Page 76 of Cursed (Haven Realm Chronicles 3)

I didn’t blame him for wanting to get me inside and away from the strange. Having the princes on his doorstep could amount to no end of trouble for us if guards spotted them. But Talin shot a foot out into the doorway before Dad could close the door behindus.

“I’m Talin, prince of White Peak,” my hunky bear said, extending a hand in greeting. “These are my younger brothers, Raze, Leven, and Ash. Pleasure to make your acquaintance,sir.”

For a few awkward moments, my father stared at Talin’s hand before accepting it and shaking it. “Prince?” His gaze drilled into me for anexplanation.

Goddess. This was not getting off to a good start. I’d imagined the scenario in my head a thousand times. But never like this. Always with Dad smiling and excited to meet the princes. Damn reality. No. Damn me and my writer’s brain expecting the bestoutcome.

The nerves wedged in my throat refused to budge, even though Talin gently nudged me to saysomething.

“Lovely to meet you, Talon, Graze, Lever, and Rash,” my father said, and I cringed that he’d gotten their names all wrong. “You must be tired from such a long journey. I will allow you to continue on your way to the tavern.” He tried to close the door behind us, but Talin pressed a hand to thedoor.

“May we come inside, sir?” Talinasked.

My father turned to me. “What’s going on,Bee?”

I coughed and cleared my throat. “Everything’s fine, Dad.” My voice was strung taut like a bowstring. “More than fine. Umm, solisten…”

“Perhaps we should have tea,” Ashsaid.

Tea. Brilliant. I was so glad he was holding me together. “Don’t be rude, Dad. Let them in.” My feet carried me to the kitchen, and I began to prepare thebrew.

Dad followed closely behindme.

The footsteps of the men echoed as theyentered.

“Bee, why are there princes in ourhouse?”

I pulled cups from the shelves, and my hands shook so hard, I accidentally dropped one on the floor and itsmashed.

Get a hold of yourself, Bee. I bent down to pick up the mess, but my dad pushed me away. “I’ll clean this up. You get the teaon.”

I filled the teapot with water and set it on the hearth toboil.

As I pulled out a jar full of tea leaves, I pondered the best words to answer my father’s earlier question but ended up using the ones I’drehearsed.

“I met the princes in my travels, Dad.” Although I tried using my calm and steady voice, it came out more like a strangled cat. I didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth about my magic. The less he knew, the better. Especially if the guards came sniffing around again. But here came thebombshell.

“And I fell inlove.”

My dad’s face softened. “Oh. With one of these fine princes?” He gave me another hug. “Which one’s the luckyfellow?”

“Er, all ofthem.”

My dad froze at first, his grasp shaking, and panic gripped me. “Are you okay?” Iasked.

He shook his head, then kissed the top of mine. “You always had a good sense of humor,” he said with achuckle.

“No.” I grabbed his hands. “I’mserious.”

Father eased away and retrieved half a loaf of bread along with some cheese from a cupboard. “Bee, this isn’t one of your romance stories you alwayswrite.”

I glanced out into the living room, where the princes sat on the couch, whispering words I couldn’tdecipher.

The tea leaf container hit the bench but didn't smash.Shit. He knew about that? Heat scorched my entire body.Goddess strike me down with lightning rightnow!

“They’re good,” he said, slicing the bread. “Especially the mermaid one. Stayed up all night to read thatone.”

This was not a conversation I wanted to be having with my father. Him reading the sex scenes I’d written made me want to run away and never come back. That’d teach me for hiding them under my bed and not locking themup.

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