and Holden, uncharacteristically solemn-eyed, nodded at me silently. He took a step back to let me in, and I wondered what could have caused such a reaction in him as I walked into the room. One step in, I realized why when I saw that Holden wasn’t alone.
"Holden," I murmured, my eyes not leaving Bristol's. It was a little startling to note that she was no longer angry at me. But, rather, there was a dejected sort of resignation in the set to her shoulders. If I'd said that the scariest thing I could see from her was anger, then I had been wrong.
Her apathy was much worse.
"Aric," Holden said in the same low tones as he walked up to me. "Bristol and I have had a long and hard conversation about the path we're going to take in the future. I am sorry that things have happened like this."
The breath I took burned like a blade in my throat at his words. I had feared that I would reach the point where I would be too late. But until that moment, I had operated under the delusion that I had a chance.
My jaw tightened. I would not give up until my very last breath. I would have Bristol. "Bristol," I whispered.
She turned from me and shook her head. "It was wrong of you to come here. Everything is set and done. Holden and I will announce our engagement tomorrow night." She took a long, ragged breath before turning to face me. "We hope you’ll still be able to come to our wedding after all. We’d be happy to have you there."
I thought my heart would break. Then I realized that it was already in a million, shattered pieces in my chest. "I love you." I watched as tears pooled in her eyes, knowing that I should have given her those words before.
"That's not fair. I can't. I'd have been willing to fight for you, but that's a moot point now. I just can't." She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself, her bottom lip trembling.
"Aric, Bristol's mother just had an attack. Her parents have expressed their desire that we announce our engagement earlier. Not just for Bristol's sake but for the sake of our nations as well." Watching the woman I loved seem to crumble from the force of Holden's words, I wanted to gather her in my arms, but I knew she had the strength to stand on her own, and that comfort from me wouldn’t be welcome.
Though we hadn’t spoken of the details, I knew from talk within our social circles that the Queen of Theodosia suffered from a degenerative muscle condition. News reported that she got worse and worse as time passed. "I'm sorry, Bristol. How is your mother doing now?"
"The doctor has assured us she is as comfortable as she could be, but she needs to be kept free of stressful situations and excitement." She walked up to me and laid her hands on mine. "I would do anything for her."
"Of course. When we tell her that you'll be my Queen instead of Holden’s, I promise not to cause her any undue stress or excitement by mauling you in front of her." I nodded, my heart thudding in my chest even as Holden let out a disbelieving chuckle behind me.
"Don’t do this to me. I’ve finally accepted what has to happen. This is cruel." Holden shrugged at me, and I narrowed my eyes on him. I knew him well enough to see the cautious amusement in his expression, even if he tried to contain it.
"You’re meant to be engaged, and yet he doesn’t care in the slightest that I just declared my intent to marry you. Cruel would be leaving you to a marriage with a man who doesn’t love you.”
“Hey! I think cruel is a bit of an exaggeration!” Holden protested, though his chest shook with laughter.
“I'm tired of this." I stepped up to her, and she held up a hand to stop me as she eased away from me.
Pushing forward, I grabbed her by the waist and hefted her onto my shoulders easily while she squirmed in my grip. "Aric!" she shrieked. "Holden, do something!" she begged, digging her nails into my ass through my slacks.
"I said I would support you in what you want, Bristol. But sometimes even you don't know what that is, exactly." He walked over and pulled the door open, stepping out of the way so that