Loving the Forbidden Prince

ETAN

An hour later, they both sat at the large, oval table of Council. Housed in a massive room on the main floor of the Palace, walking into this space had almost brought Etan to his knees. This was where he remembered his father most—and at his most powerful. Yet Etan had entered stricken and never feeling weaker.

His father's council had already gathered and when he arrived, they made their vows of allegiance and fealty.

Then Etan introduced them to Ayleth and their eyes widened.

"I understand that this is a shock, but we are already married. She is already your Queen. I had hoped to announce this with much more joy and... pomp. But now I find we must turn our minds immediately to bringing her to the people and allowing them to love her too."

"This is preposterous, Sire," one of the men blustered. "You have made Summitras the target of the Zenithrans at the opening of the peace accord—they have never been more powerful! Even those nations that do not ally with Zenithra won't help us. They will not break the Peace Accord!"

Ayleth stiffened at his side, and Etan took her hand under the table.

"The Accord which I signed, I might remind you," Etan said darkly. "But, regardless, we have to live through this war. So tell me, how do I introduce her to the people to avoid mass panic? How do I hold their hearts, and bring them to her?"

The men, all gray-haired and with faces lined with age, looked at each other, shaking their heads. It was Quwan who spoke, though Ayleth bristled when he did.

"She must be seen to be... utterly under your thrall, Sire," he said gently. "Utterly loyal to Summitras

—and Summitras alone."

"This is impossible," Ayleth snapped. "I mean no harm for Summitras and yearn to become a Queen to her people. But I remain the heir to Zenithra—what kind of Queen would your people believe me to be if I would simply abandon my own people on what must seem to them to be a whim?"

"We are at war, Sire—"

"I do not wish my parents dead, I only wish for peace with them—to stop them bringing war to Summitras."

All around the table, the advisors bristled and began to mutter.

"Please consider that you speak to your Queen," Etan reminded them all. "I'm sorry to simply land this on you, but our circumstances do not allow the luxury of time. Ayleth and I share the goal to unify our two nations, not conquer them."

"That is a totally naïve perspective!"

"You can't expect bloodsworn enemies to suddenly embrace as brothers!"

The huffing and puffing continued around the table, and Etan's heart sank. "I do not expect two nations to turn on their heels and fall in love. But is there a way to bring our peoples together without war?"'

"I don't believe so, Sire."

Etan sank back in his chair, his chest going tight. Until Ernst, the oldest of the Advisors spoke up, his voice thin and reedy.

"There is one way." Everyone at the table turned to look at him, but he looked only at Etan and Ayleth. "If the King and Queen of Zenithra are dead, Ayleth becomes Queen. The nations can be unified without further bloodshed."

Everyone went silent, turning to stare at Ayleth.

Ayleth's mouth had dropped open in horror. "I will not..." she breathed, "I cannot be a part of having my parents... executed!"

"Why not?" Etan said baldly. "Your mother was willing to execute you to keep you from us."

Ayleth turned on him and leaned in, whispering in his ear. "Do not ask me to answer this in front of these men! We never discussed this. We never talked about murder!"

"What do you think war is, Ayleth?" Etan asked wearily. "I'm sorry, but you have to choose a side. Please... please choose mine."

He let his eyes do the pleading, while Ayleth stared at him, horrified. "I will always stand with you, Etan," she breathed. "But I cannot—"

Etan cut her off, afraid she might speak and plunge herself into even greater danger. "Please, give us the room," he barked, looking around the table. "Remain close, but I need to speak with my wife for a moment in private."

The men grumbled as they got to their feet, shooting suspicious looks at Ayleth, but they did as Etan commanded.

And when they'd left Etan let himself slump, elbows on the table and head in his hands.

*****

AYLETH

She trembled with both fear and anger, but she waited until the room was clear. Poor Etan looked so broken when he dropped his elbows to the table and his head in his hands, but she couldn't let him do this.

"We never discussed this," she hissed.

"I will admit, I was, perhaps naively, hoping it would never come to this. That we could achieve this peacefully. But you must have known, Ayleth, if it came to war—a war your parents declared—"

"War, Etan. Not assassination."

He let his hand drop to the table and turned to her in shock. "What do you think your parents have just done to mine in the name of war? And what do you think your mother would do to you if she has the chance? Have you never played chess, Ayleth? The pawns are used to clear the path to the King

—and the Queen is the weapon against all!"

Ayleth shook, her entire body vibrating with fear and anger.

He was right. She knew he was right. But to just say yes... to declare war on her own parents—

"I know it's awful, Ayleth. I know it isn't what we wanted. But... what if I can prove to you how brutal they are? You never saw that side of them. What if I can show you evidence? What if I can prove that they will be aiming to assassinate both of us? Not just me, but you as well? They just managed it on my parents. Do you really think they wouldn't do it to us as well?"

Ayleth felt the blood drain from her face but forced herself to stay sitting upright and her chin high. "How would you prove that?"

Etan touched her face, leaned in to kiss her, then pushed to his feet and strode to the door. "Bring me the spymaster," he said in clipped tones.

"Yes, Sire."

But when he closed the door and turned back to her, Ayleth shook her head. "I know spymasters," she said darkly. "How devious and evil they are. My father's spymaster is a vile man. I will not take the word of a man of that ilk."

"Just wait, please... until you meet him. Then decide. Please?"

Ayleth sucked in a deep breath but nodded reluctantly. She could not see any circumstance under which she would accept the word of a stranger from an enemy kingdom over her own experience.

But then the door opened and Borsche walked in, his hair wet and slicked back, his clothing dark and lithe. "You called for me?" he said quietly to Etan.

Etan looked at Ayleth who sat back in her seat, her skin pebbling with cold, hard fear.