“Oh, darling,” she purred as she cupped my cheek in her palm, “I don’t think you have a clear view of what life is really like for Belvarian royalty.”
“Uhhh,” I murmured, uncertain how I was supposed to take that.
“I’ll explain everything tomorrow. I really need to be getting back. But until then, don’t worry about whatever has happened in your past. My family has been carrying out revenge plots since the twelfth century. Whatever happened with Grant can’t possibly top our family drama.”
My lips parted as I tried to unpack that statement. She pecked me on the lips, patting my cheek before she disappeared through an open panel in the wall, pulling it shut behind her.
“Wait…” I called, but the panel slid shut before I could stop her.
I rushed to the wall, my hands fumbling over the smooth surface for a latch, a lever, anything—but it was like the secret door had never existed. My fingers curled into fists as frustration surged. How was I supposed to keep up with someone who could disappear behind walls?
With a huff, I gave up and slogged back to the sitting room.
Ava paced behind the couch as Alex slouched on it, his leg bobbed. Both of them stiffened the moment they spotted me.
Ava skirted the couch and headed toward me, her arms spread. “Well?”
I chuckled, a grin spreading across my face. “She kissed me.”
Ava crossed her arms. “That’s all? I thought maybe you’d get some information. Tell us everything that happened.”
“Maybe not everything. Like if it’s private, we don’t need to know.”
I recounted the tale, ending with the cryptic remark she’d made about her family. As I finished, I leaned forward, balancing my elbows on my knees. “So, this is good, right?”
Ava shot a glance at Alex. “Carrying out revenge plots since the twelfth century? That doesn’t sound good.”
“Oh, uh, yeah. I don’t really know what she meant by that, but the other stuff is good, right? Like the kissing, and the whole bit about how being Queen Regent wouldn’t change anything between us or stop us from being together. That’s good, right?”
“Doc, I’m a little concerned about the things she’s been saying. I mean, not just the weird revenge plot comment, but the whole thing with her brother trying to kill her.”
Alex rose and crossed to our bags that now sat by the door. He rummaged through it. “Yesssss,” he hissed as he held his phone up. “Let’s see if we can find out anything about Goldie.”
We spent an hour digging around on the internet and behind the scenes. Outside of the surface information and some lovely photographs of Nattie looking very royal, we discovered that her sister, Nadia, seemed to have diplomatic immunity in a variety of countries with records sealed so tight not even Alex could crack them–at least not on his phone.
The mystery seemed to deepen around her, but I still couldn’t shake the connection I had with her. I desperately wanted to continue our relationship–no matter the murky circumstances that surrounded her.
By the time we went to bed, I longed to see her again, counting the hours until morning. I hoped we’d get word first thing that we’d been cleared by the security team, and I’d be able to discuss our situation more.
As I laid in bed, the sheets feeling even more luxurious than the ones in my father’s overdone mansion, I went over every detail of what had happened between us.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Nadia—or worse, Stefan—might find in my past. What if they decided I wasn’t worth the trouble? What if they sent me packing before I even got a chance to fight for Nattie?
And what was the deal with her hostile brother and the cryptic statement about her family acting on grudges for centuries? Too many questions swirled in my mind.
I switched gears, recalling our kisses, and fell asleep with the hope that things would work out at the forefront of my mind.
When I woke the following morning, finding it well after the time I’d set on my alarm, I shifted, a strange pressure tugging at the covers around my legs.
I twisted, startling as I spotted a leather-clad Nadia perched on the edge of the bed.
“Whoa, what the hell?” I shouted, kicking away from her as I tugged the covers higher around my bare chest.
“Good morning, doctor,” she said with a menacing grin. “We need to have a talk.”
I swallowed hard. Nattie has seemed to think I’d pass my background check with flying colors, but I wondered if things weren’t as clear cut with the rest of the family.
What had I done to deserve this early morning visit? And would I ever see Nattie again?
