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The front reception hall lay ahead, but Luc didn’t take us there. Instead, we ascended a side staircase, the shape spiral and the material gray stone. We went up to the second floor, then the third.
“Geez,” I said, my legs burning from the exertion. “Has anyone in Edoria ever heard of elevators?”
“We have those, don’t worry. But I prefer to take the stairs. Good exercise.”
I shook my head, trudging the rest of the way up to the third floor.
“Here.”
We reached the top of the stairs, entering another long hallway lined with doors.
“The room we’re about to see is possibly my favorite in the castle, and one where I spend quite a bit of time.”
“Let me guess… the gym? Hope you all haven’t wasted any money on Stairmaster machines.”
“Cute. Not a gym, though we do have a fantastic one down in the basement.” He approached one of the wooden doors and pushed it open.
The room he revealed on the other side was an enormous, grand library, two stories high, with dozens and dozens of towering, wooden shelves packed with colorful spines. Chairs were neatly arranged along the walls, situated before tall windows that looked out over the castle grounds. A huge fireplace was in the back of the space.
“Wow,” I said. “Someone likes books.”
“What you’re seeing before you is one of the finest private libraries not only in Europe, but in the world.”
I stepped into the space, looking up to see domed ceilings above with magnificent vaulting. The room was a reader’s dream.
“Let’s keep moving,” he said, before I’d even had a chance to look around.
I didn’t want to leave. All I could imagine was spending hours perusing the shelves to find the perfect book, then curling up in one of the chairs and reading all day, a fire in the fireplace crackling.
“Fine, fine,” I said, unable to hide my disappointment at being shown such a place only to be pulled away before I could fully explore it.
We left the incredible space, going up one more flight of stairs and stepping out into a hallway not too dissimilar from the one we’d just left. Luc led me to a door and opened it, revealing a large bedroom.
“These will be your quarters for the time being.”
I entered the room, taking it all in. The space was impressive, more like a small suite. There was a bedroom, a living room-like area, and a dressing room with more than enough space for not only the clothes I’d brought, but any clothes I’d ever own. There was a fireplace, and just to the right of that, a door that led to an en-suite bathroom. There was even a reading nook in front of a window that overlooked the gardens.
“Take your time and settle in,” he said. “Your bags will be brought up shortly. Change, shower, whatever you need to do. I’ll come get you when it’s time to meet your father.”
Chapter 8
Luc
Relief washed over me the instant I shut the door to Ava’s chambers. I was pleased to be away from her, and not simply because she was something of a royal brat.
The tension was becoming impossible to ignore. She and I had only been around one another for a short time, and already I was having difficulty not letting my eyes wander where they shouldn’t—my gaze lingering on her legs, her breasts, the gentle slope of her long, graceful neck.
As I made my way down the hall back toward the stairs, it occurred to me that Ava couldn’t help but appear regal. Despite her purple hair, silver nose ring, and tattoo, not to mention her attitude, there was something about her that made it impossible not to notice that she was a royal. Ava was like her mother in that way.
I had other matters to worry about—namely, giving Alaric the rundown of what was going on. Part of me was pleased that I’d be able to tell him that his daughter was here. Another part, however, worried that he’d be able to see right through me, to tell that I was attracted to her. Alaric could be aloof at times, but he was most certainly not stupid.
I slipped my phone out of my pocket and pulled up his number. There were three people in the Kingdom of Edoria who had the personal line of the king saved in their contacts, and I was one of them.
Done. She’s in her quarters.
The response came a few moments later.
Come speak to me. I’m in the usual place.
