Jasmine stared at the man before her, none other than Anya’s older brother, Yvgeny Copperstone. Yvgeny had visited Anya regularly, and through those visits, Prince Jasper had come to know and be fond of him. As the heir to the Copperstone family, Yvgeny was well-educated and charming. Much like his younger sister, he was also incredibly attractive.
Prince Jasper had seen Yvgeny’s startlingly light blue eyes and thick, curly golden hair many times. But as Jasmine observed her betrothed, she suddenly felt her knees weaken. Yvgeny’s broad shoulders and finely sculpted face were princely features, and something about his smile made Jasmine yearn for him.
“Jasmine Smith, I am pleased to meet you,” Yvgeny said, bowing. “I am Yvgeny Copperstone, heir to the Copperstone family. We live in the bustling city of Wind’s Grove, in the Eastern Hills. I look forward to bringing you there, particularly as the Countess has informed me you have a sister there.”
“I, ah, yes,” Jasmine said weakly. She tore her gaze off his muscled arms. “I thought the Eastern Hills were still held by royalists, however.”
“My beauty, as you can tell from my hair, I am witch stock. Witch stock remains neutral in all affairs of the state. We are not targeted nor recruited by any fighting group.”
“I see…”
“Let us make this official, shall we?” Yvgeny purred. Jasmine felt a shiver pass over her at his sexy, husky voice. Yvgeny got down on one knee. He held up a ring. “The moment I laid my eyes upon you, I knew you were destined to be my wife. I have yet to meet one as comely as you, yet also capable of bearing children.”
“Yes,” Jasmine blurted out. She blinked in surprise. She hadn’t meant to say that, so why did she? It was too late, however. Yvgeny was already putting the ring on her finger. He kissed her on the cheek.
“I sense my sister’s magic upon you and your babe,” he whispered in her ear. “I know not what her magic hides, but I also care not. Whether you used to be a cobbler with fondness for ale or you were always a fine young woman, right now, you are Jasmine Smith. And soon, you will be Jasmine Copperstone.”
“I…” Jasmine whispered.
“Not to worry, I will not allow Anya to punish you further, when the two of you meet again,” Yvgeny said, stroking Jasmine’s cheek. Jasmine’s mind began to race. Yvgeny thought she was someone who had crossed Anya, not someone she had helped. Hopefully, she would be able to dissuade him of that notion; she was uncertain of how much the enchantment allowed her to say of her true self. “Now, where is the future Bry Copperstone?”
“I will fetch her,” Jasmine said, curtseying. Yvgency kissed her hand. As Jasmine went to get Bry, her thoughts continued to fall over themselves, in large part due to how she was responding to Yvgeny. She knew she wanted not to wed him. And yet, some part of her yearned for him on her, in her. She felt not in control of her own feelings.
Jasmine picked up Bry. Her eyes widened. Anya had mentioned her brother’s magic. While Anya was skilled in molding and manipulating the physical world, Yvgeny’s talents lay in the immaterial world. Emotions, actions, even minds themselves were subject to his whims. Which raised the question…