Chapter 6

Once Philippe was gone, Michel showed up before I could call him. I gave him the rundown on what would be happening.

"I'll be ready whenever you are. Just knock," he told me. Then he left, and I was finally alone with Dani.

I padded down the hall to the office and quietly pushed the door open so that I wouldn't startle her if she was deep in her studies. However, she stood by the big picture window, staring at the city.

"I've lived here all my life, you know," she said, startling me because I hadn't realized she was aware of my presence. "My family has traveled all over the world, but New York City has always been my home."

"I know, princesse. It will always be home." I didn't want to leave New York either. It had become home when I moved here for work, but when I met Dani, it just solidified the tether I felt to this place. My heart was here.

She turned around, and her blue eyes were dark and tumultuous. "I understand why you didn't tell me. But it's going to take some time for me to stop being really freaking mad about it."

"As long as you still love me while you're angry, I'll pay whatever penance you ask of me."

Her lips curved up a little, but it didn't reach her eyes. "What did your brother need to talk about?"

I didn't want to worry her with this bullshit, but I wasn't going to keep anything from her again. "He fell in love and is abdicating the throne."

"Making you the next Crown Prince. No longer the ‘runner-up.'" Her tone was flat, and I hated it. She was usually so expressive. I didn't like this new stony exterior.

"No. It's not what I want. Philippe and I have a plan. But I need to go home to handle it."

Dani nodded and began to turn again, but I closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms. "Come with me, princesse. I'll show you my home and introduce you to my family."

She shook her head and blinked a few times as if holding back tears. But there was another lackluster smile on her face. "I should stay here. I have classes, and it's my sister's birthday next week. Besides, you have a lot to focus on, and the last thing you need is to worry about me."

"I always worry about you, princesse. Even more so when I am not with you to see to your protection and welfare. Please, come with me."

For a moment, I thought I'd convinced her, but then she shook her head. "If you come back, we'll plan a trip for another time."

"There is no if, Dani. I will be back. And when I come back, we'll focus on our future together. When, Dani. Say it."

"When," she whispered, but her lack of conviction ate at me. Unfortunately, if I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, I had to go now.

"Fuck, I hate leaving you right now. But I have just enough time for a reminder," I growled.

"A reminder?" She gasped when I scooped her up into my arms and stalked to the bedroom.

"A reminder of who you belong to, princesse."

Philippe satin one of the chairs across from the entrance to the plane. He stared out the window into the darkness, absently swirling a glass that most likely held scotch.

"Can I get you anything?" Aimeé—according to her nametag—asked as she took my coat and bag. I didn't recognize her, but it had been years since I took my family's jet anywhere. Glancing back at Michel, who was right behind me, he shrugged, obviously unfamiliar with her too.

"Whiskey. Neat." She nodded and turned to walk away, but I caught her arm. "Better make it a double."

Michel lifted his chin at me, then went to sit with Philippe's bodyguards since one of them was his brother.

I dropped into the seat across from my brother, and he looked over at me with surprise, obviously just noticing I'd come on board. Then he glanced around, his brow furrowing as he met my gaze again. "Where's Dani?"

"She somehow convinced me to let her stay behind," I grumbled. "Something is off. Besides our issues with my keeping a secret from her. And I'm pissed as fuck that I had to leave without handling it."

Philippe nodded, then took another swig of his drink. "I talked to Dad."

Before I could respond, Aimeé showed up with my whiskey. "Will there be anything else?" she asked, her tone a little too sugary. It made my teeth hurt.

"No, Aimeé," Philippe answered curtly.

"Let me know if you need anything. We should be taking off in just a few minutes."

I swallowed half the liquid in my glass before noticing she no longer stood beside us. "Where the hell did you find her?"

Philippe made a disgusted noise before finishing his scotch and setting his glass down hard on the low coffee table between us. "Fucking Beauchenes," he snarled. "She's somebody's distant something in-law or blah, blah, blah. Someone convinced the captain to hire her, and since we've always let him be in charge of the staff, I didn't even know about it. On the ride over here, she shoved her tits in my face so many times that I almost choked on her perfume. She proceeded to strip down as far as she could without technically being out of uniform. Then during turbulence, she ‘fell' into my lap and accidentally grabbed my cock."

"Why the fuck is she still working here, Philippe?"

"Because we needed someone, and I don't have time to deal with finding a replacement right now. When we get home, she'll be fired and forbidden to come near anyone in the royal family."

"Fair warning, if she comes anywhere near my junk, I will break her hand. And she'd be lucky because if Dani were here, she'd probably gouge her eyes out."

Philippe half smiled, his eyes going soft. "Yes, I imagine Isabella would do the same."

