Archer

Sunday morning I’m dressed in my best suit, ready to accept an honor I don’t know if I truly earned. If the king knew what I’d done to his sister, and how many times, I’m certain I’d be receiving a punishment rather than a knighthood. As I walk into the rarely used throne room, I search for Waverly. I always search for her first. She’s breathtaking in a crimson dress with a pencil skirt that hugs her curves but still leaves her modest. I want nothing more than to pull her to me and kiss her for all I’m worth.

“Archer Locke, step forward,” King Ryder’s voice carries through the room, and the audience of noblemen and women comes to a hush.

My gaze finally leaves Waverly because I have no choice. Just the fact that the king’s words were the only thing that tore me from her is evidence enough. I am leaving. I have to. My focus is only on her. I can’t think about anything else, not my job, not the rest of my life. I’m a danger to everyone I’m supposed to protect. Even her. How can I keep them safe if all I want is her?

I’d been gone for weeks, but she was always there, in my head and my heart. I knew staying would only cause us both more pain. And eventually, she’d marry. I couldn’t watch that. There’s no way I’d be able to handle knowing another man had her.

“Kneel,” the king says.

My knees meet the velvet cushion on the ground, and my king stands over me. “Archer Locke, I originally planned to offer you knighthood, and a permanent place in service of the kingdom as a protector, but certain information has come to light, and I’m afraid I can’t do that any longer.”

My gut turns to stone. Oh, no. He’s figured me out. Of course he did. The king is a smart man. I take a deep breath and bow my head, ready to take whatever punishment he gives. “My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Instead—” he begins, ignoring my words “—due to the Duke of Longmire’s treasonous behavior, he has since been stripped of his lands and title, and with no heirs to continue the family line, the dukedom reverts to The Crown. I’d much rather have a man I can trust in that position. So, Archer Locke, do you accept the title of Duke of Longmire?”

I cut a glance at Waverly, and her eyes widen. I can’t turn this down. I can marry her. I can keep her if I’m a duke. “I do.”

“Excellent. Rise, Duke of Longmire.” I stand and find the king smiling widely. He gestures in the direction of Waverly, and the tears shining in her eyes tell me everything I need to know. The king knows. He knows how in love we are, he knows how hard this has been, and he has figured out exactly how to fix this without changing any laws or rules. “There is one thing I forgot to mention. My sister has been promised to the Duke of Longmire since she was five-years old. I hope gaining a title and a fiancee isn’t too much to handle.”

I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face. “No, Your Majesty. In fact, it’s more than I could’ve hoped for.”

Tears are streaming down Waverly’s cheeks now, and, without a thought of propriety, I run to her, catch her up in my arms, and kiss her like no one is watching. She is mine.

“Your Majesty,” I say, still holding her close.

“Yes?”

“How soon can we be married?”

He grins. “The sooner the better, I’d think.”

I nod and press a kiss to Waverly’s temple.

She tips her chin up and whispers, “Let’s get out of here.”

“With pleasure.”

The king dismisses us and we walk hand-in-hand to the garden where we can be alone. I need to be with her, to press her close and hold her and not let her go. The crunch of the gravel path under our feet is the soundtrack to our quiet walk.

“You were really going to leave me here. All alone?” Her voice is small but strong. An accusation I’ve earned.

“I thought…fuck, Sparrow, I thought it would be better for both of us. How could you move on if I was there looming?”

She stops walking and stares at me, her face a mask of anger and betrayal. Then, the woman’s palm connects with my cheek. She pulls her hand back and stares at it as though the thing moved without her permission. “Oh, good lord, I’m sorry.”

“I deserved that.”

Taking a deep breath, she nods. “Yes. You did. How dare you think leaving me was the best thing. I decide what’s best for me.”

I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. “I see that now.”

“You promised you’d never leave.” Her whisper pierces me.

“I did. And I’ll spend the rest of my life keeping that promise if you’ll let me, Sparrow.”

Her cheeks go pink, and those perfect lips turn up in a smile. “Technically we’re already engaged, you know.”

“But I want you to marry me because you choose me, not because your brother deems it so.”

“Then I suppose you’d better ask.”

Dropping to one knee, I take her left hand and kiss the finger where her engagement ring should go. “Sparrow, I’ve loved you for years; let me love you for the rest of our lives. Marry me? After all, what good is this new title without a beautiful princess by my side?”

Her whisper of, “yes,” is almost too soft for me to hear.

I crush her to my chest before claiming her mouth with mine. This is everything I’ve wanted, and I’m afraid it will all disappear before I can truly have it. “I love you, my Sparrow. So much.”

“Let’s go get married, then,” she says. “I don’t want to spend another night apart from you.”