“You are essential to me,” he said softly.
Trev thought he heard someone sigh. His eyes flickered to the side of the house. The plump woman seemed embarrassed she had been caught eavesdropping and quickly hid behind the stone.
She wasn’t the woman he was trying to impress with his undying love, but at least someone thought he sounded good.
He looked back at Renna, hoping his words had melted her heart as much as they had her friend’s. “So?” he asked expectantly.
A slow smile spread across her lips as if she liked stringing him along. “So what?”
He slipped his hand behind Renna’s neck and pulled her closer, so their foreheads were touching. “So, do you love me too?”
He had never been so vulnerable in his life.
Her head bobbed up and down against his forehead. “I love you too,” she whispered.
“Whew!” He threw his head back. “That is a relief!” He pulled her into a hug, her body fitting perfectly under his arms. “I was worried after the disastrous take one.”
Her body laughed against his.
“You should’ve been worried.” She backed out of the hug to look at him. “I wasn’t sure this was going to end well for you.”
“I know, but I really think I nailed it in take two,” he said with mock seriousness. “Don’t you?”
She raised an eyebrow. “It was all right, I guess.”
“All right?” He called out to the older woman who was watching them again. “You thought I did good, right?”
She ducked her head behind the house again, but Trev heard her loudly and clearly say, “Yes, sir! Pretty darn near perfect.”
Renna spoke over her shoulder. “Don’t say too much, Nellie, or it will all go to his head.”
“Never!” he said sarcastically.
She looked up at him, a glimmer in her deep green eyes. “It’s been so long, how did you know I wasn’t completely in love with someone else by now?”
“I thought about that but knew no one else could stand a chance against me.”
“How could you be sure?” she asked. “Maybe he’s the most attractive man I’ve ever seen. Maybe he writes poetry and bakes . . .” She stuttered, obviously searching her mind for something to say. “Bread.”
Trev nodded, keeping a straight face. “Yes, because the most attractive men always bake homemade bread.”
“Don’t forget about the poetry,” she added.
“He doesn’t write poetry. That was just the bread recipe.”
Her laughter escaped in the most adorable way.
Trev pulled her into him. “Since we know the bread-making poet doesn’t exist, and we know you love me . . .”
She nodded, agreeing with everything he said.
“Can we kiss now? I’ve been here like, twenty minutes, and we haven’t kissed yet. It’s torture.”
She raised her chin up, and that was all the answer he needed to bring his lips down to hers. He kissed her slowly, pouring all his feelings of love into each movement of his lips. He wanted her to feel how much she meant to him. To feel how much he needed her in his life.
The kiss solidified everything.
Trev hugged her tightly again. “Are you going to marry me or not?”
“Are you going to ask me?” she quipped back.
Trev grabbed her by the hand and knelt down on one knee.
“Renna Degray, will you agree to rhyme your name with mine?”
“What?” Her face was confused. That was clearly not the proposal she was expecting. Perhaps he should have gone with something more traditional.
Trev grimaced. “Did you know your name will be Renna Trevenna?”
“I . . . hadn’t thought about it.” Her eyebrows puckered.
He quickly added, “Well, don’t. Especially if it’s going to make you answer negatively.”
“Renna Trevenna?” she questioned, looking around, obviously mulling it over in her mind. “That’s awful!”
He nodded to the transporters. “I’ll get my advisors on it. They’ll know what to do.”
She puffed out a little laugh.
Trev laced his fingers through hers, searching her green eyes. She was the best woman he had ever known. She had the most amazing mind, her wit alone kept him constantly entertained, her happiness made him a better man, and her beauty took his breath away. She was everything to him. “Renna.” He smiled up at her, so sure of how he felt. “Will you marry me?”
She nodded first before answering. “Yes.” It wasn’t too loud or crazy. Just subtle and perfect.
That was all Trev needed to gather her into his arms and kiss her again. Renna pulled back as his kiss deepened.
His lips tried to follow after her. “What just happened?”
She looked around nervously, ducking her head like a turtle trying to hide in its shell. “I feel like everyone is watching us.”
He looked back at the transporters. “That’s because they are. I’m sure their heads are pressed against the windows as we speak.”
“Well, I’m not that kind of girl,” she said frankly.
He raised his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” she gestured around them, “I’m not going to kiss you, really kiss you when the whole world is watching.”
Trev immediately grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the house.
“Where are we going?” Renna stumbled behind him, trying to keep up.
“To find some privacy.” He opened the front door. “Is there anyone in this house I should know about?”
“Nobody.” She smiled back at him and he nearly came undone.
Trev closed the space between them, pressing her back against the closed door. “I’ve been waiting six months to kiss you again, to kiss you like that night at the ball.”
“You might be disappointed.” Her green eyes sparkled, taunting him as he inched closer. “Too much buildup,” she whispered between them.
“I doubt it,” he breathed against her lips.
Then he kissed her the way he really wanted to.
They kissed until they had been kissing so long, Drake came knocking.
