Page 21 of A Fierce Princess

I happily contemplate catching my very own fish for dinner as we pull up to an island.

“Let’s go get some breakfast, and then we’ll head out,” he says.

“Wait, we aren’t catching fish on the boat? And what about the rain?” I ask him.

“Whoa, slow down there. First, the rain helps hide us from the fish, so it’s the perfect day for fishing. Second, we’ll use the dinghy to get to a small reef I know. There’s always good fishing on the edge of it,” he explains.

“Oh?” I ask, curious about the entire process.

“Mia’s not feeling great, so I think we’ll stay back and catch up on some stuff,” Chris says as he pops his head up out of the salon.

Auggie winks at me, and I giggle.

“Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?” Auggie ribs him.

Chris gives him the middle finger.

“Now, now, dear brother, is that behavior becoming of the next in line to the throne?” he says in a mocking tone.

“Fuck off, Augs,” Chris says as he disappears below deck.

I turn back to see Auggie smirking as he helps Thomas get the dinghy set up.

Ten minutes later, Logan, Pete, Auggie, and I set out to the nearby reef. Logan takes his time teaching me how to cast a line. His arms are wrapped around me as he teaches me the proper technique. His chest feels warm against my back in the cool drizzle. I can feel his breath against my hair, and I try to quell the desire to lean back against him.

“I think you got it,” he says proudly. “You’re a natural.”

I sit and wait and wait some more and then my line jerks. “I have something!” I yell excitedly.

Logan is back behind me as he helps to hold my rod. His other hand closes over mine and together we reel in a fish. It’s small and silver.

Logan applauds me, and I bow, while propped up on my knees. Auggie takes a photo of me, and I grin.

“Here, let me unhook him. He’s a little too small to keep,” Logan says.

He reaches for fish and grabs it trying to remove the hook from its mouth.

“Bugger,” he finally says and cuts the hook, tossing the fish back in the water. A moment later my fish floats back up to the surface.

“Damn,” he says. “It must have gut-hooked him.”

I look down at the fish. Out of nowhere, I’m suddenly overwhelmed by an avalanche of memories.

Newton, my pet fish, is floating in the tank. I tap on the glass.

“Newton!” I cry out, but he doesn’t move. I run out of my room. “Mommy! Mommy!” I yell.

My mother rushes out of her room. “What’s wrong, Anna?” she asks as she runs toward me. My nanny, Tessa, comes rushing out of her room as well. “It’s alright, Tessa, I got her.”

Tessa nods and my mother turns back to me. I grab her hand and drag her to my room. I point to Newton. I see her grimace.

“Come here, sweetheart. Have a seat,” she says. She pats my bed, and I jump up next to her.

“Newton’s not moving,” I say.

She pulls me against her and looks down at me.

“Remember when my roses died,” she says to me.

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