Page 9 of Her Royal Rebellion

“Come in.” Isla’s voice sounded sad. Tired.

I ignored the sudden surge of my heart rate and opened the door. Isla sat in her study. Her face lit up for a flash before she reined it in. I loved the times when it was just the two of us. When she could be herself without worrying about propriety or an audience.

She didn’t move to stand so I crossed the room and set the tray on the table in front of her. “I heard you haven’t been attending meals.”

She twisted and dropped her feet to the floor. “I haven’t been in the right mood.”

“Should I leave?”

Her eyes met mine, and I could see the pain. “Please don’t.”

I sat on the chair across from her and watched as she peeked under the silver dome covering her plate. She sat back and left the food untouched.

“What’s going on?” I couldn’t control the worry in my voice. I hated seeing her hurting. I wanted to fix it. Fight whatever demons were weighing on her.

She let out a slow sigh. “It’s bad, Logan.”

Everything about her was breaking my heart. The way she stared at me. The way she said my name. I wanted to reach out for her, to pull her into my arms and make promises I had no way of keeping.

“Tell me.”

She held my gaze and I watched as her eyes grew watery. “My parents are bringing in suitors for me. They’re trying to marry me off to a stranger.”

There was nothing that could have prepared me for that announcement. Now the king’s request to prepare for guests made sense, but that was the only thing my brain could comprehend.

“Why?”

She bit her lip and shook her head.

“They’re arranging your marriage?”

She slumped and covered her face. I watched her shoulders shake once and it was enough to break me. Before I could think, I jumped up and hurried around the table between us. I sat and pulled her into my arms. I’d only held her like this once before, when she learned about the death of a beloved aunt.

She didn’t hesitate before curling into me and crying against my chest, each gasp and sob stabbing me in the heart.

Forget my role, forget decorum. I would gladly lose my job and be dismissed from service if it meant I could comfort her. There was nothing more important to me at this moment than being there for her.

I ran my hand over her hair and tried to whisper reassurances, but I didn’t even believe them. How could I tell her everything would be okay when I was pretty sure this was the end of everything?

I longed to tell her how I felt. I would take her away from here. We could be happy together.

That was insane. She was one of the most famous women in the world. She wouldn’t be able to cross the street without getting recognized.

“I’m so sorry, Isla.” I rested my chin on the top of her head. I wasn’t used to feeling helpless, but there was no amount of tactical training that could prepare me for this.

I wouldn’t let her be forced into anything. I would eliminate any man that tried to hurt her. I’d protect her the only way I could. There had to be a way to change the king’s mind.

After a few more minutes she leaned back and stared up at me with red-rimmed eyes. “I don’t want to do this, Logan. I don’t want any of them.”

My heart tightened at what her words could mean. Did she already know what she wanted?

“Say the word, and I’ll get you out of here. I’ll take you anywhere you want.”

She sagged into me. “There’s nowhere I can run that I won’t be found, and I can’t run forever. I don’t want to give up my life and work here.” She sniffed. “I shouldn’t have to. I don’t know why my parents are doing this. Why are Cian and Aiden allowed to be with the women of their choice? Why can’t I have the same freedom?”

I ran my hand up and down her arm. We’d had stolen moments like this before. It was always enough to make me think that just maybe she had feelings for me, too. But then things would return to normal and I’d spend the following days wondering if I’d imagined it all.

“Isla, how can I make this better?”