Page 58 of A Fierce Princess

Logan doesn’t say anything at first. He merely reaches out and takes the photo, studying it closely. His left hand is still gripped in mine. I look between him and Uncle Eddie, examining their noses, chins, the shape of their eyes.

Logan hands back the photo to Uncle Eddie. He releases my hand and stands. “I need a few minutes,” he says quietly and walks past his father and out of the room. I look back to see the hurt and shame on Uncle Eddie’s face. I put a hand on Uncle Eddie’s arm, looking up into a face that I’ve known my whole life.

“Give him time, Uncle. It’s a lot for anyone to take in. Logan’s entire world has been changed in the course of a week,” I say to him. He nods at me and pulls me into a hug, bestowing all the pent-up love he feels on me. His affection radiates through my body, and I squeeze him back. I know now, in my heart of hearts, that Uncle Eddie is not the one behind the plane explosion and the bounty on Logan’s life. I feel ashamed for evening thinking such a thing, but I know all is forgiven when Uncle Eddie kisses my forehead.

“You are full of surprises, Anna. I should have known you would be a knight in shining armor instead of a princess being rescued. You’re so like your mother,” he says, cupping my face in his hand. I see sadness in his eyes when he mentions her.

“I-I should go check on him,” I say to my uncle who nods and releases me. I turn toward my father. He simply nods in the direction of the door, giving me his permission to leave, even though I know I would have even without it.

I have no idea what will be said next in my father’s study, but my heart tugs me in the direction of Logan more than my curiosity tells me to stay put and listen more to a story that I’m sure will change the course of all our lives.

I head to the kitchen and find Tessa alone.

“Have you seen Logan?” I ask her.

Tessa looks up from kneading dough and wipes her brow.

“No, my love. Are you alright?” she asks.

I shrug.

“Sit,” she commands as she walks to one side of the open counter and points to a stool on the opposite side.

I sit because I would never disobey Tessa.

“Tessa—” I start to explain that I need to find Logan, but she holds up a hand.

“You’re in love with that boy, aren’t you?” she asks rhetorically.

I nod and bite my lip.

A huge grin breaks out on her face, and I can’t help but mirror as her joy is completely contagious.

She reaches over and clasps my hands in hers. “I’m so happy for you, Anna. Logan is a good boy. I approve,” she says.

“Now you go find your boy, and then you come tell me all about him later,” she says, ushering me out of her domain. I turn before making it to the door and run around the counter, throwing myself into her welcoming arms.

“I love you, Tessa,” I say to her. She squeezes me against her ample bosom, and I feel like I’m home, safe and secure and loved.

“I love you too, my sweet girl. Now go find that man of yours and fix whatever problems are going on in this place,” she says. She holds me out at arm’s length for a moment and then gives me a wink and little pat on the behind to get me moving. I shake my head but continue to grin. Leave it to Tessa, to bring me out of the chaos of the moment.

I spend the next ten minutes scouring the palace for him. Just as I’m about to give up and head back to the study, I remember our escape the other night. I head to the tunnel and pop out in the garden. He’s sitting on the bench, and I look at him. He looks like a little lost boy. I want to hold him in my arms and comfort him, tell him everything will be alright, but that would be foolish of me.

I walk toward him, but he doesn’t turn to look at me. Instead, his gaze is on a nearby fountain.

“I don’t know if I can forgive him,” Logan whispers. I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or himself. I hear birds chirping in the distance, and then they take flight overhead. I watch them go. They look so free, flying away to wherever their hearts desire. I look back at Logan.

I sit down next to him, and he turns to look at me. I physically ache from the hurt I see in his eyes.

I touch his cheek, carefully, because I’m afraid he’ll run away from me.

“I’m sorry, Logan. I feel like this is all my fault. A few days ago, you were Logan Winters, captain of a charter boat, enjoying living in the Bahamas. And now…now, you’re an heir to a throne, who has a bounty on his head, and a father who he doesn’t remember popping back into his life telling him he never stopped loving him.” I grimace at my last statement. I feel tears in my eyes.

“Don’t cry,” Logan says to me as he wipes a stray tear that’s escaped and run down my cheek.

“But, it’s all my fault,” I murmur, looking down at the bench.

Logan’s hand reaches out to push my face up, and I see his eyes also glistening with tears.

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