Page 33 of Her Royal Rebellion

I shook my head. I wasn’t willing to give up yet.

No, I couldn’t just walk away until I knew for certain that there was never going to be a chance for us. As long as I knew there was a sliver of hope, I wouldn’t abandon her. I’d be her rock, her shoulder to cry on, her confidant until she told me to leave.

I straightened my shoulders, more confident than I’d felt in days. I knew what I wanted. Maybe not with my profession, but I knew my heart.

13

Isla

Nerves made my chest tighten but I forced myself to pull my shoulders back and smile. I swung open the door and Logan glanced up from his position outside my room. His smile made my entire body relax. One look from him and I felt right.

“Good morning, Princess.” His eyes trailed up and down my body and I felt my cheeks warm. I enjoyed when he slipped and let me see he saw me as more than his assignment. “What do you have planned today?”

I was wearing fitted pants and a thick maroon sweater. “A mission.”

His eyebrows rose. “Oh really?”

I nodded and headed down the hall toward the back staircase that would lead outside. The sound of his boots on the marble made me smile. He was the only person in my life that didn’t ask questions, didn’t try to talk me out of something, or control me. He simply followed.

Once we were outside, he stayed half a step behind me, but I could watch him out of the corner of my eye. He looked a little worn out. I felt responsible for his added stress and duties, but it was my parents’ fault. He was working nearly eighteen-hour days, instead of trading shifts with Shane and the night guard. He was with me all day. I knew he was worried about my safety with all these strangers in the palace, but I couldn’t help but hope he was doing it to keep the men in line as well. That he cared enough to make sure they didn’t have the opportunity to be alone with me.

As we crossed through the garden and toward the lake, out of sight of the palace staff, he moved closer to me. “Do I get a hint as to what we’re doing?”

I smiled, not having to fake it for the first time in days, and pointed. “You’re going to help me.”

He followed the direction to the two targets I had set up. “Archery isn’t exactly my specialty.”

His voice held humor and a bit of nerves. I liked that I was able to make my solid, stalwart guard nervous.

“Well, I haven’t picked up a bow in almost ten years, and I was hoping to show off when Serena gets back.”

He turned to me. “Do you have some bet going on that I don’t know about?”

“Not exactly. I just know she’s going to come back from training thinking she’s the toughest of us, and I want to make sure I can still best her at something.”

He started laughing and looked down at the bow next to mine. “I’m more of a rifle man, but I think I remember enough to use this.”

He picked it up and expertly held it against him. He looked like Apollo, poised and completely comfortable.

“Looks like you know exactly what you’re doing.” I didn’t bother trying to hide my perusal of his body. The muscles in his arms flexed and bulged as he raised the bow in front of him and pulled back the string.

He caught me and winked before bending over to select an arrow. He placed it on the arrow rest and pushed the nock onto the string before pulling his arm back, taking only a few seconds to aim before releasing the arrow.

“Dead center.” I clapped and he smiled. “Now teach me your ways.”

He set his bow down and grabbed mine, lifting it into position and directing my hands. “Move this hand up a bit.” He nodded. “Now pull here.” He guided my hand until my thumb grazed my face. His eyes locked on mine and felt the heat between us grow.

“Like this?” I whispered.

His eyes trailed down to my lips, staring. “Yes.”

I lowered the bow and lifted my head toward him. I knew what he was thinking. What he wanted. It was the same thing I did. No one was around. No one would know. I waited for him to react, to take the lead. Time froze as he leaned forward. This was it. The moment I’d thought of and hoped for.

“I can’t.” Logan took a step back with sorrow in his eyes.

“Why?” My voice came out in a gasp. “Why not?”

I saw the plea in his expression for me to understand, but I refused to give up this time.