The Queen by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Instinct flared. I knew she was lying. Everything in me said so. She
may not go straight to Caden, but she would whenever I passed whatever
time limit she set. I was angry that there was really no confidentiality
here, but I also understood that I had no grasp of what it meant to have a
King or to be fae. Human norms couldn’t be expected. I still needed to
stop her, and I only knew of one way.
“He’s already ended his engagement,” I told her.
“What?” Her gaze sharpened.
“He already ended his betrothal to Tatiana.” I sat down, suddenly so
very tired. “He…he chose me. Only me.” My voice cracked as I scrubbed
my palms down my face. “He’s already made his choice.”
Luce stumbled back a step and then plopped into the chair. Any other
time, I would’ve laughed at seeing a fae being so ungraceful, but there was
nothing funny here. She understood what I was saying.
“Tatiana told me. That was why she came here. She didn’t come out
of jealousy. At least it didn’t appear that way to me. She was even open to
me being a part of his life so long as he married a fae—any fae.” Tears
blurred my eyes. “No one else knows. Caden wasn’t going to announce it
until after Tatiana had left.”
Her lips parted.
“I knew then that I…I couldn’t let him do this. I love him—” I
sucked in a sharp, burning breath. “I want him. I want to be his only
choice. But I can’t be the reason the entire world goes to hell.”
Luce said nothing.
“The moment what Tatiana said sank in, I knew I had to…I don’t
know, make him think that I didn’t want to be with him or something. I
knew that I needed to leave.” I brushed a fat tear off my cheek. “Having
his child can’t change that. It can’t, Luce. And I really don’t think him
learning that he’s about to become a father is going to push him in the
right direction.”
She remained silent.
I took another breath that went nowhere. “So, once he c-chooses his
Queen and is married, then I can tell him about the child. I swear I will.
Because, like I said, it wouldn’t be fair to the child or to him.” My heart
felt like it was cracking and splintering. “I didn’t want to say anything, but
you have to understand why he can’t know right now. Please tell me you
understand.”