Page 98 of Reluctantly Rogue

I frown. It’s not as if it’s a given she’ll fall madly in love with Waite.

Colin: Good.

It is absolutely the opposite of good. At least for the guy who’s head over heels for her.

Henry: It’s good? What if she falls for Waite? That means she doesn’t marry Torin and doesn’t become queen.

I hate the way ‘falls for Waite’ tightens my chest.

Colin: No, that’s not ideal, but it’s better than her and Jonah. If Torin is determined not to marry her, then we still need to get him on the throne. Whatever it takes.

Henry: How?

A program that will do something huge for Cara. Something that will be really impressive. That will show the king Torin is ready. He doesn’t need Linnea babysitting him. He can do this on his own. That’s what he really wants: to be taken seriously. To have his grandfather recognize HIS talents and passions.

Henry: Iris won’t like that. She’s all about this marriage thing.

Yeah, she is. That is the first priority. I know. But…once Torin’s king,hecan make—or change—the rules. That is my glimmer of hope.

My mind is spinning. Linnea is working on this program with James. She said she’d let Torin present it. She wants the king to take Torin seriously too. She knows that’s what they both need—Torin to know the king trusts him and the king to know Cara will be in good hands.

If Torin can take over the throne without being married first, he really could change all the rules. The arranged marriage won’t matter. He’ll be able to choose his bride, when and if he wants to.

And Linnea and I can be together. If that’s what she really wants. What shechooses.

And we can both stay in Cara as advisors to the king.

Don’t say anything to everyone else about any of this, but Linnea has a plan. We need to see what happens.

Colin: To go back to Cara and marry Torin?

No.

Colin: Then you better hope this is an amazing plan. Because if not, you need to take that girl home and give her back to your best friend.

Henry: The way you put that makes this sound very sordid.

Henry: I like it.

I roll my eyes. Henry’s grandmother calls him a scamp. There are moments like this when I think she’s spot-on.

Torin and Linnea aren’t going to happen.

Henry: But Linnea and someone else might?

I fucking hate the idea of her with someone else, but…she deserves to have a choice. She deserves to finally, for the first time in herlife, decide for herself what her future looks like.

Her entire life has been dictated by other people and what she’s planned and expected has changed at least three times based on thechoicesother people got to make—first Declan, then Torin.

This timeshegets to choose.

Whatever Linnea wants, I’m going to make sure she gets.

Colin: Well…damn.

I look up as the bedroom door opens. I close out of the text conversation and pocket my phone. I really have nothing more to say to them anyway.

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