But with Lorelei’s autism, I know I have to take the physical things slow. Which is extremely hard for me because physical touch just so happens to be my top love language. The Lord is truly making me practice patience and restraint, which are both wonderful qualities for a husband and a king. Heck, for a man in general.
“Your Highness, please give His Royal Majesty the King a call before you go to sleep tonight,” Anders says in Korsan, a perfect mask of blankness covering his face. “It’s about the stalker.”
I nod swiftly as the two men walk into their room down the hall and shut the door.
“Was he saying how much he hates me?” Mason asks, a trace of laughter still lingering in his voice.
“No, not at all,” I vaguely reply. I cross one leg over the other as half my brain begins wondering what Gabriel and Anders spoke with my father about. The stalker didn’t make an appearance tonight, at least, not that I’m aware of. Was he caught? Did Father find out who it was? “I hate to deprive you of the information you are surely chomping at the bit to know, but I have to call my father it seems. Lorelei and I had a wonderful night, and I am in love with her.”
I stand as Mason does. He clasps my back in a tight hug. “Finley, I—I’m happy for you, man. That’s great news. Are you two a thing now?”
“Not yet,” I sigh. But then I smile as I recall the night we had. She was buoyant, happy, and open. She seemed to be completely herself, and I fell hard. “But hopefully soon.”
Mason releases me. “I’m praying for you two.”
“Thanks, brother. I should really call my father now.”
Concern flickers across his dark brown eyes, so I place a hand on his shoulder. “Everything is okay. Just some important business to attend to.”
He nods and walks into the kitchen as I disappear into my small, logged room.
Sitting on my wooden chair by the cheap fold-out desk I bought for work purposes (seriously, nothing bigger would fit into this room), I search for my father’s personal contact and hit the call button.
Father picks up after two rings, his tone breathy. “Finley,haalaa.Thanks for callingpromptly.”
“Of course. What’s going on? Anders and Gabriel said you needed to speak with me regarding the stalker. I don’t believe he made an appearance tonight during my date with Lorelei.”
“Ah.” Father’s voice lightens. “How is the young woman? Have you won her over to you yet?”
I chuckle, “Not quite, but tonight felt like I took massive leaps in the right direction. You’re going to love her, Father. She’s smart, organized, thoughtful, kind, and beautiful. She’s going to make a lovely queen.”
“I’m happy to hear that, Finley. You deserve someone capable of ruling by your side, especially since your kingship is coming out of the blue. Thank you, again, for stepping up. You will never understand how much it means to me, son. Our country will be in capable, honest hands.”
I beam with pride; Father always knows the right things to say to encourage me. An ache spreads across my chest as I think of his old state, my brother’s condition, my little sister in the palace without me, and my mother’s overwhelming fear that I will not secure a wife in time. Maybe I should plan a visit soon? Would Lorelei go with me…?
Father is silent on the other end as I ponder within my mind, his heavy breaths the only noise. Then, he says, “I found out who hired the stalker. You were never in any danger, my son. I am taking necessary action as a husband, a king, and as your father to correct the matter, so please do not hold this against her. I am handling everything.”
My stomach drops and my heart pounds wildly against my chest. My head spins with questions that come unbidden from mylips. “No… you can’t be serious? Mamma hired the stalker? Why? For what purpose? How did she think that was a good idea? What was she thinking?”
“No! Goodness, no. It was Karin Nilsson of Vespen, not your mother. Though I think your mother may have given her the idea on accident. I’m still getting to the bottom of everything, but you should be okay moving forward. You were never in danger, but I know the thought of someone following you and snapping pictures, sending them back to your mother, is not a way to feel safe.”
I regain composure knowing my mamma isn’t at fault. That would have been detrimental to me. My mother isn’t the kindest, most motherly woman, but she loves our family. Why did my brain jump to that conclusion? Maybe because Father said he was handling the situation as a husband.
Is Karin that desperate for my attention? Did she truly think this was the best route to take to win me over to her? The more I think about it, the stalker’s actions were not merely observational. They were intentional, meant to interrupt and impede. Finally, I state, “I’m going to give her a call tomorrow. I trust you are handling everything, but she needs to hear from me, too.”
“Of course, son. Be gentle. Be understanding. Be firm. Be cautious in your decisions. You will be king in under a year, and we do not need to burn our bridge with Vespen. I trust you. This is part of kingship—humbling yourself and attempting to understand things that do not add up or make sense. And when you do make a decision, stick with it and dole out corrections in a gentle but firm manner.”
“Thanks, Father.” Even in the wake of this news, which to be honest, I saw coming, I’m in awe of my father. He has been an excellent king, and he is going to leave me with some mighty large shoes to try and fill. If I can be half the king that he has been, then I think I will be okay.
After we say goodbye, I begin to write out what I plan to say to Karin. She’s not getting off the hook for this.
Chapter Fourteen
Lorelei
“Tell. Us.Everything.” Hadley elbows me before taking a sip of sweet tea. I’m sitting around Hadley’s table in her grandmother’s old house that she inherited. Lucy is fixing her plate while Karoline is already shoving a bite of spaghetti into her mouth. Hadley demanded we all come over for dinner after work; she shipped Braxton off to Finley and Mason’s place, which is his old cabin.
“We walked the nature trail, went to the library, ate hibachi, then toured the Adeline House,” I say, shoving noodles in my mouth. The girls glare at me, and I find the garlic bread on my plate very interesting.
