Page 45 of Guarding the Princess
My heart, the one I swore cracked in two when he took his own life, is actually not broken at all. It merely felt that way from being forced to grow up in an instant. But this, this open conversation with the people that mean everything to me, is helping mend that hurt. My brother may only be here in spirit, but we are still a family.
“Thank you, Mother,” I whisper, not trusting my voice to say anything further.
Ryker lets go of my hand, only to reach his arm around my shoulders and pull me in tight. He kisses the top of my head and I can’t imagine my life without him in it. Not many men would weather a deep family conversation like this just days after being assaulted and kidnapped by another member of my family. If he can stay by my side through that, we could certainly deal with a pesky crown.
“I think I’ll take a few hours to lie down.” Mother stands and smooths down her blouse. Father jumps up and takes her hand in his in a rare show of affection. They walk out of the library, leaving Ryker and me alone. I lift my head from his shoulder and look him in the eye. I need one more promise today.
“I know I’m asking a lot, but I realized that first night you disappeared, I need to be here for my people. My country needs me and I need them. I can’t run away from that responsibility and I don’t want to. Staying with me means leaving everything you’ve ever known and worked so hard for. I won’t like it at all, but I’ll understand if you can’t do that.”
His eyes of steel deepen to a blue similar to the ocean in winter. If looks were promises, this one would be all I need.
“I don’t know what my life will look like here in Regora, but there is one thing I’m certain of: you and me, Charlotte. We’ll be together no matter where life takes us. Are you sure you want to tie yourself to a surly man with an inferiority complex and a penchant for eating too many pastries?”
The edges of my lips tip up and I swear I’ll never lose this smile. Not with Ryker around. “I’m totes sure, as you Americans would say. You’re myStor Killeafter all, yes?”
He winces, even as a hint of a smile peeks through. “I would never say ‘totes.’”
The image of Ryker using slang makes me giggle, right before he cuts off my laugh by pressing his lips to mine to seal the deal.
18
Ryker
Several months later
“You can’t lick the spoon until we finish layering the cake,Stor Kille!”
Charlotte slaps my hand playfully and I give up the spoon to grab her instead. I can’t seem to quit kissing her, even though we’ve lived in the palace together the last three months while dating. Unconventional, yes. But then again, Charlotte did warn her mother she’d be shaking up traditions a bit. With a palace this large and a calendar packed for an incoming queen, we didn’t even see each other as much as you’d think. I’ve taken over as head of security when we discovered the previous head was in Magnus’s pocket, tightening procedures so I know my princess is protected properly at all times. I had no idea how easy it would be to give up my job and move across the globe once my worth wasn’t connected to my profession. Charlotte made that choice easy.
Tonight we’re in the royal kitchens, having kicked out Chef in order to make a mess he won’t be happy about tomorrow. I slipped him a bottle of his favorite wine as he left, so I’m sure he won’t be too vocal. We’re making Charlotte’s famous Kvæfjordkake cake to get her mind off the coronation ceremonies tomorrow.
Charlotte giggles as I press kisses to that ticklish spot on the back of her neck. I do it often to tickle her but also because I can kiss the thin gold necklace I bought for her twenty-first birthday right after I snuck into the palace. A tiny round diamond rests between her collarbones, less ornate than you’d expect a princess to wear, but perfect for Charlotte, the woman. She never takes it off and I’ve begun to see it as a symbol of our love for each other.
I have another symbol of our love for each other in a velvet-lined box in my room. I’m waiting for after the coronation to present her with it, along with an important question.
She’s nervous about the ceremony and I’m nervous about my question.
We both needed some cake and some distraction this evening. Charlotte finishes the last layer of custard and spins around to spoon-feed me what’s left of the sweet substance I’ve come to crave. I still have that sweet tooth and Charlotte has lived up to her promise to keep me fed with the most amazing dishes, many of which contain plenty of sugar. I’ve upped my gym time to compensate, which I feel is more than a fair trade.
I let her go to place the bowl and spoon in the sink while I slide the cake into the huge walk-in refrigerator to cool. When I come out, Charlotte’s standing in the middle of the kitchen, watching me, her hands behind her back. The twinkle in her eye tells me she’s up to something.
“What did you do,sötnos?” I advance on her slowly, seeing her mouth tip into a smile at the use of the Swedish endearment I’d given her not long after moving to Regora. I should have called her something a little edgy to matchStor Kille, but I had mercy on her and stuck to the Swedish equivalent of sweetie.
She tilts her head to the side coyly and I think she’s aware of my secret: I would do anything to bring a smile to her face. I’m wholly hers, to do with as she pleases. As much as she’ll rule over her people, she rules over me without even knowing. The only difference is the reverse is true as well. She puts me first always.
“I almost forgot I had something for you. I found it in the back of my drawer this morning. Tomorrow is going to be all about me, but I want you to know that to me, it’s all aboutus. Without you there pulling me back from running away, or agreeing to come back to Regora with me, or promising to remain by my side, I might not be here to accept the crown tomorrow.”
I’m finally right in front of her, my hands reaching out to trail down her arms and gently pull her hands from behind her back. I don’t need to see what she got me, I merely need to be touching her as often as she’ll let me. Her gaze doesn’t leave mine, even as I feel her fist opening.
“Will you wear these tomorrow?” she whispers.
I break her gaze to see what’s lying in the palm of her hand. A pair of cuff links. A grayish-blue stone with a gold crown in the middle.
“Where did you get these?” I pluck one from her hand and hold it closer to my face. It’s exquisite, handcrafted with incredible care, I’m sure.
“At the street fair the night you went missing. I was distraught and needed to be around people. I saw these and knew you had to have them. They remind me of your eyes and the crown that will be on your head one day soon.”
My throat clogs up and I find I can’t speak. I squeeze my eyes shut and imagine a love so great, so confident, that when I disappeared on her, she still had faith in me. In us. In our future. She humbles me, she amazes me, and I silently vow to spend my life being the man she deserves.
