Chapter 18

Ash

As I sit in the hall of the castle that overlooks the gardens, I glance over and see Fergus walk in with an advisor, and I can’t help but glare at him.

The man makes me sick. It’s not just the way he talks to me or the blatantly obvious distaste he has for me and my people; it’s the way he carries himself. He treats everyone like they’re some form of lesser being and that they should be thankful to even be in his presence—the arrogant prick.

I swear to God, if I didn’t know Fergus has some sort of plan, I don’t think I’d be able to go through with this.

I know this alliance is good for my people, but spending the rest of my life with someone like Fergus? And after what he did to me that night at dinner? I don’t think I could do it.

I can see Fergus talking to his advisor, and they seem to have come in here for some privacy for their discussion; their eyes are darting around nervously making sure no one’s listening in on them.

I’m alone here, sitting on the bench—other than Fergus and his advisor now, of course—and thankfully Fergus hasn’t noticed me yet, the stone pillars hiding me from his view.

What on Earth could they be talking about that requires so much secrecy—and right before our wedding?

I decide that I need to hear what they’re saying and stand slowly from the bench. Then, I quietly tiptoe over behind the divider wall that separates the hall from the entrance.

Their voices are hushed whispers, speaking urgently but trying not to be heard or walked in on, and I have to really focus on listening. As I lean against the wall and listen, my eyes widen, and my heart thuds in my chest when I hear what they’re saying.

“Well,” Fergus hisses, “none of that will matter once I invade their land and take it for myself; they won’t have a choice. After all, it’ll all be mine anyway once I marry her.”

Invade their land...what? Surely, he can’t be talking about invading us when the whole reason for this marriage is the formation of an alliance.

I continue to listen and try not to get ahead of myself, but the more I listen, the more fearful I become.

“I understand that,” the other man retorts, “but what about the girl’s father? Surely he’ll object and form some sort of resistance. His people are loyal to him.”

“I’m sure he will,” Fergus says with a sneer, “but I’m pretty sure the old man is going to have an ‘accident’ that will render him fairly useless against me; he’s not going to be an issue.”

My father? What’s he going to do to my father? That fucking bastard!

A gasp escapes my lips before I can stop it, and I immediately clap my hand to my mouth in a feeble attempt to silence myself, but it’s too late.

Fergus has heard me. He and his advisor come stalking around the wall to confront me, a smug grin on his face when he sees it’s me.

“Well, well well,” he sneers, “look who it is. My adoring fiancée. Hear anything interesting, my love?”

I scowl at him and shake my head, barely able to form words. I’m so furious with him.

“You‘re such a terrible person,” I spit, pointing a finger at him, “and there’s no way you’ll get away with this.”

He has the nerve to laugh at me, right in my face, and he looks over at his advisor who’s got the same smug grin plastered across his ugly mug.

“Ohhh,” he teases, his hands in the air in mock surrender, “you’ve found me out, what will I do now?”

He laughs again, this time turning back to me with a scowl on his face as he leans in, his face just inches from mine now.

“You’re powerless in this, and you might as well accept that. You’re going to marry me. I’m going to take possession of your land and your people, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it, understand?”

“I won’t marry you.”

“Oh,” he says with a chuckle, “but you will. Otherwise, I’ll make sure your father’s accident will be...fatal. Do you want to see your father again, Princess Aisling?”

That slimy, manipulative bastard. He’s using my father against me, and as much as I hate to admit it, it’s working.

“Well,” he prompts, raising his brows as he takes my hand, “do we have an agreement?”

Reluctantly, I nod, my eyes starting to brim with tears as I take his hand and follow him outside to the ceremony.

When we get down there and everything starts, Fergus takes my hand and leads me down the aisle. I’m having a hard time fighting back the tears. I know that this marriage is supposed to be best for my country, but given what I know now, I’m not so sure.

We arrive at the altar, and my heart sinks. Is this really going to happen?

How the hell do I fix this? And where is Drew?

As if on cue, the audience murmurs and gasps collectively as Drew comes blaring into the orchard on horseback along with a few of his men, in full attire.

Fergus whips around and glares at Drew, throwing his arms up in the air as he questions him.

“What do you think you’re doing interrupting our wedding like this?”

Drew chuckles and shakes his head at Fergus, standing his ground with his men.

“Fergus,” he chides, “did you really think you’d get away with this, that I wouldn’t find out? In my own kingdom?”

Fergus looks around nervously, and the crowd does the same. No one’s really sure what’s going on.

“I...I don’t know what you’re talking about, Andrew,” he stammers, shaking his head. “And what nerve you have, throwing accusations like this in my own wedding...”

Drew cuts him off with a wave of his hand and a firm holler, causing all the people present to go silent.

“Enough!” he booms, getting off of his horse and walking toward us. “Cut the act, Fergus. I know all about your plan. In fact...” he starts with a grin, “I’ve known for two days, and I’ve made some adjustments.”

Drew smiles at me and winks, then looks back at Fergus with a scowl.

“You’re finished, Fergus.”

Oh, thank god.

I smile back at him and revel in the sight of Fergus visibly starting to panic, looking desperately at his men.

“Men, get this treasonous man out of here! He’s spewing lies and...”

“Spewing lies, am I?”

Drew looks around at both his and Fergus’ men—none of whom are moving to help their king—and then back to Fergus with a smile.

“If I was spewing lies, don’t you think that your men would be springing to action to defend your honor, right now? They’re not, because you’re a vindictive, greedy, selfish ruler who doesn’t care about his people or their needs.”

He turns to the crowd and addresses them, pointing to Fergus as he speaks.

“This man here had no intention of honoring the peace treaty with the princess and her father. He intended to marry her simply to take control of the land and use its resources for his own kingdom. As it turns out,” he adds while raising his brows, “his kingdom is quite short on food, and he planned to seize control and use the princess’ land to feed his own, by force.”

The crowd is wide-eyed, and a number of fearful gasps are heard, the family on either side not believing what they’re hearing.

“But fear not,” Andrew says with a firm smile, “I’ve taken control of the nation myself, peacefully, without any pushback.”

He turns to Fergus and shrugs, a toothy grin spreading across his face.

“Turns out none of your subjects actually like you very much, Fergus. That’s what happens when you treat them like dirt. So, I arranged a new peace treaty—one that doesn’t involve you ruling anyone.”

Everyone at the wedding is looking at Fergus with disgust now. He tries to speak, but Andrew once again cuts him off.

“No, Fergus, you’re done. And my first order of business in enforcing this new treaty is placing you under arrest.”

He nods at the guards with him, and they advance on Fergus without question, taking him into custody. Fergus, knowing he has lost, barely puts up a fight.

Calm washes over me, and I breathe a sigh of relief as I watch them take Fergus away, and Drew waltzes over to me with a smile.

“I guess the wedding’s off now,” I say with a smirk. “Not that I mind obviously.”

Drew chuckles and cocks an eyebrow at me, grinning.

“Well,” he croons, “your wedding to Fergus is off, sure. What do you say about a wedding to another king? Say, one who’s dashingly handsome and has just saved the day, hmm?”

I beam at him and nod eagerly, and he takes my hand in his as we turn to the minister, who’s looking bewildered by all of this.

“Well, since you’re already here and everything’s all set up,” Drew says, chuckling at him, “might as well have a wedding, right? Go on.”

The minister nods and starts with the speech, and I gaze into Drew’s eyes happily. My heart feels like it’s about to burst.

This day didn’t turn out so bad after all.