it? Theo was here the day before yesterday, and I saw the way he looked at Cara.”
“That’s how everyone looks at Cara, Selma. He loves her because they grew up together, not because he’ll agree to marry her. You had no right to arrange anything without speaking to me, or her, or Theo himself.”
“I haven’t arranged anything. I’ve only planted a seed.”
“Well, you have no right to plant seeds without my knowledge.”
“Please,” my mother scoffs.
Planting seeds? Theo? What are they talking about? My heart thuds as I reach the edge of the doorway. I pause. My back is glued to the wall and I’m almost afraid to take a breath.
What did my mother do? Why is my father so upset?
Their voices drop, and I lean my head off the wall and closer to the doorway. I can only hear snippets of words, and I creep closer to the doorway.
I need to know what they’re talking about. I need to know what my mother has planned, even if it’s just a planted seed.
She’s never been supportive of my singing. She’s never wanted me to have my own voice or my own life. She just wants me to be some cash cow that she can marry off to the highest bidder.
That’s why I haven’t told my parents I’m leaving. The more time I give my mother to sabotage my plans, the more chance she has of doing it. I wish I didn’t have to do it this way, but I do.
Now, more than ever, I need to leave. Especially if she’s planning on arranging another relationship for me.
Just when my head is about to poke through the doorway, my father comes rushing through. I yelp, tumbling backward and falling onto the floor. My father lets out a surprised gasp, scrambling back.
“Cara,” he sighs. “It’s you.”
His face is dark. I stare up at him from my spot on the ground, not sure if he’s angry with me or not.
Then, my mother appears in the doorway. A wicked smile curls her lips as she crosses her arms across her chest.
“Well, well, well, speak of the girl herself. If you play your cards right, my darling daughter, you’ll have gained yourself a husband.”
7
Theo
I ask my driver to take me straight to the royal doctor. His office is located in one of the outbuildings on the palace grounds. My shoulder is throbbing, and I already know I’ve done some lasting damage. I need the doctor to run some tests to make sure the injury isn’t as bad as it feels.
At least the pain takes my mind off what happened last night.
Or rather, what didn’t happen.
I almost kissed Cara. Almost did a whole lot more than kiss her, too.
Closing my eyes as the car takes me to the doctor’s office, I replay the events of the sailing trip in my mind.
Would it have been so bad if we’d hooked up?
Yes, of course it would have been bad. I’d be betraying my brother, for one. It would be an incredibly irresponsible act, which I can’t afford when I’m so close to becoming King.
I’ve known Cara since we were kids. She’s one of the only people outside of my immediate family that has been genuine to me. One of the only people that I can call my friend.
And now, I want to throw that all away just to sleep with her?
She’s leaving. I can’t complicate things for her right as she’s starting a new life for herself. I should be celebrating with her and wishing her the best, not imagining what it would feel like to have my cock buried deep inside her.
Plus, me being King is supposed to unite the Kingdom. I’m supposed to be the fresh, new start for Argyle after a tumultuous time under my father. I’m supposed to turn a new leaf after my mother’s affair and exile, not have my own scandal right as the crown is placed on my head.
Sighing, I open my eyes as the car stops. I’m tired. When my chauffeur opens the car door for me, I nod to him and head for the doctor’s office. I’m ushered inside and seen to right away.
Perks of being the future King, I guess.
I feel like a robot as I answer the doctor’s questions. I explain what happened and how my shoulder was dislocated. I tell him what medication I’ve already taken, and how the chef put my shoulder back into place.
He orders x-rays and an MRI, and tells me to expect to