Chapter 25

25

J en

Three days later…

“We should do one more circuit,” I tell Steel as I wipe my forehead with the bottom of my T-shirt.

His eyes are on my naked midriff when I drop my shirt. It gives me a small thrill, even though it really shouldn’t. Apparently, I’m an idiot because I can’t stop thinking about that night. About the sex. About doing it again.

It can’t happen.

It can never happen again. My focus is on getting to know the candidates. Soon, I’m going to have to pick one.

Steel is breathing hard. He looks at his watch. “We should get back. You need to start getting ready for your next meet and greet soon.”

I laugh. “You’re tired. It’s not that hard to admit.”

He rolls his eyes, the sides of his mouth starting to lift in what could grow into a smile. “Not even close.” He glances back at the four guards trailing us and then forward at the group who are ahead. They’re all in full uniform, including their masks. “I think we should give them a break.”

I giggle. It rained half the night, which means that it’s even more humid than normal. That, coupled with insane heat, has the guys doubled over and trying to catch their breath. I don’t have to see their faces to know that they are under a lot of strain.

I nod. “You’re right. Let’s go back.”

Steel nods.

I adjust my cap, checking to see if my ponytail is still okay through the gap at the back.

Steel starts to walk, but I touch his arm. I quickly pull back, realizing that it’s the first time I’ve touched him since…since that night.

Not thinking about it.

He turns his dark eyes on me; they’re slightly narrowed in confusion.

“I just wanted to thank you for this.” I look around us, feeling the light breeze on my face and the sun on my skin. “It feels good to do something that feels normal, even if we are being trailed by a bunch of guards and we’re jogging the circumference of the palace grounds. I never thought I would say something like that in my lifetime, but here we are.” I laugh. “I guess it’s as close to normal as I can get right now.” I sniff and lick my lips. “I just wanted to thank you…that’s all.”

“My pleasure. I’m sorry I was such a hard-ass before. I shouldn’t have been quite so…” I can see he’s wrestling with finding the right word.

“Mean,” I insert. “Assholerish.”

He laughs. “That’s not even a word.”

“Yes, it is, and it’s what you were to me when we first met.”

“Okay…fine…you’re right. I acted assholerish.” He’s still grinning broadly, and I can’t help but think how sexy he looks when he smiles.

“Oh, and annoying,” I tell him. “You were seriously annoying. You’re still a little annoying, if I’m honest.”

He chokes out a laugh. “How am I annoying?”

“You just are. You can’t help yourself.” Steel is the perfect specimen of a man, and I find that exceedingly annoying. I can’t tell him that, though. I won’t!

“Thanks.” He shakes his head, still smiling. Then he turns serious as we enter the palace. “Are you ready to meet another candidate today?”

“Yes.” I nod.

He grunts, pushing the button for the elevator.

The last two candidates were really nice. There were no sparks, just like with Logan, but they were sweet, kind, and easy to be with.

It will all work out. I know it will. It has to. I have to focus on my family, on their well-being, and it will end well for all of us. If I pick a good person, I’m sure he’ll help me get my family to Mistveil. The more I think about it, the more I feel that getting them here would be the right thing to do. It would be the best thing for all of us. We have no other family on the Mainland. It’s just the three of us, and we have to stay together. I have to be there for them. I’ll make a relationship work. I think it will be easier once Steel is out of my life. I keep thinking about what he said, namely that he would remove himself from this assignment. Although there’s a part of me that feels it would be terrible because I meant it when I said that I could trust him. I highly doubt I would feel as safe with anyone else. Having said that, I think it would be better if he left now. I am in danger of falling for him. Of sleeping with him again, which would lead to me falling for him. I’m torn. I just need to stick to the plan, that’s all.

We step out of the elevator and go down the hallway.

“What the hell?” Steel says under his breath as we round the corner. There must be over twenty guards lined up in the hallway. They’re all in full uniform, including masks.

This is way more than the general usually has. We walk between them.

“What is it?” I whisper. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Steel says. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Probably another clause. Or maybe one of the candidates has dropped out.”