Epilogue
Renna
The Kingdom of Albion
Six Months Later
“You know, kidnapping is very unattractive.” Renna reached for the blindfold covering her eyes but stopped when Trev tsked at her from across the transporter. She was annoyed with his surprise, only because she hated not knowing where he was taking her. “I mean, it is probably the least attractive thing you could do.”
“You think this is the least attractive thing I could do?” Trev said skeptically.
She couldn’t see his face but could tell he was poking fun at her.
“I can think of twenty things that should be more unattractive.”
Her fake annoyance increased as he started rattling off ideas. “Throw up is more unattractive. No, I take that back, vomit coming out of my nose is extremely unattractive.”
She put her palm up to stop him. “I don’t need you to list things.”
It was too late. Trev was already continuing. “Don’t even get me started on other bodily fluids . . . the kind that should only be found in bathrooms.”
“Stop!” she giggled out, putting her hands lightly over her ears.
“Those things should be top on your list of the least attractive things about me. Trust me, I know.”
“Okay, you proved your point.” Her head shook as she pretended not to hear him.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because I could keep going.”
“No! Please just stop now.” The transporter rolled over a bump jostling her body against the door. “Are we almost there? I feel like we have been driving for a while.”
“You’re kind of whiny when you’re blindfolded. Did you know that?” The tone of voice said he was kidding, even though she was, in fact, being whiny. “You’re in luck though; we’re here.”
The transporter sl
owed to a stop, and Renna instinctively reached for her blindfold.
“Not so fast!” Trev grabbed her hands. “I’ll tell you when you can take it off.”
Trev helped her out of the transporter. Her heart pounded with excitement at every slow step and pull from him. Renna still had no clue where they were or what they were doing. Everything sounded like typical outside noises.
“Now I’m sure this is where you’re going to kill me,” she said as her foot shuffled cautiously ahead.
“Do you think the killing thing will be an ongoing theme throughout the rest of our lives, or do you think there will come a time when you don’t think I’m trying to kill you? I’m just trying to mentally prepare for the future.”
She raised her eyebrows, making the blindfold shift a little. “If there is a future.”
“I can assure you there’s a future.” Trev stopped pulling her forward, shifting her sideways a tiny step. “Right here,” Trev said gently.
Renna smiled in giddy anticipation. This surprise had been going on for hours. It had started that morning. She woke up to Trev sitting on the side of her bed with a dozen pink roses. There was a split second where she thought she might have been dreaming. Even though she had been living at the Albion Ruler’s Palace for months, she was still getting used to the fact that this was her new home—her new life. Trev’s charming smile was definitely the best thing she had ever woken up to, but she hadn’t really enjoyed it because her thoughts had immediately gone to her bedhead and bad breath. Trev had practically shoved breakfast down her throat before making her put on the stupid blind fold. That’s when Nora had arrived to get her ready. Renna wasn’t allowed to see what she wore or what she looked like. She could tell her dress was lacy. That seemed a little fancy for a day dress, adding to her suspicion. Nora wasn’t even helpful—tight-lipped about the entire surprise. Every once in a while, Trev popped his head in the room, annoyingly reminding her not to peek. But now they had finally arrived. Things were about to get exciting.
“Okay, you can take it off,” he said with a nervousness she hadn’t sensed in Trev in months.
Renna pulled at the fabric covering her eyes and blinked at the overpowering light now blinding her. Trev was across from her, dressed in a handsome black suit she’d never seen him wear.
It was crazy how just one look at him could get her heart going.
She gasped as she recognized King Bryant and her mother standing off to the side. Renna lurched forward into her mother’s arms. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Her mother’s soft hands brushed over her hair as they hugged.
“I’ve missed you so much,” her mother said, hugging her tighter.
Their relationship wasn’t perfect. Levels of hurt, mistrust, and guilt still needed repair. Renna might never understand her mother’s motives for her actions, but at least they were both trying. It was a good start.
King Bryant’s strong hands wrapped around them both. “It’s so good to see you.” His voice was kind and full of love.
Renna pulled away from them, noticing Drake, smiling at her like an idiot, and Nellie, Preetis, and Mangum. She quickly took in her surroundings. They were in the mountains. Tall pines circled them, making the majestic mountain views even more breathtaking. Two wooden posts were behind King Bryant, decorated with white netting and cream-colored flowers. She looked down at her dress—beautiful white lace with flowing sleeves and a seersucker waist. Her smile widened. She knew what this was.
It was her wedding.
An excited laugh rolled off her lips. “Did my ‘Save the Date’ get lost in the mail or something?”
Trev smiled at her in the most adoring way. “I hope you don’t mind, but I went ahead and planned our wedding.” He grabbed her hands, intertwining his fingers with hers. “It’s more intimate than my last wedding.” He looked at King Bryant and her mother. “We all agreed that big weddings give us anxiety now.”
Renna looked around at everybody she loved. “I . . . can’t believe this.” She looked back at Trev, amazed by him. “I actually don’t mind at all. It’s absolutely perfect.” Happy tears gathered in her eyes as she hugged him. “Wait. There’s someone missing.”
