Page 25 of His Prince

Casey clenches his jaw and takes a step closer to me, as if to protect me from the man who isn’t even here, but I really don’t need him to do that. I’m fine.

I made Casey promise to not say anything about my situation to my father or his boyfriend—my best friend, Tatum. The two of them tell each other everything.

I don’t want them to swoop in and rescue me.

I can handle this.

“Casey, you’re smothering me,” I whisper, shoving at him slightly. He hasn’t left my side since realizing that Mikhail left me alone here. And while I appreciate it, and honestly want to sob into his arms, I can’t do that. Because if I crack, the dam will break and I don’t know how I’ll survive it.

I’ll drown in it.

“Greenhouse is here,” Gael says from the front door, and I clap my hands, pushing past Casey, leaving him to deal with Ivan.

He has a way of making Casey incredibly distracted and frustrated, which is great. It’s the only thing that really distracts him from me.

“Oh, I’m so excited about this.”

“I’ll help in getting this set up,” Gael says as Felix bounds over next to him, throwing his arm around Gael’s neck. They wrestle their way over to the delivery men, who are watching us all with wide eyes.

“Hi there,” I say, handing them a container of cookies and a few bottles of waters. “For your service.”

They take it from me, and Felix snorts happily.

“He’s not poisoning you. Do not look at him that way. Our little husband is just nice.”

He ruffles my hair, and I swat at his hand. He’s making it sound like I’m married to all these chain-smoking guards in tracksuits.

The delivery guys eye me for a second more but tuck the box ofcookies in their truck and follow Gael, Felix, and me to where I want the greenhouse set up. I want it placed just outside the periphery of the garden, the space I’ve been slowly plucking away at, trying to make it more my own.

No, not more.Myown.

This is my space.Mine.

I do what I want.

I square my shoulders and beam at them, watching as their muscles flex as they move. Gael even pulls his shirt off and tosses it onto the ground, his abs tightening as he squats down and lifts an entire pallet onto his shoulder.

I wet my lips and admire them because, really, who cares if I look? Mikhail isn’t here and it’s not like he cares about me anyway.

So he can fuck right off.

“Yes, right there. Gael, Titus! Can you help, please?”

And just like that, the greenhouse is being erected.

Just like fucking that.

I sit amongst it all, the chaos that is slowly forming the semblance of a home for myself.

I hate it here, this cold and lifeless place, and yet I can’t help but wonder if this is where I’ll spend the rest of my life. And if it is, then I’m going to make this as livable and cheerful as I can.

I am going to do this—for me.

“Would you like some lemonade?” I ask as some of the men walk by, their skin glistening with sweat. More and more are losing their clothes in the glare and warmth of the sun that is peeking out from behind the clouds.

And I don’t mind it one bit.

Two guards stop and take a cup, gulping it down, andswiping their mouths with the back of their hands in appreciation.