A woman’s voice filled the room, “You’re not going to try and remarry then?”
My throat tightened. “I thought you were already gone.”
Charlotte walked across the room to the base of my throne. Her curls were half-pinned up but flowed freely in the back. My body tensed. She wore a simple long-sleeved dress from the west that cut wide at the neck and exposed half her shoulders. “I came to say goodbye,” she said.
Frozen, I watched her ascend the stairs one by one. My pulse raced with each step until she stood in front of me, her face unreadable.
I swallowed my nerves. “I see you’ve come alone.”
She nodded. “Minseo is with Morgana.”
The way my brother’s name sounded on her lips, as if he belonged to her more than to me, stung. I stood to challenge her intense gaze. “You’re really going then.”
“Yes.” She reached out to straighten my crown and I considered kissing her. “There,” she said. “That suits you.”
As I watched her, I wondered if we were really so different. Hadn’t she taken her young dragon into battle to save Viran lives? Didn’t we share the same intentions? I took a deep breath. “Look, Charlotte—”
“Don’t,” she said, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter what you say now, it’s already done. We’ve made our decisions.” She pressed her lips together and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “Now you’re king. I think you’re going to help a lot of people.”
I took her hand and put it to my chest, my heart racing beneath her touch. “Charlotte,” I said, but my voice came out as a whisper. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes as a surge of desperation washed over me. This is goodbye? Forever? I knew why she was leaving—she had every right. But how could I let her go? How was I going to stop loving her? “Despite everything… I just...” My voice shook. “Will this feeling ever stop?”
She paused, her gaze locked with mine. A smile touched the corners of her mouth. “Probably not,” she said.
We laughed, our hands locked together against my chest. Tears slipped through my laughter, my heart grateful for one last beautiful minute with her.
She slowly pulled her hands away and, for a brief moment, she stood silently in front of me. Her eyes glistened with sadness. My heart tensed as she turned away, walking out of the throne room and my life. I had my answer. I chose wrong.
When I took the throne, I’d intended on forgiving every king who wronged me and now the only one left was myself.
“I love you,” I called as Charlotte’s silhouette filled the doorway.
And when I think of that moment, I tell myself I heard her whisper, “I love you too.”
53
Charlotte
I’ve heard it said that King Young of Vires is the greatest king who ever lived. They say he planned the battle where King Arthur fell, along with his knights and battle mage. King Young returned the stolen territories to their original kingdoms and ruled over Vires which prospered with the alliances of goodwill he forged. They say he’s a man of honor, justice, and respect.
When I hear these things, I feel warm knowing he became the man he always wanted to be, that his world was all he imagined.
But my world is filled with the gentle whisper of unspoiled joy.
I cut the green onions and slipped them into the stew as I heard the steady knock of Gabriel cutting wood. Junho looked up from his teacup in the living room as the voices outside grew louder. “Faster,” Morgana shouted.
“You’re getting heavy,” Minseo responded. The door opened and Minseo stepped through, carrying Morgana on his back. I smiled to myself as I continued to stir the stew.
My stomach fluttered as I felt Minseo’s breath on my neck, his arms wrapping around me.
“How is my love?” he asked, kissing my neck. A chill slid down my spine.
“Very well,” I said, biting back my grin.
He put his hands on my waist and spun me to face him. His lips brushed mine. Next, he bent, brought his lips to my enlarged stomach, and kissed it. “And how is my baby?” he asked.
I smiled, lifting his face back to mine. “Very well.”
“Have you given the name any thought?”
I laughed, pushing his hair from his eyes. “You mean Garix? I think it’s a wonderful name.”
He paused, his smile fading as he searched my gaze thoughtfully. “And what if it’s a girl?”
“How about Merlin?”
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading the Kingdom Cold Trilogy. I had a blast writing this series and am sad to see it end.
I would love to hear your thoughts!
To leave a review for Kingdom Untold, click HERE.
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I’ll love you forever if you do both. <3
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Happy reading,
Brittni Chenelle
Acknowledgments
I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who helped make this series possible.
Trilogy Editor: Amber Richberger
Alpha Readers:
Charlee Garden
Judi Soderberg
Top Reviewers:
Brittany Smith
Christina Haynes
Shirley Cuypers
Monica Khan
Saidy Walker
Steph Pontarollo
Emily Wiebe
Amanda Arkans
Alexandria Brooks
Candice Allen
Also by Brittni Chenelle
You can also check out my YA Portal Fantasy, Red Ribbon Tree. Find it HERE.
**FREE with Kindle Unlimited**
A boy and girl from different worlds will meet in yet another...
Eliza’s life has been fair. She’s got a good family, she’s the star of the basketball team, and Chris, her crush, is coming around. School’s a breeze—with exception to English class. English is more of a squall...but soon she’ll face much bigger strife than a blemished GPA.
For Milo, things have been harder. Talented though he is as an artist, his nerdy gamer reputation proceeds him, and, wholly lacking in confidence, he can’t imagine the likes of Eliza returning the feelings he’s fostered.
It won’t be until the two discover a gate to another, dangerous dimension that either can prove who they really are...or die, attempting to learn, themselves. While books will prove the portal to a place replete with creatures that are meant to be fictitious, it’s the exit bound to be a problem...bearing one solution: Eliza and Milo will never return, unless they solve the mystery of the fabled Red Ribbon Tree.
Kingdom Untold Page 19