Trev pulled back. “Who? Tybolt? You’ve really got to get over him.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, where’s your father?”
“Oh, him. We all decided he shouldn’t be invited. He’s kind of a despicable person.”
“Yes, I’ve seen that side of him.” Renna shuddered, thinking back to the night he came to her room.
“So, are we going to do this?” Drake asked.
Trev turned to him. “Are you in some kind of a hurry?”
Drake colored, clearly a little embarrassed by the question. “No, I just want to get to the good part.”
Trev smiled at Renna. “What he means by that is he wants to see Lizanne. She traveled with Bryant and your mother from New Hope.”
“Ohhh,” Renna said, dragging the word out. “I’m sorry my wedding is such an inconvenience to you,” she joked.
“It’s not . . . I’m going to shut up now.” Drake smacked his lips together dramatically, proving he would be silent from now on.
“Where is she? You could have invited her.” Renna looked between him and Trev.
“He’s fine.” Trev looked at his friend. “He’ll see her back at the palace.”
Renna nodded, and everybody stepped in closer as if they all knew it was time. Her heart thumped against her chest, not because she was nervous, but because she was so happy. For the first time in her life, everything was just as she always hoped it could be. She looked at the faces of the people she loved most, each of them important to her in a different way. Each of them having shaped her into who she was at that moment.
The sun broke through the clouds, lighting her features, warming her face. Renna closed her eyes, and for one peaceful moment, her father was there with her, giving his blessing. Giving his love.
“Are you ready?” Trev’s hands squeezed hers.
She bobbed her head up and down and studied his striking blue eyes.
Trev was everything she had hoped she would find someday. Every dream that she had ever had about love was coming true because of him.
King Bryant stepped between them. “I am honored to marry you both, and I know Seran would be happy about it too.”
Renna was astonished at King Bryant’s kindness and support. Trev had shared with her that Bryant was the reason he finally felt okay about being with her. There was something beautiful about Bryant wanting them to be happy despite Seran’s death; hearing that Bryant thought Seran would be happy for them too was a big relief. In the last few months, Renna had thought about Seran and felt guilty. Guilty that she was marrying Trev. Guilty that she was alive, and Seran wasn’t. Trev felt it too. It was a sadness they both carried with them. But it many ways, it had brought them closer together because it was something only the two of them understood. There would always be a part of Renna’s heart that wondered about Seran, but in this moment, she felt peace.
Bryant was right. Seran was happy wherever she was.
Trev gave her a knowing look.
Such a big moment came with so many big emotions. Renna wrapped her fingers tighter around Trev’s as Bryant began the simple words to the ceremony. Her breathing picked up intensity, keeping pace with the swirling excitement in her chest. She wanted to cry. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to break out into a little dance or start singing a ridiculous song from the top of her lungs.
This was what happiness felt like.
The next morning, Trev and Renna lay in bed at the Trevenna family cabin, surrounded by the mountains of Albion. A fluffy gold comforter was draped over them, their bodies meshed together, curving into each other.
“I can’t believe you kicked your dad out of his home for an entire week.” Renna turned her cheek toward him as she spoke.
“Would you have preferred he stay here with us on our honeymoon?”
“Well, then, you’re welcome.” He pulled her closer, snuggling against her body.
“He’s just going to hate me even more.” Renna was a little scared of how her relationship with Carver would work out the rest of her life.
“I guess you have a lifetime to figure it out,” he mused.
“And what are you going to spend your lifetime figuring out while I’m doing that?”
Trev sighed. “I’ll probably spend a lifetime trying to figure out how to keep Albion safe from Tolsten.”
“Oh.”
Trev leaned his head up, noticing the disappointment in her voice. “What? You didn’t like that answer?”
Renna stumbled over her words. “No . . . I did. I just . . . thought you were going to say something cheesy and cute like, I’ll spend a lifetime trying to make you happy.”
“Ah, yes. Cheesy honeymoon talk,” he said, letting his head fall back onto his pillow.
“Cheesy honeymoon talk? Is that a thing?”
“It is now.” He switched to his baby voice. “My sweet tender muffin.”
Renna let out a harsh laugh. “On second thought, I don’t think I’m the type of girl that likes cheesy honeymoon talk.”
“Whatever you want.” He nuzzled his face into her neck. For a moment, the only sound was the rhythm of their breaths.
“Sometimes I wonder,” she said, breaking the silence, “if I am the only person in the history of the entire population who has ever lain in this position.”
“What? Like next to a king?” he asked. “I thought you didn’t like cheesy?”
“No, like this.” She jostled her arm a bit, prompting Trev to reach his head up again so he could see the position she was lying in.
She had her left arm straightened out under her pillow with her head leaning on top of it, and her right arm formed a triangle, resting her fingertips comfortably below her chin.
Trev started laughing. “You think you are the only person who has ever lain like that?”
The Promised Prince: A YA Dystopian Romance Page 34