Chapter Three

“You don’t have to go through with this.”

Prince Jasper glanced sideways at his sister, Princess Felicity. Their blond wavy hair was the only family trait they shared. Felicity was bright, vibrant, her skin glowing and her emerald eyes sparkling. Most people would take her words as showing concern for her younger brother, but Jasper knew better.

“The paperwork has been signed,” he said quietly. “You wouldn’t want me to go against our mother and Queen, would you?” He smoothed over his black tunic that showed just a hint of the white shirt underneath. Felicity had offered creams to obscure the dark circles he had under his eye sockets, although one would be hidden by the patch Jasper refused to be seen without.

Its going to take a lot more than creams to fix what’s wrong with me. Jasper’s stomach was a mass of writhing snakes, just thinking about his upcoming wedding. He knew why he had to do what he was going to do. Being away from the castle was the only way his mother would be safe. But the thought of leaving all he knew, his safe space, his things…

“You haven’t even asked who you’re going to marry.” Felicity was already dressed for the small ceremony. Her hair was pinned up under her tiara, and her dress fitted and flared where it needed to. The gemstones encrusted along the hem and cuffs alone probably took a week for a team of seamstresses to create. “Surely you’d need to know that before the ceremony. What if it’s someone gross?”

“Then my new husband and I will be well suited,” Jasper said gently, registering the verbal win as Felicity’s cheeks reddened. Yes, I do know what you think of my eyepatch. “It doesn’t matter who I marry. Our mother, our Queen, believes this contract is the best thing for me, and as her youngest son, it is my duty to follow her wishes. It’s not like it’s going to make any difference who my husband will be. Getting me out of the castle will ensure I won’t impede your own chances of making a good match, don’t you think?”

“I have very fixed ideas on who I will share my life with.” Felicity picked up Jasper’s hairbrush, flicking over the bristles before putting it back. “I mean, just imagine being tied to someone in life who didn’t share your values or recognizes the important things in life. Thank goodness Mother has employed some commonsense in that situation with regard to my marriage potential. I, at least, will be making a solid match that reflects my position and lineage, and you can guarantee I won’t be marrying anyone I haven’t met and spoken with.”

“What I’m facing is no different to the situation faced by many in our position.” Jasper swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince. “Many marriages are conducted between higher level families where the couple are complete strangers when they stand before the officiant.”

“Maybe, but there are always extensive negotiations that go on before the wedding day.” Felicity shook her head. “I would never do that without insisting on the groom being present as well. The only exception I can see is if I could emulate Princess Cinnamon of Rosenhip and get carried off by a dragon rider.”

Jasper quickly looked out of the window so Felicity wouldn’t see the incredulous look on his face. “I didn’t see you as someone who would agree to spending your first month of married life in a dragon’s den. Wouldn’t you find it uncomfortable?”

“Why on earth would I do that?” Felicity’s curls went flying again. “Honestly, you have the strangest notions. As if any woman of virtue and breeding would spend a month in a cave.”

There was no use arguing. Jasper knew that from a lifetime of experience. Even when he was right, and Jasper did know about the mating habits of dragons and dragon riders, it was better for him to keep his mouth closed. “I didn’t realize mother was expecting foreign visitors,” he said, pointing out of the window. “Isn’t that Prince Avalon’s ship, from Cijan, pulling into the docks?” Jasper had never met the man, but he knew his mother was close to the Crown Prince and the King of Cijan and he recognized the flag the ship was flying from the center mast.

“Where? Let me see?” Felicity pushed past him, even though there was more than enough room for them both to stand at the window and see out. “He probably doesn’t know what’s going on today. Oh, poor Prince Avalon. He’ll be expecting a royal greeting and refreshments and Mother’s not available. I mean, it’s not like Mother would have advertised your wedding day to anyone important. I should go…” She hovered, clearly torn between seeing what “monster” Jasper would end up marrying and wanting to see if her long term crush was on his ship.

