Page 48 of The Marked Princess

“You know I'm the one you really want, not just some childhood friend who you've never looked at twice. Not like you look at me.”

Josselyn's mouth fell open but nothing came out. His lips curved into a devilish grin, and he glanced over her head at Edmund, who still held her other hand. “Does he make your heart race like I do, Princess?” He cupped her neck with his free hand, pressing his thumb lightly against her pulse, which jumped at the contact. Chuckling, he lowered his head, his mouth replacing his thumb as his lips traced a fiery path up her neck and his teeth nipped at her earlobe. She shivered as he whispered in her ear.

“I'm the one you're in love with, not him. Choose me, Josselyn. Choose love.”

Josselyn struggled to find her voice, fighting against the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. “I chose you once, but you didn't want me.”

He pressed a kiss against her forehead, then another at her temple. “I want you now,” he whispered, dipping lower and claiming her lips, drawing her in deeper until the rest of the world drifted away, and it was just the two of them.

Yes, this is what I want. It's always been him, will always be him, us... not Edmund...

Josselyn let out a gasp, pulling her hands free and pushing off of Alex's chest. Stumbling backwards, she stared at him with wide, glassy eyes.

“I can't,” she rasped. “I promised. I promised my hand to Edmund, and a queen must always honor her promises.” She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the hurt that colored Alex's face, that surely mirrored her own heartbreak. Turning and squaring her shoulders, she moved to stand by Edmund's side, slipping her hand into his once again, a slight quiver in her lower lip the only indication of the suffering this decision was causing her. She clenched her fist, digging her nails into her palm until she had herself under control and could speak with calm resolution.

“I choose honor.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Alex vanished, leaving a dull ache to fill her chest as she blinked against the bright sun. Edmund raised her hand, brushing a kiss across her knuckles, before releasing it and stepping aside. He motioned to the edge of the garden, where one of the cherry trees had disappeared, revealing a narrow pathway. Josselyn tried to see where the path led, but the overhanging branches from the trees blocked her view. She looked back at Edmund to ask him about it, only to find that she was alone once again.

“Well, then.”

She walked resolutely toward the path, flower petals drifting down into her hair as she passed. Ducking beneath the last of the branches, she found herself standing on a white sand beach, a cerulean colored sea spread out before her. A warm breeze blew her hair across her face, as she walked down to the water's edge.

“There you are, lovey. I was wondering when you would make it down here.”

“Indeed, your mother and I have been quite anxious waiting for you.”

Tears pricked at Josselyn's eyes as she turned around, falling into her parents' arms. They held her close, letting her cry. When all of her tears had run their course, her mother held her out at arms length, looking her over with loving pride. Her father smiled benevolently, his arm wrapped around his wife's waist.

“Oh, lovey, what a strong, young woman you've turned out to be.” She ran a hand over Josselyn's hair. “And such a beautiful one at that.”

“I've missed you, so much, Mama.”

“And I you, my love.”

Her father cleared his throat, his eyes a touch misty as he added, “But that isn't why you're here today, is it? I believe there's someone waiting to officially meet you.”

And as Josselyn watched, the water before them rose in one, huge wave, making a terrifying wall of water that would wash them all away should it collapse. An opening formed at the base of the wave and a beautiful door made of translucent, green sea glass materialized within the space.

“Go on then, sweetheart. Be the queen I've always known you could be.”

Her father patted her shoulder and stepped back, allowing her mother to wrap her in one last embrace. “You can do anything you set your mind to, lovey. I believe in you.” And with a final kiss pressed against Josselyn's forehead, her mother stepped back with her father, nodding toward the glass door.

“She's waiting for you.”

Wiping her face quickly, Josselyn gave them a tremulous smile. “Wish me luck.” And with that, she stepped forward and opened the final door.

Chapter Twenty-Six

A light mist spritzed over Josselyn's face as she stepped through the doorway, the sound of rushing water blending with a symphony of cicadas, birds, and the occasional howler monkey. She let her eyes soak up the lush greens that surrounded her, from the long, slender leaves of the trees and bushes to the moss covering the damp rocks that she currently stood upon. A series of four small waterfalls to her left joined together to fill a deep pool of water that poured out into a wide creek that split the jungle clearing in two halves. A single, fallen tree bridged the gap between her and the other side.

“What is this place?”

She turned in a slow circle, awestruck by the natural beauty.

“My home.”

A low, feminine voice filled her mind, the same one she'd once heard in the castle gardens, warning her about the prince's necklace, and then again in the forest, when it urged her to fight. Looking around for the source of the voice, her breath caught in her throat as a huge, black cat slunk out from the bushes on the opposite side of the creek. A feeling of wonder washed over her as she watched the beast move gracefully across the mossy rocks and onto the fallen tree.