Page 94 of Scandal Queen

“Ooh poor little prince.”

His eyes lit. “You are going to pay for that.” Bending at the waist he swept up a handful of snow and slicked it at my face.

It stung as it hit my skin. “Shit!”

“What did you call me, again?”

Bending my knee, I grabbed my own handful and shoved it right in his face.

“Fuck, Leia.” He spat out snow.

“Don’t take me on. I grew up on the gritty streets, my friend, I’ll take you down.”

He launched for me and gripped his hands at my waist, hoisting me over his shoulder.

I screamed and kicked my legs as he paced back for the palace, almost begging him to put me down. If he walked me into my first royal Christmas upside down with my arse in the air, I’d never forgive him.

Just short of the door he dropped me to the gravel, holding onto me tight as I found my balance.

For a long moment we laughed and stared at one another. Hallmark movie puke fest.

Then it snapped inside me. I might have broken some palace rules this morning by going to find Mrs Patten, but in doing so I’d set myself free.

I had nothing left to hide.

The one thing I’d always dreaded would never happen. No one would take Daisy away from me, not ever.

Finally, the shadows from my past no longer held any weight over me.

“Wait a moment.” I reached into my all important handbag, the one I’d been bashing against Ollie’s back the whole way across the snow.

“What are we waiting for?” He reached forward and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I think the Tabloid Princess has just arrived.” I pulled out my phone and then ducked into his side, lifting the phone and taking a picture.

“Leia, you’ve got to get my good side.” He grabbed it and then held it higher, kissing the top of my head as he retook the picture. “What’s this for?” He asked, handing it back.

I pulled off a glove and banged my cold fingers against the screen a few times. Then I lifted it and showed him my new Instagram account.

“Why today?”

“It’s our first Christmas as a family. People should get to share the joy we have with each other.”

His lips curved into a slow smile and he shook his head. “Finally, she gets it.”

“I do.”

“Although, you might not be saying that once the tree is done.”

“No?”

“Just promise not to leave me. It’s a silly tradition.”

“I’ll never leave.”

“Good.”

Twenty-Two