“It’s cold out, so you’ll need a coat before we get off the plane.”
“I can’t believe I slept through the landing.”
My smile is rueful as I pull her into my arms. “You didn’t stir in my arms.” I lean down and place a kiss on her lips, and when my tongue touches her, I groan. I’m not strong enough to keep kissing her because I know it will end with us back in bed. “We must go.”
At the entrance of the plane, I open a closet and remove a full-length white fur coat. I hold it open for her, and she slips it on before I put on my wool trench and take her hand. She gasps when we exit the plane and she sees all of the people waiting for us on the landing strip next to the castle.
Chapter 7
Allison
I freeze when I see all the people staring at us. Magnus wraps his arm around me and guides me so I keep walking forward.
“What if they don’t like me? Or what if they don’t want you to marry me?” I ask, starting to panic. There are so many freaking people here, and suddenly the magnitude of all of this is hitting me.
“They’ll love you, not that it matters. I’d step down before I ever let you go.” His words take the air right out of my lungs. He’d give all this up for me?
“My bride Allison is here,” he announces, and everyone cheers.
I knew he was royalty, but actually seeing it is a whole new level. Especially with the giant castle right in front of me. It’s breathtaking and crazy to think I’ve been running from this.
Magnus turns to me, and there’s so much pride in his eyes. “Are you ready, love?”
“Ready for what?” I whisper. I’m not good with crowds, and Amber is way better at being on stage than me. I can feel everyone looking at us and probably wondering why Magnus has chosen me. To be honest, I’m kind of wondering the same thing myself.
“To get married,” he says brightly as the people step back to make a path and we walk through the crowd.
“Right now?” I say a little too loudly as people bow their heads and smile. They’re all so happy and look as if they’re really excited for us.
“Yes.” He smirks at me. “Remember, you tried to marry me on the plane.”
I was in a lust-filled haze and he shocked the hell out of me with the whole never had sex before thing. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that.
“Don’t you think this is fast? We should get to know each other first.”
He stops walking and turns to face me. His hand comes to my chin, making me look up at him.
“Do not be scared, love. I vow to give you all the things you long for. This isn't a game or about the thrill of the chase. You’re destined to be mine.”
My insides flutter, and I so badly want everything he’s saying to be true. “Okay,” I agree.
A smile spreads across his face, making him look even sexier. I have to admit it’s kind of mind-blowing and sweet the lengths he’s gone to in order to get his hands on me. No matter where I went, he was always right behind me, and he fought to have me by his side. No one has ever done that before, so why would I run from it?
When he takes my hand in his, he walks us towards the giant castle that looks like it’s been dropped out of a fairytale. All of this feels like that, actually, and maybe that’s why I thought it was too good to be true.
He holds me close as we take the steps up to the front of the castle. At the top, a wedding officiant is waiting for us, and Magnus helps me out of my coat. It’s then I realize he’d planned the white dress. The man is always three steps ahead.
“Shall I begin?” the woman asks.
“Quickly, please,” Magnus says, and she nods.
The vows are a little different than I’m used to, and Magnus takes a long moment to declare his devotion. There was also something about divorces being forbidden, and I wonder if he made these vows up himself. Something inside of me settles, though, because this means he plans to keep me.
I hold out my hand as Magnus slips a giant rock onto my finger. A big, beautiful ruby sits in the center, surrounded by diamonds, and I blink at how stunning it is. It looks like an antique that has been passed through generations. Will I pass it on to our daughter or son? The thought flicks through my mind, and I swallow the lump forming in my throat. What the heck is wrong with me? I don’t ever cry, but my connection to Magnus has me all over the place.