Royal Chase

“What did she say?” His eyes narrowed. I liked when Dante was angry with someone on my behalf.

“I think she called me a ‘daft, lying minger,’ but don’t quote me, because I’m not fluent in psychotic whore.”

He put a hand over mine, making my hand tingle. “Don’t worry. It will all work out in the end.”

How could he not stay angry? His calmness and rational behavior made me feel worse, which could lead to bad things. Because I was still liable to choke a witch out.

“Do you want to call Kat?” He handed me his phone, and I nearly hugged him. It was exactly what I wanted. “I’ll come get it after I finish packing.”

I dialed her number and she picked up almost immediately. “Hey, Dante! How are things going with . . .”

“Lemon?” I finished for her.

“Oh, Lemon, hi!” She sounded frazzled. “No, I was going to say ‘how are things going with the show.’ You know, just life in general.”

I decided not to give her grief. And I could hardly be upset if she and Dante were having conversations about me. I’d certainly had enough conversations with Nico about her.

We talked about her schedule, and how she and Nico were flying back in a few days to Monterra for the visits Dante would have with his family and the three remaining girls. Now I was glad that I was staying to almost the end, because I desperately missed seeing my best friend.

If you ended up with Dante, you could see her all the time, that stupid voice in my head said. I told it to hush up.

“How are things going with you?” she asked.

“Well, let’s see. I’ve probably gained five pounds, there’s only four of us left, and Abigail tried to poison me.”

“What the actual frak?” Kat screamed into the phone. “She tried to poison you? I will hire a car and drive down there and strangle her myself! I’m pretty sure I have diplomatic immunity or something. Even if I didn’t, Nico wouldn’t ever let me go to prison. What’s your address? I need it right now.”

“You’re not going to kill her, darlin’.” I sighed. “That will lose me my job. But feel free to ignore her when she comes to the palace.”

“I’m going to do more than that,” she said, her voice angry. “I bet I could get some of the security detail to take care of her. Lorenz could make it look like an accident.”

“Kat, darlin’.” She needed to come back to reality.

“I know, I know. I’m just angry. I’m not actually homicidal. I’m just frustrated. This feels like Lady Claire all over again. What is it with us and British skanks?” Lady Claire was a noblewoman we met in Paris who had set out to break Nico and Kat apart.

Happily, it hadn’t worked.

“You know, you and Nico never thanked me for pushing you two together and helping you to defeat Lady Claire.”

“Push? You bludgeoned us together.”

That was about as good as it was going to get. “You’re welcome.”

“So how did she try to poison you?” I told her the same story I’d shared with Dante.

She let out a sound of disgust. “We should start building an ark because it is seriously time for a flood. What is wrong with people?”

“Either she really wants Dante for herself, or it’s about the fame.” I couldn’t blame her if she did want Dante. Even if she was literally one of the worst people I had ever met.

“And what about you?” Now she sounded tentative. I’d always had the motherly role in our friendship, and I knew Kat wanted to help me, only she wasn’t sure how to go about it. “Other than the attempt on your life, how are things going? Like with the wedding?”

I lay down in my bed, looking up at the ceiling. “The wedding’s on track. Momma’s taken care of everything. It’s just . . . I’m not sure there’s going to be a wedding.”

She didn’t respond.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“I did. I’m just trying to figure out what to say so that you won’t get mad or stop telling me stuff.”

“I know what you think. I’m just . . . I might be agreeing with you. Although, maybe it’s because of the situation. It’s hard not to imagine yourself falling in love when you’re in a place like this. Where everything is romantic and amazing and exotic. It’s not real life.”