I frown and turn the words over in my head. I’ve never been enough.
“Frankly, the thought of even admitting that I have scars makes me want to hurl myself bodily into the ocean.”
Aiden is chuckling. “I know. But the way you’ve been doing things isn’t working, is it?” He raises both brows and I make a face at him because it’s my job as the younger one. “Now come on,” he says. “Let’s figure out how to keep Grandfather from exiling you. Because I sure as hell don’t intend to be CEO anytime soon.”
44
TRISTAN
“Ineed the ring.” The double doors to Grandfather’s office at the Crownhaven stillhouse make decidedly unsatisfying thuds, the weight of the oak and the oiled brass hinges meaning they lose momentum and only barely glance off the walls after I shove them open on Sunday afternoon.
Grandfather frowns at me.
My heart is doing double time in my chest, ratcheting up exponentially as he stares at me. It feels like it’s doubling every second, and surely there’s a limit, because I—
“What ring?”
I force myself to take a seat in front of him and adopt a casual pose. Power recognizes power.
“The one you promised me for my wife.”
His bushy white brows lower. The heirloom has been in our family for five generations. It’s a massive diamond that started life as a necklace in an era where rings weren’t as large, and it was reset into a single, stunning engagement ring. He’s promised me that my wife will have it, and I don’t intend for it to go to anyone but Katie.
He reaches into his drawer and sets a small black box on the desk. Just far enough away that I can’t lunge for it.
“So you’ve found someone, then?”
“I have.”
He looks viciously satisfied for a second before his eyes narrow. “Who?”
It’s the question I expected, and I’m ready to respond, but I still feel like I’m suspended in that moment after I dive from the old dock and before I hit the water.Am I really willing to give this up?I’m not Aiden, not the Heir. In my heart of hearts, I know Grandfather is offering me a poisoned apple of things I’ve always wanted. If I just say yes, I can be the head of the family, the chosen one. He will love me. At age eight, I would have been elated about a future in which Grandfather loved me more than Aiden.
I straighten my shoulders. “Katie.”
“No.”
“Stop me, then.” My hands shake. I don’t do this. Direct confrontation is not my style. I’m the one in my family who spent years desperately trying to be liked. I’m the easy one. The one who makes people laugh.
My eyes stray to the ring box.
“You are not marrying your bodyguard,” he growls. He covers the box with his palm. “I knew she was a problem. Iknew it. All those years you spent running wild with her. She is not part of our world, Tristan. She didn’t even go to college.”
Rage spirals hot and tight up my throat. I force it down. Grandfather doesn’t respect emotion, which is why he has always disliked me and preferred Aiden. “I don’t care.”
“She will never be accepted.”
“Then I’ll deal with it.” I push back from the desk. I’m done here. “You reacted exactly how I thought you would.”
His lips flatten at the edges.
My nose feels hot, andfuck it.I’ll let him see the emotions. It’s not going to change anything. I’m me, and for once in my damn life I’m going to lead with my heart, like Katie always tells me to.
“If you gave her a chance, you’d see how wonderful she is. She puts her life on the line for this family. She loves Crownhaven. You know she runs the perimeter every morning? She checks for threats, but she also checks to see if the gardens look good and whether the walls need repairs and if the lamps are working.” I swallow thickly. “She loves Crownhaven as much as any Prince, and she deserves to be here just as much as any of us.”
He looks briefly stunned, before his face hardens. “One week, Tristan. I will give you one week to come to your senses.”
“Or what?” I shove my hands into my pockets so they don’t betray me. “You won’t pick me? You won’t love me? You have never picked me.” My voice comes out more bitter than I intend.
