Page 91 of His Prince

It cracks and groans as it opens, a long-awaited yawn, and I stare down into it. Photographs, stained and dusty stare up at me, as well asa few dried flowers and some folded letters. I pull those back and see two vials with something inside of each.

“What the hell?” I ask, picking up the photo and seeing a beautiful woman staring back at me with a smile on her face. Big blue eyes, straight black hair, and full pink lips. She looks like a supermodel.

I flip it over and see the name Katarina written on it and a date. Fifteen years ago.

I set it down and pull up another. This time it’s a photo ofKatarina and another man. Someone I don’t recognize. Someone just as handsome as Mikhail and who looks at her like he just realized what love is.

What must that be like?

I continue to poke around, pulling out more photos and then holding those vials up to the light. I need to ask someone about this. And for some reason, my gut tells me not to ask Mikhail.

Just as I think that my phone rings and I glance down at it, seeing Tatum’s name appear on my screen.

I quickly place the box down and answer.

“Hey! Oh my god, I’ve missed you.”

“Not too much, I hope. Not with the honeymoon and everything.”

I swallow and force a smile onto my face. “Yeah, but I miss you guys. How are you?”

“Great, and you?”

“So good.”

It’s not as much a lie as it was a week ago.

“I’m so glad. I was just calling because, well, your dad has it in his head that we need to visit. We’re actually on a plane right now.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I am. I can’t wait to see you, to see your home, to squeeze you.”

“Oh my god,” I gasp and then flutter my hand around my face before settling it under my armpit.

“Okay, I’ll have rooms ready for you. I…oh my god.”

“And Diablo and Skylar are on their way as well. Although, they’re coming from Wales so who knows who’ll get there first.”

“Diablo,” I nearly squeal. My twin. My brother.

I could cry. I could burst into tears right now.

On the other end of the line I can hear Tatum laughing softly, and I can’t help but grin. When I get off the phone with him, I grab a picture from that rusty box and stuff it in my pants pocket. Then I take care to hide the box in the back of the greenhouse, not wantinganyone to find it, before rushing into the house. I’m going to ask Nina about who this woman is and then make sure that the guest rooms are ready for my family.

Oh my god. I’m going to see my dad. My brother. Tatum.

I nearly skip into the house and shout for anyone who’s willing to listen.

They’re coming. My heart is so fucking full. I could burst.

The picture sits forgotten in my pocket until I see Nina in one of the guest rooms, a hamper near her feet and a vacuum sprawled in the corner.

“Hey, Nina?” I ask as she makes up one of the beds.

She frowns at me and then points to the sheets bunched up near her. “Help me with this while you chatter. We have unexpected guests and I won’t have their rooms unkempt.”

I nod, reaching into my pocket and pulling the picture out. Her eyes catch on it and they narrow.

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