Page 110 of Roaming Holiday

My voice cracks and the tears come, anyway. He scoots closer to wrap his arms around me, and I curl against his chest, shedding soft tears. I cling to my father, inhaling the scent of the cherry almond lotion he always wears. We stay like this for minutes, and I finally know what it feels like for him to see where I’m coming from. He doesn’t try to correct me.

For the first time, he’s there for me.

“The Court wants him gone,” Dad says quietly.

I pull from the hug, wiping my face. “Who—Wesley? That’s what they told you?”

He nods. “They’re having a meeting about it in an hour.”

“That’s bullshit,” I sneer before I can think twice about cursing in front of my dad. “Mom left so she could be with someone she loved and wanted a future with. What would she say if they were trying to do exactly what drove her away?”

His eyes glisten with unshed tears. I’m sure this reminds him of everything that happened with Mom all those years ago.

“Then we should tell them that.”

54

WESLEY

Nina doesn’t realize that she’s the reason I’m not being charged.

Not only because I was protecting the future queen, but because she mentioned Suchko when she told the royal guard—and the police commissioner—everything that happened.

Suchko, the biggest product supplier and business partner of Vitalis.

Vitalis, who specializes in human trafficking.

I should’ve shot Arlo the second I saw him at the meeting. The princess of Maldana almost being sold into human trafficking warranted such deadly force, according to the head of the royal guard, the police commissioner, and a Supreme Court judge. Regardless, the hours of pouring over the salvaged records of my crimes leave a heavy pit in my stomach.

The fact that those were a small portion of everything I’ve done only makes it worse.

The effects of the past few days break me down at last. Exhaustion steals my energy.

Nina. Her name echoes through my heart as I walk down the corridor. Just a few minutes of being with her, holding her, and I’ll start to feel better.

I spot Maia exiting her bedroom as I turn the corner. She pauses, cocking a hip. “I asked you to look out for my sister—not fall in love with her.”

“Apologies, but to be fair, it happened long before our conversation.”

She smirks. “Good answer.” Her bracelets chime together as she crosses her arms. “Do I call you Wesley now?”

“Wesley is fine, yes.”

Awkwardness lingers around us, but Maia’s the type to feel most comfortable in an awkward situation. “I trust you with her,” she says sweetly. Then, in the same tone, she adds, “Break that trust and I’ll break your neck.”

I can’t help the chuckle breaking free from my chest. “Understood.”

“And she’s not in there,” Maia calls as I approach Nina’s bedroom door. “She’s in the throne room.”

After another five-minute walk, I stride into the room with a long path lined with pillars. I spot Nina standing in front of the throne at the other end.

Once I get closer, I say, “This view is the reason I call you angel.”

She looks over her shoulder. The windows behind the throne reach the ceiling, the evening sun illuminating her figure. “What view?”

I wrap my arms around her from behind, burying my face in her hair. “When you watch the sky or sunset, the light outlines you.” I kiss her neck. “Angel. Mi angeli.”

I feel her tense as she blushes. She holds onto me, shifting her head to connect our lips.

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