Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3) (21 page)

“Why are we dissecting my love life?” Arianna said, avoiding their gaze.

“Ah-ha,” Cat cried. “So you admit you have a love life.”

God help her from nosy sisters. “Look, what’s really going on here?” Arianna put down her brush and faced her sisters head on; she saw them exchanges worried glances with each other. “Just spit it out.”

“Prince Finn was in the news this morning.” Carolina’s soft words echoed through the room.

“Oh? For what?”

“For being, shall we say, promiscuous.”

“What?” Arianna’s eyes were wide and her mouth open in surprise. “What are you talking about?”

After a nod from Cat, Carolina pulled out her phone and brought up the website for a newspaper from Brazenbourg. There, in crisp, vivid color, were pictures and a headline that couldn’t be missed:
Prince Finn’s Women
.

Her chest constricted and her eyes widened as she skimmed the article. Two nights ago? He was with some woman two nights ago? It was their one night apart, really, since they’d met. It could be true, couldn’t it? But was it?

All of her fears and doubts bloomed to the surface again. Was she making another mistake? Had she misjudged another man who’d told her he loved her?

“What do you think?” Cat asked.

“Is it true?”

Her sisters glanced at each other. “Well, he does have a reputation, doesn’t he?” Cat asked. “I mean, the article could be wrong. The press often blow things out of proportion, just like they did with Rebecca and Alex.” A video of Alex and Rebecca had circulated just before they’d become an official couple; though the video had been innocent, the press had made it out to be much more.

Arianna simply kept staring at the photo of Finn dancing with another woman. She was beautiful, no denying it. She had small hips and a slim, toned body - things Arianna would never have. Maybe he didn’t really love her, as he’d said last night. Maybe he just wanted sex, not forever, despite what he’d said. Maybe he was even in league with Henry, and this was all just part of his plan.

Pain slashed through her, hot and fast. She had begun to open her heart again, only to have it broken once more. Perhaps she was fooling herself where Finn was concerned. It wouldn’t be the first time she had made a fool of herself, but it would be the last. Never again.

Arianna handed Carolina back her phone and returned to brushing her hair. “It’s none of our business what Prince Finn does, is it? Did you need anything else? I need to get dressed.”

Cat sighed and shifted off the bed. “No, we don’t need anything else.” Cat walked over to Arianna and leaned down to give her a hug from behind. They locked eyes in the mirror. All of the siblings shared various facial features; with Arianna and Cat, it was same slim nose and full lips, courtesy of their mother.

“Take care, Ari,” Cat said and gave her a kiss on the head. “We know something’s going on with you and Papa. You don’t need to tell us if you don’t want to, or if you can’t, but we’re here if you need us.”

“Yes, we are,” Carolina said as she joined the hug.

“Definitely,” Sarah said as she also joined the hug.

Arianna smiled when she saw them all in the mirror, clinging to each other. Arianna’s heart may be breaking right now, but her family would see her through. She would be okay. She’d have a good cry after they all left, and then move forward with what she needed to do. There was no going back now.

As she said good-bye to her sisters, she missed the message coming into her phone, as the soft notification pings were no match against the voices of four sisters. In fact, Arianna didn’t even think about her phone until after she’d finished dressing, and by then it was already too late.

Finn had already finished packing by the time Alex arrived a few hours later through the same passage Arianna had used. She still hadn’t messaged him back, and he was growing concerned. Did she believe the lies? He had to know.

“Finn,” Alex said tersely. “Do you have any new information?”

“I didn’t ask you to come here for that. I apologize if I made you believe otherwise.”

“Are you sorry? Should I even believe you?”

So, Henry had gotten to Alex. Since Alex hadn’t thrown him out of the palace, and was giving him time to explain himself, he may still have a chance. “You’ve seen the lies in the papers, then?”

“Lies? Are you saying that wasn’t you in the photos?”

“It was me, that much is true, but it was me five years ago. That club closed down not long after that picture was taken. If you bothered to do any research before making accusations, you’d know what the truth was.”

“I’m not talking about the papers this morning, though we’ll get to that in a minute. I’m talking about the afternoon paper. Are you a traitor?”

“I am as much of a traitor as my brother is honest, which is to say, not at all. He planted both of those stories. I hadn’t realized the other one had come out yet.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Then how did you know about it?”

“My former brother.”

“Former?”

“Yes. My brother came to me this morning, told me he’d planted the articles in the paper, and exiled me from Brazenbourg. He also went on to state that he would ensure I’d be exiled from Valleria, too. Is that why you’re here? To kick me out?”

Alex ran a hand through his hair. “I was tempted, but I needed to confront you first. What the hell are you doing with my sister?”

Finn was startled by the abrupt change in topic. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. Arianna wasn’t in her room last night, and the secret hallway to your room smells of the perfume she usually wears.”

Finn pushed his shoulders back. “She was with me last night, that’s true. I told you when we met I wouldn’t lie to you, and I won’t.”

Alex cursed. “I should pummel you for that.”

“It takes two to tango, Alex. You should know that I’m in love with Arianna, and that I’ll do everything in my power to keep her from marrying Henry.”

Alex considered Finn for several moments. “Does she love you back?”

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “Henry may have gotten to her today, hoping to sway her by the article this morning, about all the women I’ve supposedly been with. She’s not returning my messages. I’d hoped to see her before I left.”

