Page 73 of Three's A Crown
“Sky,” Magnolia squeaks and shakes her head. “What the hell kind of books are you reading that you would think that?” she asks her.
“Um, good ones. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. They are close and do everything together.”
“I don’t want to know about their sex lives. Ew,” Magnolia grumbles.
“On second thoughts, I can’t see a man like him wanting to share, especially you.” Skylar chuckles.
“He won’t have me in the first place,” Magnolia bites back.
Skylar bursts out laughing. “As if you’re going to be able to resist Dante when you are living together.”
My sister isn’t wrong; Dante and Magnolia were tight when they were younger from my memories of us growing up. Yes, he has been away for a long time, but there might still be some residual feelings there that have been lying dormant, and now he’s back, they might come bubbling back to the surface.
Magnolia ignores our sister and changes the subject. “How’s everything else going? Are they treating you well there? Are you two sharing a room?” Magnolia asks, peppering us with questions.
“This is my room,” Skylar explains, getting up off her bed and showing Magnolia around her room. “Rosie’s room is across the hall in the prince’s wing. Her room is like this but all white.”
“What about you?” I ask her.
“Thankfully, I have my own room. Dante’s house is in the middle of nowhere though, surrounded by high walls and security stalks the perimeter.”
“No escape, huh?” I say.
She shakes her head. “Henny told me that the prince sent people to quote on how much it was going to cost to rebuild the tower. That’s nice of him.”
“Yeah, he didn’t want us to be in any more debt to you know who,” I explain.
“Anthony called and said that one million dollars had been wired from the prince for agreeing to marry him,” Magnolia tells me.
It’s good to know that the money has arrived.
“He is transferring more today. It will be a start in paying off father’s debt.”
“Not sure if Valerius will like that. We are messing up his plan,” Magnolia adds.
“Make sure Anthony transfers that money directly to him. It should wipe off half of what father owed him,” I tell her.
“It will, but we need to be prepared for this not to work though, Rose. We could pay him, and he may demand more, or he may still force me to marry Dante. This isn’t going to be over because he got the money. To be fair, he doesn’t need the money, it’s the power he is after and that is more important to him. Us paying this debt is a ruse so that he can get what he truly wants, our crown.”
She’s right. But I’m not willing to give up yet.
“Show Maggie your ring, it’s stunning,” Skylar butts in, effectively changing the subject as she grabs my hand and flashes the exquisite ring at the screen.
“Rose, it’s gorgeous. It looks like something you would have chosen yourself,” Magnolia gushes.
I look down at the ring. She’s right; it is exactly like something I would choose for myself. I loved that they had a vintage piece as an option instead of rows upon rows of over-the-top diamonds. I could never see myself with a boulder on my finger.
“And our closets were filled with new clothes, all designer in our sizes. We are living in a fairy tale,” Skylar explains excitedly.
Magnolia says, her brows pulling together with concern, “Really? That’s awfully nice of the prince. He seems to have gone over and above for you both in such a small amount of time.”
She’s worried; I get it, especially as she is stuck with the devil and his spawn. We are so used to people doing things for their own selfish reasons, that we don’t understand why someone would do something for us out of the goodness of their heart. I mean, the boys are getting something out of me I guess, I’m their beard, but I am getting something I need from this relationship too. It’s not a one-way street.
“You don’t have to worry, Mags. The prince is a good man. He truly has our best interests at heart. We are safe here. They want to help us too,” I say, trying to ease the concern written on her face.
“I know. I worry, that is all. It’s my job as your older sister to do those kinds of things,” she grumbles, shaking her head.
“And as your sisters it’s our job to worry about you, too,” I shoot back at her.