Celeste
The door swung open and hit the wall.
“Darien,” Joshua said, starting in at a jog. “The aide needs you in the west wing—“
He stopped.
He stood in the doorway in the attitude of a man arrested mid-step.
His mouth fell open.
It stayed open.
“I,” he said slowly, “would like to know exactly what the pair of you think you are doing with my future wife.”
I made a noise into Darien’s chest that I will deny to my grave.
Darien’s arm was already tightening around my waist. He did not move away from me. He did not flinch. He turned his head toward Josh with the lazy deliberation of a man who was not done and would not pretend he was.
“Out, Josh.”
“No.”
“Out.”
“She is my future wife, Darien. The whole kingdom knows this. The maids have been taking bets. Leo has five silver on a s
