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But a sign that she chose to ignore.
Because that was how the heart survived.
Memories mocked her as she made her way down the winding stairs, teasing her of the times she had stolen glances of the prince even when she had thought he was evil incarnate. She reached the living room, remembered the numerous times she had swept the place clean like a real-life Cinderella, and the prince remained out of her reach.
Such sweet memories, and yet they had been unable to protect her.
Her legs trembled as she made her way down the hallway leading to the prince’s study, and panic seized her by the throat when she began to hear familiar voices.
So many signs—-
So many signs—-
But still, she chose to ignore all of them.
Still, she chose to hope.
Because he had come back to her, and that had to mean something.
It had to.
Stopping in front of the door to the prince’s study, she heard Igor say, “Ms. Crichton has reached Isola L’Eternita, sir.”
Fawn tensed in surprise. She hadn’t expected Beatrice Crichton to leave the prince’s compound, considering that a man was dead set on killing her.
“Please inform Jason Christakos about this and call our contacts in Sicily. I want her heavily guarded. We require her testimony once Davos is tried for his crimes.”
“Understood, sir.”
Both men’s voices became muffled, and she pressed her ear to the door.
“Are you truly sending her away?”
Her heart squeezed, and she strained harder to listen to the two.
“She is not of our world, Igor. You know that.”
“What I do know, sir, is that she is for you.”
“For me?” The prince’s voice lowered into a nearly inaudible murmur, and Fawn could no longer hear what he had to say until his voice started to rise again in a furious hiss. “And yet you say someone like her…a goddamn living angel…is for me?”
More words being exchanged, but none of which she could hear, and unable to stop herself, she started to turn the knob, just in time to hear the prince snarl, “She’s engaged.”
Fawn flinched.
“Have you forgotten that fact?” Something shattered against the wall, and she heard the prince grit out, “She’s not for me—-”
This time, she couldn’t stop herself and she threw the door open. “I want to be yours.” Wrenching Grant’s engagement ring off her finger, she threw it away in vain hope that finally the prince would understand what she knew would never change.
She needed him.
She loved him.
She chose him.
“I want to be yours,” Fawn whispered. “So please, please don’t make me leave you.”
The prince motioned for Igor to leave them.
And when they were alone—-
The bleakness in his gaze made Fawn fall to her knees.
So many stupid signs now—-
So many of them, they were impossible to count.
And still, she held on to hope.
She held on.
The prince knelt in front of her, saying quietly, “You know, you understand now, don’t you?”
She nodded, saying between compressed lips, “Davos.” She raised her eyes to his. “But I don’t care—-”
“My life is not for you,” the prince said gently.
She grabbed his hand when he started to stand up, crying out, “Didn’t you hear me? I don’t care.”
“But I do. I care just enough for you, and that’s why I can’t and won’t ever love you.” His strength defeated hers, and he was able to peel her fingers away from him.
She stared up at him as he slid gracefully to his feet, and oh, wasn’t that a sign, too?
That he could move with such grace while she couldn’t even remember how to crawl?
“I’ll be leaving town to ensure Beatrice Crichton is out of harm’s way.”
“Take me with you.” She reached for him, but the prince stepped back, and she fell flat on her face, cutting her lip.
Graceful.
Graceless.
Someone who loved against someone who didn’t love.
Humiliation curled in the pit of her stomach, and when it became obvious the prince wouldn’t even help her up, she forced herself to move, managing to get on her knees—-
Only for her to see him walk away from her.
Again.
Oh God.
How many times did this man have to walk away—-
Before he realized it wouldn’t make her feelings change?
“Prince, please.”
The prince halted by the doorway, and without looking back, he said quietly, “For your sake, you must learn to forget me.”
A hopeless cry escaped her. “I can’t.”
“Then that’s a pity…because I can forget you.”
****
Life went on.
Grant had transferred to another university. Nick and Jason Christakos had taken their stand in court, and major networks began to cover the trial as twist after explosive twist began to unfold.
A full month passed, and yet she continued to love him.
Night after night, she would wonder why she couldn’t make herself stop, and only one answer made sense.
She couldn’t stop loving him because a part of her believed the prince also loved her back.
It was that simple.
It was that impossible.
More days passed, and Fawn was beginning to feel paranoid. Someone seemed to be following her wherever she went, as if biding his time before making his move.
