Chapter 2

POV: CAT

I was sweating by the time I made it up to the fifth floor in the student housing complex ten minutes later. It was Friday morning and the hall was quiet. Everyone either passed out from the night before or busy studying.

Luckily, I found my keys in my back pocket when we'd arrived downstairs. My hand shook a little as I fed it into the lock. I glanced over my shoulder at the Man in Black.

He'd started introducing himself the second they'd thrown us out of the frat house. As soon as it was clear that I wasn't being arrested and no one had died, I'd quickly stopped him.

My head was still too fuzzy to deal with whatever was happening.

And, not wanting to stand in the middle of Sorority Row talking to a middle aged dude that looked like a secret agent, I'd decided the best course of action was to bring him to my apartment.

Whoever this guy was, I hoped I could get rid of him quickly. The walk had done nothing to reduce my hangover. All I wanted was my duvet and some Netflix.

"Hello?" I called, as I pushed open the door.

Our flat was tiny. One open concept living room-kitchen with a bathroom and two bedrooms. Since there wasn't an elevator, the only furniture in the place were things that Luce and I could manage to carry up the five flights ourselves.

The living room was made up of bean bag chairs, meditation pillows, and a coffee table. There was a stained futon we'd inherited from the last inhabitants across from the TV, a quilt Lucy's mom sewed artfully hiding the worst of the damage.

We'd bribed a few football players to help us carry our mattresses in.

Mom and John had tried to get us to stay somewhere nicer.

I wouldn't take his money.

Couldn't give into my mother's worries.

The university residences were perfectly safe.

And I was free.

The smell of coffee and greenery hit me as I walked into the apartment. Luce was a biology major and had a major green thumb. I could hardly keep plastic plants alive, but I liked the way the little leafy buddies made our place feel homier.

I stepped into our little haven, and instantly met Luce's worried eyes.

My petite, strawberry blonde, friend was coming towards me. She was wearing a fluffy pink bathrobe and had a steaming cup of coffee in both hands, two halves of an everything bagel balanced on top of the mugs.

I took it from her, and nodded to the man behind me.

"Luce, this is Mr. Ass-snot…." I began.

"Arsenault…" the man corrected me, rolling his r's and elongating his vowels.

"Arr-se-no," I said, giving her wide eyes, "...Right."

She handed Mr. Arsenault the other mug and gave me a pointed look, "I'm going to get ready. Shout if you need anything."

"Thanks," I finally shut the apartment door and flopped onto the futon. Luce nodded and disappeared into her bedroom.

"So, Mr. Arsenault, what can I do for you?" I put my bagel down on the futon and sipped my coffee.

"Mademoiselle," the man said and bowed.

Yes, bowed...and was that french?

"I am Guillaume Arsenault," he continued formally still holding his mug and bagel, "member of the Royal Guard, and am here on behalf of Their Majesties, the Royal Family of Solis."

I choked on my coffee.

Mr. Arsenault watched me, waiting for some verbal response to the bomb he just dropped, I was sure.

But I had no idea how to reply.

Finally, after a few beats, "Pardon?"

His nostrils flared a touch. "Have you heard of Solis before, Mademoiselle?"

I shook my head and put down my coffee, reaching for one of the pillows. I hugged it to my chest, needing to put something physical between me and the stranger in our apartment.

My yellow beanie was hiding underneath the cushion. I quickly tugged it on, the pressure of the hat helping to ease my pounding head. And hide the greasy root of my lanky, brown hair.

"Nope, sorry, never heard of it."

"It's a small, island country in the Mediterranean. Off the coast of Arcadis, France and Spain."

"Okay, and you're from the Royal Guard?" I took a bite of my bagel, hoping it would ease my stomach.

"That's right."

I swallowed. "And what exactly are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you," Mr. Arsenault said.

"Yes, but why?"

"His Majesty, Le Prince, would like to extend an invitation for you to stay at the Palace du Mer this summer."

I laughed. "What? You're kidding."

Mr. Arsenault's face turned even more serious, "This is no joke, Mademoiselle."

I huffed. "Yeah, right. Why would a prince from a country I've never heard of invite me to stay at their castle for the summer?"

Luce appeared in the doorway then, now dressed. Her mouth fell open as she heard my words. She swore as she dropped the earring she was in the middle of putting on. "What?!"

I shrugged at her, then waved a hand at Mr. Arsenault. "Why don't you sit down?"

Mr. Arsenault looked down at the closest bean bag chair with a grimace, before slowly lowering himself to perch on the highest peak.

To be honest, I was fairly confident he was actually squatting over it.

Luce plopped down beside me on the futon, furiously typing on her phone.

"This guy?" She held her phone out towards Mr. Arsenault.

"Ah–" The guard's lips press into a thin line.

"He's cute," Luce said and turned her phone back around to face me.

There was a paparazzi shot of a man on her screen. He was handsome in a Superman kind of way. Chiseled jaw, big biceps, thousand-watt smile.

And I was about 98% sure he's gay.

"The matter is rather complicated," Mr. Arsnault urged. He put his untouched breakfast down on the coffee table. "Their majesties would prefer to explain themselves."

"Of course they would," I rolled my eyes and let my head fall back on the futon.

My Arsenault reached into his breast pocket and pulled out an expensive-looking parchment envelope. There was a large crest on the front and a wax seal on the back.

Luce looked at me for permission before reaching out and taking the letter.

"That is His Majesty's seal," he said, referring to the wax stamp at the bottom of the letter. "With an offer inside."

"An offer?" I echoed.

Mr. Arsenault sighed. "This is politics. Business. You are the last descendant of a royal family which no longer exists, Mademoiselle. A family which was once united with the family Solis. In honor of our country's 500th anniversary this summer, you are invited to the palace to reunite the families. The country is calling on you to perform your duty."

I blinked. "Are you telling me I'm a princess?"

"Not exa-" Mr. Arsenault began.

"You're a princess," Luce confirmed, dropping the letter into her lap. "And they want to pay you to move into their castle for the summer."

My stomach flipped and I leaned over the couch and emptied a liter of vodka and half an everything bagel onto Luce's ficus.