Read Online The Goblin King's Lovers by Marie Medina - Free Book Online

She has to do this on her
own. You can’t make her marry us.”
    “ Why did you make that
offer?”
    “ Because I couldn’t bear
to see you like this, to see her as she was when she ran out of
here. I would do it to bring the two of you together.”
    “ I couldn’t.”
    “ Would you prefer to be
without her?”
    Davin sighed. “No, but what are we to
do?”
    “ What the woman we love
asked us to do. Give her time, don’t seek her out.”
    Davin stayed silent, as he didn’t
think he could do that for long.
    Lorne cupped his face. “I’ll see to it
we do exactly that. Keep you in line if I must.”
    “ Father will ask
tonight.”
    Lorne caressed his cheek. “And we will
tell him she needs time. No matter how long she’s been here, she’s
human.”
    Lorne’s touch soothed him, and he
kissed his yabito’s palm. “We should’ve been more affectionate in
front of her, made her curious.”
    Lorne sighed. “It isn’t just about the
sharing, and you know it. You can’t make her love me.”
    Davin nodded. Lorne rose and helped
him up, pulling him toward the bedroom.
    “ You need to bathe and
change,” Lorne said. “I’ll speak with your father.”
    Davin nodded again. “What about our
present for Eva?”
    Lorne looked at the small box sitting
on the desk as they entered Davin’s bedroom. “It’ll have to wait.
She needs space.” Lorne kissed his cheek. “Get ready. I’ll return
soon.”
    Once Lorne was gone, Davin stripped,
but his eyes kept drifting to the box. He moved to the desk and
opened it, gazing down at ring he’d commissioned for Eva. It was
like an engagement ring, which he’d learned about from the other
humans. A large pink stone nestled in a silver rose, and he knew it
would be so beautiful on her finger. He’d hoped to slip it onto her
finger tonight, but now he probably wouldn’t even see her. He set
the ring back in its box and turned away, anxious for Lorne to
return so he wouldn’t be alone with this pain.
    * * * *
    Eva slipped out of the celebration and
into the garden. Everyone clapped and cheered for Davin, whose gaze
had been searching the crowd. She couldn’t look into his eyes now,
but she’d had no choice but to come to his celebration. Nika
wouldn’t have understood without an explanation, and right now Eva
didn’t want advice from anyone. The king’s words from moments
earlier rang in her ears.
    When my son weds, I shall
step down and prepare myself to amuse and delight my beautiful
grandchildren.
    Davin wouldn’t become king until he
wed. Being king here was nothing like being a monarch back in her
world, a world she hardly remembered now, but she knew Davin would
be a good king, so it was something everyone looked forward to. He
already helped his father every day, and the people loved
him.
    She loved him.
    “ Why did neither of them
ever say anything?” she whispered to herself.
    One Elari and a couple of humans had
even courted her, all three of them seeking Davin’s approval first
because of their close friendship. The prince had given it each
time. And Lorne, who found fault with everything and everyone
still, had not objected either. Yet she did remember that Lorne had
deferred to his prince, and Davin had told each man “if the lady
will have you, you have my blessing”. They’d all been nice and
handsome, but she’d declined an official courtship from each of
them in turn. Davin and Lorne had been noncommittal about that as
well. It made her angry as she thought about it.
    Eva sat down on a stone bench and
looked up into the sky. Davin loved her—it was the one thing she’d
wanted more than anything for seven years. But he also loved Lorne.
They were lovers already. Thoughts of the two handsome men touching
brought heat to her cheeks, and she tried to banish the images.
Yes, Lorne was handsome. He was a dear friend, but it was not the
same.
    She heard people coming and moved
away, closer to one of the windows. She plucked a flower and toyed
with