Page 47 of Forbidden Prince
He squeezed her hand and walked beside her. "Why?"
"I want to send a message that I'm not afraid." She met his gaze. Earlier she'd almost left him, and he shouldn't have to chase her to get her to stay. She'd have to learn to fight her battles and take those self-defense classes Kristin clearlypracticed.
His walk became stiffer as they neared the gate. "You don't have to. We can goinside."
"I want to, Marco." She hugged his arm to herchest.
He motioned for the guards to open the gates. She stared ahead of them and into the video cameras and people with microphones in their hands. Marco's hold was like an anchor as she stepped into the limelight. "Hi. As you’ve probably heard, I just survived an attempted kidnapping from anarchists who intended to murderme."
The bright lights of cameras burned her eyes but she was conscious of keeping a confident expression on her face. One of the reporter’s voices was above the others. "Burn you alive or so the groupsaid."
"Well that's a lovely visual." She looked at Marco, who stayed at her side, then spoke to the cameras again. "I wanted to assure everyone that I'm fine. The anarchists haven’twon."
Another reporter, this time a male voice, asked, "Were you afraid? Reports said last time you were in danger that you almost left ourkingdom."
Which was why she had to be different now. She lifted her chin. "I was afraid, but now I trust that Marco will always keep me safe. He’s myhero."
There was a smattering of applause. A female voice yelled, "And when is the royalwedding?"
She took Marco’s hand, happy to answer that question. "We are having a quiet celebrationtomorrow."
He took a step toward the gate and she followed. He waved and she did the same while he said, "Good afternoon, everyone." They walked through the gates arm in arm. "See, that was easy," heteased.
Off in the distance palace guards clustered in the maze and she assumed they were retrieving David’s body. "Are you sure you're okay?" He had shot someone to protect her. She motioned toward the guards. "I don't want you in anytrouble."
"It’s my job, and my pleasure, to protect you." He helped her up the stairs of the veranda that led into the castle. "How do youfeel?"
"I'm fine." She waited for the doors to open. "Now I just need to tell my mother and father to leave if they don't want to be happy forme."
They walked into the empty ballroom and Marco swung her around for a kiss. "I loveyou."
"I love you too." Her heart felt lighter. Nothing else mattered but this. They were in love. She had to remember this feeling and hold onto it when faced withadversity.
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When they reachedher wing of the palace, Marco said, "I have to go check with security. Are youokay?"
"Yes." She gazed down the white hall with sea blue trim. She had to talk to her parents and end her fear of disappointing them. "Don’t worry about me." She loved Marco and they were going to be together so she stood on her tiptoes, kissed him goodbye and stood by her bedroomdoor.
She felt he still watched her, so she turned and waved. He winked and went on his way. Renee steeled her spine and flung open her bedroomdoor.
Her mother jumped out of her seat near the vanity. "Renee, I need to talk toyou."
No.Sheneeded to talk to her. Renee closed the door and crossed her arms as she walked into the room. "Mother, are you here to discuss the final details for my weddingtomorrow?"
Her mother folded her hands together and stood in front of her with tears in her eyes. "Aren't yourushing?"
This had worked when she was eighteen, but not now. Renee refused to get pulled into this manipulation. Instead she dropped her arms to the side and went to the closet to select a dress. Hers had gotten ripped in the maze. "So what if I am? I'm old enough and Marco and I want to betogether."
"You can never bring a man like him home," her mothersaid.
She shrugged and grabbed a dress off the hanger with more force than was needed. "Fine. Then I'll stay here and we'll behappy."
Her mother put her hand on Renee’s arm. "Renee, you're being obstinate. It's not becoming or lady-like."
Keeping calm but confident was the only way this was going to work. Renee kept her voice even-toned, holding her mom’s gaze to let her see the truth in her eyes. "Mother, not supporting your daughter's choices when it's to marry a prince who loves her is your problem, notmine."
Her mom’s eyes glistened, as if she felt bad. "Renee." She reached out for her forearm. "Renee, what if Marco's just likeTom?"