“No one has dropped out.” Steel gives me a look that has a shiver running through me. “You can trust me on that one.”

No one tries to stop us; they all just stand there lining the hallway like statues. The door to the apartment is open. Someone is waiting inside for us.

I walk into the apartment, and the general is sitting on the sofa. He stands as we enter. I frown as soon as I see him. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something different about him today. He looks the same as he always does, yet…not, which is weird. He looks just as serious, only nicer, somehow.

Steel bows his head. “Your Royal Highness.” He looks him in the eye. “It is good to see you again.” He does that sort of smile thing I’ve seen him do a few times. Up until now, he has always been tense around the general. This is different. Even the air feels different. What is going on?

Steel steps forward. “This is the Crown Prince Frost, Miss Harris. He is heir to the throne and General Ice’s twin brother.”

Oh, crap!

Okay, well, that would explain it. He isn’t Ice. He’s Ice’s twin.

“Good morning. It’s nice to meet you.” I curtsey. At least, I hope it’s along the lines of a curtsey.

“No need for that, Miss Harris. The king asked me to check in. He wanted me to establish how things were progressing.”

“That’s really nice of him,” I say, sounding like an idiot.

“Arctic feels he should have taken a greater role when you first arrived on our island under such strange circumstances. Ice insists that you can’t remember a single thing about how you got here.” He narrows his eyes on me. “He said you woke up on the beach with a terrible headache.” He lifts a brow.

I don’t say anything. Amnesia is an almost impossible pill to swallow. This is real life, not some 1990s soap opera.

I shrug. I really don’t have anything to offer that wouldn’t be another outright lie. Thankfully, he drops it and doesn’t press me further on the matter.

“I’ll get to the point; how are you doing, Miss Harris?”

“I’m fine. I’m not sure what it is that the king would like to know exactly. I’m on track with meeting the candidates. It’s going well.”

“Have any stood out so far?”

“One or two candidates, but it’s hard to tell. It’s impossible to get to know someone in just a few hours.”

“You’re right. Do we need to increase the number of visits? Perhaps you can make a shortlist and have you meet with those individuals several times before committing.” Frost doesn’t wait for my reply. “Just so you know, we can also increase the number of candidates. So far, Ice has hand-picked the males himself. Perhaps no one feels right, in which case I will ask him to expand the search.”

More meetings.

Expand the search.

I instantly panic. I don’t want this to drag on. The chances of me falling head over heels in love with one of the candidates are little to none, no matter how many of them I meet. No matter how many meetings I have with each one.

Finding love will be tricky, if not impossible.

My brain instantly lands on Steel, and I shove the thought aside because what the heck!? No! I slept with him once. It was just sex. He’s not in the running. Never will be.

“That won’t be necessary, but please thank the king for his concern. I appreciate it,” I say.

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.” I nod.

“We understand your reasons for doing this, and they are sound. Your family back home needs the money. I’m sure you are aware of this, but they received an advance, as per Arctic’s request, which means that there is time for you to decide.”

Wait just a minute. Say what?

“Arctic requested the advance?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I’m shocked, that’s all. I assumed it was the general.” The asshole made it sound like it was all his plan. What a jerk!

“Ice agreed that it was a good idea, but make no mistake, it was Arctic who insisted you get the money upfront.” Frost nods. “He knows all about your family and how you have been taking care of them from such a young age. The only reason Arctic was on board with this at all was that you needed the funds, which Ice agreed to front.”

I glance at Steel, whose gaze softens as soon as I lock eyes with him.

Frost runs a hand down the front of his uniform, like he’s trying to smooth a nonexistent crease. “Know that Arctic is greatly concerned about your well-being. I must be honest with you, Miss Harris; he doesn’t like this whole setup. He hasn’t liked it from the start, but Ice has been insistent, like a dog with a bone. Once my twin fixates on something, he doesn’t let it go easily. He has decided that you are needed on the island. That you’d make a good test subject for when Tributes start to come in from the Mainland, and perhaps he is right.”

