(Imperium, Stormhold)
AIDEN
The furious flashes of cameras snapping photos that stopped when I went over to talk to John started up again.
"Is it okay if I take him to meet Her Grace? We won't be a minute," I asked, tossing her a flawless smile.
"Of course, Your Highness. You're too kind," John's mother said, blushing crimson and beaming at me.
"Ready to do this, kid?" I asked, wondering what Keira would think of me smiling at another woman so I could bring her flowers.
There was a time she would have responded… like than kindly. Did that woman still exist? John froze right before we reached Keira, yanking me out of my thoughts. I knelt down again.
"What's up, little man?" I asked.
"Can't do it. She's too pretty," John said with a despondent little shimmy.
I grinned. We certainly shared that sentiment.
"Want me to give them to her instead?"
John shook his head no again and took the last few steps towards Keira.
"For you, My Lady," he said, bowing for her before handing her the flowers.
Then he turned abruptly to make a run for it.
Keira scooped him right up before he could get too far. Then she gave John a loving smile and kissed him on the cheek. Jealousy stirred inside me. I swallowed, pretending it wasn't there.
"I love them," she said, her eyes landing on me before returning to young John's red face. "Thank you, kind sir."
Keira gave John another kiss on the cheek. Such that there was now one lipstick mark on either cheek. Then she set him down and watched him run back to his mother.
The way she lit up when she picked up that kid and he lit up right for her back frustrated me. How could she think she wasn't worthy of being a wife? Of being a mom? She was an absolute natural. Maybe I'd misinterpreted her words back on the plane. Maybe she just didn't want it with me. The thought stung. I knew it wasn't supposed to anymore, but it did anyway.
"Hustler," she accused, as I got up and planted myself in front of her.
"Hey, I tried to trade. He forgot the most important part," I said, reaching around her neck and pulling the chain I put around her neck out from under her collar. "I'll just do that part for him," I continued, watching her as I undid the clasp of the chain.
We had been up close like this a million times before. Her perfume and the sight of her long, graceful neck had stolen my attention one too many times. So why were my fingers shaking?
I struggled with the clasp as a result, but it finally gave way. The chain in hand, I let the ring slip down the length of it and into my hand.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her face coming to life as she scrunched it up in surprise.
I closed in on her again and put my lips up to her ear. Keira swallowed.
Fuck if I knew. It was a crappy idea and yet I couldn't get it out of my head.
"What you asked me to do. Don't worry, I have a lot of practice. Just make sure you make it look good, okay? The word you're going to want is 'Yes'," I whispered.
Everything happened as though of its own accord. It was like an out of body experience as I took a knee in front of her and the international press. This wasn't exactly how I imagined it, was probably not how she imagined it, but somehow I was sure it was now or never. I would never get a chance to ask her for real, so why the bloody hell not?
There was a reason, there were many reasons, but I was far too caught up in our yesterday and her hypnotized dark eyes, to remember any of them. Looking at her, kneeling for her made me feel completely calm. This woman always wanted to say yes to me. I had no doubt that she would again.
"Hope and peace is being next to you. So Keira, give me hope, give me peace. Be next to me always. Will you marry me, Your Grace?" I said the words she asked me to say what felt like a lifetime ago.
KEIRA
When Aiden let go and walked towards the crowd without me, I tried to make my peace with his choice. I could put a tail on him. Tell his idiot brother to protect him. Aiden was right. A fake proposal was a stupid idea. He shouldn't have to put his life on hold for me. Especially not now that he had someone in his life again.
Someone smart, heavily guarded and low risk, even if she was a seat holder. I could use that too. Force House of Assassins protection on them. I could make Elena Moore safer for Aiden.
But now he was on one knee, shattering the plan I had just made. Along with the plan, all the walls I put up for him when we stepped out of that plane crumbled. The stupid words from yesterday spoken in an idealistic, naive moment coming from his mouth turned her legs into jelly.
Words he was never supposed to say. I looked down at the ring between his fingers. I felt naked without it. I needed it back. I wanted to promise him the always he'd just asked for, but the obstacles between us were insurmountable.
It wasn't real. It was okay to dream a little. One week. We could have one more week.
"Bated breath here," said Aiden, looking around him as a way to remind her that the world was watching.
"Yes," I answered, unable to help indulging my reckless heart.
The word came out of me like silk, smooth and soft, accompanied by an easy smile. I was getting swept up in the moment with him, letting myself feel real happiness about his fake proposal. There was nothing fake about the way my heart raced when he put the ring on her finger. My lips were on his before I knew it.