“Mother would probably appreciate you entertaining her royal visitors while she sees me off safely with my new spouse.” Jasper kept his voice low, making the words seem suggestive rather than telling Felicity he really didn’t want her at his wedding. “I do understand how supportive you wanted to be for me at this time, but…” Jasper let the words lay unfinished, unwilling to lie any further.

“No. You’re right. Family is family, but royal duty has to come first.” Felicity straightened as if heading off to battle. Jasper could easily imagine she was already planning what pastries and delicacies she would order from the kitchen that would provide the perfect backdrop for her afternoon with people she deemed acceptable company. “Chin up.” She raised her hands, and Jasper willed himself not to flinch as they landed on his shoulders. “Do the family proud, and remember there’ll always be a room for you here if things don’t work out.”

“Thank you.” Jasper kept his head down as if bowing until he heard her leave the room. There’ll always be a room here for you. It wasn’t his sister’s place to determine that one way or the other, it was their mother’s. Besides, Jasper already knew that for as long as danger lurked beyond the castle walls, he would never be back even if it meant sleeping on the streets.

He looked around at the few things he’d collected over the years. Perhaps I should’ve asked Mother more about who won the royal husband lottery. Jasper knew of all four of the men who’d presented marriage contracts for him, once it was known, he wouldn’t speak against the ones who took him. None of the names augured well for his immediate future.

Picking up the small worn leather notebook he kept on his bedside cabinet, Jasper tapped his chest with it. It was his late father’s and Jasper’s most precious possession. If Sultan Chu has won my hand, then as one of his many concubines, I won’t be allowed my bag of things. Jasper went to tuck the notebook into his inside jacket pocket and then hesitated.

But if I’m married to the Duke of Willow Gate, he’ll probably insist on me being half-naked most of the time. Which means I could probably take my bag, so… He reached over to the small carry-all he’d dug out from the bottom of his trunk. But then what if it’s Morty or Reginald…

Groaning quietly, Jasper sunk down, sitting on the edge of his bed, the worn notebook in his hands. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I can do.

He didn’t dare close his remaining eye. Every time he did, all he could see was the flames and the evil in the glaring souls that mocked him. I just have to keep away from Mother until… until…

There was no possible end to that ‘until’. Jasper knew his life was over. His captors had made sure of that. With no one he could safely talk to, no one who didn’t just want him to ‘get over it’ and act as though ‘everything is normal’ the words he’d been dumped with were etched on his soul and the only ones that resonated with him. Unless he could find one person strong enough, one person who could…

Silly thoughts. There would never be a person like that in Jasper’s life which was the reason why marriage to someone, even a person who disgusted him, was Jasper’s only option.

“Your Highness?” There was a quick tap at his door, and Frankie one of the castle footmen poked his head around it. “The Queen said to inform you the guests had arrived. They are waiting for you in her offices.”

“Thank you, Frankie.” Waiting until Frankie’s head had disappeared, Jasper opened the small notebook on a random page. His father’s scrawl was large, with words taking up half the page.

While you can breathe, there is hope.

“Thank you, Father,” Jasper whispered, tucking the notebook into his shirt before smoothing his tunic over it. Grabbing a few toiletries, and his hairbrush off the dresser, Jasper added them to the clothes he’d packed along with a small amount of cash his mother had given him. Depending on who he’d been contracted to, either his trunk would be put into storage, or transport would’ve been arranged for it. It really didn’t matter in the scheme of things.

There is nothing ahead of me I have not dealt with before, he told himself firmly. With one long look around the room that had been his since he’d graduated from the nursery, Jasper left for the last time.

/~/~/~/~/

The wedding ceremony passed in a blur. Jasper still didn’t know who he was handing his life to. The official spoke. He answered “yes” when he was prodded to. The hand holding his was large and seemed to fit the bulk he was standing beside, but Jasper couldn’t even look. It was highly likely if the contract was between himself and someone like Sultan Chu, the man would’ve sent a proxy.

Jasper focused on the strength of the woman on the other side of him – Queen Fiona, who had gone through so many hardships in her life, and yet was still gracious and caring with all who were in her orbit.

