"Is this man your friend?"
As the question lingered in the air, everyone turned to look at Raven while they waited for her to answer. Dexter knew he was pushing his luck by putting her on the spot this way. Too bad. She'd broken his fucking heart by leaving the way she did. If she'd only talked to him about what was bothering her, they could have resolved the issue. He would have done whatever it took to fix the problem. Which she very well knew. Although he had a pretty good idea of what the real issue was, she needed to tell him directly, and with her own words. If that meant he had to travel halfway around the world to hear her say it, then so be it.
She turned her gaze to his, a sad smile hovering on her lips. "Yes, I know him."
At her acknowledgment, a wave of relief flowed through his body. "Princess Raven, may I have a private word with you?"
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Not right now, I—"
"Of course," her father interjected. The look he gave Raven was one Dexter had seen from his father many times before. One that clearly communicated to Raven that she’d better not embarrass him, and she should handle her shit.
King Hans turned back to Dexter just before waving a hand to open a space for them to walk through. "Please take a moment to talk. Seems the two of you have some things to discuss. Dinner won't begin for another hour."
Raven looked at her father, who held her gaze with a steady look. Dexter then watched as Raven shifted to look at her mother. Although none of them said a word, he could only imagine the silent messages passing between the three of them. What he didn't know was how this was going to end for him.
"Mother. Father. Please, excuse us." Raven curtsied to her parents before turning on her heels and walking away.
He bowed to her parents and made his way to follow behind Raven.Not once did she look back to see if he was coming with her. Okay. If she wanted to play this game, he was more than ready.
CHAPTER 3
Raven
How could he do this to her? Didn't he understand this was not the time, nor the place to make a scene? Raven stormed into one of the private rooms in her family's estate. Now that he was here, they may as well have it out. Everyone had seen him. Her parents weren't going to be happy about this new development. This was supposed to be her moment. She was to be officially recognized as the future Queen Regnant.
Raven entered the Blue Parlor, the room she’d designated as her own for receiving personal guests. Turning to face the open door, she watched Dexter enter the grand hall. As he strolled through the door, she couldn't help but take a deep breath. Raven's hand went to her stomach to quiet the butterflies. God, he was so handsome. Truth be known, she still loved him.
When she’d seen him first enter the ballroom, Raven had to hold herself back from running to him. If she could fall into his arms and borrow some of his strength, she knew it would make everything better. Her time with Dexter had been special. Her leaving had nothing to do with him. His mother’s snide remarks and underhanded accusations when he’d taken her to meet his family had simply sped up the timeline.
But Dexter? He’d been an almost perfect boyfriend. That was probably too juvenile. He was her lover. Her friend. Her protector. The man made her feel things she never expected. Dexter loved on her so good, showing her in so many ways how he felt about her. Raven wanted to stay within the circle of his arms and never leave his side. But that wasn't real life.
Raven never should have dated him. Never spent that first night with him. Or the next. When she felt her heart connecting to his, she should have run in the other direction. Their love had been doomed to fail from the beginning. Raven knew this, but in her need for Dexter, she ignored all the signs.
Dexter closed the door behind him, the click of the heavy barrier closing seemed loud in the room. Raven jumped in response to the sound. Her nerves were shattered from all the changes going on in her life. The uncertainty hung in the air like a heavy cloak. She had no idea how to explain her actions to him. When the moment had come for her to return home, she'd left. No real explanation or goodbye. At least not a real one, anyway. He turned to face her, and her knees almost buckled.
He was angry. No. He was hurt.
"How could you, Raven? Did we mean nothing to each other? You told me you belonged to me." His voice rose with every sentence. "Then you run away like a child. Leaving me and the life we were building as if it meant nothing to you." He began pacing the room, coming closer to her with each pass. "I don't care who you are or what you wear on your head," he snarled, pointing at the diamond tiara resting on her thick hair. "You made promises to me."
Eyes welling with tears, Raven could do nothing but stand there. Every word he said was true. She'd loved him then, and she still loved him. Her feelings ran deeper than words could express. When they were in his bed at night, she'd whisper how much he meant to her. That she never wanted to leave him. How he made her feel whole for the first time in her life. Then she left him.
"I had no choice," she said. Voice wobbly with emotion, she continued. "I was called home, Dexter. Refusing to return home to take my place in the royal line of succession because I'd fallen in love was not an option." She stopped talking when she saw that her words weren’t getting through to him.
Sighing, she turned before walking to the large window overlooking the lush, green grounds. She'd played out there as a child, with no idea of the responsibilities that would be placed on her shoulders. Her parents tried to give her a normal life. A life filled with laughter, love, and childhood adventures. No matter how normal they wanted her life to be while she grew up, her duty to her country—to the crown—could not be ignored. Not even for the man she loved. Raven looked over her shoulder at him, all six-feet-four inches of sexiness. It broke her heart to see him this way. "Dexter. Ihad to come home. I'm sorry you can't understand that."
She watched the emotions wash over his face as he stared at her from across the room. Why did her heart contract, as if caught in a vice grip?
Raven loved her country. She also loved Dexter Sorenson. Why couldn't she serve her country and have the man she loved by her side? Her father had made his own way and now he and Raven’s mother were two of the most beloved monarchs’ in her country’s history.
As a member of the royal family, she was expected to marry someone of royal lineage. Dexter was a man from a small town in Tennessee, who'd accomplished more than anyone else in his family. Any woman would be proud to have him standing by her side. So why was she acting like such a chicken shit now that it was time to tell her parents she was in love with him?
Dexter’s frustrated voice broke through her musings. "Raven, don't give me that bullshit," he growled. Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer to her, bringing him within a few feet of her rigid form. "There's always a choice. You just chose power and prestige over a life with me."
"No, Dexter. I'd never do that," she yelled. Stepping closer to him, she wanted to reach out and grab his hand. Hold it close to her heart the way she'd done when they were at home.Home.She still thought of his place in Washington, D.C. as home, and it was. Her home was wherever Dexter lived.
“But you did, Raven. You never even gave me a chance to fight for us. Yet, here I am. In a country that I know nothing about, dressed in this penguin suit.” He looked down at his attire and snorted.
“Yeah. I know you hate dressing too fancy.”