Page 114 of Royally Matched
Who would have thought that the King and Queen of Ledonia would send their daughter andI on an adventure to discover that the laws of succession have changed so that she will be the next queen, while playing matchmaker with us because they believed we would be a good match.
You can’t make this stuff up, people.
After the really rather wonderful bombshells were dropped and everyone had hugged and tears were shed, all four of us returned to the wedding. Sofia and I were grinning like a couple of Cheshire cats. It felt surreal to have been at the reception in the depths of despair, my heart yearning for the woman I loved, and then to return to it with my love on my arm, a transformed man.
Surreal but totally wonderful.
I found Enzo and pulled him to one side, coming clean about everything. At first he was shocked, but when I explained to him how much Sofia means to me, he gave me one of his awkward hugs, only it wasn’t quite as awkward as usual. He then shared the news about being in love himself, and I gave him my genuine congratulations, telling him how happy for him I was that he had found love, and that love was what he deserved.
As wedding guests begin to leave, Sofia and I sneak off to be together, walking hand in hand through the palace grounds, lit up with lights like a scene from a fairy tale. Once we’re out of sight of the guests, I pull her against me as I’ve been wanting to do since Jason surprised us in the hallway of mirrors, wrapping my arms around her and claiming her lips as mine.
Our kiss is full of the passion and love we have for one another, my mind filled with everything that has transpired between us. My heart tells me this woman is what I have been looking for.
She is the love of my life.
When we finally pull away, our foreheads pressed against one another’s, she murmurs, “I love you.”
“I love you,too, future Queen of Ledonia.”
She beams up at me. “It’s the most wonderful, wonderful surprise, isn’t it, Marco?”
“It’s what you’ve always wanted.”
“Tell me, why did you think Amelia was behind the riddle?” she asks as we sit on a bench, hidden from the view of the palace, our hands entwined.
“Because of her plan to find soulmates for you and Enzo to fall in love with and show you what you’d be missing out on if you went through with an arranged marriage. Do you remember Amelia brought a friend to your garden party?”
“Pretty and very shy?”
“That’s right. Sigrid Olsson.”
She sucks in a breath. “That’s who Enzo told me he’s fallen in love with!”
He nods. “Your sister brought her to the garden party to meet Enzo.”
“Who knew? My sister the matchmaker. Who did you find for me?”
“No one. But I do think she intended me for you.”
“Was my whole family in on this big scheme to get you and I together?” she asks on a laugh.
“What can I say? I’m quite the catch,” I reply with a grin, and she shoves my arm. “Watch it. You could really hurt a guy.”
“I don’t think so. I saw your muscles that day you took your shirt off in the throne room, remember?”
“You were checking me out, were you?”
“I’m made of flesh and blood, just like the next girl.”
I pull her to me and brush my lips against hers. “You’renot anything like the next girl. You’re my girl, which makes you special.”
“Really? Show me,” she replies with a giggle, her eyes dancing.
So I show her by kissing her once more until we’re both dizzy and right out of breath.
“Did you know that you loving me has given me the strength to be the man I was always meant to be?” I say.
“That got suddenly rather serious,” she replies.