Page 54 of Royal Catch
My stupid heart does a happy dance. I hadn’t expected that. I thought whoever got roped into Gabriel’s place wouldn’t be happy about it. I’m sure it’s not an easy job. But then Gabriel would lose out on his birthright, the role he’s sacrificed a carefree childhood, his freedom, to prepare for. “Is that what you really want? Phillip as king?”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I know deep down he doesn’t want that at all.
“Gabriel,” I choke out over the lump in my throat. My heart is breaking all over again because he is willing to sacrifice everything for me, and I simply can’t allow it. I can’t take that from him.
“I want you,” he says quietly. “Because I do, my father has requested you go immediately to see him.”
My hand goes to my throat. “I’ve been summoned by the king? Does he know the queen threw me in the dungeon?” My imagination goes wild with what the king might do, knowing I’ve corrupted his son with my lie and made him want to break with royal tradition. My mind flashes to a quick sham legal trial with a jury of the king’s choosing leading directly to my execution. Old-school public-square style. Definitely death by guillotine.
He pulls me into his arms and lets out a sigh so big it parts my hair. “He’s not going to harm you.” My horrified expression must’ve given me away.
“Are you sure?” I ask his chest.
“Yes. He knows everything. He wants to hear it directly from you. I think he’s trying to understand.”
A nightlight-sized ray of hope glows in me. “So he wants to give me a chance?”
“I think so. My mother is not in favor, though. It’s not a sure thing. They must be in agreement.” He kisses me gently, leads me to the bed, and sits next to me. Then he tries to prepare me for his father’s state of mind—the similarities between Gabriel falling for me and his uncle falling for an American. His father is still mad that he had the role of king forced on him, and doesn’t want that for his own children. Gabriel is the chosen one, the only one his father has faith in.
“Oh, Gabriel, I feel like I’ve ruined everything.”
“No, you saved me. You jolted me back to life from a dull zombie existence.”
I give him a small watery smile. “A little like Frankenstein.”
He widens his eyes and sticks his arms straight out. “Grr…”
I nearly laugh at this new playful side of Gabriel, but the weight of his future weighs too heavily on me to manage it. His arms go around me as he nuzzles into my neck. I can’t find the strength to push him away. Instead I lean into him, warmed by the man I love with every cell in my being.
Chapter Sixteen
Anna
We arrive at the port in Villroy to a crowd of locals with their phones up to record the event. News must’ve traveled fast from the ferry. Gabriel drops a protective arm around my shoulders, keeping me tight against him. Four security guards flank us, shielding us from the crowd, and hustle us into a Mercedes, whisking us back to the palace.
My hands are clammy, my nerves shot at the prospect of meeting the king. I’ve had very little sleep thanks to my night with Gabriel, my eyes are bloodshot from crying, my skin splotchy, and my hair is a wild frizzy mess from the sea breeze during my ferry ride. I can’t believe Gabriel didn’t mention how unpresentable I look. I got a scare when I finally checked my look in the mirror on the yacht ride back. I tried to fix myself up, but even I, a certified beautician, can’t perform miracles. I’m a hot mess in a leopard dress—hey, that rhymes! I’m delirious. Perfect for meeting Gabriel’s father—the freaking king of Villroy—for the first time ever.
“Are you going in with me to see the king?” I ask as Gabriel escorts me inside the palace. There’s a tremor in my voice. I wish I could pull off cool and in command the way Gabriel does.
His expression is completely neutral, shoulders back, walking with brisk confidence toward my doom. “Yes. Tell me more about your idea for the beauty product line based on Villroy’s resources.”
He’s distracting me, and I’m grateful. I don’t want to screw up with the king because of nerves. I babble on and on about potential local ingredients and their uses—seaweed, sea salt, algae, fish oil, sponges, even mud—and he listens attentively.
Long minutes later, I have no idea where we are in the palace, and I trail off. We must be in the most private royal quarters. I tense, my stomach doing a slow roll.
“Go on,” he urges. “What inspired you to think of the cosmetics line?”
“I guess it was Villroy. I never thought of anything like that before.”
He shifts to stand in front of me, gazing into my eyes as he lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles. My breath hitches at the intensity of his gaze.
He smiles. “I’m starting to see where Anna peeked at me through the Polly impersonation.”
“Yes! That’s what I was saying before. I was as much myself with you as I could be without putting Polly in jeopardy.”
He gives my hand a squeeze. “You belong here. You belong with me.”
Hot tears sting my eyes. “Gabriel, please, let’s not jump to—”
