Page 29 of Coral Prince Conundrum (Runaway Prince Hotel #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Seero

I play with my wrists as I stare at the mirror.

The suit is suffocating, but I must admit, the jacket makes my shoulders look appealing.

Apparently, there is some merit to the Western way of wearing fine clothes.

I put on my dark gloves, then pick up the coral totem I commissioned for this event and pocket it. Hopefully, Daryl likes what he sees.

What if he’s moved on? What if he hates me because my sister tried to kill him? What if he’s upset that I haven’t called him? What if all of the above?

“You’re not second-guessing things, are you, brother?” Oroy appears behind me in the mirror and pats down his suit. “Because we look great. Very cowabunga. Very groovy.”

I roll my eyes at his strange use of American slang as it mixes with his Corali words. I did not live here for more than five months, but even I know he is not using the terms correctly. Regardless, I’m happy to have one sibling by my side, and not, well, trying to murder me.

“I am just nervous,” I reply in Corali.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about! You are doing a grand romantic gesture.”

“What’s that?”

Oroy snickers and plays with his tie, and I move out of the way of the mirror. I am content that he is staying on another floor. If all goes well, Daryl and I will need our privacy. If things go really well, the whole hotel might hear us at night. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

“Do you not watch American movies, brother? Did you not learn anything from the great global survey?”

I frown. “I literally presented stacks of worldwide information to pass bills with our lawmakers.”

“Right.” My brother pushes his hair down, and I forget that he looks almost identical to me at times. “It is when the hero finds his love interest and surprises them, declaring his love.” He turns and gives me a thumbs-up. “It is most cowabunga,” he says in English.

I laugh softly. “My hope is that he is willing to forgive me for letting him get hurt.”

My brother’s smile falls. He turns and places his hands on my shoulders. “That was not your fault, brother. You did not ask our sister to be a murderer.”

I nod solemnly. Oroy has been my rock, taking my side all the way during the trial of my sister. I am glad that our parents have kept her locked up. Admittedly, her cell is a luxurious wing in the palace, but she is unable to swim away and hurt anyone else, and that is all that matters.

The phone in my pocket buzzes, and I pick it up.

“It is from Justice,” I say. “They are almost done eating, leading to the dance portion of the night. Wait, what does this symbol mean?”

My brother looks at it and grins. “That is a winky face emoji.” He closes one eye and beams at me, and I can’t help but laugh. “In this context, it means he is ready for whatever plan you have.”

I nod, and my pulse races. I was not even this nervous before speaking to the entire United Regions meeting. This time, so much more is at stake . So, I take my mask and place it over my face, and walk out the door.

My heart pounds faster when I spot him sitting alone.

The elation from seeing him again after weeks is indescribable.

My soul is pulled to his, the way the tide always returns to the shore.

The man I love, the one I care for, my soulmate, is seated right there.

He doesn’t seem to recognize me, so I make my move.

Once I stand before him, I hand him the offering, a coral made from sea glass. “Daryl Tishman,” I say. “May I have this dance?”

He blinks at me, eyes wide in shock. When I take off my mask, a small gasp escapes his lips.

“W-What? How?” he whispers.

My eyes sting as I smile. “It is good to see you, Daryl. I just want to say— oof !” My words are cut off when he darts up and embraces me. Daryl is hugging me, and I breathe in his perfect, masculine scent. Home .

In such a short period of time, Daryl has become my rainstorm in a drought, giving me life. I am complete once again.

He hisses and pulls back in pain, and I stare at him in panic. “Oh no!”

“Just gotta sit down,” he says, easing back into his chair.

I pull a chair close so we can talk, grateful that we have privacy in this part of the ballroom.

I notice the metal apparatus next to him; Justice informed me that most of his injuries are healing, and he is using the device known as crutches.

If he were with me, I would have servants wait on him every moment of every day, so that he never endures any physical exhaustion.

With the pain gone, he beams at me again, eyes sparkling in the darkness. “Seero, what are you doing here?”

I take his hand and shrug. “I thought I would do some dancing. It is for charity, no?” My fingers play with his, and I thank the ocean gods he’s still alive.

He laughs softly and wipes at his eyes. “How could you do this?” he whines.

My smile falls. “I am…most apologetic that you got hurt. Words cannot express how sorry I am.”

“No.” He rolls his eyes. “How could you just appear here without telling me?”

