“There’s not much to tell. I mean, it was a great lunch and…” Was I even allowed to speak of it?
“And?” Hannah made a circular motion with her hand.
“I don’t know what I’m allowed to say.”
She laughed. Mark sat in the chair in the corner, pinching the bridge of his nose to stave off what was likely a never-ending headache.
“Okay, so he’s going to Crellesia tomorrow, and he said we’d meet again…and he knew where I was staying. Weird, right?”
“Is it weird?” Mark asked. “He’s the heir apparent. Don’t you think security was going to do a background check on you, find out where you’re staying, things like that? Might even know about me and Han.”
I plopped onto the end of the bed, my mouth agape. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.”
“Why?Pfft. He is pursuing you. You haven’t hunted him down.” Her eyes softened. “Wynn, are you put off by him? You can tell him no. Is the power exchange making it seem like you have no voice?”
Hannah was a therapist. We’d met at a conference about five years ago and while she could be nuts, she was also the most caring person I knew.
“No, he’s nice. Intense, but kind, respectful. It’s…” I shrugged. “It’s sort of nice being pursued.”
“Okay, if it gets to be too much, tell us, okay?”
“I will. Promise.”
My dreams that night were almost depraved. At one point, he had me bent over his throne and was fucking me with only his crown on. When I woke, my sheets were soaked in sweat and come. Thank God, I had my own room.
I washed and dressed, meeting Hannah and Mark in the lobby just as our car arrived to take us to the docks. The boat ride to Crellesia was an hour, and I welcomed the promise of sea air to wash away my inappropriate thoughts regarding a certain future king.
We ate on the boat, and halfway there I began to feel like myself. The weather got warmer as we sailed toward Crellesia, and I felt lighter. It was such an odd feeling of suffocation that dream had given me. The want and need were there, but there was an underlying darkness present I couldn’t put my finger on.
“Oh, look!” Hannah pointed, and sure enough we could see land. “Ahh! I’m so excited.”
Crellesia was known as the island of culture. It was full of museums, bookstores, and streets rich with history. Originally it was where the royal family had resided most but through the years— like hundreds—the land had crumbled and become smaller. So, they’d relocated to Lamdera. They still had a castle here, which I was sure was where Julian would be staying.
We exited the boat, got into the car, and drove to the hotel, my head on a swivel searching for Julian. It was ridiculous—in reality, I knew that. But I did it all the same. The Golden Rose was a beautiful hotel, smaller than The August, but it overlooked the ocean and the aroma of the seaside was calming.
As I put my clothes away, my mind wandered. Where was Julian? Would he find me? If I found him, would he be happy? Jesus, I was a mess.
“This isn’t a Disney movie, Wynn. No prince is going to sweep you off your feet.”
That fantasy safely tucked away, I went to see if Hannah and Mark wanted to go walk around.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Julian
“Your Royal Highness,it’s such a pleasure to have you visiting with us.” A woman about my age with bottle-blond hair, blue eyes, and a very white smile greeted me as I entered the town hall. She introduced herself as Governor Rona Rambles.
What I knew about her was that she’d been chosen by my father after the last governor had suddenly passed away. She was divorced, had two children under the age of eleven, and from what Edward had told me on the way here, she was determined to make it to the top. I’d been unsure what that meant until today.
If I had to bet, she was determined to bag herself a prince…and that would never happen. There were several reasons: One, she was a woman; I was gay. Two, she had kids; I hated kids. Three, five minutes in her presence and I wanted to kill her. That would be a PR nightmare.
“I do the tour every year.” I shook her hand and had to pry myself loose from her death grip.
She giggled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. How was she governing an island? Seriously, what did my father see in her?
“You’re funny, Your Royal Highness.”
“Hmm. I’m supposed to begin my speech in front of Town Hall in five minutes. Perhaps you should do your part?”
