her feet in defense of her Kingdom. "So, let us tell each other the truth. The rest… the rest we'll figure out later."

She took a deep breath, but nodded. "Okay. You start."