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Atticus’s lip curled. “You want to know my plans, Your Highness?”
I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms over my chest. Oh, this was going to be good. “Sure. Lay them on me.”
“Before she came here, my plan was to visit her and convince her she was in love with me and that I could protect her. But your mother fucked that up when she announced your arranged marriage.”
“She would have never fallen for that shit,” I spat.
He ignored me. “So I came up with a plan. First, I’m going to somehow turn you into a decent fucking human being. Someone good enough for Christine Abernathy. I’ll admit it’s a lot harder than I anticipated. You’re a real piece of work, you know that? And you only respond to insults.”
“You’re already off to a great start,” I mumbled.
“Then, I was going to let her marry you but be in love with me.”
I scoffed. “How bloody generous of you.”
He slammed his fist on the desk. “It is generous. You want to know why? Because you’re a cunt, Your Majesty. A royal fuck up. If I wanted to, I could steal Christine away, and you’d never hear from her again. And you know I have the means to do it and the army to defend us. She might be mad at first, but she’d fall in love with me.”
I nodded sarcastically. “Right. You’d just kidnap her and convince her she cares about you.”
“I’d rescue her from a husband who won’t fight for her and a crown that is slowly killing her spirit.” He straightened. “But I won’t do that, you know why?”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to know why, but I humored him all the same. “Why?”
“Because for some fucking reason, that girl thinks you’re worth it. So fucking man up and act like the person she thinks you are. Your self-pity isn’t doing anyone any good. And if you ever walk away from her again, I’ll put a knife in your back.”
I was shocked. Was Atticus seriously suggesting we share her?
But wasn’t that what I suggested when I brought Leo to her room?
This was all so fucking confusing.
“Fine,” I conceded, mostly because I needed time to think about all of this. “And what about Leo?”
Atticus walked toward my door. “I’ll need time to figure out how he fits into the plan. But if he helps her, then…”
Then…
We both didn’t finish that thought. He walked out of my suite, and I tried to figure out a way to convince myself that Christine Abernathy could eventually love me back, fuck-up prince and all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
CHRISTINE
Leo left before I woke up. The side of his bed was still warm from his body, but my pillow case was wet from my tears. I was disappointed to be alone. Hell, this whole castle made me feel so damn lonely. Maybe that’s why I wanted to be with him during my most vulnerable moments. Leo made me feel seen. He was always watching over me. Always noticing the little things about me that no one else did. He shadowed me most of my life.
It had been a while since I’d broken down like that. I’d promised myself a long time ago that I’d never give my demons that sort of power over me, but being here, seeing them, and feeling the blood on my skin was too close to a memory I’d long since pushed to the deepest, darkest corner of my mind.
I didn’t regret doing what was required of me. And I had no qualms about killing an enemy.
I was mourning so much more than any of that. I was mourning a carefree existence where my only concern was a prince I couldn’t have.
A knock sounded on the door, and I sat up in bed, eyeing the knife on my nightstand with anticipation. Yesterday showed me that I couldn’t let my guard down for even a minute. The Crown had too many enemies. “Who is it?” I shifted so I could defend myself.
But instead of an intruder, something much more dangerous waltzed through my door. Atticus twisted the doorknob and let himself inside my suite, a masterful sense of purpose in his expression. He was dressed in the same suit from yesterday, a bruise covering his jaw. It was oddly disheveled for him, but he looked good. “Hello, beautiful. I have a big day planned for us.”
I arched my brow skeptically. I wasn’t even sure what day it was. My body needed rest, and I knew there were at least three untouched meals left in my suite. “Does the queen want me to make more public appearances? I figured she’d have an itinerary and fashion team at my door by now.”
I wasn’t expecting him to show up here.
