Page 1 of Daring to Surrender

CHAPTER 1

Janel

Janel SuMartra’s frown deepened as she read yet another ridiculous post.

The bride may have stunned in her designer wedding dress and tiara, but Princess Janel stole the show in her form-fitting bridesmaid’s gown.

Angrily she swiped her phone screen only to have another supposed newsworthy post appear.

The princess’ hourglass shape as she bent to straighten the bride’s train will go down in history as…

She swiped again, unwilling to finish reading such nonsense. If that wasn’t enough, her backside appeared on the screen with googly eyes flashing above the caption “The ass felt around the world.” Her nose scrunched in distaste as if she’d eaten one of Chef Omar’s super sour pickles.

“I told you not to go on your phone.”

She looked up at her mother’s approach from the garden bench she’d hidden away on. “I don’t get it. Father signed into law that every high school graduate will be awarded a free college education. Kaden and Ari just announced they’re expecting another baby. Creston and Lis cut the ribbon on a multimillion-dollar pediatric medical facility guaranteeing free care for patients with life-endangering illnesses. And yet all anyone can talk about in the news or on social media is my backside.”

Her mother chuckled, sat beside her on the bench, and gave her a much-needed hug. “Well, darlin’, it is stunnin’.”

Janel loved it when her mother’s proper English reverted back to her strong southern American accent. Usually, she only broke decorum when she was tired, irritated, or to tease her father.

“Why did it even make the news in the first place? I mean I could understand if it were a royal wedding, but this was Kyrie’s wedding. She has nothing to do with the royal life. It was a small, simple wedding in her hometown. I never should have agreed to be her maid of honor. I feel like my presence took away from their special moment.”

Her mom ran her fingers through Janel’s black hair, tucking flyaways behind her ear just as she’d done since she was a child. The familiar action gave her a measure of comfort.

“She may be your college friend, but you know how the media is. You are a royal, and the photographer that got the shot of your ass in the doorway of the church is probably set for life.”

“Yippee,” Janel said with attitude. The press had been relentless lately. Well, since Will’s wedding. Now, according to the press, she was the last single child of the reigning king and queen of Tanistan and was therefore news worthy. In the past, she’d always been able to fly under the radar when her siblings were single. They were all married now, which just left her. Invasions into her privacy and speculation about whom she would marry ran rampant. She couldn’t even be seen in the vicinity of an unattached male without headlines appearing announcing their undying love for each other and plans to wed.

The joke was on them. They’d have a long wait ahead of them. She decided long ago that marriage wasn’t in her future, having already found and lost the greatest love of her life when they were much too young.

She’d met James at a camp for special needs kids when she was sixteen. That first week, they were inseparable and their friendship continued after the camp closed and they both went back home. Fortunately, he only lived an hour away and, over time, friendship grew into more. They attended the same college and were never apart for more than a few days when Janel had royal duties to perform.

She wanted to get married while they were in college, but James wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted to finish school and make his mark in the world before asking her father for her hand in marriage. She never cared about any of that. She only wanted to be with James forever.

Their forever ended one night when James left the palace on his motorcycle at a late hour and was hit by a truck on the highway. He was only twenty-one. Their future went up in a fiery blast that not only killed him, but also left him unrecognizable. His face had literally been burned off.

They’d tried to dissuade her, but she’d demanded to see his body. She had to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that a mistake hadn’t been made. That James truly was dead, along with all of their hopes and dreams. The only identifiable thing about him had been the gold necklace she’d given him one Christmas that he never took off.

“Sweetie, I don’t like that look on your face.” Her mother smoothed the creased lines across her forehead.

The concern in her mother’s eyes brought her from the darkness and, as she’d learned through years of therapy, she took a deep breath and slowly let it flow from her body, along with all the sadness and grief, and focused on the now. She had control over her emotions.

“Will it ever get easier, Mom?” she asked, silently imploring her mother to answer.

“Grief changes over the years. Easier? No, but the hurt lessens and you remember the good times more than the bad. Someday you will find happiness again, sweetheart, if you only open your heart.”

Janel thought to argue that point, but her mother wasn’t finished.

“I know you think that will never happen. And it may not, but don’t close the door on it. You have a lot of living to do and you never know who may be around the next corner.”

She didn’t care who was around that next corner. “I’ll never open myself up to loving someone else. I never want to hurt this way again.”

“Then you won’t really be living, will you? You’ll simply be existing in a world you’re afraid to experience. Life is so short, honey. Grab it by the horns and hang on tight.”

She had to smile at her mom’s vernacular. “I love your American sayings. Do you ever miss the life you had before Father?”

“Do you mean the simple, uncomplicated, slow-paced life where I didn’t know how I was going to make the next rent payment or send your aunt to college?”

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