Page 56 of The Prince's Castaway Baby

Her mouth wavers before twisting into a smile. She wraps her arms around my waist and kisses my cheek. “Of course, honey. I’ll always be there for you.”

By the time the ceremony comes around, I’m scared my dress isn’t going to fit anymore, but with a little help from my mother tugging on the zippers, it does. We take our seats in the theater, and I shrink into my seat, realizing how out of place I am.

Most of these people are career professionals, much older and more experienced than me, and I’ve seen all of their photos. I’ve been trying to emulate them for years. I’m good, but no way am I on their level.

I’m only here because of how rare the woodpeckers are.

My heart is pounding in my chest.What am I doing here?

“Nervous?” asks Mom. I nod. “Don’t be. You have every right to be here. You have as good a chance at winning as anyone.”

“I know my photo was good,” I murmur. “It’s just intimidating to see all these people who are well-known in my field, that’s all.”

She takes my hand and squeezes it. “Even you beingnominatedhas made me so proud.”

I swallow thickly hearing the words I never expected my mother to say. A lifetime of guilt threatens to rise up in my chest again, but I shake my head to push it away. The past is already gone, and now is not the time to be dwelling on it.

Besides, Mom is right. It’s an honor to have been nominated at all.

The ceremony gets underway and of course, my category is the last one. By the time we’re getting close, I’m fighting not to fall asleep.

I’ve also been thinking as people have got up and down for their awards. My photo was pretty good, and I was pleased with how it turned out, but these awards are by nomination only. Who could have nominated me for this? I didn’t nominate myself, and while it could have been one of the scientists, why wouldn’t they tell me?

Finally, we get there, and Mom pokes me excitedly. The lights go down, another fanfare plays, and the crowd go quiet.

And all my questions get answered because Jensen, Prince of Sólveigr, walks out onto the stage.

He waves to the crowd, grinning, then steps up to the microphone as the music ends. “As many of you know, I haven’t always been interested in conservation.”

Laughter breaks out at his understatement. He waits for it to quiet before continuing. “But in recent months, I’ve had reason to reassess my priorities. Partying is fun, but as a prince of Sólveigr, it is my duty to help uphold and look after the landthat I call home. Of course, here in the US, you also have many brilliant and clever people looking after your own land. If you can, find a conservationist and speak to them. Listen to what they have to say, find out what you can do to help. You might be surprised by how little can make big difference.

“That’s definitely something I’ve learned as I’ve gone on this journey. Even a little bit of effort, of action, of time — any of those things can become greater than the sum of their parts. And if we all did just a little bit more, then maybe all of us could make a big difference. It is, therefore, my great honor and privilege to announce the winner of the Wildlife Photograph of the Year Award.”

He fumbles with the envelope and throws a cheeky smile out into the audience, making some more people giggle. He might be unrecognizable from the party prince now, and all these people might be impressed with that speech, but I know in my heart that all his words are because of me.

Does this mean he’s been thinking about me ever since Mostaza?

He pulls out the card, and his eyes widen as he scans the name. He leans in to the microphone, and reads the card with a warm smile. “The winner is Billie Ballard.”

“Billie, it’s you,” Mom whispers, pushing me to get up out of my seat as the crowd applauds.

But my body does not belong to me. Of all the ways I could be seeing Jensen again, this wouldn’t have made my top-fifty list of fantasies.

God, the idea of having to be close to him now, it’s almost more shocking than the fact that I won. Almost.

I take a sharp breath and force a smile, knowing that cameras are going to be on me. I’m more relieved than ever that I’m not wearing heels. My ankles are way too swollen for that, anyway, but with the way my legs are shaking, I don’t think I could have made it up the steps to the stage in anything but these flats.

Jensen smiles at me as I approach, and I cannot for the life of me tell what emotion he’s feeling. This is that smile I saw a hundred times on the island, the one with the vacant eyes that gives nothing away.

He holds out his hand and I take it, hoping he doesn’t feel how sweaty my palms are as we shake hands. “Congratulations,” he says, handing me the trophy. “You really deserve this. Your picture was wonderful.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

Then the panic really sets in. I know I should make a speech. Mom told me I should prepare one, and I scoffed at her — but she was right. I find Mom in the crowd, grit my teeth, and step up to the podium. I’m not that great at improvising but I have to say something.

“Wow,” I say into the microphone, wincing as I hear my own breathless voice echoing through the speakers. “I just want to say, thank you so much for this. It’s a privilege to be here, and I never thought I was going to win. Um…”

I chuckle nervously and decide it’s best to just say something quickly and get out of here. “I want to thank my mom, who’s here with me today. Her support these last few months has meant the world to me. And I want to thank everyone who’s ever given me an opportunity to travel the world. I couldn’t do thiswithout the efforts of conservation teams worldwide. Really, this is all down to them. So, thank you again.”

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