Page 30 of Heartless Sinner

The second our call ended, my unread texts filled the screen.

Blair: I hope your flight went well!

Adelina: MISSING YOU ALREADY!

Seraphina: Still drooling over the ocean water and convincing my father that yours truly will be in attendance at the next Tide Ball. I need to find a hot guy to have some fling with. xoxo

I snorted, picturing Seraphina here with her army of Mafia bodyguards.

Poor girl barely traveled outside the States. Cristian Marchetti treated international travel like every country not in his control was waiting to kidnap his daughter. Italy got a pass because the Marchettis practically owned half the security there.

Since I was running late, I quickly hearted their messages instead of replying. I tossed my phone on the bed and sat down to slip on my blue kitten heels. Before leaving, I checked myself in the mirror.

Not too bad for someone running on three hours of sleep.

My dress hugged my waist, its sleeves falling off my shoulders. Tiny jewel stones glittered the bodice. Every royal outfit required at least one jewel stone.

Elodie followed me toward the door, but my phone vibrated as I passed it. I paused to check it, expecting another text from one of the girls. As I read the text, any appetite I had vanished.

Brooks: I like seeing you in green, Princess.

I turned to look at the window, expecting Brooks to come crawling through it, and jumped when another text came through.

Brooks: BTW, your tiara is a little crooked.

I yelped, my free hand flying to my tiara to check it.

It was. I quickly fixed it.

Brooks: See you soon, my future Fawn.

I spent the entire walk to breakfast looking over my shoulder.

How did Brooks know I was wearing green?

That my tiara was crooked?

He couldn’t be here in Calira.

President Byron would never allow it. No American official had stepped foot in Calira since the assassination attempt.

I passed Romanesque windows overlooking the sea and framed portraits of my long-dead ancestors. The ceilings stretched stories above me.

When we reached the dining chamber, Elodie bowed before turning to leave. I cringed. She only did that in public because she’d lose her job if she didn’t. I’d banned her from bowing to me in private years ago.

Elodie was my friend before anything else. Friends didn’t bow to each other.

My grandfather sat at the head of the table. His broad frame dwarfed his high-backed chair. He didn’t stand to greet me. He never did with anyone.

All eyes were on me as I walked toward him and bowed. Only he and my grandmother received bows from the rest of the family.

His mostly gray beard shifted with the rare smile he saved for his family. “Daphne. It’s nice to have you back in your home.”

“Glad to be here.” I smiled back.

Jewel stones covered the gold crown on his head. Its tips were so sharp that I’d once watched him stab a man with it after sentencing him to death for treason.

That was the first—and last—time he’d ever sentenced someone to death. He banned capital punishment after that.