3. Gabriel
GAbrIEL
IT WAS ONLY because I loved my brother that I’d agreed to be thrust into enemy territory.
Well, it wouldn’t be enemy territory for long, because I had no doubt about my abilities to smooth things over with the Prince of Solterra.
After all, we were already familiar, though Alejandro wasn’t any the wiser about that.
During their brief engagement, my brother had needed a night off before he had a nervous breakdown, and I’d offered to step into his shoes and entertain Alejandro for the night.
The prince was a larger-than-life personality, one I appreciated, because I, too, enjoyed indulging in the finer things—and the finer men.
So it had been a struggle that night to stay in Nicholas’s polite but stiff shoes and not indulge His Royal Highness in a risqué joke or remark, but I’d behaved myself.
Which was why I was certain once we met I’d have no problem at all mending relations between our two kingdoms.
As the car pulled through the gates of the palace and I caught a glimpse of the fanfare to welcome my arrival, I assumed that was a good sign. A spectacular red carpet had been rolled down the front steps, flanked by a multitude of royal guards, flags, and what seemed like an entire orchestra.
I let out a low whistle at the spectacle, because Solterra wasn’t exactly subtle…
which meant I loved it immediately. Even the weather was welcoming, a sultry warmth and the scent of sea salt and flowers in the air.
It was a vibrant country, even more so now that we were on palace grounds, and everything about this place seemed designed to say, Look at me.
“Now this is how you welcome royalty,” I said—to no one at all, since my private guards were up front.
If this was how the trip was starting, mending fences wasn’t going to be a hardship at all.
The car pulled to a stop in front of the red carpet, and as the door opened and I stepped out, the sound of trumpets pierced the air.
I grinned at the display before me and buttoned my suit jacket, but when I looked up to the top of the stairs for my host…
No one was there.
The rest of the orchestra began to play then, a song I immediately recognized as the Solterran national anthem.
Huh. A Solterran anthem without its prince?
I masked my confusion as my eyes roved over the scene again, thinking maybe I’d missed Alejandro through the sheer amount of people gathered on the stairs, but that was a laughable thought.
There was no missing Alejandro de la Vega, not when he’d brought his own version of this ensemble to announce his own entrance in Valoria.
He was not a man who went unnoticed, which made his glaring absence all the more obvious.
Hmm. Interesting.
I smiled through the rest of the performance, clapped when they finished, and then waited for my host…or escort…or anyone to greet me.
Nothing. Silence. Awkward, shocking silence as those gathered on the stairs kept their eyes on a fixed point somewhere in the distance.
Wow. This was a first. Perhaps I should make myself at home, then, throw open the front doors and announce my own arrival.
Before I could do just that, a woman in an immaculate black suit, sleek bun, and sky-high heels stepped out of the massive front doors.
When we locked eyes, she bowed her head and then started down the stairs, but considering the height of those heels, I wondered if that was a smart thing to do.
She seemed to navigate them easily, but I still found myself meeting her halfway, assuming she was my escort.
“Your Royal Highness,” she said when we were only steps apart. “Welcome to Solterra. We’re honored by your visit.”
I glanced around, looking for the missing prince. “Are you?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Hmm. How unfortunate.”
“Sir?”
“It appears Prince Alejandro missed out on all the trumpets. I thought he was rather fond of them.”
She didn’t so much as blink. “Yes, well, His Royal Highness sends his apologies. An unavoidable engagement required his attention.”
A slow smile curved my lips, but unlike the polite one my brother would’ve given, mine let it be known I knew exactly what hand the prince was playing.
“Of course,” I said. “There are far more important matters than greeting your ex-fiancé’s brother.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “He regrets any disappointment.”
“I’m sure he’s devastated.”
“Quite.” She gestured toward the doors. “I’ll show you to your guest chambers.”
“Is that your job…?” I trailed off, realizing I had no idea who this woman was.
“Elena. I’m the prince’s private secretary.”
“Ah, so not your job.” I gave her a wide smile. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Elena. I’m sure we’ll become quite good friends on this trip.”
Not even that seemed to faze her, and I had to respect that this woman was unflappable. I liked her already.
