Secrets of a Prince (The Princes of New Sargasso #3) - Carol Moncado Page 0,17

probably came close enough.

“Get what you need,” he told her. “Don’t not get something just because you’re worried about the cost.” The look on his face was one of the gentlest she’d ever seen in real life. “I’m not your father. Don’t go crazy, and we’ll be fine. If you order a Lamborghini on the card, we might have an issue, but I trust you a lot more than that.”

Tears unexpectedly filled her eyes. No one had ever talked to her like that before. “You have no idea what that means to me. Thank you.” She’d said that a lot.

After a moment, the silence grew awkward, so she decided to ask him about the apartment. “I know this is kind of your get away, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen any private residence decked out in so much Trilunium.”

A blush crept up his face. “I know. It’s a bit overboard, but I’m a total fanboy at heart. I have a map in my apartment at the palace, but even that I toned down.”

Minnie leaned back to look at the one mounted above her. “I didn’t know they came this big.”

“They don’t. I have the biggest standard one at home, but this was a custom order.”

The Trilunium maps weren’t cheap. Even before her father’s financial downturn, he would have thrown a fit if she’d bought one.

Almost every knick-knack in the place was something related to Trilunium. Dragons. Dinosaurs. Even the great wolf from the newest release already held a spot of great significance - near a Sofós Voskós, a tiger from the other world the siblings found, and a cross - all symbols of Christ and Christ-like figures in Trilunium. Aslan graced the same shelf, bringing Narnia into the room a bit as well.

The large television hung on the other wall.

“Do you need me to show you how this works?” Joss picked up a remote that Minnie had studied earlier but hadn’t been able to make sense of.

“That would be wonderful.”

He came to sit next to her.

Almost too close.

Close enough that his shirt brushed against her arm a few times as he moved.

For ten minutes, he explained how to use the different functions, mainly how to get to different inputs and volume control, but also the other things it did, though he doubted she would need them.

Then he pulled another remote out from between the cushion and the arm of the lounge.

“I use this one the most,” he admitted, sheepishly. “I don’t always remember to make sure it’s put away.”

It also controlled power and volume on the television, but the main use was in controlling one of those devices that gave you access to digital content. Nearly every app imaginable to man was found on the device, including one that let her watch anything in his personal digital library.

She clicked through it looking at what he had. “2 Cool 4 School?” Minnie tried to control her snicker. “I wouldn’t think that was really your style.”

“It’s more for my sister,” he explained. “When it came out that Alex Slate was really Alexander Bayfield, Duke of Testudines and prince consort of Ravenzario, my sister insisted that we watch the entire series together.”

“I see.” The smirk remained on her face. “But you enjoyed it, too, didn’t you?”

“It was kinda fun,” he admitted. “I’ve met the duke on several occasions, so watching him as a teen was kind of fascinating. I’ve even watched a few of his brother’s HEA TV movies and enjoyed them. I think the fact that they’re twins is part of it, too. I can relate to that.”

She hadn’t considered the twin factor. That made sense. “You’ve got a great selection.”

“Thanks. Most of it is our combined accounts. We all, legally, share our digital libraries through this app.”

A thought occurred to Minnie and worried her a bit. “Won’t someone notice that an extra user is watching something? Especially if you’re home watching something yourself or known to be somewhere else.”

He shook his head. “No one tracks any of it that closely.” His hand covered hers. “You’re safe here, Min. Your father can’t find you. No one knows this place exists outside of a couple of my trusted staff members. As far as I know my father isn’t even aware, though I wouldn’t put it past him. You’re safe.”

She’d felt that way the moment she walked in. Even though she’d felt out of place sleeping in his king-sized bed, with the giant portrait of Sofós Voskós hanging over the headboard, she’d felt