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“Since when?” Xander let out a strained laugh. “You’ve taken to your role like a fish to water. You were born to be king — literally — and you’ve always performed all your duties admirably. The marriage might seem like a big deal, but it’s hardly different from what you’ve always done. Your duty.”
Niko took another long drink of whiskey. “My duty.”
“Yes, your duty. To the people you love. To your country. To your future wife.”
“To the people I love,” Niko repeated slowly. “To my future wife.”
“And to your country.”
The brothers looked at each other for a long moment, then Niko sighed.
“You’re right, Xander. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“It’s fine. And I’m always right.” Xander flashed a grin, but he still felt a little unsettled. “So, you’re going to follow your duty tomorrow?”
Niko nodded slowly, then took another long drink of his whiskey.
“I am. Maisy really is a wonderful woman, and I need to do the right thing.”
“Good.” Xander grabbed for the bottle of whiskey, but Niko held on to it like it was his lifeline in a stormy sea. “You might want to cool it on the drinking a little.”
“Come on.” Niko toasted the starry sky above, then took another long pull. “It’s my last day as a bachelor. Have some!”
“I’m going to go to bed.” Xander punched his brother lightly on the shoulder. “Go to sleep soon, okay? And drink a whole glass of water.”
“Yes, Mother.” Niko rolled his eyes, but he looked more like himself, somehow. He looked lighter. “Don’t worry; I’m not going to drink myself into a stupor. I just need a few more minutes of fresh air and then I’ll go to bed too.”
“Okay. Good night, then.” Xander turned for the door, but hesitated with his hand on the handle. “Niko… I’m proud of you. You’re doing the right thing.”
The twins didn’t often talk like this. They preferred to exchange quips and teasing or, lately, to talk much less than they had before. But when Xander glanced back at his brother, he saw that Niko was smiling. It had been the right thing to say.
“Thanks, Xan.”
Xander smiled at the childhood nickname.
“Night, Nik.”
Then he retreated down the stairs and made his way to his room. Despite Xander’s success at talking his brother around — at least, he was fairly certain Niko had agreed to do his duty tomorrow — he still felt heavy. As he changed into pajamas and prepared to sleep, the heaviness pulled him down. Only when he was in bed, staring at the dark ceiling above, did Xander realize the problem.
Xander never wished he’d been born two minutes earlier, but he couldn’t help feeling that he would have a very different attitude towards marrying someone as intelligent, gorgeous, and funny as Maisy if he were in his brother’s shoes. Xander wished that Niko would appreciate Maisy more — she certainly deserved it.
CHAPTER 3
MAISY
Maisy woke the next morning to the sunshine on her face and the sound of birds singing. It was such a fairy-tale feeling that she was smiling even before she opened her eyes. As she became more awake, though, Maisy felt a sense of heaviness sink into her chest. It was her wedding day. And despite everything, it wasn’t how she pictured her wedding day would be.
She didn’t have long to dwell, because her sister burst through the doors and into her bedroom. They were in adjoining suites in one of the palace’s towers, and Lily, always an early riser, had made a habit of waking Maisy up by leaping onto her bed. True to form, Lily flung herself onto her sister’s bed and popped up, blue eyes twinkling.
“Good morning, Bride-to-Be!” she trilled.
“Good morning, Maid of Honor.”
Lily rolled onto her side and smiled. “Can you believe you’re getting married today?”
“I can’t.” Maisy smiled indulgently. “Can you believe it?”
“No!” Lily laughed. “It feels like just yesterday when you were preparing for your prom and I was a heartsick ten-year-old who just wanted to go with you.”
