Queen of Two Hearts

By Matilda Martel

The kings have died. Two new kings are crowned and in a 400-year-old tradition, the new kings marry one woman.

Two Kings keep the other from growing too powerful. One Queen keeps them at odds and ensures that the next two kings are brothers, not cousins.

Elsa is chosen by prophecy, fated to be the next Queen, but it’s the last thing she wants.

Caught between two powerful men who fight to be her favorite, Elsa must learn to divide her love, share her bed and rule over two hearts.

This is an historical fantasy with a tinge of paranormal that includes two husbands, one wife, no cheating, and a guaranteed happy ending. Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matilda Martel
• Release date: Dec 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463427552

Matilda Martel

Matilda loves many things---her husband, dachshunds, cats, the two terrible Chihuahuas who live with her, Paris, New York, a few select friends and family, Nutella, books, lots and lots of books, and writing sweet, steamy romance for nerdy girls-- because that's who I am.If you like your romances steamy but sweet. Sexy, but on the shorter side. With smart and sassy heroines who fall for soulful Alphas- then you might like my books.I write A LOT of OMYW, cause that's just my bag. But no matter what kind of story it is, my ladies are always adored and my endings are always HEA.Please head to my blog: www.matildamartel.com, to learn what's in the final stages and will be coming out soon!Want a free Ebook? Join my mailing list to get my monthly newsletter at : www.matildamartel.com/mailinglist/

Book preview

Prologue

The Kingdom of Verdan is a small, but prosperous, landlocked country in the shadow of the majestic Alps with a long history of maintaining peace with its more powerful neighbors. They do not start wars for conquest, spite, perceived slight or join battles that seek to subjugate others.  

The people of Verdan keep to themselves, defend their land and aspire to live quiet, morally disciplined lives. It’s a tradition born from necessity, forged from years of war and struggle. And it has been carefully maintained for centuries by an unusual solution.  

They are always ruled by two kings.

After centuries of living like their less fortunate neighbors, Verdanians staged a bloody revolt and forever ceased being ruled by the selfish whims of one man. For four hundred years, a dual monarchy with limited power has kept the kingdom balanced. Two kings, twins or brothers, rule side by side, and keep the other from growing too powerful. To ensure the next kings are brothers and not cousins, and to keep the monarchs in a constant state of odds, they must share one queen. 

The selection of the Queen of Verdan is never taken lightly. Few decisions impact the harmony of their rule as much as choosing the perfect wife. Not only must the queen produce the next two male heirs, but it falls on her to maintain the peace between two men who will rarely agree, who will quarrel for days or weeks about the state of their nation and above all, two men who are forced to share their wife.  

No gentlewoman longs to be the wife of two men. Queen to two kings. 

For there is no easy way to rule two hearts.  

This is the story of Queen Elsa. 

One

IVAR

Our father is dead. He has been King in name only since the death of his younger brother, but his death is still unexpected and painful. The country mourns. A sea of black flags fly throughout the capital and men stand ready to drape black banners across the castle in reverence to a man who dedicated his life to his country, but led a miserable life bereft of true love.

My twin brother, Ivo and I have served as regents since the demise of our uncle, but now that we officially ascend the throne, they will expect us to marry. There is nothing I have dreaded more. Tradition dictates we marry one woman, share her, love her as one husband would. No matter how many times I have heard it throughout the course of my life, I reject it. It’s unnatural and cruel.

If I can end it for my sons, I will.

I should have grown accustomed by now. This tradition has persisted for centuries. But how can anyone willingly love a woman he will have to share body and soul with another man? Perhaps, I am naturally more possessive than most. Although, my brother has his own reservations, he does not seem as opposed as me.  

For me, this will not be a real marriage. How can I love a woman who does not give me her whole heart?

Kings wait a full year, Alecto. I see no reason to rush this.   

I listen to her speak and know we will ultimately follow her advice. Everything she does, all wisdom she imparts is for our benefit, not hers. Alecto is a witch, she sees where others do not, and she has helped raise us since infancy.  

Ivo leans in, listening with intention. He is eager to marry. He tells me he does not know why. It’s just something he feels.  

I feel nothing. Not really.

I’ve seen your bride. I know your fate, but nothing is set in stone. If you wait a year, she will no longer be your subject. If you wait, they will marry her to another. Her parents are busy arranging matches for her as we speak. She clasps her hands, hoping she’s made her point, and turns to our mother, standing nearby.  

Ivar, this is your destiny. You will not escape it if you delay it by a year. You may, however, risk marrying a woman less-suited for this task which will be detrimental to the kingdom.  

Clenching my fist and gritting my teeth, I watch as Ivo nods, agreeing with them both. I realize why there are two kings. We will never agree with one another long enough to do anything harmful to the kingdom.  

How does this happen? Are we present to select her? I’ve always been curious. No one speaks of it.  

No. Fate decided this long ago. I’ll know when I see her. If you are concerned for her physical attributes, I can assure you she’s breathtaking. She smiles at Ivo and his face lights up. 

Idiot. He won’t be smiling when he falls in love and is forced to watch her with me.

Something unsettles me. I’ve been plagued by premonitions of a dark-haired girl and I fear I’ll succumb to whatever mental weakness Ivo happily surrenders to. None of this feels natural and yet, we grew up with a mother who served two husbands.  

She didn’t love them both. Ivo knows this. Why play the fool, like our father? 

If we marry after our coronation, I want to be with her first. I am the eldest. Our father made the same request.