I was stunned by the revelation that he’d been in love with me even when all he had was a scent and my father’s description of me.
“I love you, too.” I couldn’t offer him anything else. “I’m glad that we’re married.”
He kissed me again. This time, it was gentle and loving. Then I could feel him getting hard again inside of me, slowly sending butterfly shivers through me. He rolled so that I was on top of him, and I braced my hands on his shoulders and upper pectorals as I rocked against his body. We had all the time in the world.
Unspoken
Marceau
The two of us came together after our endless loving. Her eyes were closed. I looked at the love of my life, my mate, and I knew that she would die because I’d been selfish enough to steal her from her family and make her my mate through threatening her father. My selfishness was going to cost her her life. I could’ve left her alone, let her live a long life with her family. Instead, here she was, a prisoner in my castle, beloved though she was. She would die soon, and it was because her love had broken my curse. Her life in exchange for my humanity.
I wanted to rage at the gods who had decided that this was how it worked. I mentally cursed the witch who’d given birth to me and tried to take out her rage on my father, the king. Even though I was the heir, I hadn’t taken his crown when he died. I had the sacred rose, the one that had founded our nation. One of my ancestors had been granted the right to rule, with an ever-living rose that bloomed in the coldest mountain winter. I had the blood. But somehow, I never got around to scheduling the coronation. It was bad enough to be a werebear prince, but being a cursed king would have been even worse. I still ran the kingdom with my advisors, but my council handled most of the daily decisions. Yes, we were a monarchy, but I was only one man not particularly interested in governing. I spent most of my time alone. At least until I had married.
Soon, I’d be alone again. Now that I had tasted just a little of what I could have, I was terrified of losing it now and forever.
She’d chosen to marry me, but she hadn’t chosen to die. I stroked her sweat-slicked back and thought. If only I could trade my life for hers.
I wanted to fight against what was coming, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t know how to tell her what the wizard had said, because that would make it real. I hoped that he was wrong and nothing bad would happen, but he knew far more about the curse than I had. I had a terrible feeling that he was right and marrying my wife had been my salvation and her death sentence.
I had to get out of here. I had to find a way to save her just like she had saved me. I slid out of our bed, washed myself, and got dressed. I didn’t want to go back to the wizard. I needed to find another way to save her. I went downstairs to eat before I went on a futile quest to save my princess.
Stew
Marceau
I could smell meat and hoped that it was already finished. When I came into the kitchen, I could see that the cook, Madame Renaud, was bustling around.
“Could I get some of whatever’s in the pot?”
“Won’t be done for another half hour, but I can give you some bread.”
I sat down. “I’ll take some bread.”
She cut off the end of a loaf and handed it to me. “What are you doing down here by yourself? Shouldn’t you be with your wife? Have you worn her out?”
I blushed hard, but my servants had taught me the facts of life early on. There had been carrots involved.
“Why are you down here?” The cook had already turned away.
“I have to figure out how to save m
y wife.”
“From whom?”
I shut my eyes. “From me.”
“Care to explain that, Your Highness?”
“I’m…changing.”
“Ah.”
“She’s tied to the curse. She broke it but…”
“But what?”
“She’ll die as a result.”