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“Elle?” His brow furrowed in confusion.
“I spoke to my mom before I realized what a nightmare drive I was in for with a sadistic psycho.”
He studied her, his blue eyes lighting with hope. “And?”
“She and Aunt Elise would absolutely love to live in a magical castle in the most beautiful country in the world.”
“They would?” At her nod, he wrapped his hands around her waist, lifted her into the air, and yelled, “Yes!”
His family turned back to watch them, smiling.
“Elle, let’s get married,” he said far too loudly.
“I hope your wedding goes better than ours did,” Macey called back to them.
“Sorry,” Ellery called to her.
“I’m just teasing you. You’ve got to learn to take a joke and a tease if you’re going to be in the family.”
Derek and Ellery both laughed at that. Their relationship had been built on teasing.
“We’ll work on that,” Derek told his sister-in-law.
Then he lowered Ellery to her feet, and he kissed her. A kiss of promise and forgiveness and their future spread out before them. With the mess with the Rindlesbachers and the dangers in the kingdom, it wouldn’t be easy, but they’d face it together and with his family and hers fighting by their sides.
Like Malik said, it would all buff out. Somehow.
EPILOGUE
Derek escorted Ellery around the reception with his arm firmly around her waist, introducing her as his girlfriend to friends and extended family, people he’d known all his life. They’d agreed they wouldn’t say fiancée until they were officially engaged.
Her mom and Aunt Elise had been ecstatic with the news they were moving to a ‘magical castle with the handsome princes.’
Kiera had instantly forgiven her, clutching her tightly and saying over and over, ‘I knew you were good; I knew you were good.’
Aliya had apologized for her ‘snake in the grass’ comment and invited her and Kiera to come stay at their cabin tonight.
Currently Kiera was performing tricks for everyone to ooh and ahh over. Macey looked radiantly beautiful. They’d somehow cleaned her dress and discreetly stitched a few tears, cutting off the train. She’d claimed it was a pain anyway.
The prime minister and his wife Leslie moved comfortably through the crowd. For everyone who hadn’t been involved in this afternoon’s mess, it would appear Henry Shule was as tight with the royal family as he’d always been.
Ellery hoped somehow things would work out and everything wouldn’t implode on the royal family. Who knew if Treven being arrested would be a good thing for the August family and Steffan and Hattie, or the start of a brand-new nightmare? She didn’t understand the Rindlesbachers and was terrified of what scheming plan they might have next.
Major Chad had seen Malik hugging the beautiful chef Sophie Pederson and then chasing her out the gates. Jensen and Ray had told him to follow at a distance and see what was going on. Ellery hoped it was love for Malik, but everyone was on edge after the events of today. Tristan confided in them that Chad was interested in Sophie and had been dating her. Ellery wondered which charming, smooth-tongued man Sophie loved.
“Are you having fun?” Derek asked close to her ear.
“I’ll be having a lot more fun when the party is over and you take me up to the solarium to admire the view.”
“Is that all you want to do? Admire the view?” He turned her toward him, and she anticipated the kiss that was coming.
“The Ninja Warrior Prince and the Adorkable Boston Beauty,” a cultured female voice interrupted their kiss.
Derek held her even closer as they both turned to face Naomi Rindlesbacher and a polished gentleman Ellery assumed was her husband William. Fear and anger rushed through her. These people had used her as a pawn and Treven had even said they were going to force her to assassinate the king. She loathed them and was terrified at the same time.
“It’s incredibly bold, or maybe just incredibly stupid of you, to show your plastic face here tonight,” Ellery said.
Derek gave a surprised chuckle while Naomi and her husband’s eyes filled with anger.
