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Malik looked at them in confusion. Ellery’s gut churned. Was his brother going to recognize they weren’t in some committed relationship? Would she be banned from the castle and the wedding? Was she playing the part so she could get information to Naomi and protect Derek and his family, or because she wanted their relationship to be real? No time to riddle that one out right now.
“Forgive me for being sappy, brother. I recently moved out of the friend zone.”
“Did you?” Ellery teased. “Maybe you’re still on the fence.”
Malik chuckled at that. “I like you how give him a hard time.”
“I’m still residing in the friend zone?” Derek lifted an eyebrow.
“Nah. I moved you out.” She lowered her voice so only he could hear. “Best move I ever made.”
Derek’s blue eyes lit up, and he leaned down to kiss her. Ellery should care that their first kiss wasn’t going to be somewhere private and romantic. This kingdom shouted beauty and romance. But all she cared about was kissing Derek. Any hang-ups were flung far away.
Malik reached around her and shoved Derek.
Ellery jerked in surprise.
Derek looked ready to punch his brother, but she was in the way.
“Bro, I’ll give you two fats lips later, if that’s what it takes to make you leave off,” Malik warned. “Kiss her when you’re not sitting a foot away from me. It’s bad enough I’m stag this week and have to watch all the other couples smooch all the time.”
Ellery squirmed, embarrassed that she’d lost her mind so quickly. How was she supposed to resist when Derek was close and looking so deeply at her? She glanced out the front window.
The world suddenly fell away around them, and Ellery was transported to a world of such mystical beauty that she gasped and pointed.
“Home,” Derek said reverently.
The valley was sweeping and verdantly green, the most sparkling green she’d ever seen. Towering mountains surrounded it on every side, their green slopes sometimes smooth, sometimes jagged, reaching so high they were gray and blue at the top. Blue lakes dotted the valley’s floor with a large lake stretching behind the picturesque village. The village was too far away to see all the houses or shops, but the perfect church steeple made her feel like she was in a mystical setting hundreds of years in the past. The pinnacle of it all was the grandiose and stately castle perched on the hill above the town.
Ellery stared, trying to take in every beautiful detail as they drove down the mountain and through the valley.
“How long has it been?” Malik asked quietly.
Ellery wasn’t sure what he was asking.
“Since Mum died,” Derek said solemnly.
Ellery sucked in a breath. He hadn’t been home since his mom had died. She knew he’d come to Augustine when Prince Tristan was burned, but he hadn’t come to the castle for some reason. Was he mourning his mom too much?
Silence filled the vehicle.
How sad. Derek was always so confident, so happy. She often forgot that he’d recently lost his mother. She couldn’t imagine a world without her mom.
Leaning into him, she vowed to help him heal and to protect him and his family from Hattie Ballard. No way was this family losing someone else they loved to that murderer. Ellery might not have any fighting skills, but she was a ninja. She could be a good investigator and pass on information to Naomi, and she would fight to keep Derek safe. In the meantime, could she enjoy pretending to be his girlfriend and kissing him in this dreamlike setting?
He wrapped his arm around her, and warmth filled her.
It felt possible. The only problem would be leaving this magical place and relegating their relationship back to the friend zone after this mystical time was over.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Derek was overwhelmed with how happy he was to be home and how strong the memories of his beloved mum were in the valley and especially the castle. Surprisingly, it was a good feeling, the memories and missing his mum.
He wanted Ellery to love his family and the castle and feel comfortable and welcome here. He shouldn’t have worried too much about the welcome. They pulled through the castle gates and into the courtyard; her eyes were wide trying to take it all in. He liked seeing the overwhelming beauty of his home through her eyes.
“It’s gorgeous,” she kept murmuring over and over.
“Can you stop here?” Derek asked Ollie.
