Page 25 of A Fierce Princess

“Computers, literature, various princess-approved topics,” I say to him with a smirk.

He laughs. “Touché,” he says.

“You sure you’re OK, after yesterday?” he asks.

“Yeah. I’m really sorry I scared everyone.” I pause, afraid to tell him about my past.

“What?” he urges, he takes my hand in his and squeezes it. It gives me the strength I need to tell him.

“After my mom was killed, I zoned out a lot. I had night terrors. I would just…disappear into my own world. My dad put me in therapy for years. Eventually, I got over it, but every once in a while, I have a flashback. I guess the dead fish just triggered a memory from my past when my pet fish had died,” I say to him. “All these events sometimes get jumbled in my head. It’s overwhelming.”

“I understand, at least a little. I had nightmares after my mom was killed. It’s hard. I can only imagine it was much harder as a small child,” he says.

I shrug. “Maybe. It was confusing as a small child,” I say.

“I’m glad you booked my tour,” he says. “It’s been a fun week.”

I smile at him. “Yes, it’s been wonderful. I’ll remember it always,” I say to him. I yawn.

“You should get some sleep,” he says.

“I know. Thanks for keeping me company,” I tell him. We both stand and stare at each other in an awkward silence. I give him a quick hug and peck on the cheek before quickly heading down the stairs and into my cabin.

I flop onto the bed and stare up at the ceiling. I am so fucked. I don’t even know where to begin.

We have one more full day on our trip. I’m down to the wire, and I still haven’t a clue on how to save Logan.

Chapter 13

Icurse myself as I walk along a sandy shore of a small deserted island while my brothers finish swimming. I pick up a few shells and find a spot to sit. I shake my head at myself. I just need to rip off the Band-Aid and tell him. It won’t be easy, and he may hate me, but I have to save him, even if that means he can never be mine. The fact that M is likely back on the island also grates at me. I don’t want to risk anyone’s safety.

It’s halfway through our last full day, and I still have no plan, nothing, nada. I watch my brothers from a distance. They are playing around in the water now. From here, they look like two college-aged boys having fun with not a care in the world.

I sigh and run my toe across the sand.

“No more snorkeling?” Logan says as he walks toward me. I look up at him, shielding my eyes from the sun. The sun’s rays come from behind him, making it hard to see his features. He looks like a god, a chiseled, tanned god.

“I’m just enjoying the quiet,” I say.

He takes a seat on the rock next to me.

“It’s nice out here, huh?” he says.

I nod. “It’ll be hard to go back to reality after this week,” I admit.

“Where will you go from here?” he asks.

“Back home. I have to start taking on my royal duties,” I say.

“Ah, yes,” he says, clearly recalling our previous conversation.

“Are there duties that interest you?” he asks.

“Some of my mom’s charities,” I explain.

“Charity work is nice,” he says. “I help run a charity for low-income kids on Nassau.”

“That’s nice,” I say to him. His arm brushes mine, and I’m momentarily transfixed by the muscles bulging in it.