Guard of my Heart ✅

3. Escaping

The end of the week inches closer with every passing day and with each day my hatred for my soon to be husband continues to grow. My parents were under the spell of his charm but behind closed doors he was very clear what his intentions were.

He wasn't going to take the throne in his own country being that he was the younger of two siblings but once he heard that my parents were looking to marry me off he jumped at the chance. He planned to take the throne with me by his side and begin ruling my country. He would take my birthright away from me while expecting me to produce heirs to the throne. The thought nauseated me.

Our announcement would be made in two days and I was doing my best to hide from Charlie. I was out in the garden with Josh sketching as I usually did before my life was turned upside down. "What are you drawing?" Josh asks me as he sits on his usual ledge.

"What do you guess I draw?"

"Perhaps the lilies or the peonies" he guesses, naming some of the flowers around us. I chuckle and shake my head.

"Wrong" I smirk, holding my sketchpad dearly. "Perhaps I'll allow you to see one day." We gaze at one another, no words being exchanged before we're broken out of our moment.

"Maya darling what are you doing out here? It's freezing." Charlie exclaims. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Our country's climate made it feel as if it was summer in the middle of winter. It was a little over sixty degrees but it felt wonderful.

"I'm fine" I assure him with a smile. "I was just enjoying the garden."

"And drawing?" he asks, motioning to my sketchpad. "Leave that to the professionals darling. Speaking of which our royal portrait is scheduled for the week after your birthday. I wanted to have it done before you became pregnant" he explains. My heart drops at the word.

"I wasn't planning on conceiving that soon" I laugh lightly. "Wouldn't you like a little alone time with your wife?"

"Heirs are important Maya" he rolls his eyes. "If we're unlucky enough to get stuck with girls the first few times we'll need time to produce a suitable heir." I look to Josh to see his eyes wide and his jaw on the ground.

"Of course. How silly of me" I laugh it off. "Um I'm feeling a bit tired. I think I may go lie down."

"Fine but I do expect you at dinner tonight. You've missed them the past couple of evenings" Charlie says. I nod and scurry up to my room. Josh doesn't hesitate to follow me inside.

"Is he serious?" he asks in shock. "A suitable heir? Jesus Maya. I hope you have a son right away so the creep never touches you again" he says seriously. "I knew this would be hard but" he trails off. "He's awful. Have you told Lucas about this? Or Riley?"

"No" I shake my head. "My parents already want Lucas out of the palace, if he blows up at Charlie he's gone and Riley loves him. I can't tear them apart. When I take the throne I was going to give Lucas a title so he and Riley could marry and start a life together. Now, my life is imploding and there is not a thing I can do to stop it" I exclaim in frustration.

"What if you told your parents?" he suggests but I shake my head.

"They won't believe me" I sigh, "they'll think it's another ploy to stay without a husband. I'm stuck."

"I'm sorry sweetheart" he whispers, caressing my cheek.

"It's not your fault" I assure him, putting my hand over his. I close the distance between us and press my lips to his. The kiss is short, with him pulling away sadly.

"We cannot keep kissing. It will only make the inevitable worse" he sighs.

"I am marrying a man who wishes to keep me as if I'm some trophy. The inevitable is as worse as it can get. Kissing you makes it better, at least for a little while. The reminder that I'm loved, truly. It helps a great deal."