Chapter 19

Flora

Callum has made it a priority to keep me busy over the week that Torben is missing.

Lucky for me, the queen keeps Uther preoccupied with tracking Torben down, and it’s all hands on deck for the security team.

Much to Mother’s chagrin, a social media post has surfaced in which Torben, wearing a terrible mustache disguise, has his arm around some American girl in cut-off shorts while molesting a large silver statue somewhere in the U.S. One of the Virginias I think. So, maybe technically in Washington, D.C.? I have no idea about American geography.

So, it appears the Favored Prince is sowing his wild oats in the only way the oldest brother seems to know how: in the dorkiest way possible.

On top of that bit of good news, Sigurd hasn’t come around the cottage much since Father made his decree that the boys have to settle down, get married and start producing heirs. Etienne and Sigurd have been sequestered at the palace, and I, being the youngest, am more or less out of the crosshairs.

So instead of one hour here and one hour there, Callum and I have been enjoying a lazy time together, mostly naked as jaybirds. It is the most glorious 24 hours of my life.

The two of us are still asleep in the early morning hours when a phone notification wakes me up.

Torben: Small favor?

Me: Are you serious? After your disappearing act?

Torben: I’m sorry I made you worry. We’ll sort through all of that later, but this is a fashion emergency, and I need your help.

Me: What in the ever-living fuck is a Mothman and why were you molesting its butt?

Torben: Flora, please! My fiancée left West Virginia without any clothes, and people are waiting for us to deboard the plane and although she’s beautiful no matter what, I can’t have her feeling self-conscious about short trousers and a Dolly Parton tee-shirt.

Me: I got you.

Callum nuzzles my neck, getting me all fired up again.

I turn to accept his kiss.

“What’s going on?” he asks lazily, his eyes still closed.

“That was my brother.”

He opens one eye. “Really?”

I’m busily texting Sable, Sigurd and Etienne.

“Yep. And I’ve got work to do. We’re about to meet my soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

Callum hauls me on top of him, making me drop my phone.

“See? I told you there’s nothing to worry about. You can marry who you want,” he says. “The pressure’s off.”

I wish my brain believed that.

Sigurd texts that he’s waiting for me in the car with Etienne. Sable is already on her way to the airport. My stomach jumps because I have to haul ass, and Sigurd’s going to wonder where I am if I’m not in the palace.

“I’ll come with you,” Callum says.

“Better not,” I say, getting up from the bed and throwing on my clothes. “We don’t want my brothers finding out this way.”

I kiss him on the nose, but he doesn’t look pleased.

I’ll have to deal with that later. For now, I have family stuff that comes first.

The gut-wrenching thought follows me to the airport: I wish circumstances were different and Callum could be a part of all this family stuff. The urgent stuff, the happy stuff, and everything in between.