Page 17

Chapter 17

Cat

T hree days later, I was working in the diner when a commotion erupted outside. Lights flashed as if a storm was approaching, though the day was clear and sunny.

The front door burst open and Deegar—no, make that Prince Deegar—strode inside. His gaze snapped around the diner before pinning me in place where I stood behind the bar, a carafe of coffee in my hand.

“Hey,” Dr. Yang said. “Hey!”

Everyone stopped speaking. Some turned toward the door while others looked at me.

I realized I’d not only filled Dr. Yang’s coffee cup but the saucer beneath.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, dropping the carafe on the counter beside his cup.

“Cat,” Deegar said softly. “Cat.”

How could I face him after he’d held back the most important part of himself?

I spun on my heel and bolted through the kitchen and out the back door. I rushed through the neighbor’s backyard and when I hit the street, I veered toward the ocean, not stopping until I stood so close to the water, the waves splashed on my work sneakers.

I couldn’t see a damn thing; my eyes kept weeping. The tears trickled down my cheeks and plopped in the sand by my feet.

“Cat,” Deegar said, coming up behind me. “I’m sorry. I hoped you’d be happy to see me.”

I was. More than anything.

“You left,” I said, bitterness filling my mouth. “You never sent word. I was scared something had happened to you.” At first that is. “Then I went to your fan page and . . .”

“You found out who I am.”

“Yeah.”

He walked around to my front, splashing through the water, facing me. He seemed oblivious to the waves smacking against the backs of his legs. “I love you.”

“My heart’s shattered. I spent the past five days worrying that you were dead. I filed a police report, and let me tell you, I felt foolish after I went to your fan page and saw pictures of you having fun signing a treaty, savoring a dinner with a gorgeous orc woman, and returning to the orc kingdom as if everything we said to each other, everything we did, meant nothing.”

He took my hands and dropped to his knees. “I went to collect your mail, and my bodyguards grabbed me.”

That would explain why he didn’t have his phone.

“They tracked me down after my posts about the diner on Chatbook.” He clung to my hands when I tried to pull away. “I fought them, but there were too many of them and they were chosen because they’re the best the kingdom has to offer. My family has an armored vehicle. I couldn’t escape to come back to you.”

“Because of the treaty signing?” I’d read about it online.

“I was told it was ready and if I didn’t sign, the deal wouldn’t go through. I love you. I want to be with you. I would’ve endangered everything to come back to you, but I couldn’t break free.”

“What about the orc woman?”

He frowned and shook his head. “I don’t know who you mean.” When his face cleared, he sighed. “If you saw pictures of me with . . .” He pulled his wallet from his back pocket—a very humanlike thing that surprised me—and slipped out a photo of the same woman. “This is my cousin, Valina.”

“She’s pretty.”

“She’s amazing.” He grinned, though it held too much sadness. “She’s now the heir to the orc kingdom. I’ve renounced the throne and handed it to her.”

“You didn’t,” I breathed.

“I did.” He flashed me a smile, but it faded fast. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I am. I should’ve. But . . . It’s stupid actually, but at first, I wanted to be a regular old orc, someone who’d walk into a diner and meet the woman of his dreams. And then as I got to know you, I wasn’t sure how to tell you. I can’t make that up to you, but if you give me a second chance, I’ll try.”

“Deegar.” I wasn’t sure what to say. I’d tried to stamp out the love I felt for him, but it was impossible. “You really gave up the throne?”

He nodded. “I spent the past three days in the orc kingdom fixing this so I could return to you and be with you always. Didn’t you see my message on TV?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t watched TV.”

“Not even a romcom?”

How could I when he wasn’t sitting beside me, laughing? “No.”

“Do you have your phone handy?”

“Why?”

He held out his hand. “I don’t have mine, so I can’t show you.”

No harm in that. I handed it over and he scrolled it with a skill I envied.

“When did you get so good with phones?” I asked.

“I made my head bodyguard show me how to use it while we waited for the final treaty paperwork and as he took me back to the orc kingdom.” He turned the phone my way. “Note the date.”

Three days ago.

He pressed play on the video, and it showed him leaving the embassy, shouting out for me and telling me he loved me, that he’d come back to me.

I tried to swallow, but it wouldn’t pass the solid lump in my throat. “I didn’t see it.”

“I made a vow, and I’ve kept it. I’m here. I want to stay with you forever. And I love you more than life itself. What do you say? Will you be my true mate, my forever love, and the reason I exist?”

My heart split wide open and the pain I’d felt for days spilled out. No, it was pushed out by my love for this orc.

“I love you, Deegar,” I croaked. “I missed you so much.”

He opened his arms. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

I jumped into his arms, and he spun me around while we kissed. He lost his footing and tumbled into the water, shocking us both.

We rolled in the water, still kissing.

And there wasn’t anything better than that.