“Not at all.” She managed a cool smile. “This ham is delicious,” she said to Lina. “Is it local?”
“Why, yes. It’s from the palace estates. Our farm raises heritage breeds that are in danger of extinction.”
“Then we kill them and eat them for breakfast,” said Sandro with a wink.
“It’s a sustainable practice,” protested Lina.
“I know. I’m teasing.” Sandro shot Serena a conspiratorial smile. “Serena knows I have a wicked sense of humor.”
Serena attempted to smile. Sandro didn’t even seem bothered that there was a newspaper story about him marrying someone else. It bothered her, partly because she’d featured him in her videos and some people were bound to recognize him as the same guy now engaged to Maya Dunham.
Would she have to explicitly address it? And if so, what could she say? “Actually he’s mine. Well, not really. I’m having his baby, though.”
And the worse part was that Sandro had known and hadn’t told her. Like it wasn’t any of her business. Her heart constricted and she tried to gather some food on her fork, but her stomach had shrunk to the size of a peanut. Then she realized Lina was talking to her—and she hadn’t heard a word of it.
“Sorry, what did you say?” She felt her face heating. It was embarrassing for them to see how upset she was about getting blindsided by the news story.
“Just that we’re used to being the subject of constant rumor and speculation so we’ve learned to ignore it.” Lina shone a warm smile at her. “It doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes get hurt by the stories. I haven’t looked at the papers myself in years. I certainly didn’t want to read anything published after my husband’s death. People can be so cruel.”
“I can imagine.”
“It’ll blow over,” Sandro said. “Stories evaporate fast when there’s really nothing there. Denying it sometimes just fuels the fire. As soon as you’re done we can head out on our tour.” He looked at her cheerfully, obviously hoping she’d already stopped caring about the story. “I need to talk to Darias before we go.” He glanced at Lina. “He and I have resolved to discuss important matters only in person. It’s too risky using our phones. And our privacy in the palace is an illusion.”
Serena became all too aware of the five or six staffers currently within earshot, refilling the coffeepot, bringing in mail, sweeping crumbs off the table, etc.
“Very sensible, my love. Do be careful, the two of you. I know your daring sometimes exceeds your common sense.”
“Mama!” Sandro did his best to look scandalized, but the amusement in his eyes showed that he knew it was the truth. “We’re being very careful. And we’re going to meet with Gibran this morning, so rest easy.”
“Impossible, with enemies in our midst.” Lina glanced around, not looking at the staffers, but Serena knew she must be thinking that anyone here could be involved in the murders and the subsequent gruesome exhumation and delivery.
“Indeed. You be careful too.”
“You know I am. But please do tell me anything you find out. I don’t like being kept in the dark like a child.”
“Me either,” said Beatriz. They turned to her in surprise, as if they’d forgotten she was there. “No one tells me anything. I call sexism.”
“I promise to update you if we learn anything at all,” said Sandro.
Serena could tell Beatriz didn’t believe him. She didn’t either. He had no problem keeping secrets from her so why not his sister too? She sighed, then realized it was audible and tried to cover it with a fake cough. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep her cool in this royal fishbowl. She wanted to go on their tour, if only to get out of there. “I’m ready.” Did she clear her plate or would someone come get it?
“Let’s go find Darias. He said he’d come here this morning so perhaps he’s on his way.” Sandro rose, texting into his phone. “Where’s Lucky got to?”
Serena realized with a start that she hadn’t seen him since before breakfast. Hopefully he wasn’t chewing the gold leaf off the leg of a precious table. “Lucky! Lucky?” She rose. “I’d better go look for him.”
“I’ll come too,” said Sandro. He abandoned his plate on the table—presumably for staff to clear—so she did the same. “Let’s check the back hallways.” They exited the dining room and hurried down the hallway, past a young staffer with an armful of manila envelopes.
“Lucky!” she called. She strained her ears to hear the tinkling of his tag against his collar. As they hurried along the hallway, she couldn’t help asking, “If you knew about the engagement story with Maya Dunham, why didn’t you warn me?”
“It’s just rubbish.” He stopped and turned, looking rather shocked. “Not worth paying attention to. I didn’t think it would be relevant.”
Because we’re not an item.
She heard the words, even though he didn’t say them. In his mind it was her fault that they weren’t an item. He’d been clear that he wanted to give a relationship a try. But this kind of behavior was exactly why she didn’t dare risk her heart on him.
“I do care.” I’m having your baby. She didn’t dare say that aloud in the palace. “What happens to you affects me. I need you to be open and honest with me.”
“I know it affects you.” He hurried to her and took her hands in his. “I’m very sorry that you were blindsided by the thoughtless story. If anything similar happens, I’ll tell you about it right away.” His eyes shone with sincerity.
Her heart warmed. “Thanks. I’d appreciate that.” She wanted to ask if there were any other secrets he’d been keeping from her, but she didn’t want to risk sounding like a harpy.
“I wasn’t going to tell you about joining the Cross of Blood.”
“Why?”
He leaned in until his lips were almost at her ear. “Darias tells me it exists to provide for the monarchy’s more salacious sexual needs and desires.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you going to have to…?” Words failed her.
