Chapter 37
Astrid
There’s a shirtless prince in my bed.
In. My. Bed.
No matter how many times I tell myself that, it still doesn’t feel real. Sander Alverra, the man I never saw coming, is asleep on top of my duvet, and he loves me.
He fell asleep within seconds of walking through my door, but not before he kissed me softly and said the most beautiful words.
“In case it wasn’t clear,” he told me, “I love you, Astrid Storme.”
In the next moment, he peeled his shirt from his impressive body and collapsed onto the mattress, and then he was snoring.
Well, he isn’t actually snoring because he’s too perfect for that, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone fall asleep that fast. With everything he’s gone through over the last several days—most of it things he didn’t sign up for—I don’t blame him for being exhausted.
I’m equally tired, my body aching and my head feeling full of lead, but my mind isn’t ready to shut down just yet.
So instead of crawling onto the bed next to a man I somehow fell for over the course of a few days, I’m sitting in my armchair, hugging my knees and watching Sander’s chest rise and fall with his deep breaths.
It’s baffling that I thought I was in love with Hex for so many years when the perfect man was right next to him the whole time. Sander is my match in every way that matters.
My phone buzzes, and I squint at the text that comes through. Speaking of Hex…
Hex:
Can we talk? I owe you an apology.
Yes, he absolutely does, but I don’t have the brain space to handle that conversation right now. At least I can tell Sander that he can relax a bit where Hex is concerned.
I reply to his message, telling him that we can talk this afternoon, and then I look up Candora’s main news site to see what’s being reported about this morning’s protest. Once I have an idea of what’s happening outside my little bubble, I’ll be able to sleep.
At the top of the page is a live video of a press conference, Virek front and center at the microphone and looking like he wants to run away. My curiosity is too strong to ignore, and I click on the video to listen to Virek’s stilted words.
“…gathered during the incident, the Royal Intelligence Agency can confirm that several prominent members of the Candoran aristocracy are believed to be involved in a plot against Her Majesty, Queen Freya Alverra. The, er…” Virek swallows and looks down at his notes.
“The identities of the suspected parties are not being disclosed at this time. As of now, there is no evidence to suggest this morning’s peaceful protest is related to the attempted act of treason. ”
Reporters shout questions at him, and he turns slightly pale as he looks back down at his tablet. “Er, yes, the queen and king have been notified, but we have no official statement from Her Majesty at this time. We…” He clamps his mouth shut as more questions are fired at him.
The poor man hasn’t had to be the face of internal investigations yet, and he clearly isn’t well-suited to the responsibility.
That would have been me up there if things had gone my way at the start.
It might be me after my talk with Torvik tomorrow.
But if I’m being honest with myself, I’m not sure I want it anymore.
Callum could take Virek’s place and would probably love every minute, and I would be able to stay in the shadows most of the time.
It might be nice to be away from the public eye for a while.
Being in charge would come with paperwork and press conferences and petulant agents who think they know better. Biting my bottom lip, I look over at my bed again. “And painfully perfect princes,” I murmur, finishing my thought out loud.
Sander stirs, like he heard the quiet words and knew I was talking about him. “Astrid.” The soft whisper of my name on his lips makes me shiver.
I grin. “Sander.”
Without opening his eyes, he stretches his arm across the other side of the bed. An invitation. “You need sleep too.”
Happily leaving my phone on the chair, I cross the room and climb into his arms, burrowing into his warm body as he wraps me up tight. “I love you too, Sander,” I tell him, and he smiles into my hair.
Sleep comes quickly, and my last conscious thought follows me into my dreams. I’ve never felt this safe, seen, and so ready for a holiday.