Page 36 of Royal Resistance

“Why not?”

“The last one I had was when I turned twenty-three. And then my mother died.” I need a mouthful of wine to get it out. “I’ve always had the thought that maybe if I hadn’t been somewhere else, having a party, she wouldn’t have died.”

“She died suddenly, didn’t she? An aneurysm, wasn’t it?”

I nod.

“So you must know you couldn’t have done anything to help her,” she adds in a gentle voice.

“You sound like a therapist.”

“I am a therapist.” She smiles.

“I like your smile.”

She smiles wider. “You’re deflecting.”

I chuckle. “I like parties, but I don’t need another one right away. We can do something here.”

“With Duncan, and Diandra.”

Duncan usually eats with me but is notably absent tonight. I suspect he and his sister made themselves scarce so I could have time with Selene.

A romantic dinner for the newlyweds.

To celebrate their marriage of convenience.

14

Selene

Dinner with Magnus was nice. I suspect there’s much Magnus needs to talk about, but I don’t want to push.

I barely know the man, and he is not one of my patients. He’s my husband.

That will take some time to get used to. I am a wife. Magnus’s wife.

Accepting I’m queen is easier.

We go over the events of the day and touch on the ceremony yesterday. Nothing personal, just a recap.

The mention of Magnus’s mother is the most personal we get.

It’s going to take time to get to know each other. Time to trust.

We’re ruling a country together, but there is still so much to know about each other.

“This was delicious,” I say as we finish the roasted leg of lamb and new potatoes. Magnus nods as he finishes his wine. “What’s your favourite meal?”

“I like burgers,” he confesses. “I’m not much for fancy.”

“I’ve done a lot of fancy,” I tell him. “It could be time for less.”

Magnus grins as he pushes back his chair. “I have something to show you.”

It’s enough that he keeps smiling at me. A sincere smile, not like the one he flashed today to all those people.

His public face, I decide, is what the people see. But here, when it’s just the two of us, he’s different.