“I wouldn’t know anything about that except to beg you to keep in mind that we humans are people with lives and feelings. That we didn’t ask to be here.”

“Rest assured that Tributes will not be brought to the island against their will. We will not operate like Draig does. We are still working through the ins and outs of how the Mistveil Tribute Program will work. We are taking it seriously, I assure you. Just like we’re taking your situation seriously.”

“That’s good to know.” My fate does not rest solely with the general. It gives me peace of mind. Arctic is scrutinizing this whole situation. I will be able to choose. My family will get the money. Perhaps I will be able to appeal for them to come and live on the island. Life will be good. I will make the most of it.

“Are you content to proceed with finding a mate? I can have you on the next flight to the Mainland if you are not one hundred percent certain.”

“I will stay. Thank you for checking in.”

“If you change your mind, please do not hesitate to let us know. You will be granted safe passage home.”

“That is good to know. Thank you.” I smile, even though I feel like screaming inside. This was easier when I didn’t have much of a choice.

I burn to tell the prince that I would like to be on the next flight. It’s on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t do it. I need to do what’s best for Caleb and my mother.

“Understand that Arctic is very ready to pull the plug on this project, Miss Harris. I mentioned earlier that many aspects of this arrangement do not sit comfortably with him.” Frost glances at Steel for a moment before looking back at me. “It is important that you are aware of that. As well as of your rights. This is all up to you. There is no pressure to mate with anyone.”

“Noted. Thank you. Please tell Arctic…the king, that I want to go through with this. I’m fully on board. As you mentioned earlier, my family needs the funds.”

Frost nods. “I will make the king aware of your wishes, that they have not changed. Know that he will be reassured. I will be back. I will check in with you often.” He nods once.

“Thank you for stopping by, Your Royal Highness,” Steel says. “I will keep Miss Harris safe…I swear. I will inform you immediately if she changes her mind.”

Frost smiles. It lasts all of three seconds. It looks sad. “I know you will, Steel.”

Steel’s whole frame tenses. His jaw, too. He looks down at his feet for a few seconds like he’s composing himself, then he bows his head. “Give King Arctic my best.” His voice is gruff.

Frost leaves, closing the door behind him.

“What was that?” I ask.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s like they don’t trust Ice…and with good reason,” I say. “He’s a lying son of a bitch. The more I get to know him, the more I dislike him. He acted like it was all his idea to give me the advance. Like he was doing me a favor. Then he lied to you about me. About my family.”

“He’s not opposed to lying to get what he wants, but he loves being a royal. He loves the power, the prestige. He won’t like that Arctic is involving himself to this degree.”

“I’m feeling far more relaxed about the whole thing. At least I know for sure that my family will get the funds they need. I don’t trust Ice.”

“Arctic is a good male and a great king; you have nothing to worry about.”

I nod. “I have to see this through, even more so now than ever before.”

“I know.” I see a flash of something that looks like pain in his eyes, but I could be mistaken. Then he smiles. “I want you to know that I think you’re brave, selfless, and truly courageous. I think most people would have chosen the easy way out, but not you. You are—”

Steel’s cell phone rings, the sound filling the room. The word “General” flashes on the screen.

“What does he want?” Steel asks. He swipes to answer. “General. What can I do for you?”

Then he listens to whatever the general is saying.

“Yes, that is correct, the crown prince was just here. He left a few short minutes ago.”

There’s more talking from the general. Steel goes on to fill him in on what happened with Frost.

The general barks something I can’t quite make out.

“Yes, Miss Harris made it clear that she is happy to continue in line with the current plan.” He locks eyes with me.

The general says something else and then puts down the phone. Steel looks at his cell phone screen. “Goodbye to you too,” he mutters.

“I take it he isn’t happy.” I roll my eyes.

“Ice doesn’t like his toes being stepped on. Even if the one doing the stepping is the king. He likes to be the one pulling all of the strings. Also, I’d say that he’s afraid you’re going to back out.”

I wish I could.

I wish so badly that things could be different.

I plaster a smile on my face. “Not happening.”