“I’m not planning to do anything with them.” Mischief glimmered in his eyes. “But I’m telling you that in the interest of full disclosure.” He squeezed her hands.
“Okay.” Her horror at the idea of him being in a sexual situation with someone else warred with her delight that he’d risked telling her the unsavory news. “I do appreciate your being honest.”
“Now, aren’t we supposed to be looking for Lucky?”
She blinked. “Oh yes.” Lucky had gone right out of her head. Maybe she wasn’t a fit dog owner. She didn’t deserve a sweet dog like Lucky. “Lucky!”
The tinkling of his collar preceded his appearance bounding through a doorway, black and white fur flying. “Oh, thank goodness.” She knelt down and rubbed his ears. “I’m putting you back on a leash.” She slid her slim belt from the belt loops of her pants and slipped the non-buckle end through his collar.
“Now that’s sorted, I need to find Darias.”
“You’re not going to tell him about the text, are you?” she whispered. She didn’t want to bear any responsibility for him being hurt.
“Not yet. I’m going to move full speed ahead with joining the Cross of Blood and take it from there. And since honesty is our new policy, I’d like you to tell me immediately if you get any new messages.”
She glanced around. Even though he’d kept his voice low, someone nearby could overhear. “I’ll try. If I ask to go outside with you to walk Lucky you’ll know why.”
Sandro checked his phone. “Darias wants me to come to the castle. Let’s go together, and we can begin our tour. You can blog about it.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Her gut recoiled from the idea. For one thing she didn’t want to put him in danger. For another she didn’t want to end up the subject of rumor and speculation now that Sandro was in the news with someone else.
“Of course it is. You told the news about your breakup. Now show your followers how much fun you’re having.”
“With Maya Dunham’s fiancé,” she said ruefully.
He laughed. “Why the hell not?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sandro kept glancing in the rearview mirror at the black van of security officers driving behind them on the way to the castle. Normally he’d have walked the relatively short distance through the village from the palace to the castle, but Gibran had made it clear that was not a good idea right now. Why did Altaleone have to be in an uproar when he wanted to show Serena how peaceful and beautiful it was here?
He’d survived an entire night knowing she was just on the other side of the wall from him, and it had required a very cold shower this morning to get himself ready to face her. She would barely let him touch her, and he’d had to steal a kiss. Desire was rising to dangerous levels inside him. Hopefully he’d get some quiet—and intimate—time alone with Serena soon before he blew like a volcano.
Darias and Emma welcomed them at the door, Emma leading Serena off to show her their newly decorated bedroom and Darias leading him into his study, where he plopped Lucky down on the floor. He’d grown used to having the sweet little dog as his shadow. “It’s all arranged.” His older brother seemed far more grim and serious than usual. “The Cross of Blood will hold the initiation tonight.”
Sandro stiffened. Tonight? He hadn’t thought it would happen that quickly. “Where?”
Darias hesitated. “The lake house.”
“What? Where Dad and Grandma were murdered? It’s in the middle of nowhere.”
“I know, but I was told it’s safer than meeting here in town. They say there’s an enemy right in our midst. Possibly in the castle or the palace, they’re not yet sure which.”
“Here? Are Emma and Serena safe?” Adrenaline flashed through Sandro’s veins.
“Yes. There’s no one here and this castle has been defending royals against marauders since it was built.” Darias’s eyes twinkled. “So Serena and your baby are fine.”
Sandro sighed. “I can’t believe you know about the baby. I suck at keeping a secret. She’d kill me if she thought I’d told you.”
Darias grinned. “No, she wouldn’t.”
“Trust me, she’s not that crazy about me. She thinks I’m an arrogant, entitled royal.”
“So? You are.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m just stating a fact. That said, I’m hugely appreciative that you are joining the Cross of Blood. The whole organization has me stumped, and because I’m king they all stand at a respectful distance and won’t tell me anything useful.”
Sandro’s gut flared with a warning. “Something weird happened.” He glanced around. “Is this room bugged?”
“Yes. Gibran has the whole castle bugged for our protection. Everywhere except the bedroom.” He winked.
Sandro looked around for some pen and a paper. Then he wrote, “Serena got a text telling her to convince me to join the Cross of Blood.” He wrote it in a close, scrolling hand so it would be hard to read if anyone was watching via camera. “So our enemy wants me in it.”
He watched Darias frown. “We should tell Gibran,” he murmured. He pulled some music up on his phone and set it playing.
Sandro shook his head. “I’m doing what they want, which should force their hand. If we learn what they want we’re ahead.” He spoke low, his words barely audible over the jazzy trumpets coming from Darias’s phone. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.”
“And I’ll be there.” Darias ran a hand through his hair. “But why do they want you to join?”
“The most obvious answer is that they want me to learn the bank code so they can try extract it from me. Who else knows the code?”
“Only the initiates, so, yes, that is a risk. But that’s not why our father and grandmother were murdered. There’s something more going on. A conspiracy that lies outside the Cross of Blood. And the Cross of Blood is there to protect us. So perhaps the person texting Serena is a friend, not an enemy.”
