“Love is messy and unnecessary. There are better reasons for us to marry — the two babies she carries, for one,” he said.
“That’s not a good reason, Adriane. That would only lead to dissatisfaction and a feeling of being trapped. You have to love each other, be passionate, and like being in the same room together. Marriage is about more than convenience,” she warned.
“Arranged marriages have worked for centuries,” he pointed out. “Millennia, in fact.”
“That was duty, not love, and the world was a different place. Women had little choice, you know. But now they do. I know Rachel, Adriane, and she would die a little bit more each and every day if she married you for the sake of her children and nothing else.”
“I disagree. I think without messy emotions, a marriage has a far stronger chance of surviving.” He wasn’t about to give up on his beliefs.
“Why did you come to me and ask my advice if you’re unwilling to listen to what I have to say?”
That was a good question. Why had he come to her? He didn’t need her approval, or anyone’s approval for that matter, to move forward. He was just tired of hitting brick walls with Rachel. The two of them needed to wed — and he needed her lying beneath him. He was just trying to speed the process up.
“You are her best friend. I thought you might be able to make her see reason,” he answered.
Again, Ari laughed. “Oh, Adriane. You are in for a world of hurt if you maintain that attitude. I hope you figure this all out before it’s too late,” she said.
The worst part was the sympathy in her expression. Adriane didn’t need anyone’s sympathy. He was the king of Corythia! That meant something. Didn’t it?
“This will work. She will see reason,” he insisted. He and Ari were just going in circles.
“I hope it does work out, but I have a feeling you’re up for a bit more heartache, because you are just so damn stubborn — a lot like my husband, actually. But the thing is, Adriane, it just doesn’t matter. The more you fight it, the harder you will fall. I’m sorry for what you are going through, but you honestly need to pull your head out before it’s too late,” she warned.
“I don’t need your sympathy,” he said.
“Yes, you do,” Ari told him, and squeezed his arm. She gave him one more pitying look and then she sauntered confidently away, leaving him alone outside.
What was he going to do about his spitfire fiancée? And, yes, she was his fiancée, whether she wanted to accept that or not.
Dropping down on the edge of the fountain, he listened to the tranquil sound of the water flowing behind him as he tried to decide his next move.
A determined glint suddenly entered his eyes and he stood back up. It was time they came head to head.
He was going to make her his again. That would cut through everything. If the two of them had one thing right together, it was chemistry.
Adriane had to remind Rachel exactly how good the two of them were together. He’d make her remember.
He marched inside the castle with a purpose and a smile of anticipation. Tonight was going to satisfy them both!
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
LIA AND RACHEL skidded around opposite ends of the room as they rushed forward just as Ari was standing on the balcony looking out over the audience. Her eyebrows rose and she sent a questioning look the girls’ way before turning around.
They were both a bit shamefaced at having left during Ari’s reception. Rachel, because she wanted to think, and Lia because she’d wanted to… Well, she wasn’t even going to justify her reasons to herself.
When the bride launched the wedding bouquet into the air, Rachel and Lia’s eyes met, and then both girls took a step back as the other women in the room rushed forward, everyone trying to catch the bouquet, hoping for luck in capturing their future husband.
To Ari’s delight, when the crowd cleared, it was her mother, Sandra, who was holding the beautiful bunch of flowers, her cheeks blushing pink as the other women grudgingly congratulated her.
She thanked them before slipping away to help her daughter change for her ride to the airport. Lia stood by with a smile on her face. With the great-looking man Sandra had come to the wedding with sporting a mysterious smile on his face, Lia had a feeling the magical powers of catching the bridal bouquet might just have some meaning this time.
The party moved outside, and the guests formed a double line for the newly married couple to walk through. Everyone was armed with rice to throw over the heads of the happy pair as a symbol of fertility and prosperity, though with Rafe’s billions, they didn’t need any luck in the latter department.
When Ari reappeared with Rafe at her side on the other side of the rice throwing wall of people, the newlyweds made sure to give Rachel a parting “gift”: yet another firm lecture, letting her know she was to call them the moment she wanted to leave Corythia.
Though Ari hoped that Rachel and Adriane could work through their differences, she wasn’t taking any chances. The king had already held her dear friend captive once. He wouldn’t be allowed to do it again.
The women shed goodbye tears; the men stood by somewhat uncomfortably and shook hands. Rafe certainly didn’t trust Adriane, but he was going to respect his sister’s wishes.
As Rafe and Ari left, a silence descended on the other two couples. Rachel wasn’t even looking at Adriane, and then in a flash, she disappeared once again, feeling that her room was the safest place to hide for the moment.
Shane and Lia were left alone when Adriane stomped off. The rest of the crowd began to leave the palace, their stomachs full and their smiles genuine. It had been a lovely wedding and reception.
“Does this mean we are together now, Lia?” Shane asked as he grasped her hand and led her to a more private area in the palace. As exciting as their earlier lovemaking had been, he was eager to be where he could slow things down and make love to her the way a woman deserved.
“It means that I’m tired of fighting how I feel. I don’t know what the future has in store, but I just know I want to be with you right now,” she admitted.
Shane was surprised when a blush stole over her cheeks. Lia hadn’t been the blushing type in more than a decade. Her years of shyness had been pushed away, and Lia had never looked back, liking the woman she was now so much better than the shy teenager she’d been. Now she was confident, brave and ready for any new challenge thrown her way.