Nowthat’slaughable.
And I do. I laugh, which prompts Lucy to do the same. We laugh until we are both doubled over with tears pulling from our eyes. Every time we attempt to stop, we glance at each other, and laugh again.
“I can’t believe it took me as long as it did to figure it out.”
She laughs some more. “Really? You think less than a week is a long time? We’ve tricked people who have grown up with us for much longer. You’re perceptive, Finley.”
As if that sobered her, she straightens and pegs me with a stern expression. “I’ve already caught the vibe of this date, and it was geared towards my sister. And to be honest, I think you are more into her than you are me. Plus, I don’t think I’m as into you as much as I was into the idea of Queen Lucy May Spence. I don’t want to talk about history and random facts. I want someone who can keep up with my book rambles and preferably enjoys fiction. Heck, I want to be free to initiate contact with a man without feeling like I’m some harlot attempting to steal your virtue.” She gives me a sly glance.
I cringe. She’s right, but I don’t want to hurt Lucy. “I’ve gotten to know her, yes. And I have geared this date towards her because I thought that was who I would be with. I don’t know you that well yet, Lucy. I could, though…” Even as I say the words, I know they aren’t true. I want Lorelei.
Lucy must recognize that. “As much as I want to be a queen—RIP to my ultimate fantasy—I desire my sister’s happiness more. I already had the feeling that you were into who she truly is as she recapped your dates to me, but today verified it. You keep wanting me to be her, and I keep trying, but I’m not. And I’m okay with that.”
I place my hand over hers. Still no zing, which oddly enough, is everything I need to know. “As you should be. You are a lovely woman. I was instantly captivated by you at the wedding, but that was before I realized I would need to marry and that I was ascending the throne.”
“Oof. So I’m not wifey material. I get that.”
I backtrack. “No, Lucy. That’s not what I meant, it’s just that—”
She cuts me off, and I still feel awful for making that statement.
“It’s okay. Truly. Personally, and it pains me to admit, but if one of us has to be a queen and rule over a country, she is much better equipped than I am. I like the glamor of the idea, but she has the functionality to be a wonderful head of state.”
While Lucy does sound confident in her decision, there is the undertone of sadness that is hard to miss. Whereas Lorelei hides her emotions, Lucy wears them on her sleeve. I understand why people are more drawn to Lucy, though. Lorelei’s difficult to read, which scares people.
But not me.
She’s going to become my favorite book. One that I read over and over.
“Lucy, you are wifey material, just notmywife. Don’t ever let someone make you believe that you aren’t.” I squeeze her hand then remove mine. She follows suit, our touch effectively ending. “Being queen is hard. It involves a lot of wordplay, decisions, and a special touch of kindness and consideration.”
“Which my sister has,” Lucy says with a firm smile.
“She does. I think she’d make an excellent queen, but furthermore, I think she balances me out.” I chuckle. “If you and I were a couple, we’d end up vacationing and gallivanting the world in pursuit of the next great thing. But Lorelei? She will ground me.”
That elicits a genuine smile from Lucy. “You’re right. I did catch the vibe that we could be good friends.”
“Maybe even closer. Let’s see… You could be my sister-in-law?”
She hops to her feet, a new energy radiating through her. She’s like the sun whereas Lorelei is like the moon. Two suns would burn the world, but a sun balanced with a moon will create a beautiful peace that sets the world into perfect time.
“I accept my position as sister-in-law to the future king of Korsa. You are my future king-in-law.” She waggles her brows. “Now, let’s finish this date while I give you the rundown on all things Lorelei Raine Spence. If you truly want her, prepare yourself for the hardest chase of your life.”
A shutter sound echoes from somewhere behind us, followed by a hissed curse. I snap my head around and notice a hooded figure already on the run with my PPOs in pursuit.
Grasping Lucy’s forearm and peering into her eyes, I command in my royal voice, “Lucy, stay here. I’ve got to catch this man.”
I hear her calling after me as I bolt, using every inch of my long legs to stride up the stone path after the stalker. My PPOs come into view; they are gaining on the figure. But right as Gabriel reaches to grab him, the perp cuts left and hurdles over a bush line. Anders cuts after him as Gabriel catches his balance and curses.
“Finley, halt pursuit!” Gabriel yells even as I clear the bush Anders and the stalker did moments ago. Suddenly, arms are wrapping around my torso as I’m thrown to the ground. Instead of landing on the dirt and grass, I land in a tangle on Gabriel, who groans curses underneath me.
“Respectfully, Your Highness. Get off of me,” Gabriel grunts.
I stand on wobbling legs, my chest still aching from where I connected with Gabriel’s shoulder and my breath heavy. I run and lift every morning, but the sudden burst of energy without a warm-up is taking its toll.
Gabriel’s on his feet quicker than I was and is scanning the area, muttering into his earpiece how he lost the chase due to me getting in the way. Grass is speckled throughout his dark blond hair, his suit disheveled.
“I could have helped, Gabriel. Why did you stop me?”
