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I crinkle my nose, "I'd rather take my chances with the cranky Frost King."
Nyx laughs but a grave look washes over Ronan's face. "Be careful, Shaye. You seem to be making a lot of deals with powerful men lately."
"I've made one deal with one powerful man and that's your father. He's different."
"Is he?"
The question stops me dead in my tracks. "You're scaring me."
"I apologize," his eyes soften. "My father is a good man, but he's first and foremost the King of Tronovia. He will always have our people's best interest at the forefront of his mind. If it ever came down to helping you or saving Tronovia, he would abandon you without question. All rulers do it. Just be careful what you promise them."
"Not all leaders rule that way."
"Yes, they do."
"Are you saying you'll be just like that when you become king?" I challenge, and he doesn't back down.
He nods. "Just as you will when you are queen. Our personal desires mean nothing in the end. Our people and country are all that matter."
"Damn, Rone," Finn motions for us to join him and Eris by the campfire. "You're rather cheerful this evening." He hands us mugs of hot cocoa as we perch on the fallen logs. "Problems with your father?"
"When do we not have problems?" Ronan huffs, blowing the steam wafting from his mug. He takes a long sip, eyes not focused on anyone in particular. "We had a bit of a disagreement before I left."
"What happened this time?" Eris makes room for me to share her blanket and tugs it tighter around our shoulders.
It takes Ronan a few seconds to muster the right words. With a disgruntled huff he confesses, "I am expected to take a wife by this time next year. Heirs must be sired to ensure the future of the Delaney line."
Nyx chuckles, wiping chocolate from his mouth with the back of his hand. "Oh, is that all? To be fair, you knew this day was coming. You're the future king."
"Of course, I knew this day was coming," he barks, but quickly presses a hand to his chest to calm himself down. "I just didn't think it would be this soon," he says softly. "I'm way too young to be shackled to one woman for the rest of my life. No offense, ladies." He glances apologetically at me and Eris. "I wish he would give me a chance to find someone on my terms."
"I take it you're against arranged marriages then." I say, feeling a bitter taste in my mouth for them myself.
"No disrespect, Shaye, but look at how well an arranged marriage worked out for you and Eris."
"Well, that's not entirely fair," Finn finally inserts himself into the conversation. "I doubt your future fiancé is plotting to unleash a disgruntled demon or…" He trails off, his eyes darting toward Eris. "Maybe we should change the subject."
Eris slips her hand out from our shared blanket and squeezes his forearm. "It's ok, Finn. Ronan is right. Arranged marriages don't always turn out the way one would hope – "
"See," Ronan quips. "Arranged marriages are disasters in the making."
"That's not what I said," Eris fires back. "Not all arranged marriages are disasters."
"I don't understand how you of all people can say that, Eris," the prince shakes his head, clearly irritated no one is backing him up.
"Your parents had an arranged marriage, did they not?"
"That's different – "
"And they are happy together, yes?" she interrupts.
"They are the exception," he stares into his half-full mug. "Not everyone is as fortunate as them."
"Just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it can't work for you."
I grab Ronan's hand and squeeze when he remains silent. "Who is she?"
"I don't know yet." He shrugs, flicking his gaze to meet mine. "My father hasn't chosen any prospects."