I'd told him a lot about Dani over the past six weeks, but I wanted to know more about the woman who'd claimed my brother's heart. I smiled and settled back into my seat. "We have a long ride. Tell me about her."

"Tristan!"

A beautiful woman with curly strawberry-blond hair came running at me when I walked into the family drawing room. I caught her around the waist and twirled. "Hey, baby sister!"

I set her down, and she promptly punched me in the arm, which really fucking hurt since we'd taught her how to defend herself. "Ouch, fuck, Céline!"

"Why am I just now hearing about this girl you're in love with? Philippe has known for weeks!"

"You know I tried to call, don't pretend it was all my fault that we couldn't seem to connect."

Céline tried to pout, but it was ruined by her snort of laughter. "Haven't you ever heard of a text message, old man?"

I tweaked her nose, and she yelped. "I wasn't going to tell you about the love of my life in a text."

"Fair enough." She grinned and slipped her arm through mine, leading me out of the drawing room. "Come on, have lunch with me and the kids. Philippe went to get Isa."

"She's here?" I asked incredulously. "Why didn't Philippe tell me?"

"He didn't know until I told him ten minutes ago." Her green eyes, so much like mine, twinkled. "I wanted to meet her, so I begged her to come here and surprise our dear brother. She is an absolutely lovely woman, and I have no idea why she is with our stodgy Philippe, but I won't question it because I want her as a sister-in-law."

I chuckled and shook my head. "You're always surprising me, yet your unpredictableness is always expected."

She stopped suddenly, and I turned to see her staring up at me. "Do you think I'm too unpredictable to rule?"

"Absolutely not!" I said emphatically. "Your feet are firmly planted on the ground, but your spunk and creativity make the people love you so much. We should have thought of it earlier, Céline. Honestly, I feel like an ass for never considering you to be the next in line, rather than me."

She nodded, and we started walking again.

"Will we be able to do it?" I was nervous to ask, but I needed the truth.

"I think so. Dad and I have been poring over the books in the royal library, looking for some kind of precedent to allow him to change the law. Or to at least find something that will allow us to shift the line of succession for this instance, then I can figure out how to change things permanently later."

"I've never been happier that you decided to get a law degree."

"Well, Mr. PhD, you know how to research, even if you don't know the law. So I expect you to be in the library with us tomorrow."

"Whatever it takes. I want all of us to have the lives we want."

After lunch with my rambunctious nephew and two nieces, I visited with my parents. At eight, I was fucking exhausted and headed to my room. It was three in the afternoon in New York, so after showering, I crawled into bed and dialed Dani's number.

"Hello?"

"Bonsoir, princesse."

I heard some rustling and ambient noises, then it went quiet. "Hi. How was the flight?"

"Boring. It would have been so much more fun to have you with me, princesse. The plane has a bedroom."

Dani chuckled, but it sounded off.

"What's wrong?"

"I just felt a little under the weather when I got up this morning, and I'm a little more tired than usual. I probably caught a bug, but I'm sure it will be gone in a day or two."

"I don't like hearing that you're sick when I'm not there to take care of you, princesse."

"I'm a big girl, Tristan," she sighed. "I know how to take care of myself."

"But you shouldn't have to," I grunted.

"Sometimes, we have no other choice."

I felt like there was more meaning behind her words, but I couldn't puzzle out what it was. "I miss you, princesse."

"I miss you, too, Tristan. So much." For the first time in our conversation, her words seemed more genuine, more like my princess.

"Did you meet Loni?" I asked, referring to the security woman I'd hired to watch over her while I was gone. "Janice will be your overnight protection, so I'm sure she'll introduce herself tonight."

Dani blew out a breath. "Yes, but like I constantly tell my dad when he tries to put bodyguards on me, I know how to defend myself." It was a statement I couldn't refute. Justice had made sure all of his girls could kick anyone's ass. Especially if they refused to have a security detail.

"Indulge me. I need to know you are safe."

"Fine," she muttered. "Listen, I need to go. I have class in ten minutes."

"Of course. I love you, ma princesse."

She hesitated for just a beat, but I still noticed, and it made my heart squeeze painfully. "I love you, too, Tristan. Bye."

After hanging up, I immediately called Loni.

"What can I do for you, Dr. St. Clare?"

"I want updates on Dani twice a day. Who she talks to, where she goes, what she fucking eats, everything. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

I ended the call and plugged my phone in on the nightstand, then flopped onto my back and stared at the ceiling. No matter how tired I was, I was so used to sleeping with Dani that I was restless without her. Then when I finally fell asleep, I dreamed of her. I woke in a hot, sweaty mess and forced myself to take an icy cold shower before giving up on sleep.