He remembered the nights after he’d returned, her sitting by his bedside, tears dripping onto the back of his hand as her healers responded to her urgent pleas to do all they could. It was she who wiped the blood from his skin, who cried over his cuts and bruises, and who’d even taken him to the bathroom when he could barely stand.

I owe my mother everything. It was that knowledge, steeped into his soul, that allowed him to remain upright as he heard the officiant winding up the ceremony. His mother was the only person who genuinely cared for him since his father died. Jasper would suffer any indignity, go through any humiliation, and submit to anything physically or mentally that was demanded of him if he could keep her safe.

“As determined under law, I now declare you husbands together. You may seal the deal with a gentle embrace if you wish, sire.”

“I wouldn’t presume on my new husband in that manner.” The voice was rich and warm. “However, there is one more thing I’d like to do while your mother is present.”

That had Jasper looking up. He did not recognize the face of the man who had married him. The man was taller than him, wide in shoulder, and with a kindly, good-looking face. He had brown-blond hair that was supporting a coronet and a squared chin, suggesting strength and confidence. Jasper felt he’d seen the likeness someplace before, but couldn’t think where. He was doubly confused when the man beckoned to another who was dressed similarly in a long coat and boots. A box was handed forward, and the man – Jasper’s new husband and not a proxy it would seem – opened it, revealing a slim and elegant coronet.

“My father said we won’t be holding an official ceremony back home for a month, to allow us to adjust our lives together,” the man said, his hazel eyes twinkling, causing the tiniest furl of hope to start in Jasper’s chest. “However, if you’d allow me…?”

“Is that for me?” Jasper was still trying to work out who he was married to. I should’ve asked. I should’ve paid attention when the official read the vows.

“We don’t have to wear them every day, thank goodness.”

Jasper noticed the one his husband was holding was very similar to the one the man was wearing. He held still – don’t flinch, don’t flinch – as the coronet was placed gently on his wavy blond hair. “There you go.” His husband air kissed one side of his face and then the other, not touching, before backing away and bowing slightly.

“I’d ask those present to show their respect to the new Crown Prince Consort of Cijan.”

Jasper was sure his remaining eye was going to fall out of his head as Queen Fiona chuckled lightly. She genuinely seemed happy for him especially when the men with his new husband bowed in his direction.

“You’re Avalon, the Crown Prince of Cijan?” Yes, it was a silly question – Jasper had just married the man and now he knew, he remembered seeing a likeness of the prince in one of the World Council newsletters. But rather than get angry, or show impatience, the Crown Prince just nodded and grinned.

“At your service.”

“Oh, dear.” Jasper’s fingers quickly flew to his mouth. “I mean, it’s a pleasure to meet you, but I believe the royal princess of Lowenthorp was preparing an afternoon tea for you and your guests, as we speak. Perhaps you should… I wasn’t invited, but...”

“We will stay for tea another day,” the Crown Prince said easily. “We have to catch the tide. I’ve arranged for your trunk to be moved to the ship, so if you have anyone you want to say goodbye to…?”

“Just the Queen, thank you.” Jasper moved to his mother’s side as his new husband huddled with his friends a few yardsticks away. “Mother, what did you do? He wasn’t on the list Oscar told me about. Is this man here willingly?” he hissed urgently.

“Of course, he is, my son.” Jasper closed his eye as his mother held him close. “You are worth more than you know, and Avalon is lucky to have you.”

Avalon.

“What’s more, your new husband can be trusted.” The Queen leaned back, resting her hand gently and very briefly against his cheek as Jasper opened his eye. An eye his mother met with her own. “If there should come a time when you need protection, or a matter dealt with that’s beyond your own abilities, know that Avalon will do all he can, everything within his power as a prince and a man, to bring that matter to resolution for you. Do you understand? I will love you always.”

All Jasper could do was nod, and as if knowing he was uncomfortable, Avalon came over, saying his goodbyes, and gently shepherding Jasper out of the castle and down to the docks. The hairs on Jasper’s neck rose as he left the castle front door, and didn’t go down until the ship headed out to sea.