Nadia’s eyes rolled to the ceiling as she heaved a sigh.
“I am not yet Queen,” Nattie answered softly, leaning closer to me. “But I will become Queen.”
“Isn’t that a princess?” I asked, my brows knitting.
“Not when there isn’t a sitting King or Queen on the throne, no,” Nadia answered.
“I’ll explain everything as soon as they have finished the background checks,” Nattie said with a squeeze of my hand.
My stomach clenched, shifting my weight from foot to foot. This wasn’t going to go well. There was no way I would pass a royal vetting.
“Is that a problem, doctor?” Nadia asked.
I snapped my gaze to her, swallowing hard. “Uhh, no. No problem.”
I shuffled again, heat washing over me. “Uh, just…there may be like a DUI maybe from my college days, and uh, a potential felony from when I first met my dad, but…you know, other than that…”
I shrugged, wondering if I’d be tossed right back into the dungeon.
Nadia stared at me, her jaw hanging open and a confused expression on her face. “What?”
“It was no big deal, I promise. It was just a mistake. I was trying to impress someone, and I may have gotten arrested for stalking. Really was just a big misunderstanding, though, and I didn’t even spend a night in jail.” I pressed my lips together, sneaking a glance at Nattie. Her expression remained neutral. Was she that good at not reacting or was she mad? I couldn’t tell.
She’d probably lock me up and throw away the key after that confession.
Nadia’s features twisted more. “No one cares about your DUI or your strange love life. I only care about your connections and their ability to harm my sister.”
“Ohhh,” I said, heat rising into my cheeks as I realized I’d just confessed to way too much stuff. “I would never hurt her.”
I wrapped an arm protectively around Nattie’s shoulders.
“As has been said, that remains to be seen. Until it has, you will remain in your chambers.”
I grimaced, my gaze shifting between Nattie and Nadia. “Like the dungeon?”
Nadia slid her eyes closed. “You really are trying my patience. No, not the dungeon. Bedrooms are being made up. You will stay in them until such time as you have been cleared by security. Do you understand?”
“Oh, yeah, definitely, yes. I understand–we understand.” I waved a finger back and forth to include Alex and Ava. “And thanks. We really appreciate it.”
She did not even crack a smile as she took a step toward the door. “I will have the guards escort you to your rooms.”
“Oh, umm, now?” I asked.
She froze, staring at me wide-eyed, another confused expression on her face. “Have I been unclear in some way?”
I rubbed my chin. “No, I just…thought I could talk to Nattie a little more.”
She didn’t bother to respond, striding to the door to call the guards.
Nattie glanced up at me, her dark eyes soft and reassuring. “We’ll see each other soon.”
The kiss she placed on my cheek sent a rush of warmth through me. I wanted to kiss her back, but I was afraid someone would shoot me, so I figured I’d better not.
Instead, I squeezed her arm and offered her a fleeting smile as one of the guards escorted me from the room.
My eyes lingered on her as I stepped into the hall with Alex and Ava. Nadia shot me an unimpressed glance as she slammed the doors in my face. We walked through halls that looked more like they belonged in a museum than someone’s residence. Even my dad’s overdone place wasn’t this ornate. Crystal chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, casting golden light over intricate tapestries. Rich red carpets cushioned our steps, and the faint scent of polished wood lingered in the air.
It felt like I had stumbled into a fairy tale. Except in this story, I wasn’t the prince, I was just the unwelcome guest.
