“What did you think he was going to do?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He shook his head. “It isn’t something I want you to think about.”
“Did you think he was going to rape me? Or did you think I would assent to his advances?” My voice was soft. “And which one would have been worse to you?”
Xavier glowered at me and ignored my question as he continued talking. “He wants to initiate Tarquin into his world and into the parties.”
“I thought only the oldest brothers could attend those parties?”
“Casper makes the rules. He can change them as he pleases.”
“What does he want to initiate Tarquin into?”
“The Society of Brothers,” Xavier said and rubbed his forehead. He grimaced as he looked at me. “I shouldn’t be telling you any of this.”
“I’m glad you’re telling me,” I said softly. “Do you really love me, Xavier?”
“I do.” He nodded and groaned. “I’m a fool, but I do.”
“Do you trust me?” I said slowly, my eyes not leaving his.
“I do.” He nodded again and my heart flipped over as he sat on the bed again and grabbed my hand. “I trust you with my heart.”
“Then tell me what you want to do. Tell me how you want to make this change,” I said softly. “Let me be a part of this.”
“We’ll have to go to another party. A grander ball. A darker ball. You’ll be introduced to a world of games and glitter.” His eyes glanced down at me. “I don’t know...” His voice trailed off.
“I want to do this, Xavier. I want to be a part of this.”
“Okay,” he said, and suddenly he smiled as he leaned down to kiss me. “I was hoping you would say that.” And then I kissed him back, and all thoughts of leaving were vanquished from my mind. All thoughts of leaving and going back to London without him were gone. I didn’t want to be without Xavier. He was the Prince Charming I’d been looking for. Granted, he wasn’t the Prince Charming of fairytales, but he was mine and he loved me. That was good enough for me. It was better than good enough. I was going to show Xavier that I could live in his world. I was going to show him that true love could last forever. I was going to show him that there was such a thing as happily ever after, even if I hadn’t truly believed it until this very moment.
Chapter Six
Lola
There’s a magical moment that occurs when two people who like each other stare at each other. There’s a spark of electricity that seems to flow between just the two of them, and it doesn’t matter how many other people are there. That moment is between just the two of them. That’s how I felt when Xavier and I entered the grand entrance of the Royal Palace. He grabbed my hand, squeezed it tightly, and looked into my eyes with a deep, penetrating stare.
“It’s all a game. If you remember that it’s a game, then everything will be okay.” Xavier’s voice was low as we walked into the palace.
“It’s hard to think of it as a game,” I said, taking a deep breath and hoping that the fresh air would provide me with the courage that I felt I was lacking.
“It’s hard, but that is what this is, Lola.” He stopped and looked toward me, his eyes scanning my face carefully. His green irises glowed like the gentle blades of grass in the morning as the sun was rising. They were gentle yet powerful in their beauty and elegance, warm and stoic all at the same time. “If you want to leave, just let me know.” He squared his shoulders and I could see doubt in his eyes for a split second. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
“No, we have to do this.” I shook my head. “I can do this. I’m strong, Xavier. Stronger than you think.”
“I know.” He nodded. “You have to be strong to have stuck with me through all of this.”
“You’re a complex man.” I laughed, suddenly feeling light inside.
“I think you’re the only one that has ever truly seen me for who I am.” His eyes pierced into mine and he just stared at me for a few seconds. “You’ve seen beyond my exterior, beyond my being a prince, beyond my abrasiveness. You’ve seen me for who I am and I still can’t quite believe that you’re here.”
“You and me both.” I laughed and he leaned forward and caressed my lips gently. His thumb brushed against my lower lip and moved gently back and forth.
“If ever there was a rose as beautiful as you, I’d plant it in my garden for when my days were blue. And I’d sit there and watch it, all the days through. Because that rose in my garden—well, it would remind me of you.”
“I always knew you were a romantic, Xavier van Romerius.” I smiled at him as my heart thudded at his words.
“That’s good that you’ve thought so highly of me.” He winked at me and then stilled, his face becoming serious once again. “Tonight, though, there will not be any romance. Tonight is not about romance. Tonight you will witness me as a man that I don’t want to be. Tonight you will be introduced to a world that I didn’t want to show you.”
“It’s okay, Xavier.” I touched his shoulder. “I can handle it.” I smiled at him, but my stomach was churning in fear and worry. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to be able to handle it. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I wasn’t sure what I was going to see. What was Xavier going to do? And would I be able to forgive him or myself if it crossed the mark? I loved this man and all of his flaws. I knew that he wasn’t perfect. He was human, and had secrets that would make stronger women than me flee. But that was the beauty of love. It made us stronger. It gave us hearts of steel and guts of iron. I had a shield around me that could withstand a war for this man. I had a passion that could overcome mountains. My love for Xavier burned in my soul and ran through my veins, and I was willing to take this chance. I needed to show him that I could be there for him. And I also wanted a role in bringing Violeta and Casper down, after everything that they had done to ruin Xavier’s name and to bring him down. I just couldn’t let this happen to him again. I couldn’t let them try to destroy the man I loved. The man who had stolen my heart the very first night we’d met.