Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
My cousins had been generous in their pointers.
But everything there was different.
There was too much protocol, and every step I took it seemed I was fought back with politely being told it was the wrong one. At one point in my first year I was assigned a butler, Rupert, with a stick up his ass. Thankfully, I got rid of that stick real fast. Who knew all it took was one party and too much whiskey? Now he was an ally, but the point remained. I truly hated it. But I knew I’d endure it for the parents I never knew.
My twin brother had been murdered in his sleep in an effort to take back the country, and I’d been next. I understood why they did it; I didn’t have to like it.
They’d wanted me on the throne.
We were at peace.
But I had to wonder how long that would actually last.
Furthermore, I didn’t want a princess by my side anyway—I wanted a warrior willing to fight to the death who carried a sword that didn’t belong via her tongue, so maybe her proving she wasn’t worthy was a good thing.
Maybe a broken engagement was what we needed in order to move forward, though amusing, she may just accomplish it.
“Fine.” Samira snapped and shoved Frederick’s arm back so hard that I swore you could hear it reverberate through the room, tear the curtains down, toss the furniture and cause a tsunami.
His shock matched mine as she wrapped her arms around his neck, jumped against him, kicked off her heels, and kissed him square on the mouth like it was their typical routine.
His arms went wide like he wasn’t sure if she should keep her close or shove her away in sheer panic, she deepened the kiss and parted her lips. I saw everything in slow motion, the way her hands dug into his hair, the way she wrapped her body around his.
What man could say no to that?
RIP Frederick.
He paused and then, as any human would with a gorgeous woman in their arms, wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss.
And that was it.
The end.
There was no applause, no cheer, just me shrugging and wishing them a great well being.
They were still kissing when I walked out of the room.
They were probably still kissing when I whispered under my breath, “My congratulations to the happy couple.”
And they were probably still kissing when I went into my isolated room on the top floor and sat on my bed.
I missed my adopted family.
I missed my sister.
I had nobody really that I trusted other than my two cousins and now I had a broken engagement I had to explain to everyone in the monarchy.
But I didn’t want someone who didn’t want me, crown or not, there were things you fought for in life.
Love was one of them.
And asking her to love me in such a short time? Impossible. Asking her to stand by my side and fight? Even more so.
One day, I’d find a warrior queen.
One day.
Until then… “Cheers. Keep her happy, Frederick.”
Chapter Three
Samira
He was kissing me back—and it was good, it was really good. I clung to him as he spun me against the wall and pressed himself up against me, the book dropped from his hands with a thud against the ground.
I had no clue the guy even knew how to kiss, let alone seduce someone. His hands dug into my hair, pulling the diamond pins from it, dropping them to the floor. I had no time to even be upset when he lifted me against him, wrapping my legs around him. “Is this it? Is this what you wanted?” I nodded my head even though something felt wrong inside my chest. “A show?”
I froze and pulled away, lips swollen. “A show?”
His grin was wide, red swollen lips pulled back in a teasing smile. Mesmerizing almost evil at the same time. “Did you really think all it would take was a simple kiss to bring me to your side from your fiancé? Do you even know how many women I’ve kissed in my lifetime? And what do you think makes you different? I respect you. I like you. I could never marry you, but I can buy you some more time to get your head together. What’s so bad about him?” He was still holding me in the air, pressed against the wall. I was too embarrassed to move, let alone speak. “What’s so bad? Hmm?”
His eyes crinkled at the sides, the blue flashed back at me like he saw through to my very soul and all the secrets it hid, all the insecurities. “Hmm?”
“He’s… crude.”
Frederick smirked and looked down at me, it was slow though, like he was breathing me in, calculating what I would say. “Oh? And this is what?”