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“She’s a real spitfire—reed with regret and seeive me”

“Why did you want it this way?” The question was out before Dom could stop it One did not n, let alone ask invasive question

“In the beginning, it was because I really did think she was safest on her oith soed, obviously not caring about the break in royal protocol “Then later I was afraid that if I did see her again, I wouldn’t be able to walk away By then I already kneas dying There wasn’t a future for us, and it seemed she’d made peace with her new life Who was I to take that away from her? I’m already her past She needs to concentrate on Elskov and her future”

“You think it was the right call?” Elle sure as hell hadn’t thought so, and Do he did, he’d find a way toher about her father

“That is none of your concern” The king looked up at hi into place over the pain etched into a father’s face “What is, however, is ensuring e it this time?”

There wasn’t a doubt in his mind “Yes, sir”

“Good” The king pivoted slowly toward the open car door, reaching out for his driver/bodyguard’s ar out as soon as the Kronig coronation is complete”

Dohter—why even bother to show up in the first place? “Why are you here?”

The king got into the backseat but didn’t turn toward Doht ahead, a stubborn tilt to his chin, reotten pissed off at hi the past week

Finally the king spoke “You’re forgetting your place”

“No, I’m not” Fury on Elle’s behalf slapped hirabbing King Magnuz by the lapels and shaking hi to rescue the princess, and once she’s safe I’ to tell her you’re here It’ll be her choice to see you one last time or not” He inhaled a deep breath, surprised at his own loss of cool control, and forced a deliberate cal, but isn’t it about time you were her father?”

The king paled before an indignant flush hit his face “Maybe instead of worrying about what I should do, you should get hter out of the predicament she’s in only because you couldn’t protect her in the first place”

The truth punched hithen his resolve “There’s not a da Elle”

Ignoring protocol that de dismissed him, Dom turned and stalked across the asphalt to the other black sedan, where Major Bendtsen waited for him

“As queen, she can’t think about anything other than what’s best for Elskov” The king’s weakened, wheezy voice still had enough power to carry across the tarmac “She’s not for you”