Page 123 of Stolen Princess

The princesses are my teachers in many things. All the things I have no clue about, they love telling me. There’s a lot to learn, and right now that includes swimming.

All of my bruises and cuts have, for the most part, healed up. We’ve been here two weeks, and in these two weeks, we’re no closer to figuring anything out. It’s more than a little frustrating, but with that, we’ve kept my return under wraps. I haven’t left the palace, but that doesn’t bother me much.

I’m used to staying put.

Ferrin is a different story. He, along with Gabe and occasionally Javier, has gone out on missions to search for Marie and Antonia. I suggested announcing myself to the kingdom in a public setting and seeing if one of them comes out of the woodwork, but no one else liked the idea of making me an intentional mark.

“We just got you back,” Sebastian said. “We’re not risking your life over this again.”

Rowan was in full agreement, and it was difficult to argue with them. But I wish this were done. I wish this were over. I don’t want this hanging over our heads anymore. Ferrin said we have to be patient. That finding people who don’t want to be found isn’t always that simple, especially when they know how to live in the shadows.

But if they’re living in the shadows, why come back out? Why put yourself at risk and for what? Antonia already knows we’re looking for her and Marie, well, other than the tiara situation and whether she or Antonia has it, hasn’t bothered anyone since she took me.

My DNA came back the other day, and it showed that I am, in fact, Princess Desta. Not that anyone questioned it, but if we announced me prior to that, there would be questions thrown at us that we wouldn’t be able to answer. Now we can.

“Move your arms,” Sabrina not so helpfully demands.

“Like this!” Zayer whips his arms madly about and splashes all of us while he turns around and around in his floaty vest.

“Zayer, not like that!” Phaedra tells him, always the one to be in charge. “Like this.” She rolls her arms in alternating pulls that slice through the water. “Like they’re scooping ice cream,” Phaedra suggests.

I’ve never scooped ice cream, but I don’t mention that either. The last time I had an ice cream was the great make-out followed by police incident. Ferrin chuckles off to the side as if he’s having the same memory.

“Come on, princess. You can do it. Show this pool who’s boss.”

I covertly flip him off, which makes Marcella and Bellamy laugh. They’re sitting in the shade with the twins, who are napping. I can’t get enough of them. They’re so sweet and cuddly and just squish into you, wanting nothing but love. It’s the best.

I move my arms as the girls demonstrate and work to kick my feet. It’s not great. I’ll be honest with you. And if I were tossed into a lake again, I doubt I’d get very far and would likely drown. But I’m getting there. This is our second swim lesson, and I’m already loads better than I was the first time.

“You should practice treading water,” Rowan suggests as he comes out the back slider door with Sebastian and Althea beside him.

“Hopefully I won’t require that skill again, and by the time the pool reopens next spring, I can start with fresh lessons.”

Rowan drops to the edge of the pool beside Ferrin and puts his feet in the water while Sebastian and Althea join Marcella and Bellamy with the twins. I peek over in between my horrible attempt at a front crawl stroke and see Ferrin and Rowan talking in low voices.

They had been following a lead, but Sebastian doesn’t want to take advantage of any measure that isn’t legal. He’s worried something like that could be made public, and then there’d be scrutiny or worse. Rowan doesn’t seem to care as much, and I know Ferrin doesn’t at all.

Ferrin was officially declared dead. Well, Rhys Stephan is dead.

We leaked a story last week stating that his body had been found and identified. The notorious criminal is no more. All of his sins are officially pardoned. But more than that, it allows him to do some digging that everyone else can’t, which makes him very happy.

When I asked him the other day if he still wants to stay now that he has his freedom and can retire, he simply kissed me and said, “Maybe one day we’ll find a smaller place for us, but for now, this is better than I expected.”

I believe part of that is his growing friendships with Sebastian, Javier, and especially Gabe and Rowan. Ferrin’s not an outsider who always has to watch his back or social engineer and manipulate to get what he wants. He can be himself, and I think he’s feeling the freedom of that. Of being around people who are trusting him, that he’s trusting in return.

I love watching it, and it makes me so happy for him to finally have that.

“Aunt Desta, focus,” Phaedra chastises, and I return my attention to the children.

“Right. Sorry. I’ve got this now!”

“Sort of.” Sabrina shrugs, and I can’t help my laugh. Phaedra is ever the up-and-coming queen, but Sabrina is trouble and doesn’t seem to make apologies for it.

I work on my swimming for another five or so minutes until the children get bored, and they go off to play sharks and minnows. I shudder thinking about the shark we came a little too close to in the sea and walk through the water toward Ferrin.

I climb out so I can sit beside him and Rowan, ringing out the excess water from my hair. What I really need is a haircut.

“What’s all this chatting?” I ask, nudging Ferrin with my elbow.