Chasing Demons (Book 2) Rated R

Chapter 36

~Christian~

Aimee stood by the dying fire, her body silhouetted by warm, orange light. Her black hair hung in curls over her shoulders, down past her waist. It'd gotten longer these past few months and an inexplicable urge to run my fingers through her hair washed over me.

I cleared my throat. "Before I address the crowd, there is something you need to know. I'm going to ask you a question, there, in front of everyone."

"What kind of question?" she asked warily.

"I'm going to ask you to marry me."

Aimee always had something passionate to say, I knew this better than anyone, but for several, long, minutes, she said nothing.

"Marry someone you don't love?"

Oh, darling...

"My kingdom is weakened and we need allies. This is my way of getting them. It'd be nothing more than a political transaction, I assure you."

She flinched and it took white-knuckled self-control for me not to do the same.

Forgive me.

"And you plan to ask me in front of all of them where you know I can't refuse."

I didn't confirm it, but neither did I deny it.

A spark of anger rose in her violet eyes. "Because if I say no, you'll look weak in front of your people."

"Right."

"And if you look weak, your kingdom is done for." She tore her eyes away from me and looked at the ceiling. "How dare you put that on me?"

"I have no choice, Aimee."

"No," she said, quietly, shifting her body away from me to face the fire." I can't marry you. I can't do it."

"You can. It's quite easy. We stand in front of a minster, say a few words, and it's done."

She shook her head, black curls swaying between her shoulder blades.

"Unbelievable."

"Which part, Aimee?"

"I can explain it to you Christian, but I can't understand it for you."

"Go on, say it. You've never been one to hold back, don't start now."

"Fine? Let's start with the obvious. How you can expect me to be near you every single day for who knows how long with you right there, so close yet so far away?"

Her voice was rising, emotion lodging in her throat.

"With you telling me each day how much you can't be with me yet married to you. I don't get it!"

I stood there, looking at her with a practiced, cool, blue gaze, as if none of her words held meaning, as if the pain in her voice didn't stab me in the heart.

Aimee shook her head incredulously. It hit me like a punch to the gut to see her lose a sliver of respect for me but I'd come to the realization sometime during the night, as we spoke, and she tried to get me to open up, that Aimee had more faith in me than was good for her. Getting her to hate me would take time...but getting her to lose respect for me, that would be the final blow. One I could easily deliver.

"I don't know what your endgame is with this and frankly I'm so sick and tired of trying to guess what is going on with you. You want to self-destruct? Do it. I'm done...I'm just. Done."

"And there it is."

"There is what?" she snapped.

"The moment you realize I am more than just what you wish I could be. What I can no longer be to you, now that everything is gone. I'm a King now and that means putting my people above--"