Page 20 of A Fierce Princess

“Is that where we’re going?” I ask him, pointing to the horizon.

“Yep, that’s it,” he says.

“What’s on the agenda for today?” I ask.

“Sharks,” he answers.

“Sharks?” I ask.

He nods. “Sharks,” he confirms.

“Well, that’ll be interesting,” I say to him.

He laughs. “Don’t worry. We’ll likely only see reef sharks and nurse sharks, similar to the other day. We’ll be fine,” he declares.

He squeezes my shoulder. “I promise, I’ll protect you from the sharks, Princess,” he says with a wink.

“Oh, ye brave Logan, what would I do without your protection?” I say, teasing him with a wink of my own.

“Does that mean I get to be knighted?” he asks.

I laugh. “Uh, no,” I answer.

He gives me a pouty face and chuckle. I look around and find a snorkel. I pick it up and tap his shoulder.

“Kneel,” I say playfully.

“Well, if the lady demands,” he says with a devilish grin.

I blush and nod as he kneels.

“By the power vested in me, by the great country of Norddale, I hereby proclaim, Logan Winters, as knight of the…what’s the name of your boat, again?” I whisper the question, and he laughs.

“The Matilda,” he says.

I clear my throat. “Of The Matilda,” I say as I flop the snorkel on one of his shoulders and then the other. “Rise, dear knight, and here unto forth you shall be responsible for the safety of all on board.”

He laughs, and I hold out a hand to help him up.

“Better?” I ask.

“As the lady wishes,” he says with a grin. We stand in silence after that, both watching the islands that come into view.

“What’s after sharks today?” I ask.

Logan launches into our agenda for the next two days. It’s more snorkeling, some hiking on islands, and fishing. I perk up when I hear fishing.

“We’re fishing today?” I inquire.

He grins. “Sure,” he says, looking up at the sky. It’s cloudy and a few raindrops have already landed on the deck.

I jump up and down with excitement. “I’ve never been fishing,” I tell him.

He raises an eyebrow. “Is that a princess thing?” he asks.

I roll my eyes. “No. My dad used to take my brothers, but my auntie Lara always made me come visit. So, I never got to go. She said it wasn’t ladylike,” I pout.

He laughs at that. “Well, Auntie Lara isn’t here, so we will be fishing,” he says.

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