“Left? I haven’t exiled you, at least not yet.”

“I have to go back to Brazenbourg. It’s my home, and it’s not safe. There are a few who will help me, and my contacts there may be able to help you. One of them hasn’t checked in as we’ve arranged to, and I’m worried something may have happened to him.”

“Are you helping Valleria because you want to get back at your brother? I won’t have my country and my people caught in the middle of a revenge plot.”

“Henry’s not my brother anymore. I doubt he ever was. We’re not like you and your brothers, Alex. There was never anything between us but Henry’s ego.”

Alex nodded. “I don’t know if I can take you to see Arianna. She’s called a meeting with both my father and me this afternoon. I have a feeling we’re not going to like what she has to say.”

Finn’s gut clenched. “Do you think she’ll agree to the marriage?”

“I think if she’s seen that article, she’s doubting you and herself right now. She’d think of it as her past repeating itself.”

“I know. She told me about that asshole she used to date.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “Did she? She never mentions it unless she trusts the other person. She must trust you.”

Finn sighed. “Or at least she did, until this morning.”

Alex put a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to her about it. Not for your sake, you understand, but for her own.”

Finn nodded. “I just want to see her happy. I know I don’t have anything to offer her, especially not now, but I don’t want her to make a mistake she’ll regret. She deserves better than that.”

“Yes, she does,” Alex murmured. “What’s your plan from here?”

“Sneak into Brazenbourg, find my contact, and go from there.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“My life has never been easy, so why start now?” Finn reached into his back pocket and took out an envelope, then handed it to Alex. “It’s for Arianna. I understand if you don’t want to be a go-between, but I’d appreciate you delivering it to her.”

Alex tucked the note inside a pocket to the suit jacket he wore. “I’ll pass it along, Finn. What do you think we should do about Henry?”

“I don’t care about Henry. Just keep Arianna safe.”

“You didn’t even need to ask me for that one.”

Finn nodded as he picked up his bags. “I’ll be in touch. I may change my number as a security measure. If I do, look for the phrase ‘church’ in my first message.”

“All right. God be with you,” Alex said as he shook Finn’s hand.

“And you,” Finn said, and walked out. Each step farther from Arianna felt like a dagger to the heart, but he knew this was best. He had to fix this, and help Arianna. If he was very lucky, he would also find a way to help his people in Brazenbourg; they deserved a ruler who cared about them, not just the power he had over them.

***

Arianna sat in her father’s office and listened while he tried to talk her out of her scheme. Both Gabriel and Alex stood towering over her, unintentionally intimidating. She would not, however, be deterred.

“Our own spies are working on this, Ari,” Alex said, his voice pleading. “We could know something as soon as this evening.”

“You said the same thing yesterday and nothing happened. I’ve made up my mind; I’m marrying Henry.”

Gabriel sighed. “Let’s take a step back. If you want to marry Henry, you can wait until at least tomorrow to make a final decision or announcement.”

“It’s too late.”

“What do you mean?” Gabriel’s sharp voice cut through her resolve, but she held firm. “Have you gone off and eloped with him or something?”

“No, of course not. I have told Henry that I’m accepting his proposal, and he’s sending out a press release. It will hit the news soon, if it hasn’t already.”

Gabriel cursed, causing both Alex and Arianna to look at their father with wide eyes; Gabriel rarely cursed. “You defied me, Arianna. I’m disappointed in you.”

The heat of shame flushed her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I did what I needed to do. Now we can stop this whole charade and move on with things. Henry said he’d give you what you need soon.”

“But at what cost?” Gabriel muttered. “You’re to stay in the palace, locked in your apartments until someone comes to get you.”

Arianna slowly stood. “You’re punishing me?”

“I’m protecting you.”

“I’m not a child anymore. You can’t just lock me away when I do something you disagree with.”

“You will always be my child, Arianna. You locked yourself away for too many years, and now that you’ve finally opened yourself up again, you’re running away.”

“Running away? But I said I’m marrying Henry.”

“But you should be considering marriage with someone else.” Gabriel cupped his daughter’s head, her wide caramel-colored eyes looking up at him. She’d always felt lost, he knew. Lost in a sea of siblings, unsure of her place. As a father, he supposed he had failed her; he should have made sure she knew how desperately she was loved by all of them. Well, he wouldn’t fail her now.

Gabriel kissed the top of Arianna’s head and she was pulled into the warmth of his arms. Tentatively, she hugged back. She heard his heart beating beneath her cheek, a sound so comforting she blinked back the hot tears welling in her eyes. After a few minutes, Gabriel kissed her the top of her head again and pulled back.

“Think about what I said.”

“I will, Papa.” How could she think about anything but his words? Did he really think she should be considering marriage with Finn? How did he know?

“I’ll come to you later. Go now. I must speak with Alex.”

Alex reached out to her. “Wait.”

She looked warily at him. “What?”

Alex pulled an envelope from his pocket. “It’s from Finn,” he whispered.

Finn? Alex had seen Finn this morning? Despite the fact she had made up her mind about Henry, her heart still wanted Finn. She wondered if he was okay.

“Take it, Ari. Don’t throw it out. Just read it when you’re ready. Please?”

Arianna took the envelope and nodded, then she turned and walked away without looking back. She had made her decision; there was no going back now. Had she looked back, she would have seen her father slump into his chair, and Alex put a comforting hand on his shoulder.