Page 124 of Stolen Princess

“Nothing,” Rowan tells me as he leans forward and rests his forearms on his thighs so he can see me around Ferrin. “The lead was dead. We’ll keep hunting though.”

I glance down at my hands, wrinkled from the water and baking in the sun. “I keep thinking about this. Why would they bother with me now?”

“You’re a liability to them,” Ferrin reminds me.

“Yes, but if it were you, would you stick your neck out?”

“No. Not likely. But I don’t exactly want to take chances with your life either.”

Fair.

“I’d like to announce myself,” I say, redirecting this. “I don’t want to stay hidden forever. I’ve already done that.”

Rowan frowns and nods toward Sebastian, who comes over and sits on the other side of me. He tosses his arm around my shoulder, and it’s the best thing ever. Over these last couple of weeks, I’ve loved getting to know them. I’ve loved spending time and becoming friends with Bellamy and Marcella. It’s been such a short amount of time, but I already feel a part of them.

“Should we have a royal ball?”

Marcella laughs, and Rowan smirks at her. Their story is a unique one, but I love it. They’re so perfect for each other.

“If Marcella would agree to set a wedding date, then perhaps it could be another royal wedding.”

She sighs. “You’re big on this setting a date thing.”

“They always are,” Bellamy teases. “They don’t like long engagements. Sebastian proposed and within two months we were married.”

“Oh, I remember.” Marcella laughs.

“Must be a royals thing,” I quip. “But I wouldn’t want to take away from your wedding by being announced to the world.”

“I don’t want a big wedding or a ball,” Marcella states. “I’d like a small, private ceremony without all the fanfare.”

“You could do it on the yacht,” Sebastian suggests. “That would be small and safer than many other options.”

Marcella meets Rowan’s eyes. “I’d be open to that.”

“How’s this?” Sebastian picks up before Rowan can comment. “We announce Desta to the world, but we do so from the palace. We make a formal statement and have pictures taken and all of that. No one is allowed in, and we ask for privacy while we reconnect. Our mother will no doubt reach out—how could she not—and we see what further answers we can weed out of her. We also start to plan Rowan and Marcella’s wedding on the yacht. We set a date, and hopefully by the time that date comes, we’ve already found Antonia and Marie.”

“And if we haven’t?” Bellamy questions.

“Then the boat is an even better idea. Honestly, royal balls haven’t exactly been in our favor between Samil at the Christmas ball and our lovely spy at our wedding ball.”

“I agree,” Bellamy chimes in. “I don’t want anyone in danger, especially with the children there. I love the idea of the yacht. It’s romantic, and then you two can do a honeymoon however you want it, and we’ll leave you to it.”

“Six months,” Marcella states, her gaze locked on Rowan. “We plan our wedding for six months from now. Somewhere between announcing Desta’s return to the royal family and our wedding, we’ll get Antonia.”

“We’ll make sure of it,” Ferrin agrees, his hand on my thigh, his thumb dragging up and down. This man’s ferocity makes me sweat. Everything about him pulls me in more and more. From his wit and charm and smiles to his dirty mouth and dominance and protective, beautiful heart. What we had started fast and burned hot, but those flames haven’t dissipated. They’re a steady, undeniable heat I only want more and more of.

I kiss the corner of his lips. “Then it’s settled,” I say, my voice quiet as I watch the children play. “I feel better about this. I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”

Marcella scoffs as she braids her hair. “You’re not. No more than I am. Everyone here knows more than some people want us to. I’ve been here a few months, and if Antonia has attempted to come after me, I haven’t seen or felt it.”

“I think the danger is in the past,” I acknowledge.

“I used to say that if I could find you and bring you home, that would be enough to break the curse.” Rowan thoughtfully runs a finger through the water, making a small wake as he talks. “Bellamy and Sebastian love each other. Marcella and I love each other. You’re home. Samil is dead. Signoria is dead. Yes, Antonia is still out there, but she was betrayed herself and loved you.” He points at me before returning his finger to the water. “The root of the curse was betrayal, and by closing up those pieces, we’ve broken it.”

Silence hits all of it. “I’m not sure I ever believed in it,” Bellamy says after a quiet minute. “But I love that. I love believing the curse is lifted.” She looks out over the children, and a chill sweeps through me. I can’t imagine the sort of fear they’ve held, believing the children could be part of an ancient curse that could hurt or kill them.

“The announcement will bring it all full circle,” Althea comments. “You’re home, and the curse has been lifted. Obviously we won’t mention the curse directly, but it’ll be implied all the same. The world will ask where you’ve been. You need to be ready to answer that.”