Page 16 of The Royal in Room 3

After all, my task for the evening was done.

As I approached Kim, she spotted me and her eyes lit up. “Daddy!” she squealed, throwing herself at me. I hugged her and patted her back the way I knew she loved.

“There, there. Be a good girl and stop calling me that with your actual Daddy around. Don’t want him to beat me up, do you?”

Lucas laughed as we exchanged a one-armed hug, slapping my back harder than necessary.

“You get away with it this once, Jude, because I know how much you mean to my little girl. If not for you, we wouldn’t have found each other.”

“Yeah, well, it’s my job to make them better for a better man.”

“Better?” Lucas stroked the side of Kim’s face. “This one’s a troublemaker.”

“Stop by sometime, and I’ll give you some pointers on how to manage her well.”

“Oh, Daddy, you know you love me being a brat.”

“I do, sweetheart.”

Lucas kissed his fiancée briefly, and I couldn’t have been happier for them. Being in their orbit actually made me feel the rare moment of envy over a couple who were perfect together. I’d thought I had that once.

“Listen, I just wanted to say congrats again,” I said. “You two really make a beautiful couple.”

“Thanks, man,” Lucas said.

“And of course you’ll walk me down the aisle and give me away?” Kim asked.

“Really?” I was stunned that she would want me to participate in her wedding and in such an important capacity.

“Of course. I can’t think of anyone more suitable for the job. You were more of a father to me than my own ever was.”

Choked up, I nodded. “Of course. I’d love to give you away.” Eyes misting, I wagged a finger at Lucas. “You take real good care of her or I’m gonna have to hunt you down.”

Kim giggled. “I think you’re supposed to say that on the wedding day.”

I chuckled. “I’ll say it again then, too. I’ll be heading out now. You two take care.”

It took me a bit longer to leave, as I kept getting stopped on the way to the door. Kim wasn’t the only one in that room I’d mentored. The event was chock-full of past Halo House angels, and most of them had brought their partners.

The foyer had more people, so I made a break for it along the hall leading to the conservatory. As the person Phoenix called whenever something needed fixing at Halo House, I knew the floor plan like the back of my hand.

The conservatory had always been one of my favorite spots in Halo House. It was quiet, tucked to the side of the house, with glass walls and a ceiling that let the moonlight spill over rows of leafy plants and colorful flowers. The air smelled faintly of soil and greenery, and the music from the party was little more than a muffled hum.

I slipped inside, closing the door behind me, only to stop in my tracks. Soren. My heart skipped a beat. He stood near one of the planters, his hand resting against the floor pot. His shoulders slumped beneath a cream cashmere sweater as he stared out through the glass. Surrounded by so much life and vibrancy, he looked like a wilted flower. One I wanted to replant, water, prune, and nurse back to full color.

He turned his head, and our eyes clashed. His beautiful lips were turned down, and his eyes shone with unshed tears under the moonlight. Everything inside of me squeezed tight, even my lungs, making it difficult for me to breathe.

As I watched, a tear slipped down his cheek, and I did everything wrong. With long strides, I breached the distance between us and gathered him into my arms, pressing his face to my chest.

“Shh. It’s going to be alright.”

I knew I was wrong for initiating contact. Many of Halo’s residents had been abused and might not like to be touched. Even with my arms around him, I prepared myself for his rejection, but after a few seconds, a sob tore from him, and his arms went around me, clutching me tightly.

6

SOREN

“Soren, are you ready?”