Page 52 of Regally Binding

“Babe,” Isla shouted as the lift door opened. She dragged a suitcase with her and threw a rucksack on the floor. “I couldn’t decide what to wear.”

She was a whirlwind, but even a whirlwind couldn’t temper Liss’s desire for Bear. She gritted her teeth and forced her best fake smile.

“That’s awesome. You’re just in time because I need a shower. Please help.”

Liss did her utmost not to look at Bear. Cock-blocked by her best friend and with no opportunity to work him out of her system. Maybe he was relieved by Isla’s interruption.

“Let’s get your smelly ass in there,” Isla shouted, her hair bouncing as she dragged her stuff towards the bedroom. “You’re going to look gorgeous for our men tonight.”

Liss froze. She’d not told Bear Steve was coming. The bomb threat had filled their focus.

“After all these months of Steve promising to hook me up with his brother Ollie, I might finally get my hands on him. And Steve is so excited about going with you,” Isla joked.

“But—” Liss turned to Bear, but his hunched shoulders and broad back faced her. It made her thirsty just looking at thestrength in his flexing muscles. She shook her head at Isla. They were going as a group of four, not as couples.

Isla walked into the bedroom, leaving Liss to explain the joke to Bear, but he was already heading towards the lift.

“Make sure you and your men are ready in two hours,” he grumbled, overemphasising the words “your men.” “I’ve got to make things safe for you.”

He slipped into the lift. As the doors closed, he gave her a dead-eyed stare.

Chapter Twenty-Six

An upbeat song by Harry Styles played in the background as if they were getting ready for a night on the town and not a dignified party at the palace.

Isla hummed as she applied the flush pink lipstick to Liss’s lips. Butterflies fluttered in her belly, although an inexplicable dread snapped at the edges of their wings. Someone wanted her dead, Bear was acting weird, and she was about to be announced as a princess.

What next?

The room smelt of honeysuckle and jasmine moisturiser. Liss wriggled her nose and lifted her hands to squeeze her nostrils, but Isla slapped them away. “You’ll ruin your make-up.”

Isla instructed that Liss wasn’t allowed to see her transformation until the last minute, and a blanket covered the mirror on the other side of the room due to Liss attempting sneaky looks. The glow-up was already ninety minutes in. Liss crossed and uncrossed her arms.

“I can’t believe I might finally get to kiss Ollie. Maybe you’ll kiss someone too,” Isla added.

Liss furrowed her brows and opened her mouth to argue.

“Don’t move your lips,” Isla rebuked.

Liss sighed and rolled her eyes. During the glow-up, they’d giggled over the make-up and outlandish hairstyles Isla found on funny TikTok videos. The rest of the suite was eerily quiet.

It was nearly like the old days when Isla gossiped about her recent conquests, but the prospect of Liss’s future loomed over them. It could end their friendship. Either way, it was nice to talkabout anything but the prospect of the announcement until Isla mentioned kissing.

Isla stuck a tissue between Liss’s lips. “Press your lips together.”

Liss did as asked before Isla added another layer of lipstick. This could be the last time they did this. Once Liss gave up her life for royalty, she’d have stylists. She kept reminding herself it was to have a family. Her mum hadn’t wanted her to be alone.

Suddenly, a thud at the door infiltrated the safe space.

“You have two minutes,” Bear grumped through the wood. “And your men are on the way up.”

“Don’t let them in,” Isla shouted back.

“I’m not your bloody servant.”

“What’s got up his arse?” Isla commented before announcing to Liss, “You’re done. Stand in front of the mirror.”

Liss tentatively approached the mirror, but the blanket still hid her glow-up.

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