Carlo.
My eyes were blinded by the headlights of the vehicle as it turned and squealed away, and I was deafened by gunshots nearby. People were shouting, and there was a great heaving and brawling, many men in dark clothes. Another gunshot, and in the silence that followed, a still and bloodied form on the ground.
* * *
“I’m trying to wrap my brain around it,” he said. “Why did you go with him? Alone? Without telling anyone? Why?”
“You know why. He said…”
Carlo waved his hand, or he would have, if it wasn’t encased in a heavy cast. He made an exasperated sound and gave me a look.
“I trusted him, Carlo. I’m sorry. I know I let everybody down.” I blinked and looked away.
We were sitting in the sunroom, where the windows let in all the sun but none of the cold. We were both feeling numb and cold today, in the aftermath. His clothes rustled as he sat up, and he hooked an arm around me and pulled me down on the sofa with him.
Over by the door, Benecio cleared his throat, but we ignored him. The poor guy had had a rough night, beating himself up.
“You’ll never let us down, Cassie. It’s not in you.”
“It was stupid of me to fall for that. I’d had a bad feeling about him for days.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I knew something was off, but then he was right there…”
“And I wasn’t. I’m sorry.”
“You were following the protocol. It wasn’t your fault.”
He made a sound that wasn’t quite agreement. I turned to face him, and he brushed my hair back. I glanced at the door, but Benecio was gone.
“So,” Carlo said, “do you have any particular feelings about me?”
I answered with a kiss.
* * *
“There’s no impediment, Cassandra,” Aunt Sonia said. “Those rules were changed years ago, in order for Antonio and I to wed.”
“But what about the future of the monarchy? What about the bloodline?”
Aunt Sonia carefully set down her cup and nodded thoughtfully, looking out the window. “I understand what you mean. And it’s something I used to value, as well. But you are a royal, and your children will be too. Regardless of who your husband is.”
“The people, though.”
She looked amused. “The people? The ones who rioted so I could marry Antonio?”
“Um, yes. Them. Or rather, the ones who argue against the monarchy altogether. What if they use Carlo as an excuse to discredit our claim to the throne?”
“They’re doing that anyway, Cassie.”
I sighed. She was right.
“Anyway,” she continued, “being with Antonio has taught me that what’s really important in ruling a country is to be your best self. You could never be at your best if I married you off to someone’s great uncle Ferdinand of Hutchandsuch. You would be diminished by a marriage like that.”
Right again.
“So,” I said, “I can just...follow my heart?”
“You can,” she said, and she motioned to the window. “And right now, your heart is over there, under the olive tree. Go.”
* * *
“Three years, can you believe it?”
“No, Mr. Vaspasian, I cannot.”
“You’re lucky I stuck around.”
I chortled. “You weren’t going anywhere. You’re lucky I got you out of jail.”
He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckle. My ring caught the light, and sparkled like a fairy wish.
“I am,” he said. “And look at that…lucky again today.”
The sound of music swelled out of the ballroom into the streets, where all of Heledia celebrated after our wedding. We stood on a little balcony above the festivities, where we had escaped to for a few minutes alone before descending to greet the crowds.
“Who’s lucky?” I teased, wrapping my arm around his middle. I closed my eyes for his kiss.
“I am,” he repeated. “Now, shall we go, Mrs. Vaspasian? They’re all waiting.”
“Yes,” I answered, “let’s.”
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading my book. I hope you enjoyed this royal romance story.
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Also by Victoria Hart
The Royals of Heledia - Book 1 and 2
A Royal Renewal_The Royals of Heledia Page 18