I scoffed.If I were the princess?That was a ridiculous thing to think. There was nowayI was a princess.
I had been born in Brevard, North Carolina to my parents… I was born at County Hospital. I had my birth certificate to prove it. Probably. I definitely remembered my family’s stories and yet…
I leaned back on my arms, allowing the sun to warm the skin of my legs and face, keeping the cloak on my shoulders because it was still a little cool. I tried to remember the details, had I been born at County Hospital?
I frankly couldn’t remember anyone ever mentioning it. But why would they? It was the main hospital, so ofcourseI was born there, but… I didn’t remember hearing any stories about it. Where was my birth certificate, in the file cabinet…?Where was it?I didn’t remember ever seeing it and I didn’t have a passport.
I should have gotten a passport. I always wanted to go to Europe to research my family tree. I had been studying therecords of my ancestors — why hadn’t I paid attention to my own?
I knew my birthday and my place of birth.
I knew the birthdays of my parents, and I knew the date they died.
I sighed, glancing over at Torin.Man, this guy had caused a lot of disruption in my life.
How dare he?
He had a dark blood stain on his shirt and dried blood smeared on his forehead.
Howdarehe. I thought in my most haughty princess voice.
He was beingridiculous.
I was not a princess. I was ordinary, really, although people said I was pretty. I wasn’t tall enough to be a model, and I certainly wasn’t graceful. A few had said I reminded them of Rachel McAdams, and that was nice. And my boyfriends were always hot.
People generally thought of me as a nice person.
But if the queen invited me to dinner I would not know how to behave.
I had been popular until everyone moved away for college, leaving me behind because I didn’t want to go to school. Having lost my parents had made me sort of, what’s the word…? Lacking in direction and motivation.
I was not a princess.
Period.
Middle of America girls who lived in the houses their great-grandparents built were not princesses. It just wasn’t the way the world worked. Princess ofwhat,even?
That was the thing — Torin wasn’t allowed to say it anymore, it wasn’t true. I was not allowing it.
He didn’t have one single fact to back up his supposition.
Heneeded to show me a birth certificate, that’s what he needed to do. Until then I was furious with him for having ruined my life. He had put me in a big heap of danger, and I would never believe him. I also would never forgive him.
I exhaled, looking over at his handsome self. He had wide shoulders and muscular arms. He was so still and quiet, so vulnerable in his sleep, I wanted to curl up beside him and put my head right there, on that curving bicep. I would maybe kiss it first.
Why would he lie?
He had sworn to lay down his life for me. If he didn’t believe it, why would he swear that? To what end?
Was this just pretend…?
I just couldn’t figure outwhy.
And one thing kept turning over in my mind: I was very, very, very rich.
I shook my head.
Nope, not gonna fall for himorthis princess act — not going to do it.
