CHAPTER ONE

Amber

I took a deep breath trying to calm myself down, but it wasn’t working. I barely resisted the urge to bite my lip. After moving to a completely new planet and dating an amazing elf, I became a widow. A freaking widow with two little elf children. My mind moved to them sitting in my house with my friend, Amelia. My son, the oldest, collected cars, and my daughter loved to be a princess. They were perfect while I had stretch marks and belly fat from stress eating like crazy.

The door in the hallway I’d been watching opened and a tall elven woman leaned out.

“We’re about ready for you, Amber.” She said then closed the door once more. I fiddled with my hair then adjusted my shirt for the hundredth time.

“All right. I think I’m good.” Any second I would see the King of Iyvis. I shoved my hands through her hair and reached for the door when it swung open, the door connecting with my face before I could move back. Son of a bitch that hurt! Tears sprung to my eyes and I placed my hands over my nose. Thankfully it wasn’t bleeding.

“Next time don’t be so close.” A male voice said, sending hits of rage through my body. I slid my foot into his path, catching his shoe mid stride, making him stumble. He hit the ground and I smirked.

“Next time watch your feet.” I wiped the tears from my eyes then wiped the liquid on my shirt.

“What’s your name?” he hissed, and his ears reddened as he met my gaze.

“Amber. But I’m not your type prince.” I recognized his face the moment he asked the question. He stood and blocked my path.

“But I’m everyone’s type.” He grinned and I sighed.

“You ready to settle down and raise two elflings that aren’t yours?” The challenge grew stronger with every word.

The smirk vanished from his face. “How long?”

“A year and a half if you’re asking how long I’ve been widow.” I hated the pity in his eyes.

“Amber, he’s ready to see you.” The same elfess from earlier spoke.

“Thank you.” I smiled at her before walking past him into the throne room. Before I turned, a hand wrapped around my arm stopping me just short.

“What about dinner?” His pleading eyes pulled at my heart, but I shoved it down. I needed to focus on getting financial help.

“Look, you have a reputation about you. I can’t give myself to anyone who’s going to squish my heart like a spider the first chance they get.” I tried to pull my arm away, but he just moved closer.

“What if I don’t hurt you?” He arched his brow.

“Your string of women, humans, and elves paint a different picture. Now please let me go so I can help my children.” I yanked myself away and strolled toward the King sitting on his throne. His eyes met mine then glanced behind me. The prince’s presence hovering at the edge of the room warmed my body.

Yes, I would love to throw caution to the wind and jump in bed with the hot prince but doing so could bring more problems to my plate.

“Good evening Amber. What brings you here?”

“I-” My throat dried up and I had to clear it, trying to regain my composure. Begging for money freaking sucked, but my babies would suffer if I didn’t get some food on the table tonight. “I’m in need of some assistance.”

“Oh?”

“As you probably know, I was married to one of your guards until he passed a year and a half ago.” I sucked in a breath, letting the grief pass instead of clinging to it like I did most nights. “I was receiving some benefits to help support our two elflings, but they have stopped. I’m here to ask why and find out what I did.”

“Well, that’s news to me. This must be an oversight in accounting.” He scratched his chin and the door on the right opened. The Queen entered, her three children following close behind. I bowed in respect then returned my focus to the King. Amelia spoke highly of the queen but I had kept my distance for the most part.

“Dinner is almost ready love.” The Queen glanced behind me then met my gaze. “You’re welcome to join us to complete your discussion.”

“I have two little ones at home who will need to eat.” I clenched my fists then shoved them into my pockets to hide my rising anger. “It’s the reason I’m here. I tried to wait for the money to come but my kitchen is bare, and my children are hungry. For their sake, I can’t wait.” A tear slipped past my guard, and I quickly wiped it away, praying no one noticed.

“And your job?” The king leaned forward, curiosity filling his gaze.

“I’m a part time server in one of the many diners, it’s slow and money isn’t coming in.”

“Sadly, the matter will have to wait until tomorrow to be resolved since my accounting team is already home.” He scratched at his jaw like he was thinking.

I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to beg Amelia for a loan so we could eat. “I understand.” My voice shook and I turned, trying to keep my tears at bay. I’d waited patiently for my turn for two hours, and now I was leaving empty handed because of the time of day.

Ever fiber in my being wanted to scream but it wouldn’t do me any good.

“Come back first thing and we will get this sorted,” the King called out. I nodded then strolled away. The prince cursed behind me and grabbed my arm once more when I entered the hallway.

“You need to stop doing that.” I looked down at his fingers, tears streaming down my face, my throat tightened seconds later.

“I want to help you.”

“I’m not a charity case.” I tried to separate myself from him, but his grip only tightened.

“I won’t let my people starve.”

“Well, congrats you have a bit of a heart but I’ll get what I need from Amelia then come back tomorrow to get what’s due to my kids.”

“And if I can feed you and your children for a month instead of a night, wouldn’t that be worth swallowing your pride?” He glared at me and finally released my arm.

“Already choking on it, speaking to the King. Getting help from you puts more than my pride at stake.” My body wanted to be under him, screaming out in pleasure, but that would only lead to more tears and a shattered heart.

“Well, we better get you home.”

We walked in silence. I wouldn’t say anything about walking five miles just to get here this morning. Yet another thing for him to pity me for.

“Where’s your driver?” Prince Lundin glanced around the driveway and I sighed heavily.

“Seriously? I’m not royalty, don’t have money to pay a driver if I can’t put food on the table,” I sneered.

“Then where’s your car?” He folded his arms in front of his chest.

“At home with no fuel. Now why don’t you run back to your pretty little life and stop reminding me how far I’ve fallen.” I stormed toward the gate, but it didn’t open when I arrived.

“Then we can take mine.” He yelled and I glanced back.

“Fine.” I ground my teeth. The sooner I got rid of him the faster I could wallow in my self pity after begging Amelia for some food money.