Page 26 of Reluctantly Rogue

“Because he’ll be good at it,” I say. “It’s his destiny.”

Her brows arch, but she doesn’t argue. “Do you think we should get married?”

There’s a trickier question. They should because that’s the plan. I know that the plan has always been to join the O’Grady and Olsen families. I know that the plan changed from Linnea and Declan to Linnea and Torin about twelve years ago. But that was the plan as of when I started as Torin’s right hand. I also know that Alfred always believed that Torin would be the better king than Declan and believed that eventually Torin’s leadership and loyalty would lead him back to Cara.

So when I first started, before IknewTorin, when he was just a job, before I cared about him, before I loved him like a brother, I knew the expectation was that he would return to Cara, marry Linnea, and take over the throne.

The plan made sense to me. I was all in.

He was going to be the king, Linnea was going to be the queen, and Diarmuid and Alfred’s families were going to be united permanently. Their power, money, and gene pools would become one big, wonderful, influential family that would do great things for the world.

But then I did meet Torin. And I started to care about him. And he did become like a brother to me. And now I do care if he’s happy.

So if Linnea can’t make him happy, then no, I don’t think they should get married.

But I finally say, “I do.” Because, as Linnea herself pointed out, the plan is greater than any one person or couple.

And it’s not like he’ll be miserable with her. She’s gorgeous, intelligent, strong, and will help him do amazing things. The kinds of things hewantsto do.

Part of his resistance is simply because marrying Linnea is what his grandfather wants, and Torin is rebellious.

He needs to get over a few things.

“And you’ve told him that?” she asks.

“I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

“He hasn’t asked me.”

“You only give your opinion when asked?” She shakes her head. “See? Deferential.”

I most certainly do not only give my opinion when asked. But in this case, my opinion doesn’t matter. Torin wants the crown, and he has to marry Linnea to get it. It’s really that simple.

He’ll complain. He’ll stall. He’ll try to find a way out of it.

But eventually, hewillmarry her.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ask.

“Of course.”

“Do youwantto marryhim?”

“I want to be queen.”

“That isn't what I asked you.”

“All right. No. But that might be in part because I don’t know him.”

“Do you think there's a possibility that you could like him? Or even love him? If you get to know him? And then possibly want to marry him? Is that what you're hoping for?”

She sighs. And I realize that I am tense waiting for her answer. It would be best for everyone if they liked one another. It would ultimately be the best thing of all if they loved each other. For them to be married, fulfilling the ultimate goal is the main objective, but would it be nice if everyone could be happy? In love? Glad it happened? Probably.

So why is my gut knotted with the idea of my best friend being in love with this woman?

I should want them to be in love.

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