Sandro stared. Was it possible? “I didn’t see the text, but she seemed to think the tone was threatening. She was warned that I would die if she told anyone.”
“Apparently she told you and you’re still alive.”
“For now,” he lifted a brow. Then rubbed his hands together. “Damn, I’m ready to get on with it. I want to solve this mystery so I can get back to enjoying my life.”
“With Serena.”
“Hell, yes, with Serena.”
“All right, bro. I’ll do my best to stop you from screwing everything up with her.”
“I don’t need your help. I know what I’m doing. I told you to marry Emma, remember?”
“Before we knew anything about her. I could say your choice was just dumb luck.”
“Nonsense. I prefer to think of my excellent instincts as a gift.” Sandro grinned. “Now tell me more about these kinky aristos in the Cross of Blood.”
Serena followed Emma upstairs into her bedroom, which was beautifully decorated in chalky white, bleached wood and old-gold accents. It managed to be both masculine and feminine at the same time.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
“It’s also the only room in the whole castle that isn’t bugged,” said Emma with a wink. “How are things going between you and Sandro?”
“There’s really nothing going on.” She smiled. The smile was fake, but the words were true.
“I bet you two haven’t had a moment alone.”
“Nope! Which is fine, really. He’s a nice guy and everything but…” Luckily Emma didn’t know about the pregnancy.
“He’s a prince. Trust me, I felt exactly the same way. It never occurred to me that a man raised to be a royal could be the kind of giving, caring, truly loving man I could trust and count on. But that’s exactly what Darias turned out to be.”
“I’m sure he’s lovely, but just being here around all the servants and antiques and everything—”
She was interrupted by her phone ringing. It was her agent, Barbara Clay, whom she’d called to give the heads up about the breakup revelation. She was very hard to get hold of. Always “on the other line,” according to her assistant. “I’m sorry, do you mind if I take this call?”
“Go ahead.” Emma moved off to the far side of the room.
Serena answered the call, heart pounding. She wasn’t even sure if her agent knew she’d revealed the breakup. “Hello.” She glanced up. Emma was looking at a scarf she’d pulled out of a drawer.
“Uh, Serena, rumor has it that you broke up with Mr. Right.”
She swallowed. “Yes. It happened a while ago and I kept it secret until after the book was launched, but I had to let the truth out.”
“You do realize that it makes your book seem like fiction.” Barbara sounded almost incredulous. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“I didn’t think you needed to know.”
A long pause throbbed in the air. “I’m your agent. I need to know everything.”
“What difference does it really make?” She heard her voice rise. She felt defensive. “I didn’t want to break up with him. It was his idea. I didn’t want to ruin the book’s release since I already spent the advance.”
“I suppose that was the sensible choice. Still, I don’t like to be blindsided by this kind of news. I need to know. Is there anything else you’re keeping from me?”
I’m pregnant.
“No.” She could always pretend that she didn’t know yet. She couldn’t bear the thought of that news getting out into the world. She hadn’t even told her mom yet.
“Uh, are you sure you don’t have any news about something going on between you and a certain European prince?”
Serena chewed her lip. “I’m in Altaleone right now. With Sandro.” It felt like a fairly safe confession, being the honest truth.
“Wonderful.” Her agent’s voice brightened. “I love it. I’m pretty sure I could pitch a book about dating—and even better marrying—a
prince to your publisher.”
“No!” Serena panicked. Could Barbara do that without them even working up a proposal? Her first two books had been completely written—as blogs—before they were even shopped around. Only then had she been talked into adding all the stuff about her relationship with her supposed Mr. Right.
“It’s the perfect time to strike. You’re a hot property, on the best-seller lists. This will quickly eclipse the news that you broke up with an ordinary dude.”
“I…I…everything’s in a very early stage.” She glanced at Emma, who was at least pretending to be preoccupied with something else. “I’ll keep you posted.” Might as well keep her enthusiastic. Because she had another issue to ask about. “How long do you think it will be before I start to see royalties from the book?”
There was another intense pause. Then laughter. “You are kidding, right? I mean, you got a two hundred thousand dollar advance. You’re not ever going to see royalties on that book. It’s fallen off the lists already.”
Serena’s heart sank. She could hardly tell her agent about her cash crunch. She hadn’t heard a word from her Realtor about the apartment, which meant that yet another week had gone by where no one had wanted to see it. And where she hadn’t had time to make the kind of videos that generated her income. Which meant her audience was on the brink of deserting her in droves for more active and engaged content providers. Which meant that soon she wouldn’t be able to pay her mortgage and monthly maintenance fees and—
“I guess that wedding book idea we’d discussed is a no-go area.” Barbara had a snarky New York attitude that Serena had previously enjoyed. Right now it just hurt.
“I’m afraid so.” She been wracking her brain to come up with book ideas for weeks, but nothing made sense any more. Every time she started writing, her enthusiasm just fizzled out.
“I can see that your makeup videos are your money makers, but I can’t sell a makeup book.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” She wished she had some other hot potential idea to float, but the reality was that she didn’t. “At least the book hit the lists,” she said brightly.
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