Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,154

picture window that faces out over the city so he can look at his people. Those are his words, not mine. On the other side, where his large wooden desk sits, hangs a portrait of his mother and him in an oversized gilded frame.

“Auggie, thank you for coming.” He motions to the chair in front of him to sit, and I do as I am told. “I think you know why I summoned you here.” Those bright blue eyes similar to mine look at me.

“Yes. I know my duty, Father.”

He lets out a frustrated sigh as he leans back against his chair and steeples his hands in front of him. “I understand your heart lies somewhere else, Auggie.” His voice is calm. “And I’m sorry that you and Greyson cannot be anything more.”

“He’s not going away. You understand that, don’t you?” I say to him succinctly. Making sure he comprehends my words.

“I understand, but things change, especially when you have a wife and then a family,” he explains slowly.

“Greyson isn’t a phase. Whoever my wife is will have to understand that, too.”

My father’s forehead crumples in a frown. “You would hold Greyson back from having a family of his own?”

My father’s words hit me fair in the chest, and my heart constricts with sadness.

Am I selfish? Of course, I am.

Greyson will have to sit on the sidelines while I play happy family with another. At the same time, all he gets is a secret rendezvous in the palace or late-night calls while my family is sleeping.

Shit! I rake my hand through my blond hair.

“I understand you two are close, but duty calls.”

My heart feels like it’s being ripped out of my chest and stomped on. “You know I will do what I have to for my country.” I look up at my father. “You know I am duty-bound, no matter what.”

My father nods in understanding. “That is why your mother and I have decided that you should be the one to choose your wife.”

Hang on, did I hear Father correctly?

“Next month, we will hold a Summer Ball and invite the most eligible women in society for you to meet. Lester is getting all the folios together as we speak, so you may peruse them before meeting the women,” he explains. “You will find a wife at this ball, Augustine, and if you cannot make a choice, then your mother and I will,” he warns me.

“I understand, Father.” Reading between those not-too-subtle lines, I can’t help but frown.

“Lester will drop off the information about the sixty women who will be in attendance,” he dictates. “That is all,” he dismisses me.

I turn on my heel and walk out of Father’s office and back toward my wing. My feet pick up pace as I rush along the empty hallways of the palace. When I reach my room, I pull the door open and slam it shut behind me, my chest heaving.

Greyson sits on my bed, his brows furrow when he sees me. Quickly, he jumps up out of bed and rushes toward me. Then he pulls me into his strong arms and holds my body tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” he tries to reassure me, but it’s not working. At all.

“He’s giving me a choice, Grey.” Looking up into those brown eyes, the crinkles that have appeared at the edge of his eyes are becoming more profound each year we are together. His square jaw is peppered with stubble. Unlike me, he doesn’t have to shave every day, and I like the roughness he portrays.

“A choice?” His brows rise.

“Lester is delivering folders of eligible women for me to choose from who will be at the Summer Ball.”

Greyson nods his head.

Panic fills my body over making a decision like this.

“At least your parents are giving you one.” His grin lights up his sun-kissed face. “I guess we’re going to need snacks, then.”

“You want to help me?”

“Of course. Knowing you, you’re going to pick the most beautiful woman with great tits, which might be all right for a night, but she may not be the perfect fit for…” His eyes look between us.

“… for us,” I finish his sentence.

“Exactly. We need to find someone who looks great but isn’t looking for love and would be okay if you and I continue our relationship. Unless…” He takes a step away from me.

“Unless what?” Concern skims over me.

“Unless… this is it. Our time is up. We knew it might happen one day. Just didn’t think it