His fingers are trembling.
He’s scared, but I’m only able to tell because of how badly his hand is shaking. Other than that, he’s perfectly put together, indifferent, but it’s a mask.
Just who is this guy…
I wake up from the dream—memory slowly, like I’m swimming out of water, and then break through the surface. I feel groggy and confused, and I have no idea where I am. It takes me a few gasping breaths to figure it out; that I’m in the bedroom Finn is staying in because I fell asleep in his arms, only he’s no longer in the bed.
Assuming he went downstairs, I throw the blankets off me, exit the room, and start down the stairway. Halfway down, my heart leaps in my chest.
“This sounds crazy,” River huffs in frustration. “I mean, how do you expect us to just believe it?”
River is here.
The way my pulse breathes to life is mildly alarming, but even more so is the way I pretty much bolt down the stairs to get closer to him. I wasn’t even aware of how much I missed him until I enter the living room and see him standing near the fireplace, all dark hair, stormy eyes, and he’s dressed in all black.
My gothic prince. I’ve missed him so much.
And it freaks me out.
Because it means I’m attached.
That’s not the only reason my heart is stammering with worry. No, the other reason is that when my gaze lands on Finn, I want to walk over and have him wrap his arms around me.
Fuck. This is so bad. I can’t feel this way about both of them.
“River, we know this sounds insane, but it’s true,” a woman around Ellie’s age says to him.
She’s sitting in one of the sofas, and she’s wearing a pair of silk pants and a button-down shirt that declares her royal blood. She also has dark hair like River’s and eyes like Finn.
She has to be their mother.
“Your father may sound insane, but there is some truth to his madness,” she adds, reaching for a glass of wine.
Ellie and Aiden are in the room too, along with Noah and a man who’s probably close to forty. He has brown hair, and his eyes are sunken in.
Is that my dad?
“So you’re actually trying to convince me to believe that Maddy is the heir to the world, and if we can find some sort of secret island, she’ll be able to claim the throne?” River arches a brow, then downs a drink he’s holding.
It takes my brain a second to register what he said. “Wait, what? I’m not claiming any throne.”
Everyone’s attention darts in my direction. River’s gaze welds with mine, and then he’s rushing toward me, weaving around the coffee table that’s blocking his way. I meet him halfway, and I throw my arms around him. He slips his arms around my waist and lifts me up enough that my feet aren’t touching the floor.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he murmurs into my ear. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop him from taking you.”
“It’s not your fault,” I whisper with my eyes shut. “He had Will cause the accident.”
“I know, but… he’s my dad.” He hugs me tighter, and I hold onto him, never wanting to move out of his arms.
Safe.
Safe.
Safe.
He makes me feel safe, too.
But then I open my eyes and see Finn sitting over near the window on a bench, watching us with a frown.
