Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“She has gone through a lot for you, Your Highness.”
“I am aware. I shall not disappoint her. I am also aware of your efforts to save me. I thank you for them.”
“It is my duty, sir.”
“I shall not forget it. Should you need anything, simply ask. If it is in my power, I shall see it done.”
“May I ask for that favor now?”
“What is it?”
“Lady Hathor refuses to go home, not wanting to leave your side, and her family is greatly worried for her. Will you please tell her to go see them?”
I did not want to do that. I did not want her out of my bed or my sight. This was what I meant when I said my heart pulled whenever I looked at her face. One side of me greedily wanted all of her time, her mind, her body—all of her, without a care for anyone else. The other part of me wanted her to be blissfully free.
It was strange how getting shot—nearly dying—didn’t change anything about my life or feelings. I was exactly the same person, only with a stronger desire to live.
“I will tell her to go, but you are to make sure she returns, as she is vital to my good health.”
28
Hathor
When the carriage came to a stop in front of my home, I felt strangely nervous. I did not know what to say to any of them. Especially not to my mama, not after how I’d yelled at her. I could only imagine how angry Papa would be. I’d broken a great many rules, and ignored my family entirely. The lecture I would surely get did not matter as much to me as the disappointment and embarrassment I was sure my behavior had caused them. It did not matter if Wilhelm was a prince, or that I was at the palace with the queen; I knew for certain that rumors of me would have reached the ton. How I often stayed alone with the prince at his bedside. Along with the other things that had happened before he was injured. I saw the maids whispering about all of it in the palace. So I did my best to ready myself. Stepping through the doors, I expected to find Mama and Papa waiting, and I was right—but it was not just them. It was everyone. Even Mini was in the foyer, looking at me from Damon’s arms.
I opened my mouth to speak, but all of a sudden, I felt a force slam into my waist so hard I nearly stumbled.
“You’re finally back!” Abena cried, hugging me tightly.
“My turn!” Devana called out as her arms wrapped around my neck.
“No, it is mine!” Hector said, also hugging me from my left side.
Suddenly, all three of them were hugging me at once, and very tightly.
I grinned. “Is this your way of saying you missed me, or of wishing me dead, as I am slowly being suffocated here?”
“It is far too soon for jokes of dying,” Damon said as he came forward. “Especially considering how you currently look as though you have arisen from the dead.”
“Even still, I look better than you. Is that gray hair on your head?” I shot back.
“Yes, that is how much stress you cause, troublemaker. I am quickly getting Father’s hair color.”
“Well, at least you take after him somewhat now,” I teased, reaching out and poking Mini’s cheek. “Not to worry. With any luck, you shall only take after your mama, Mini.”
She giggled at me, and I made faces back at her.
“I wonder whom you take after,” came the voice of my own mama, and just like that, all my siblings stepped away from me as though they were afraid, too. Mama’s face was stern, but her brown eyes were soft. “It must be you, Charles. I never worried my mother so much.”
“I must disagree, as I was not a troublesome child either, my dear. If she takes after neither of us, then she must have fallen from the sky. If so, she is a gift from heaven,” my father replied, and then walked over to me. As if I were a little girl again, he pulled me into the tightest hug. “Welcome home, my dear girl.”
“I’m sorry, Papa,” I whispered, hugging him back. He kissed the side of my head before letting me go to face Mama.
“Well, you all may welcome her, but I shall—”
“Mama!” I ran to her and hugged her waist tightly. “Do not say anything you will regret. My heart is very fragile of late.”
“Hmph!” She scoffed. “There is not a fragile bone in your body. You are made of brick and mortar.”
“How mighty you are, for bearing me then?” I replied, and she glared at me. I merely smiled back, and soon enough, she chuckled and shook her head, hugging me back.