Page 82 of This Prince Is Not Charming

“Cillian always said there wasn’t.” Wolfe huffed. “I believed him.”

Nevan scratched his head. “I’m shocked.”

“That’s because you’re oblivious,” Enid said from his side. “Everyone can see it.”

“See what?” Wolfe asked.

“That they’re in love,” Mother said in an exasperated tone.

Ceri shifted from foot to foot. “I feel like I’m the main display in an exhibition.”

I held out my hands. “Okay, enough gawking. Yes, we love each other. Yes, we always have. Yes, we’re finally admitting it. But we also have a lot to figure out.”

Mother grabbed Father’s hand, both of them beaming. “I’m just so happy for you two.”

“What happens if he has to marry the cat?” Wolfe asked, and Niamh flicked him in the arm.

“That’s one of the things we’re figuring out,” I said.

“Can he even legally marry a cat?” Nevan asked.

“Okay, let’s stop talking about me marrying the cat,” I said, not wanting to think about anyone but Ceri becoming my wife.

“Aside from the cat, what is there to figure out?” Mother asked.

“That’s not really any of your business,” I started as Ceri’s father burst through the doors.

“I came as soon as I could,” he said, wild-eyed and hair going in all directions. He was wearing his nightgown, and I wondered if he’d been asleep and something had awoken him, scared him.

“Papa.” Ceri immediately ran from my side and joined him, holding his arm. “Why are you here? In the castle?”

He swallowed, eyes swiveling around to everyone. “I had a nightmare. A bad omen, Ceri, I’m telling you. About the castle swallowing you whole. You must come home immediately.”

Understanding lit Mother’s eyes.

“Papa, I won the trial, and now I’m supposed to have a date with Cillian,” Ceri said, though her voice shook. It broke my heart to see the way she was trying to hold back tears.

“Ceri, it’s okay,” I said. “We can wait.” I would wait as long as I needed to. “In fact, why don’t I walk you two back to your apartment?”

“Let’s go home, Papa,” she said, nodding at me. “We’ll get you back to bed with some tea.”

Niamh stepped forward, grabbing Gerald’s hand. His head snapped in her direction as she smiled at him. “You know, I’ve been meaning to stop by and bring you some books I thought you’d like. Maybe tonight would be good? I could even read some of them to you. You’re on book four of the Godwitch Wars series, right?”

He shook his head and looked at Ceri, who nodded. “That’s right. You just finished the third book. I returned it to Niamh last week.”

“Oh. Yes, then. I suppose I would be ready for book four.” He paused. “I was taken aback by that cliffhanger.”

“Book four is my favorite,” Niamh said, and Morton slithered along the ground and flapped his wings, lifting to her shoulder.

“I couldn’t believe what I saw after I ate that book,” the bookwyrm agreed.

“What if Morton escorted you back to your apartment and I brought the books along?”

He shot his daughter an unsure look. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. What do you think, Ceri?”

“You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Papa.”

He paused. “Well, I do like a good book. But I don’t like the idea of being alone all night long without you.”