“If you’ll follow me,” she said, heading up the stairs as I turned to those still out on the steps.
“An incredible welcome from you all, thank you.” I gave them a wink and then followed after Elena as I tried to hold back a laugh. I’d promised Nicholas I would behave on this trip, but given the circumstances now, I could see that was a promise I’d be breaking. Immediately.
Elena led me through the main palace, rattling off different rooms I’d have no need to go in, but since no one else was there to give me a tour, it seemed the job had fallen on her lovely shoulders.
There was a grand ballroom, chapel, and throne room, much like Montclair, but what was strikingly different was the feel of the place.
Where Montclair was steeped in cool blues and pristine ivory showcasing tradition and a formal elegance with portraits of generations all looking stiff and stoic, Solterra’s sandstone walls were bathed in sunlight that spilled in from open doors, where balconies overlooked the sea and thick columns and archways invited the eye to come and look closer.
The air smelled of salt and orange blossoms and immediately put you at ease, and everything about the palace felt… sensual.
“I’ve just been informed your guest chambers are ready,” Elena said, recapturing my attention. “If you’ll follow me.”
I gestured for her to take the lead, enjoying the opportunity to observe my surroundings.
“There’s a separate wing dedicated to your visit,” she said as we passed through an open-air hallway, and when she realized I’d stopped, she turned and looked out at the waves crashing against the cliff the palace was built into.
“This place is spectacular.”
“That it is. Solterra is rich in both history and beauty.”
“No doubt.” I smiled at her. “I don’t know how you get any work done with views like this. I’d get lost in them all day.”
She said nothing to that, merely waited silently beside me until I’d taken my fill.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hold you up. Please, carry on.”
We continued across the walkway and, when we reached the other side, stopped at a set of thick wooden doors that I assumed led to my wing of the palace.
The place Alejandro had banished me to.
At least it wasn’t the dungeon.
“The staff has prepared your chambers,” she informed me. “If there’s anything you require or not to your liking, please let myself or the footman assigned to you know, and we will do our best to accommodate you.”
“And if I require an audience with His Royal Highness?”
She angled her head, but didn’t give any emotion away as she informed me, “That will have to be arranged after his—”
“Unavoidable engagement?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Very well, Elena. If you don’t mind, it was a long trip and I think I’d like to freshen up before dinner.”
“Of course.” She turned one of the wrought-iron handles and pushed open the door.
“Your bags have all been brought up and your security detail was given a full sweep of the grounds when we were on our tour. You should find them and your footman inside, and your bedchambers just beyond. Welcome to Solterra, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Elena.”
She gave a clipped nod then turned on her heel and headed back out the way we’d come.
I walked inside what was to be my home away from home for the next however long it took to mend fences, and judging by the prince’s non-welcome, I was thinking it would be longer than I was hoping.
Something I would’ve found entirely inconvenient if my living quarters weren’t so luxurious. But as I walked through the living area across the Italian marble floors and pushed open the doors to my bedchambers, I couldn’t help but smile.
Not only had the room been prepared for me, the colors had been curated to my Valorian heritage.
A carved, canopied bed took up the center of the room draped in opulent cream silks, with accent pillows and a throw of fine Valorian textiles in royal blue and silver—the crest and all.
There was a writing desk with blank writing paper adorned with the Valorian letterhead and a wax seal stamp.
Even the florals in the room were blues and ivories.
But that wasn’t even the most impressive part.
The open doors that led out onto a private terrace and the same coastal view I’d seen from the walkway earlier—that was the most impressive part.
I’d been ready to strangle my brother at his suggestion I spend my summer in Solterra. But as I walked out onto the terrace and took in a deep lungful of the clean, salty air, I wanted to use one of those fancy letterheads to write him a thank-you note.
I could get used to this.
I also couldn’t help but feel a little buttoned up in this suit and tie. I’d thought I would be meeting with the prince, but since that seemed more unlikely by the second, it was time to freshen up, get more comfortable, and maybe hunt down some food.
After a quick shower, I was pleased to find my clothes had all been unpacked and the jackets and pants pressed and hung. Since tonight wasn’t going to be a formal dinner, I decided on some navy-blue pants, a white collared shirt, and my casual dinner jacket.