courage to glance back at him. Lightning flashes outside, carving out the angles in his face. Hooded, dark eyes stare back at me.
“I hate that you’re leaving,” he says.
My heart thuds. I gulp. “I have to. For me. For my sanity.”
The Prince grimaces. He shifts his gaze to the dark porthole, where nothing is visible except splashes of water and a dark, stormy sky.
“My father’s abdicating.”
I freeze. “What? When?”
“Within a month.” Theo still stares out the window, and I long to reach for him.
“So that means…”
“I’ll be King,” he finishes.
I curl my fingers on the edge of the bed, feeling the luxurious cotton sheets between my fingers. My mouth is dry, and I’m not sure what to say.
“Why is he stepping down?”
Theo swings his eyes over to me and lets out a heavy sigh. “He’s sick. Been hiding it for years now, but it’s getting worse.”
“Sick?”
“Parkinson’s. It’s starting to get obvious. People are talking.”
“And he wants you to step in?”
Theo nods. “I’ll be the first unmarried King to be crowned.”
His words ring in my ears, and I’m not sure why. “Is that… Is that allowed?” I whisper, like I’m afraid to say it too loud.
Theo sighs. “No. At least, I don’t think so. I’ve asked Dante to look into it and talk to lawyers about me being an unmarried King. That’s why he couldn’t come on this trip.” He glances at me. “I’m ready for it. This is what I was born to do. I’ve always known it would happen.”
“It’s just sooner than you expected.”
Theo nods.
I let out a deep breath. “How do you feel about it?”
Theo chuckles bitterly. “I could sense my father getting worse over the past few months. That’s why I wanted to do this trip one last time. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it next year. It might be the last trip I’m able to take for myself.”
My chest squeezes as sadness wells up inside me.
Everything is changing. I’m leaving. Luca is already gone. Theo will be King.
This trip isn’t just a goodbye for me—it’s a goodbye for Theo, too. We’re both moving on with our lives.
Only Dante and Beckett are just as they were, but Dante never leaves the castle, and Beckett has always kept to himself. Secretly, I think he resents the fact that he’s only a half-brother, born of his mother’s affair. Even though the royal family pretends it doesn’t matter, everyone knows he’ll never have any official duties as a Prince.
“Looks like both our lives are about to change.” I reach over to place my hand over Theo’s. The warmth of his skin sends sparks flying up my arm as an ache grows in the pit of my stomach.
The Prince curls his fingers around mine. My body screams at me to lean over and press my lips to his. I can tell by the look in his eye that he wants it, too.
But once again, I pull away.
I have to.
He’s the future King, and who am I? I’m the girl that was supposed to marry his brother. I’m a wannabe singer who won’t be here next week. The daughter of a washed-up Olympian and a social-climbing mother.
A nobody.
He’ll probably end up married to some princess from another kingdom, and this night will fade from our memory soon enough.
Pushing myself off the bed, I give Theo a tight smile. “You’ll be a great King.”
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me. See you tomorrow.” His eyes speak something else, though. They say, Stay. Come back. Wrap your legs around me and let me claim you right here in this bed.
It takes all my willpower to tear myself away from his gaze. Heat pools between my legs as I turn away from the Prince, the echo of his skin still burning against mine. As soon as I exit his room, I lean against the wall and let out a sigh.
Leaving is the right thing to do, but it feels so, so wrong.
Tiptoeing back to my room, I collapse into bed. Even though we’re on a boat, the mattress is plush and comfortable. I sink into the pillows, staring up at the ceiling as I squeeze my eyes shut.
Prince Theo and I have no future together. There’s no point in pursuing any sort of temporary desire that may exist between us.
Even if I hadn’t dated his brother, he’s one of my closest childhood friends. He’s the next King, and I’m only a commoner. My family may be well-off and well-respected, but I’m not a