“I know,” Ryan said. “And I shouldn’t have. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought it’s what she would have wanted. But… I did it before I knew what I know now. Not that that’s
an excuse. I shouldn’t have let it get this far. For that, I am truly sorry.” He took a deep breath. “I ask you to release me from my oath.”
“I won’t,” Justin said.
“Oooh,” the crowd said.
“Justin,” the King said with a frown.
“You don’t love me,” Ryan said quietly. “And I don’t love you. Why would you do that to yourself? Justin, there is someone out there for you. Someone who is far better than I could ever be. Someone who will love you as your mother loved your father. That person can’t be me.”
Justin laughed bitterly. “Love. Why does it have to be about love? I gave you what you wanted. I gave you a place in this castle. You would become King Consort. You would be the force of so much change, hundreds if not thousands of lives, and you’re willing to throw that away because of love?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because,” Ryan said, eyes flicking to me, “my mother told me that I had to follow my heart in all things. I thought I was. I thought I’d done what was right. But then I looked upon the stars and I wished for the one thing I wanted more than anything else. I didn’t believe it could ever come true or ever be mine, but then I held his lightning-struck heart, given freely and without reservation. And I would gladly treasure it for the rest of my days.”
The audience sighed dreamily. Except for Tina. She looked like she had dysentery. Explosively so.
“He talking about Sam?” Tiggy whispered to Gary.
“Yes, he is,” Gary said, voice teary. “That motherfucker just gave my heart a boner. Well played, Knight Delicious Face. Well played.”
“I can say no,” Justin said. “I can hold you to your oath.”
“You can,” Ryan agreed, sounding surer. “But you wouldn’t.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because that’s not who you are.”
“Justin,” the King said quietly, “release him from the oath. It’s the right thing to do.”
“I….”
The blood pounded in my ears.
“Godsdammit,” Justin snapped. “Fine. Ryan Foxheart, I release you from your oath to me. Because of love.” He rolled his eyes. “Worst day ever.”
“Holy shit,” I said rather loudly. Which, of course, caused everyone to look at me. “Er. Um. Hi.” I waved awkwardly. I leaned over to Gary. “What the fuck is going on?” I hissed in his ear.
“I’m pretty sure you’re about to get plowed like a field,” Gary whispered back.
“I’m what?”
“Sam.”
I looked back up. Justin stood next to the King, who had his arm around the Prince’s shoulders and was whispering quietly in his ear.
Ryan, though. Ryan was looking right at me.
Gary shoved me toward him.
“You bitch,” I growled over my shoulder.
“Love you,” he said with a grin.