Chapter 286

I burst into a grin and then I’m out of my chair, reaching for my dad, who pulls me into a warm bear hug as he laughs. I hug him back, likewise laughing, so grateful that he always knows the right thing to say. “Thanks, dad,” I murmur, tucking my face down against his neck.

“I love you, baby trouble,” he murmurs, holding me tight. “Don’t let those stupid boys walk all over you. You’re a Princess and a Sinclair, after all. You’re in charge.”

“I won’t,” I promise, sighing happily. And as my dad releases me and gives me a little shove towards the door, telling me to get a move on with my day because I’ve got in-laws to meet, I’m grateful again that I’ve got absolutely the best dad in the world.

As I move towards the door and smile at him, he smiles right back. noveldrama

And I know that he feels just the same about me.

“Love you, dad!” I call, grinning as I push the door open.

“Love you more, baby,” he says, heaving a happy sigh.

I’m not at all surprised when I find Captain Conner waiting outside the door to the breakfast room. He pushes himself up off the wall when he sees me, his eyes crinkling with his smile. “Ready to go, Princess?”

“Yup!” I say, grinning up at my old friend. Conner – he feels like so much more than a bodyguard. I’ve known him my whole life, and I know that mom and dad basically consider him family at this point. “Dad was just telling me about how he scared the hell out of you one night when he thought mom had another mate and he hunted him down with the intent to kill.”

“Oh, that old story?” Conner says easily, raising an eyebrow at me that makes me burst into laughter.

“How can you talk about it like it’s so simple!?”

“It was a long time ago, Princess,” Conner says with a grin, gesturing down the hall and then walking at my side as we get started.

“What other stories about my parents do you know,” I ask as we walk, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Oh, what I know about your parents could fill a book. A couple of them, actually,” he says, giving me a wink. “Did they ever tell you about the time they lived in a bunker for a few months because they were being assailed by Priests of the Dark God?”

“What!?” I nearly shriek, laughing in my shock.

“Oh yeah,” Conner says, nodding and grinning as we make our way down to the garages beneath the palace, where a town car is waiting to take us to Luca’s gym. “Buckle up, Princess,” he says, gesturing towards the car. “I’ll tell you on the way. This one’s a good one.”

By the time we get to the gym, I’m absolutely gaping at Conner, who is clearly enjoying himself with the telling. “Wait,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief, “mom’s estranged uncle was trying to kidnap Rafe and take the throne for himself!? But that’s…that’s insane!”

“It was a wild time, kiddo,” Conner says, unbuckling his belt as he puts the car in park. I nod like that’s one hell of an understatement, and he smiles at me. “You ready for this?” he says, raising his chin towards the gym.

“Um,” I say, looking over towards it, a little anxious now. Because for the first time, I’m walking into Luca’s turf, which I’m very aware is a world filled with big tough Alphas who are all trained to beat each other up. And while I guess that’s not very different from the Academy…I’m walking into it as a girl now, aren’t I? And a princess. And Luca’s mate.

I bite my lip, looking back at Conner. “Will you come in with me?” I whisper, wanting our family’s old friend by my side.

“Of course I will,” he says, bursting into a grin. “Besides, I’ve been wanting to get a look into the Grant Gym for a long time now! This will be fun.”

Captain Conner gives me a wink, and together we get out of the car and head inside.