Page 33 of Royal Reluctance

And I’m here. In the castle of the royal family of Laandia.

With Bo.

Abigail takes Tema with her to explore her room across the hall, leaving me alone with Bo. There’s so much I want to say, so much I needto talk to him about.

“I have to go back into town,” is the first thing that comes out of his mouth.

“Right now?” I hate that I sound nervous. Terrified, actually.

“I’m sorry.” Bo reaches out to touch my arm, but pulls back with a grimace before contact. “It won’t be for long. I’ll be back—with pizza.”

“You’re leaving to get pizza? I’m sure they deliver anything you want here.”

“It’s not just that.” He hunches those big shoulders and I take pity on him. I know this is a lot, and if he needs a bit of space, giving it to him is the least I can do. “I’m sorry, Hettie. I have to go.”

And thenheleaves. And I let him. At least he gives me an apologetic glance as he walks away, leaving me standing in my room.

My room in the castle. It actually can be called a suite, with a sitting room complete with couch and table by the window. There’s a massive fireplace, already ablaze, and I can see into the bedroom through the fire.

There are shelves of books and a television, but nothing else for kids.

Not like there has been a lot of children running around the castle.

Tema is the first grandchild. She’s the third in line to the throne, after Kalle and Bo. I knew all of this, but it sinks in that much more actually standing here in the castle of the king of Laandia.

I knew I married a prince, but I never expected Bo to be king. The thought of Tema being so close to so much power isterrifying.

And laughable. I’m aCrow. Tema’s great-uncle publicly insults King Magnus every chance he gets. Two of my brothers are in jail. I haven’t heard from my mother in over twenty years, and my father…

Has no idea I’m back in town. It’s not any family one would want to be associated with, let alone the royal family.

“What am I supposed to do now?” I ask out loud.

“Want a tour of the place?” a voice in the doorway asks.

I whirl around. “Kate?” I ask with surprise.

There, in front of me, stands Kate McKibbon—yeah, one ofthoseMcKibbons, who might have a shot at second place in the worst families of Battle Harbour.

At least she has a brother in the police force now, according to Abigail’s mother.

I remember Kate as one of Princess Lyra’s friends, and a former love of Prince Gunnar. Gone is the gangly teenager; instead Kate is tall and poised, professional in her black pants and white shirt.

“Hey, Hettie.” Kate gives me a welcoming smile. “Welcome home.”

“It’s not my home,” I tell her.

“No, but—Bo asked if I would show you around.”

“He did?”

“Well, he did through Spencer.” Kate bows from the waist. “Personal secretary of the princes. They share me. I was brought in for Odin before he got married, but I didn’t want to go with him and Lady Camille when they moved to Saint Pierre, so I stayed.”

“Bo needs a secretary?”I blurt out.

“I help out when certain circumstances arise.” She shrugs, and I take that to mean times when a wife no one knew about shows up with a child.

“So you know…”

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