Page 43 of Guarding the Princess
“He knew how I felt about Ryker. He never thought we were faking it.” Mother shifts uncomfortably. “Probably figured he’d make Ryker disappear and then I’d fall apart, abdicating the throne. He’d just step right in.”
“We need more evidence.” Ryker tenses up next to me, clearly angry now that we know who to direct that anger toward. “More than he said, she said.”
“I’m sure we’ll get some once my security goes through the video and identifies your assailants. There has to be a tie somewhere to Magnus.”
Mother looks angry on our behalf, which eases the knot in my stomach. Maybe she’ll finally believe that Ryker and I love each other. We aren’t faking it and we certainly aren’t going to break up to appease her sense of tradition around who a princess can marry.
The doors to the ballroom open again and both Ryker and I go stiff. Neither one of us is quite able to believe the danger has passed.
“Excuse me.” Klara shyly walks forward, something clutched in her hands.
“What is it, Klara?” I asked her to check Magnus’s room while he was out today, hoping we might find some sort of clue to Ryker’s whereabouts, desperate for any clue that could help us find him.
She extends her hand. On her palm is a nondescript black cell phone. “Is this yours, Mr. Duke?”
Ryker pulls his arm from around me and takes the phone, the face scan function opening it in a matter of seconds. “It sure is. Where did you find it?”
Klara glances nervously from face to face, finally settling on mine where she finds the courage to speak. “In Magnus’s room.”
“Thank you, Klara. You’ve been very helpful.” Mother gives her a tight smile and Klara nods before rushing out of the room.
The poor girl isn’t cut out to be a snoop, but she did a fantastic job. I’ll have to do something extra special for her as thanks.
“Shall we go find Magnus?” Father smiles and there’s a devious twinkle in his eye. He may not say much, but no one messes with his kids without the protective side of him showing up to put that person in their place. He and Mother walk out of the ballroom.
I look at Ryker, still so incredibly relieved he’s unharmed. “Are you really okay? Did they hurt you?”
He cups my face with his big hand, his thumb stroking down my cheek. His eyes dart around my face and I let him look his fill. I know how he feels. I’m not sure I’ll be letting him out of my sight for weeks to come.
“I’m perfectly fine now that I’m here with you.” He leans down and kisses me sweetly, his lips telling me how much he treasures me. “Now let’s go watch Magnus lose the smirk, huh?”
I grin, unbelievably happy Ryker is home and almost equally excited to see Magnus get what’s coming to him. With hands clasped, we rush out of the room to catch up to my parents. I don’t know how things will work out with Ryker and me, considering he lives in another country, but I know I’ll do anything in my power to make it work. I’ll be Queen after all, and can’t queens make their own laws?
I give him a sideways glance as we walk down hallways lined with paintings of my distant relatives. “How long are you staying?”
It’s a risk to ask him this question when I’m so happy I may never quit smiling. The original plan was for him to stay just long enough for me to get settled with my own bodyguard here in Regora. If he’s to stay longer, we need to talk about what that looks like. What he’s prepared to give up. Because he’ll have to give up a lot to be with me. I’m not sure if he’s ready for all that comes with dating royalty.
He squeezes my hand and waits until I look him in the eye. “Forever, if you’ll have me.”
I nearly trip, seeing love reflected in his eyes. All the stress and pressure I’ve felt my whole life melts away. Knowing I have Ryker by my side makes everything seem possible.
“Forever is a very long time. Are you sure you’re prepared for that?” I have to be sure he knows what he’s signing up for. No second-guessing. No change of heart later when he sees how crazy our life will be as royalty.
“I’m counting on it. Two lifetimes with you wouldn’t be enough.”
I stop right there at the top of the bottom of the stairs. Laying a shaking hand on his chest, I bare my heart.
“I love you, Ryker. With all that I am. I’ll make sure Chef bakes you blueberry muffins every day so you can eat as much as you want. I’ll laugh at all your dubious jokes. And I’ll put you first. Always you before my job.”
This time, when he leans in to kiss me, there’s nothing sweet about it. His hands tangle in my hair, gripping on to me like he could lose me in a soft breeze. I let him take what he needs to know I speak honestly. That I love him. That I’ll fight for him. That I’ll never leave him.
I know he lived in his brother’s shadow, letting that shape him into a man who needs to accomplish everything to feel successful enough to be noticed. The thing is, he’s all I notice. He could never be in anyone’s shadow, including mine. I won’t let being Queen cast a shadow that hides him from the world, or that makes him doubt his own greatness.
We finally break apart, both of us out of breath. I start to giggle as a thought flashes through my brain.
“What?” Ryker asks, a smile growing.
“I just realized this must be how Rhys feels about Jake. No wonder she up and moved to Texas.” I run my hands down his arms, needing to keep touching him. Making sure this is real.
