Chapter Thirteen – Edan

His fires flickered low in his belly as he stood in the preparation room, waiting to go out to the throne room and formally announce Clint's demise and his own ascension to take over the kingdom. His stomach churned with nerves and his mind kept flickering to his brother and king. He had agreed to the plan, but it was tricky. Isobel thought that the demon would probably be able to sense if Clint was really dead, and so they had killed him.

Well, administered certain drugs to mimic death. He was already in the catacombs, lying in a coffin. If this didn't work . . . 

"Are you ready?" Isobel asked from his elbow.

"As ready as I'll ever be. This will bring Brant in, but I'm going to have to fight him. And if you can't get the demon out . . . " He pushed the thought away. "I know it's for the best. I know it's our only chance. This needs to end."

Isobel threw her arms around his neck and pressed a deep kiss to his mouth. She undulated her body against his, thrusting her tongue into his mouth almost desperately. Edan's eyes widened and he stiffened unconsciously. Isobel sensed his movement and pulled back, her brows pinched.

"What's wrong?"

"You kissed me . . . like that."

She dropped her arms. "Yeah . . . so? We slept together. Why is a kiss like that a surprise to you?"

He had upset her. He shrugged, struggling to put his feelings into words. "Yeah, we slept together. But nothing really came of it afterward. We haven't kissed that much. We haven't even been sleeping in the same bed. I thought . . . I thought you'd decided to take one for the kingdom and that we were just waiting to see if you got pregnant now."

"Are . . . Oh, boy." Isobel pinched the bridge of her nose. "It's just been chaos. Everything has been crazy and I thought that you were the one who wanted to put a hold on things. I've been waiting for your go-ahead . . . "

Despite the situation, Edan's heart lifted. "You were?"

"Yes." She stepped closer and pressed her hands into his. "I didn't sleep with you because it was best for the kingdom. I haven't stayed around because I wanted your money or the prestige of being a princess. If that was all I was after, I'd have been out of here in a heartbeat as soon as my life was threatened. I'm here because I . . . I love you. And I don't want to see you hurt."

Love. He hadn't expected her to be the first to say it. He stared at her, uncertain as to what he was actually hearing. "You . . . love me?"

She put her hands on her hips. "That's what I said, isn't it?"

He seized her around the waist and pulled her close. He kissed her hard and long, his fires leaping in his belly. They coursed through him and as he ground against Isobel, everything tightened. He teased her mouth open and flicked his tongue in. She replied expertly, causing a moan to erupt from his throat.

He pulled away briefly to cup her face in his hands. "I love you, too. I just didn't know how you would respond and I didn't want to frighten you off, so I wasn't going to say anything."

"Makes sense." Isobel groaned as she pressed herself to him again.

Behind him, Zoelle cleared her throat. "It's time."

The lovers broke apart. Edan clutched at Isobel for a moment before he nodded. Turning back to the mirror, he quickly straightened himself up. There was a slight tremor in his hands, but that was to be expected. Hopefully, the reporters wouldn't pick up on it.

If it didn't work . . . 

Zoelle fell in step with him as he exited the room, but Isobel stayed behind. She wasn't officially part of the royal family yet and wasn't in a position to make such announcements.

On the other side of the door was a raised dais that held the king's throne. Edan's throat closed over briefly as he looked at it, but he pushed the feelings aside. He was a prince and the king's brother. The citizens, his citizens, were not going to see any weakness in him. They were going to see a strong pillar of support in this time of crisis and he was going to get through it.

Zoelle stood by his side, her expression blank. He could see the tears in her eyes, though. When he touched his hand to hers, she blinked rapidly and pulled away.

Just beyond a barrier, the reporters were waiting. Usually, the royal family had only one or two people present for these sorts of announcements, liking their privacy. But in this case, they needed the word out as quickly as possible. They all waited with their cameras and voice recorders and he had to swallow hard. Clint always said they were like sharks in the water, but they seemed more like pilot fish – heralds of the danger that was to come. They all watched eagerly as he took his place at the podium.

"Thank you all for coming here today." Cameras flashed. Edan paused for a moment, collecting himself. "It is under sad circumstances that I've called this meeting. My brother, his Royal Majesty King Clinton II, passed away suddenly last night."

The reporters gasped. He could see a few straining to stop themselves from asking questions, but he had made it very clear when he called them there that anybody who so much as uttered a word would be immediately escorted out.

He licked his lips. "His death was caused by latent injuries from the explosive that my brother Prince Brant planted in his car. From this day forward, Brant is cut from the royal line. I will take my place as king and my marriage to the human Isobel Yasmine will take place a week after my coronation."

The reporters pressed forward. There were a few vocalizations, some of eagerness, some of despair, but no words. No questions. Edan stared out over them for a moment longer, his heart pounding in his chest. Somewhere out there, Brant could be watching the broadcast. What would he be feeling? Anger at Edan for taking the place as king? Sorrow at Clint's death? Nothing at all?

"I know that this is a difficult time for all of us," he continued. "I will strive to be the king that we need and deserve and protect this kingdom with my body and blood. As for my brother . . . Brant is a traitor and will be brought to justice. I will hunt him down and make sure he pays for what he has done."

He strode away without another word. Zoelle stepped up to the podium after he was gone and began to take questions. Edan closed the door behind him and sagged against it. Why did such a simple press conference make him feel like he was drowning? He ripped off his tie and undid the first few buttons on his shirt. He hadn't had as much to do with the press as Clint, but he had enough experience.

Isobel wrapped her arms around him. "It's okay. You did great. I'm sure that Brant believed you."

"I hope he did," Edan pulled her tight against him. "Because if he didn't . . . "

"Don't even think that way."

He kissed her gently. "Now it's just a matter of waiting and watching. If it worked, then Brant will attack before the coronation and wedding. And if he doesn't, then we'll have to pull Clint out of his coma and the game will be up. But for right now . . . " Another kiss. "I love you."

A faint pink flush rose in her cheeks as she grinned. "I never thought I'd be so happy to hear those words. I always thought I was good enough on my own. I told myself I didn't need anybody. Even after Gran died, I told myself that I was as strong as I could be and that being alone wasn't going to break me."

"You are strong. I don't think you would have broken."

"Maybe not. But it was hard. I couldn't trust anybody but myself, and I pushed people away for fear that they would leave me. And then you came along. I didn't want to love you, but you were just so gentle. So kind. And even if you never said it out loud, I could hear your promise every time you spoke to me."

Edan traced her lip with his thumb. "What promise?"

"To stay with me no matter what." She tangled her fingers in his hair. "And I will stay with you. No matter what happens, Edan. I belong to you from now until forever . . . My prince. My love. My mate."

He brushed his fingers over her cheek. "And I am yours."

"I am. And all I need is you. You could be the poorest peasant in the kingdom and that would be enough."

They pressed together once more, arms wrapped right around one another. Edan's fires calmed. Whatever happened, he would have her. And that was enough for him, too.