Page 105 of Broken Princess

“He was for a time, but he was also Elijah Summer’s only male heir. Elijah meant to erase his daughter Imogen from the family line. I think this was Bartholemew’s way of ensuring that didn’t happen.”

“Yet it did.”

She gives me disapproving frown. She hates when I go worse case scenario. “That is true, Jordanna, and here we are correcting it, which is why time is of the essence.”

“Because my twenty-first birthday is four months from now.”

“Exactly, and if we don’t trigger this clause in the will by then, you and your sister forfeit your rights to it because it’s sat dormant for so long.”

“What happens then? It goes to charity?”

“It goes to the descendent from an extended branch of your family tree, and trust me dear, you don’t want that to happen.”

“Why not? What makes me any more entitled to it than they are?”

“They’re power hungry and ruthless and don’t deserve your inheritance.”

“Sounds like you know them personally.”

“I do, as do you.”

She hands me another sheet of paper, and my world shifts. Again. But this time things are so much clearer. “Now it makes sense.”

Pepper nods. “I thought it would.”

Forty

Jordanna

Since I got back from Italy, Logan and I have settled into a comfortable routine. We’re fighting less. Laughing more, and I’ve been painting. We’re a couple, in every sense of the word. We just got back from dinner, and decided to walk through campus. We’re not the only ones taking advantage of the warmer temps.

“Does that bother you?” I ask, watching Hal and Bella cross the street ahead of us.

“Not at all,” he says, kissing where our hands are linked. “It’s like you said, the pursuit of power corrupts, and one thing I never want is to lose my soul or my chance to be with you just to stay in control for another year.”

“So you gave up your throne and your friends for me?”

“I gave them up forus. And were they really my friends if they were forcing me to choose?”

“For many years, or so I’m told.” I say dryly.

“You just met Noel, what? Seven months ago, and he was willing to put aside years of rivalry because he cares about what’s important to you. That’s what friends do. They don’t make you choose between the people you love for some twisted game.”

“What’s wrong?” He asks, turning to look at me since I’ve stopped walking. Plus, I’m sure I’m staring at him like he’s a creature from the deep.

“You said the L word.”

“I’ve said it before.”

“I know, but hearing you say it when we’re standing in the middle of the street, with people walking by, takes some getting used to.”

He pulls me into his arms, wrapping me in a warm hug. “Baby, get used to hearing it for a very long time.”

“How long is that?”

He shrugs. “At least the weekend.”

I give him a playful swat. “Oh, the definition of long term for you.The weekend.I feel so special.”

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