“Wait, hold on.” I hold up my hand. “Do you have a crush on someone?”
“Her bodyguard,” Marit says, causing Isabella to full-on swat at her sister.
“Marit!”
“What?” Marit shrugs. “I thought we were sharing.”
“Then share about your life, not mine.”
“Is this a taboo thing?” I ask, confused as to why it matters.
Isabella sighs. “He wants nothing to do with me. I’m way too young for him, and he sees me as a job. That’s it. Trust me, there is nothing there, just lust on my end. I’m sure I’ll get over it. Now, back to you and Keller. How did things change from him teaching you to now being engaged?”
“Well, I told him I thought he was hot. He of course also considered me the job and wouldn’t come near me. But slowly and surely, I wore him down. I knew he liked me, it was all over his expression and the way he treated me, but he wouldn’t give in. So I helped him give in.”
“And from there, did it just snowball?” Isabella asks.
“Yes,” I answer, thinking back to the days in Harrogate. It seemed too easy back then, which is crazy because I was fresh from being plucked from everything I knew, living in a foreign country with someone I just met. And yes, it was so much more comfortable back then, when it was just us.
Now, everything is so complicated.
“I miss those days,” I say honestly. “It was easier being with him. We didn’t have to worry about being seen by the public, schedules, staff walking in on us all the time. We had a lot more privacy.”
“Yeah, you aren’t afforded much privacy when you live in the palace,” Marit says. She knows from experience.
We spend the next hour talking, sharing stories, and joking around, and for the second time since I’ve come to Torskethorpe, it feels like I’ve found a home again. I click so easily with Marit and Isabella, so much so that they feel like sisters to me, which is surprising, given how we’ve been raised in such different circumstances. Born to reign, they feel so real, so down to earth, like . . . if I took them down to Miami, they wouldn’t blink twice at hosing down people for a wet T-shirt contest.
And they know what I’m going through, which is the best part. They’re the only ones I’ve met, my age, who know exactly how it feels to have the weight of the country resting on their shoulders, Isabella especially.
“Well, are we ready for that tour?” Pala asks.
The doors to the room pop open, and Keller enters. His eyes find mine, and he says, “We have our final meeting with Gothi Elias.”
I sigh. “Do you think you could hold off on the tour until I’m done?” I ask Pala.
“Of course. It will give us some time to get settled in our rooms. Come find us when you’re done.”
“Thank you.” I give them all a quick hug, and then I fall in line with Keller. He presses his hand to my lower back, and together, we walk down the hallway toward the ancestor room.
We’re silent for a moment, but as we grow closer to our designated room, Keller quietly says, “Don’t mention last night. It’s a security risk. Nor do you mention the threat.”
“I wouldn’t,” I say.
He doesn’t say anything else, but I bet it’s because he doesn’t believe me. Not that I’ve given him much chance to believe me when it comes to keeping my mouth shut. Whenever I feel nervous or I’m in uncomfortable situations, I seem to ramble on about things, and this would be one of them.
When we reach the ancestor room, Keller opens the door for me and once again, with his hand on my back, he directs me into the room and toward the couch.
Elias is sitting on the couch across from us with a smile on his face. What maniacal shit does he have planned for us today? Our last session, my guess is, he’s planned for an absolute doozy, which is great since our relationship is ready to snap.
Once I sit down, Keller unbuttons his jacket and sits next to me. Usually, his arm would drape behind me or he’d rest his hand on my thigh, but this time, he keeps to himself.
“How are we today?” Elias asks. “I saw that you got to spend time with family this morning and with your friend, Timmy. I’m sure you must be on cloud nine.”
I would be if things weren’t so strained with Keller.
But once again, I put on a happy face. “Oh yes, it’s been overwhelming but also full of joy.”
“That’s great to hear.” He looks at us. “Well, I know it’s been a tough few weeks, but with the wedding a few days away, we’re ready to walk down the aisle, don’t you think?”
