Page 92 of My Five Daddies

“I have to go,” I say softly, turningaround.

“Think about it,” he says. “The offer stands, myprincess.”

A thrill runs down my spine. I open the door and leave as fast as Ican.

7

Nolan

My mother,the Queen Magritte Leitner, gives me a big, warmhug.

“It feels like ages since you’ve been here,” she says tome.

I smile at her. “I visit once ayear.”

“Yes, but you don’t stay.” She smiles back at me. “It’s nice to have youhere.”

I grin as she leads me over to the couch in her office. My mother is the foreign secretary and the minister of agriculture, among other things, and she’s a very important person. I come to the castle to visit with her when I can, though mostly we meet out in the real world, away from politics. She’s always supported me, even when my father has made it clear that she shouldn’t in thepast.

“I’m sorry about this thing with Julian,” she says to me, frowningdeeply.

“That’s a mild way of putting it,” Ianswer.

“What can I say, Nolan?” she asks. “You’ve been pushing your father for years. He’s finallybreaking.”

“I never imagined he’d actually pass me over,” Iadmit.

“I never did, either. I tried to talk him out of it, but you know how he canbe.”

I clench my jaw. “Yes, I’maware.”

“But you’re back. And you want to do the rightthing.”

I nod. “That’s right. Though it feels like it’s toolate.”

“It may be,” she admits, sighing. “Julian has been slowly gaining favor with your father for years. I’m afraid you won’t be able to undo the damage he’sdone.”

“What sort of damage?” I askher.

She glances away. “Backwards policies. Just whispers, right now. But it doesn’tmatter.”

I hesitate but decide not to press. While I’m technically part of the government, I know she can’t tell me everything that’s happening for security reasons. But this thing with Julian is even more worrying than I thought,apparently.

“I have a plan,” I say toher.

“That sounds ominous,” she says, smiling. “Is it your usual kind ofplan?”

“You mean daring and ingenious? Thenyes.”

“I meant reckless and borderlineinsane.”

I grin and stand. I walk over to her little drink cabinet and pour myself a vodka. I offer her one, but she shakes herhead.

I sip my drink and turn to face her. “I’m going to get married and have a kid,” Iannounce.

She doesn’t react. “That’s nice, dear,” shesays.

“That’s all you have tosay?”

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