Page 78 of Royal Caleva: Luis

Eve winced at what she would have to say next. “There is concern that Odette Fontaine might see the photo and recognize me, which would lead her to the conclusion that you are in Caleva as well. Evidently, she came to Iowa a few years ago to see you, and she might have seen me too.”

“She was in Iowa?” Grace looked stunned.

“No one knows why she didn’t contact you.” Or they weren’t telling, which was fine with Eve. “Something must have scared her away.”

“Oh.” Grace’s voice was very small.

“Sweetie, be glad she didn’t drag you into her madness.” Eve’s heart was breaking for her daughter.

“I just… It’s strange to think she was there, and I didn’t know it.” Grace gave a little shiver. “Like she was stalking me.”

“Or maybe she was just checking on you. She wanted to see how you had grown up.” Eve took Grace’s hand, twining their fingers together. “But that leads us to now. Your father is afraid that the photograph will trigger Odette into revealing your identity before you’re ready. He believes they can get the photo suppressed for a few days, but that’s the best we can hope for. He wants to make sure your story is told the right way in the media.”

“I understand. They want to make the announcement about me before she can,” Grace said.

“That means you need to decide what you want to be in relation to Luis and Caleva,” Eve said, the weight of her daughter’s choice bowing her shoulders. “But Luis wants to speak with you first…about the realities of being a royal.”

“Raul has given me a pretty good idea,” Grace said.

“He’s told you about the media and lack of privacy? About the possible danger to you, like what happened to his cousin?” Eve nearly choked on the last one.

“Not so much about his cousin. I get the feeling that’s sort of classified,” Grace said. “But I asked him about the other issues. He was pretty honest that it’s not all castles and tiaras.”

Grace sounded so…adult. Having her student daughter living with her sometimes made her forget that Grace was nearly thirty and quite savvy. “That’s good.”

“But there are so many wonderful things about it.” Grace’s face lit up. “I could help the animals of an entire country, not just my vet practice. Maybe I could even influence more countries to follow Caleva’s lead in fighting cruelty to animals. How amazing would that be?”

“I’m proud of you for being so passionate about it,” Eve said with sincerity. But also with inward sorrow. She had lost Grace to the Dragóns. And she could no longer protect her from the dangers that might lie ahead.

Eve paced through all three rooms in their suite at Castillo Draconago, occasionally stopping to stare out a window at the view of the lushly flowering palace gardens dotted with statues and cascading fountains. She was waiting while Luis had his promised heart-to-heart discussion with Grace about the downsides of being a princess.

All those neatly raked gravel paths and artfully pruned shrubs shone a spotlight on the differences between Grace’s future life in Caleva and her former life in the modest old farmhouse in Iowa. Eve already knew what Grace’s choice would be. Her daughter wouldn’t be scared away by anything Luis told her. Eve just wanted Grace to step into her new position with her eyes wide open.

Eve sighed.

She was going to miss Nana Nelle’s house and all the memories she and Grace had made there. Tromping through drifts of snow to haul in the Christmas tree they had cut down themselves. Grace racing around the backyard with whatever dogs were in residence at that time. Sitting on the wicker porch swing, drinking iced tea and eating Scotcheroos. Grace bringing her a baby robin that had fallen out of its nest, the tiny creature so gently cupped in her daughter’s young hands. Sitting on the braided rug in front of a roaring fire, playing Scrabble and sipping hot chocolate.

She swiped her palms across her cheeks to keep the tears from falling and spotting her silk blouse. She would make a new life here in Caleva amid the fragrant vaho hibiscus and giant green lizards. Maybe she could find a house by the ocean. That would be a dramatic change for her landlocked Iowan soul. As long as it was far enough away from Luis that she didn’t get constantly reminded of what they had shared so briefly.

A knock sounded on the door, and she called, “Come in.”

Bridget stepped in and closed the door behind her. “Señora, Su Majestad requests that you join him now.”

Eve followed the bodyguard through the corridors of the palace until they entered a sitting room and stopped at a large oak door. Bridget rapped on it twice before opening it and gesturing Eve through. As the door clicked closed behind her, Eve had a blurred impression of a huge ornate desk on one side of the large paneled space and a small dining table in another corner before her gaze settled on Grace and Luis. They sat across from each other in two leather armchairs in a seating area that also held a couch and coffee table. Luis stood as she came into the room. His tailored gray suit showed off his broad shoulders and long legs, making her picture the swells and valleys of muscle underneath the fabric all too vividly.

Their gazes caught and held, an electric current of emotions crackling between them.

“I told her the truth,” Luis said, his voice deep and raw.

“Thank you,” Eve said before she tore her attention away from him to gauge how her daughter had weathered Luis’s revelations. “Sweetheart, how are you feeling?” she asked as she sat on the sofa and leaned in to search her daughter’s face. She found no fear, just a touch of shock.

“A little overwhelmed,” Grace said before she lifted her chin. “But I’ve made my choice. After graduation, I want to return to Caleva and be a full-fledged princess, in line for the throne after Raul. That will give me the strongest platform to work from.”

Then her shoulders sagged, and she scooted onto the couch beside Eve, winding her arms around her. “It’s a lot, Mom, and I’m sorry to drag you away from home, but you’ll come with me, right?”

“You know I will,” Eve reassured her with a squeeze, even as she fought back tears. She had expected Grace’s decision—had thought she was braced for it—but the reality of it still hit her like a mule’s kick in the gut.

Her little Grace would be a princess. It was surreal.

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