Royal Hearts (Love At The Lake #2)

Epilogue

CAT

T hree months later, Marselisborg Palace, Aarhus, Denmark.

“When is Elias getting back?” Winter asks, pouring tea from a flowered china pot into a dainty cup and handing it to me. I notice our matching heart tattoos on our wrists and the sight makes me giddy.

The tea service arrived moments ago at our door. Winter wasted no time loading an assortment of Danish treats all over the coffee table in front of him. He’s been making me taste-test new things for weeks.

“He’s in Copenhagen for another week. A few more press events to attend, and then we’ll move into phase two when he gets back.” My laptop is under a stack of newspapers and magazines that get delivered to our rooms in the castle weekly. But I’m done working for today.

Off hours are off hours .

“Did you see this?” I hold up the New York Times. A headline screams across the front page, under the fold, that fallen popstar Lucy Lark is recording a new album. “They’re speculating that she’s recording grassroots style, in Clover. It’s a pretty public leak for a girl trying to hide and live off the grid. Not sure what it could mean for the town or for . . .”

“Ben. He’s going to be worried sick. We keep telling him to let her go, but he’s been taking care of her the whole time she’s been up on that mountain. Dropping supplies, fixing fence, and broken porch steps. We’ve all known her since high school, but I hate her a little for taking advantage of him like that.”

I push away from the pretty round table next to a window overlooking the grounds and join Winter on a down-filled striped sofa, marveling again at paintings of his ancestors on cheery yellow walls. “I’m sorry. Tell him I’m here if she needs help.”

“You and that soft heart of yours.”

“Yeah well, it’s not like I’m suffering. I’ve never been so happy, and I don’t like seeing others struggle.” This is about as fancy an office as I ever wished for, and Brand Hub’s budget is thankful. Instead of new offices, Allyn and I agreed to put that money toward some pro-bono accounts. I feel good about that, the Rushmores have referred friends in the graphic t-shirt business.

He wraps an arm around me and pulls me in. “Back to me. I’m you’re priority?—”

“Of course,” I confirm, a laugh falling from my lips.

“Phase two?”

“Meet the new royal family.”

Winter’s parents are here in Aarhus, staying in Marselisborg Palace along with Winter, Elias, and me for the spring. It’s quaint for a castle, and I love it. The gardens are closed to the public while the family is here, and I’ve had cobblestone walks attended by armed guards with tall fur hats with Winter every single day.

“We have a photo opp on the front steps scheduled when Elias is back, but I’ll hold your hand the whole way. You’re almost done, Win. This new arrangement is going to be good, it’s going to work.” It’s a whole new world and I love sinking into his culture, his country, and everything he loves and has missed for so long.

“As long as you continue to clock out every night, eat dinner with me in bed, wake me up with kisses in the morning. I can’t thank you enough for sticking by my side as I transition through the announcement of my abdication.” He pulls my feet into his lap.

“What’s on the agenda for tonight?” Things aren’t perfect, and I don’t think I’ll ever truly forgive Frederik for the way he treated Winter, but this is our new normal. His mom is trying. Elias is turning out to be the brother I never had: strong, determined, and ready to take on the world with Winter as his most trusted advisor. We hit it off instantly. His parents were slow to accept me, but Elias gave them no choice.

“Dinner out, it’s time to leave the love nest. I made reservations, and Annie is joining us. They’re closing for us, no paparazzi, no cameras. But first, look what I got you?—

“More socks?” I laugh as he pulls a pair of black socks with pink flowers from between couch cushions.

“I can’t help it. They made me think of you.” He slips them on my bare feet and I groan when he gives me a little foot rub, too. He drops a kiss on one ankle, and then the other.

“Let’s have desert first.” I crawl like a cat across the sofa and climb into his lap.

But he pulls me up before I’ve even gotten his shirt unbuttoned. I protest, but he shushes me, “You have to see this. You can have your way with me after,” he smirks.

We walk into the bedroom portion of our living quarters. This room is painted the palest pink with fresh floral arrangements on the dresser and famous oil paintings on the wall. Sunlight spills through soldered glass doors that lead to a small Juliet balcony and just beside them, next to our bed covered in soft linen sheets and silk blankets, are Lola and my black kitten, Mittens. Snoring away on a cushion in the sun.

“That’s probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” Mittens has brought out maternal instincts in me that I never knew I had.

“They’re so happy together. Who saw that coming?” He pushes open the doors and pulls me outside while we let our fur babies sleep. A light breeze swirls through my hair and he tucks it behind my ear. “And I’m so happy with you, too. But I need to ask you, Cat, you have to be honest with me . . .”

After a long pause, I stomp my socked foot and prompt him, “Spit it out.”

“Can you be happy living like this? I don’t want to lose you, but I know this life is demanding. I’ll have to be in Denmark for a good portion of my time every year, and I know you miss your sister.”

“And you miss all the guys.”

“I do.”

“So we split time, live here half the year, the other half in our little gingerbread cabin.”

“We’ll renovate, add on, whatever you want. I’ll call John today and ask to buy it. His house will still have a few acres attached to it, I don’t think he’ll mind.”

“And Frannie will love it.”

“And so will I,” he murmurs, dropping his lips to my neck. Rubbing a thumb across a ruby in my ear.

I look out across the palace grounds, a few fans are faintly visible beyond the gates holding signs that say, We love the prince and his PA.

“And so will I.”