“Fine.” She giggles lightly. “She was a bitch, but she’s also your mother, and as someone who lost their mother when I was young, I can tell you, living without one sucks.”
“Not in this case. It’s for the better.”
Her arms wrap around me, and her cheek presses to my chest over my heart. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I sigh. “I’ve been invited to Switzerland as part of a global summit with other world leaders and members of royal families.”
“Oh?” Her head pops up and her eyes meet mine. “When is that and how long will you be gone?”
“It’s next week and you’re coming with me.”
Her eyebrows shoot up, but I don’t miss the unease that brings. “I am?”
I glance over at her father, who is contentedly watching the children run around and play, even clapping when they hit the ball through the posts. “If you feel your father is well enough for you to do that, then yes, I’d like you to. It’s only three nights.”
She gnaws on her lip. “Can we decide when it’s closer?”
“Of course.” I place a kiss on her lips only to immediately pull back when suddenly I feel something slither past my ankles.
“Arthur!” Sabrina exclaims, her eyes wide with amusement. “Come play with us.”
“I think he likes me,” I grumble.
“I think he does.” Bellamy is laughing, her mirth unable to be contained.
The ferret darts away from me and toward Zayer, who squeals in delight, passing him a ball and trying to play with him.
“My turn!” Sabrina declares, picking up her mallet with determination. Only just as Sabrina goes to strike the ball, Arthur races across the lawn, causing Sabrina to shriek with laughter as he dashes between her legs mid-swing.
“Arthur!” I chastise, trying to suppress my own laughter. “You’re supposed to be watching, not participating! You nearly tripped my princess.”
“You do realize you just reprimanded the ferret, right?”
“Quiet, woman. You heard nothing.”
“Maybe he wants to join my team,” Sabrina suggests, grinning as she chases after him.
“I still can’t believe I allowed you all to talk me into keeping him.”
“You’re not fooling me. I can see it in your eyes. You’re starting to like him.”
I grunt.
“Though, to be fair,” Bellamy continues, grinning at the children, who have both abandoned the game and are busy playing with their new pet, “he does make things more entertaining. And look at those smiles.”
“Yes, I see them. Why do you think I allow him to stay?”
“Softy.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “That is never a word anyone would ever think to use with me.”
“Only if they don’t know how beautiful your heart is.”
I drag her tighter into my chest, my muscles finally starting to unwind, even as I can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning. That the secrets of our past will continue to cast shadows over our future, threatening to tear apart the fragile ties that hold our family together.
And what will I do when that starts to happen?
12
