Raelynn clears her throat. “Ms. Sumner has no desire to create a scandal. This is all a misunderstanding on the press’s part. You know how they are. They snap a wild photo and build their own narrative so they make money.”
The king looks at Raelynn, then at me. “Do you agree?”
I should just say yes, but I can’t bring myself to lie to actual monarchs, even if I’m not one of their subjects. “Honestly, I wish I could tell you I staged it for attention, but I didn’t. It was a complete surprise. And if I could take it back, I would.”
Kellen leans forward. “I don’t think it’s as bad as everyone says. In fact, the charity received triple the usual donations after the gala. Social media is obsessed with our ‘meet cute.’”
I shoot him a look. “Ourwhat?”
The queen’s lips twitch, which is probably the royal equivalent of a belly laugh.
The bodyguard behind Kellen doesn’t smile. He looks like he wants to punch something.
The queen turns her gaze on me. “The public has already decided there is a romantic connection between you and my son. Attempting to deny it will only increase scrutiny. There is a tradition, you know, of such things being handled discreetly.”
I blink. “Such things?”
She waves a hand, diamond rings flashing. “Relationships of convenience. For image.”
I glance at Kellen, who is suddenly very interested in his own shoes.
“Oh,” I say. “You want us to fake date.”
Nolan shifts his weight but says nothing.
“It is a proven strategy,” the queen continues. “If the narrative is that you and Kellen are courting, interest will die down after a few weeks. It will be replaced by the next news cycle.”
Not if everyone else in this room and beyond discovers I’m an omega. Or that we’re scent-matched with each other and our respective bodyguards. Then it’s game over.
Raelynn clears her throat. “We’re not opposed to managing the story.”
I might be. But clearly that doesn’t matter.
The king raises a hand. “Of course, if you are uncomfortable, we will find another solution.”
I look at Kellen. He meets my eyes, and something electric passes between us—that same rebellious spark I glimpsed at the gala when he veered off his rehearsed royal script and actually smiled like a real person. His eyes, deep blue with flecks of gray at the edges, hold mine without wavering, as a silent conspiracyforms between us. It feels like a rebellion against the carefully orchestrated chaos surrounding our lives.
“I don’t mind,” Kellen finally says. “If you’re okay with it. If it leads to press losing interest rather than doubling-down when we protest.”
I’m about to say, “Hell no, are you insane?” But then I remember that the only alternative is months of speculation, with every date Idogo on analyzed and compared to this. But then I wonder, if Prince Kellen is a known alpha, will peopleassumeI’m an omega? Or will they simply think Kellen is breaking his own family’s tradition of females being omega? All the royal line bullshit.
Sadly, I may have walked into this too far to stop now.
I take a settling breath. “Fine, but if we’re doing this, I get to write the soundtrack.”
“Obviously,” Raelynn cuts in, “what Piper means is that, to make this mutually beneficial, it will be known that Kellen is a muse of sorts. That must be allowed.”
The queen and king share a look, but it’s Kellen who says, “Deal.” He’s smiling now.
His bodyguard is still notablynot.
Where Nolan was able to still keep eyes on danger, Kellen’s bodyguard has eyes only for me—and now they’re narrowed. In anger?
Raelynn sighs, like a weight has been lifted off her, and I realize she was probably more nervous about this than I was. Until now, I didn’t think that was possible.
The queen stands. “Thank you, Ms. Sumner. We will have our staff coordinate with your management for details. You can stay here at the palace or in Kellen’s estate if you wish since you are so far from home. The grounds are far more secure that than hotel.”
Kellen’s eyes widen, but it’s actually his own security guard who speaks up. “Ma’am, I think it best to keep them together in the estate. It’s a ways off from the palace and main press draw, but still far more secure.”
