Twisted Games (Twisted, #2)

by Ana Huang

“At least I had the indoor festival. That was a brilliant idea, by the way. Thank you.” “Indoor festival?” Jules sounded confused. “What are you talking about?” “The setup you planned with Rhys,” I prompted. “The tent, the cushions, the food?” “Maybe I’m drunker than I thought, but you’re not making any sense. I didn’t plan anything with Rhys.” She sounded sincere, and she had no reason to lie. But if Rhys hadn’t planned it with my friends, then… My heart rate kicked up a notch. Jules continued talking, but I’d already tuned her out. The only thing I could focus on was the not one but one thousand butterflies invading my stomach.

OMD R U SERIOUS YESSSSE

“I suggest you stop lookin’ at me like that, Princess,” I said, my voice lethally soft. “Unless you plan on doing something about it.”

“What am I going to do?” Bridget whispered. “I’m not ready. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.” “You’re Bridget von Ascheberg,” I said. “You’ll be ready.”

Just when I thought he would shut me down and walk away, he let out a low curse, turned, and yanked me to him, and I only had time to draw a quick breath before his hand fisted my hair and his mouth crashed down on mine.

“I always knew you would make a great queen.” “I’m not queen yet.” “You don’t need a crown to be queen, Princess.”

Bridget von Ascheberg was mine and mine alone. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t mine to take. I was taking her anyway, and if I could tattoo myself onto her skin, bury myself in her heart, and etch myself onto her soul, I would.

“I don’t need a happily ever after. I need to be by your side. I need you happy and healthy and safe. Goddammit, Bridget, I need you. In any way I can have you.” His voice broke for the first time in all my years with him, and my heart cracked in response. “If you think I’m leaving you to deal with this bullshit alone, you don’t know me at all.”

“You love it,” I said. “Yeah, Princess, I do.”

“No one expects you to be perfect, even if it may seem that way,” Edvard said. “I admit, there’s less leeway for a king or queen to make mistakes, but you can make them, as long as you learn from them. Being a leader is not about technical knowledge. It is about you, as a person. Your compassion, your strength, your empathy. You have all that in spades. Besides…” His eyes crinkled into a smile. “There’s no better way to learn than on the job.”

I framed her face with my hands. “If we do it, we do it together. You and me against the world, Princess.” Her smile sent warmth crashing against my rib cage. “I wouldn’t have anyone else by my side, Mr. Larsen.”

I’d lived in hell my whole life, and it wasn’t until now I glimpsed what heaven felt like. But as our kiss deepened and I sank into her once again, I realized I was wrong. Bridget felt better than heaven. She felt like home.

Love was the most universal emotion. Not everyone experienced it, but they all wanted it—even those who said they didn’t—and Bridget’s press conference had tapped into that core need. She wasn’t just a royal anymore. She was a human and, more importantly, relatable to every person out there who couldn’t be with the person they wanted for whatever reason. There was nothing more powerful than power people could relate to.

“I’ve never been happier to be wrong. Fuck personally involved. That’s not good enough. I want to be in your mind, in your heart, and in your fucking soul the way you are in mine. You and me, Princess…” “Against the world,” I finished. The tightness in my chest no longer had anything to do with Elin and Mikaela. “That’s right. You’re never alone, Princess,” he whispered against my mouth. “Remember that.”

“I’m not the best at flowery language, so I’ll keep it simple.” Fuck, was my voice shaking? I hoped not. “I never believed in love. Never wanted it. I didn’t see the practical value, and to be honest, I was doing just fine without it. But then I met you. Your smile, your strength, your intelligence and compassion. Even your stubbornness and hardheadedness. You filled a part of my soul I always thought would be empty, and you healed scars I never knew existed. And I realized…it’s not that I didn’t believe in love before. It’s that I was saving it all for you.” A half sob bled through the hand pressed to Bridget’s mouth. I took a deep breath. “Bridget, will you marry me?” The question hadn’t fully left my mouth before Bridget threw her arms around me and kissed me. “Yes. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”