“I…was not available until recently. And your father, Layla, and Justice all agreed that this would be an appropriate time for a…romantic gesture?” My heart pounds and my cheeks warm. “I will admit, I have never had to do any of this. Suitors usually line up for me.”

Daryl scoffs, gripping my hand. “So you thought it best to surprise the shit out of me, a man with a messed up ankle?”

I cringe. “I was hoping that you would think it was sweet. They told me you have not been dating anyone.”

Daryl huffs and rolls his eyes with a smile. “If I weren’t injured, I’d launch myself forward and smack you upside the head.” We both laugh. “And I’d do other things…” His words allude to so much as his fingers trace my palm. Arousal shoots straight to my groin. “Like…kiss you, maybe?”

My eyebrows jump, and I nod on instinct. “Okay!”

“It’s stupid.” He wipes his eyes and looks down.

“No, it is not!”

“I’ve just…missed you so much.” He gazes off at the happy couples dancing a few yards away. “But I didn’t think you’d come back. I saw you on the news at all those summits, and…”

“I am right here,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I shouldn’t try to kiss you.” Panic races through my soul. Was this all for nothing? “We haven’t spoken, and like…I don’t even know if you’re single, or like…willing to…”

“Daryl Tishman. I sailed across the ocean just to be here with you for this event.”

He looks at me, his brown eyes twinkling with fondness. “Why didn’t you contact me? I’ve been out of the hospital for weeks. I just assumed you were done with me since you’re this big global ambassador now.”

I frown and grip both his hands. “I do not wish to be done with you.” Warmth floods my cheeks. “I was just…ashamed that you got hurt. Because of my family. I thought you would be mad at me, but here I am, still wanting to try…this…between us.”

A hopeful expression appears in Daryl’s eyes. “Us, like just a friend thing?”

I shake my head and smile. “I am going to lean forward and kiss you now, to prove that I want so much more than friendship.” His eyebrows jump, and I move forward. “You can say no, at any time, Daryl.”

I don’t even make it halfway to his seat before he’s grabbing my face. He puts his mouth on mine with force, kissing me with fervor. In that moment, a part of my soul heals. In this kiss, the longing and guilt I held for the past four weeks wash away with the tide.

We’re broken from the kiss to the sound of someone clapping. To my left, in a far corner, my brother is cheering. We laugh, and I look back at Daryl. “It seems we have an audience,” he says.

I roll my eyes. “My brother has been emotionally supporting me.”

He grins. “Well, if I didn’t have his number, I might not have been able to send anyone the video clip of your sister’s confession.”

I wince. “I am so sorry about that.”

Daryl waves his hand. “You didn’t force her to do anything. And I think this more than makes up for it.” He leans forward and pulls me in by my suit collar. We kiss and kiss, mouths melding, despite being in public.

When we pull off, I laugh and hold his forehead to mine. “I am so grateful you’re here,” I whisper.

“Right back at ya, Coral Prince.” We both chuckle. “I take it your guards also came with you?”

I look around and notice my security detail blending in with the background.

Elsewhere, my brother stacks too much food onto a small plate, and someone I do not recognize in a white suit gazes at him from a distance.

Huh . I am sure the our guards will keep Oroy safe.

“I am afraid so.” Turning back to my love, I add, “But, um, I have my own room for the night.”

“Really?” he purrs with interest.

“Yes.” I trace my fingers around his palm, up his wrist. He is so precious to me. “I know there is much to discuss. Between us. But if you stay with me tonight, we could have some privacy.”

His face brightens like a thousand glowing krill in the deep. “I am very down to do that, Seero.” He reaches for the metal crutch. “Let me text my dad and we can?—”

“Wait, wait.” I stand up, and he looks at me with an adorably confused expression. “I believe I asked you a question when I first got here.”

“What?”

I reach out my hand. “Daryl Tishman, may I have this dance?”

He grins at me, and when he lets me pull him up, my heart swells with joy. He takes the crutches under his arms, and I allow him to gradually amble to the nearest part of the dance floor. The music slows down, the strumming of string instruments rises, and the lights dim.

Here, in the Renversé Hotel, everything is perfect. Because I have Daryl Tishman with me, my kaluluwa , the one I was meant to be with.

“I can’t…um…” he murmurs. He shows me his arms trapped in his crutches, and I snicker.