Page 46 of Her Royal Rebellion

He was right. I did need space to process everything, but not my feelings for him. Not wanting to be together.

18

Logan

I messed up. The second she walked away, I should have gone after her, but I believed what I told her. Things had been crazy and following that up with us flying off to be alone was just the tip of the iceberg.

Making her mad was the last thing I wanted, but I wouldn’t take advantage of her vulnerability. Wasn’t that a sign of how much I truly cared? I was trying to be selfless and put her needs first. If that made me the enemy right now, I’d accept that.

It was still my duty to protect her, even from herself. Plus, there were worse places to be stuck while she decompressed. I hadn’t been out to see the cliffs in almost ten years. My few days off were usually spent with my family or resting. Getting out to do sight-seeing hadn’t been a priority.

The cliffs were a reminder of how small I was in the grand scheme of things. They were the end of our country. The breakoff that formed our border. They were magnificent. I wanted to enjoy them, but I couldn’t. Not while Isla was mad at me.

I turned my back to the view and sent a text to Aiden and Cian letting them know we arrived safely, then called Shane.

“Hi, Logan.” His voice sounded tired.

“Everything sorted?”

“Yes, he’s been taken into custody. The king agreed to him being prosecuted for all of his crimes in Suruso. He doesn’t want him to ever return to Lochland.”

“Isla will be happy to hear that.”

“How is she?” The concern in his voice made me feel guilty for not keeping him updated during our travels. He cared about her too, and her safety mattered to him as much as it did to me.

“There’s a lot to work through, but she’ll be okay.”

“I know. She’s a tough one.”

I chuckled. That was putting it lightly. “I’ll let you know when we’re planning on coming back to the palace.”

“Don’t rush, Logan.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I knew he was teasing.

“This is a better opportunity than you could have dreamed of. Don’t waste it.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Take care of her.”

“I will.”

After ending the call, I wandered back through the house, giving myself a tour. To an outsider, they would be shocked Isla called this home. It was a modest size and had an amazing view, but it wasn’t what anyone would picture for a royal. There were no stately gardens or high walls. It was unassuming and cozy.

The decorations were simply done in white, grey, and navy. It was tasteful and not too dated. I wondered if she had it redone since her grandparents passed, or if this was their choosing. Even though it wasn’t lavish or impressive, it was perfect for Isla. It embodied her warmth, gentleness, and appreciation for what others often overlook.

I found the kitchen and was pleased it had been stocked before our arrival. The staff only had a few hours’ notice, and they’d outdone themselves. I removed all the items needed for corned beef sandwiches and began making two. If there was one thing I’d learned over the last two years, it was that a hungry Isla was a much harder person to get to listen to reason. She was often grumpy and impatient until being fed. If I wanted her to forgive me quickly, it was best to come with an offering. I just hoped she’d had enough time to fume and was ready to talk again.

Since I didn’t find her in my perusal of the first floor, I took both plates and some bottles of water before heading upstairs. There was a long hall of doors, but only one was shut so I headed toward it. I knocked and waited for her to allow me in. The motion took me back to the palace. No matter how far we were, I was reminded of who I was even in the smallest details.

“Come in, Logan.”

I sighed and opened the door. She rolled to her side to face me on the bed with her arm bent to hold up her head. I was expecting a shoe to be thrown at me but she seemed calm.

“I brought you food.” I held out the offering hoping to win her over.

She eyes the plate. “What is it?”