Page 69 of Royally Matched

“Please give me your address. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

He gives me his details and I pull up a map on my phone. It looks to be about a seven hour round trip to Monteluce from Villadorata, the small village where he lives, which I bet we could do in a day, no problem.

I’m buzzing with energy, too thrilled to stand still. Pacing the room, I tell the professor I will be back in touch shortly and pull up my text messages to find Sofia’s name. I tap out a quick message, my thumbs moving faster than I can think.

Me:

I have news. I’ve found the professor your sister mentioned. He lives in a small town in the mountains called Monteluce. Message me when you get this.

My phone beeps with a return message in five seconds flat.

Sofia:

I’ve never heard of Monteluce.

Me:

Me neither, but I’ve looked it up and it’s in the mountains, about a three and a half hour drive away, according to Google. He said he’s happy to translate it for us! He won’t come to the city to meet with us, so we need to go to him.

Sofia:

Did you tell him I want to see him? I know that sounds like I’m throwing my name around, but royalty does bring certain advantages.

Me:

I didn’t think I should mention your name, for discretion’s sake.

Sofia:

Good thinking.

So, we’re stuck.

Me:

Nope. As I said: day trip.

The dots indicating she’s messaging me pulse on my screen and then vanish. A moment later they light up again, and I wait eagerly for her response. It’s short and to the point.

Sofia:

When?

Me:

It needs to be either tomorrow or the next day. He’s going to Australia in three days’ time.

Again, dots appear on my screen before they disappear again. I clench my jaw. What will she say? That’s an entire day spent together, seven hours in the car and who knows how long for the professor to translate the scroll. If I’m right, she feels a strong and undeniable pull to me, just as I do to her. Will that amount of time make her feel compromised in some way? Is she concerned she won’t be able to resist me for that long?

My head says no, we shouldn’t go, but my heart wants her answer to beyes.

Me:

We can make a day of it. Leave early, get back late. Easy.

Sofia:

I’m not sure.