TWISTED GAMES by ANA HUANG, Book 2, Chapter No: 51,RHYS

THREE MONTHS LATER “Rhys!” Luciana’s face creased into a huge smile. “Como estas?” She looked Bridget over with a twinkle in her eye, and when she spoke next, her words held a teasing note. “Es tu novia?” I laughed and tangled my fingers with Bridget’s. “Si, es mi novia.” “I knew it!” Luciana said with delight. “Finally. Come, come. I have food for you.” She ushered us to the same table we’d sat at during our last trip to Costa Rica. I couldn’t believe that had only been a year ago. So much had changed since then. Hell, so much had changed in the past three months alone. Bridget and I could finally enjoy being together, even as preparations for her coronation ramped up and I slowly acclimated to the spotlight. I didn’t enjoy the attention, but I was more comfortable with it, and that was the best I could hope for. “This was a good idea.” Bridget sighed with happiness when Luciana brought out a feast of meat and rice. “I needed a vacation.” I smirked. “I always have good ideas.” Bridget hadn’t wanted to go on a trip until after her coronation, but I could tell she was buckling under the stress. She needed a getaway to reset. Plus, my mouth could be pretty
damn persuasive, especially when I used it for purposes other than talking. It was our first vacation as an official couple, and I’d chosen Costa Rica not only for sentimental purposes but because no one in town knew or cared Bridget was a princess. Even after all the recent press coverage, they treated her as they would anyone else—warm and friendly, sometimes inquisitive, but never prying. “Five days in paradise,” I drawled. “Swimming, sunbathing, fucking—” “Rhys.” “What, you don’t like the itinerary?” “Lower your voice,” she hissed, her face the color of the tomatoes on her plate. “People will hear.” “No one’s listening.” We were the only ones on the trip. No Booth, no entourage. It took a helluva lot of convincing, but the palace finally agreed to my plan. I was still qualified to guard Bridget, even if I was no longer officially employed in that capacity. Since I quit working for Christian, I’d taken on a few freelance security consulting gigs. I didn’t need the money— Harper Security had paid very well, and I wasn’t a big spender —but I’d go out of my mind with boredom if I didn’t have something to occupy my days. “You don’t know that.” Bridget tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She wore a tank top and shorts, and her skin already glowed from the sun. No makeup or fancy clothes, and she was still the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. “People could definitely be listening.” “Trust me. I know.” The closest people to us sat three tables over, their eyes glued to the soccer game on TV. “Even if they are, ain’t nothing wrong with fuck—” “Rhys.”
I chuckled but stopped trying to get a rise out of her lest her face explode from embarrassment. It never failed to amaze me how prim Bridget was in public compared to how wild she was in bed. It made our sex even hotter, knowing I got to see a side of her no one else did. After lunch, we walked around town for a bit before I convinced her to return to the villa. I couldn’t wait much longer. “I have a surprise for you,” I said as we drove up the hill. I couldn’t resist dropping a hint, and talking kept my focus off the knot of nerves in my stomach. I wasn’t used to being nervous. Bridget perked up. “I love surprises. What is it?” I kept one hand on the steering wheel and twined the fingers of my other hand with hers. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.” “I like surprises I’m prepared for,” she said. “Just a hint?” I shook my head with a grin. I’d been doing a lot more of that lately—grinning. Something had changed over the past few months. The dark, heavy cloud that’d hung over me all my life had dissipated. It still came back now and then, but sunny days were the default now, not thunderstorms. It was…strange. The darkness had been a protective shield, and without it, I felt stripped bare. Defenseless, which was not something I ever wanted to feel. But in moments like this, when it was just me and Bridget, I didn’t need defenses. She’d broken through all of them, anyway. “Here we are.” I parked in front of the villa. “Surprise.” Bridget looked around slowly. “Okay…” She shot a confused glance in my direction. “I hate to tell you this, but we’ve been here before, remember? Luggage drop-off this morning? Bucket list number four?”
“Trust me, that’s not something I’ll ever forget.” My mouth quirked up at the warm rose creeping over her cheeks. “But that’s not the surprise. This is.” I held up a set of keys. “I bought the house.” Her mouth fell open. “What?” “My buddy was thinking of selling anyway. He and his family are moving further down south. So, I bought it.” I shrugged. We could stay in the nicest hotels in the world, but I wanted a place that belonged to us. “Rhys, you can’t…” Bridget’s eyes darted to the villa. “Really?” “Yep.” My grin widened when she squealed in a decidedly unprincess-like manner and jumped out of the car. “We’re coming here every year!” she yelled over her shoulder. “And we need more hammocks!” I followed her inside, a laugh rumbling from my chest as she visited every room like they were long-lost friends. I loved seeing her like this, wild and carefree, her guard down and her face lit with a smile. A real one. “I love this place.” She slid open the glass door to the terrace and sighed when she saw the pool. “Perfection.” “Why do you think I bought it?” A teasing sparkle brightened her eyes. “Rhys, are you a secret romantic?” “I don’t know.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, the knot of nerves in my stomach doubling. Bridget sucked in an audible breath, but otherwise everything hushed—the wind, the birds, the roar of the Pacific in the distance. It was like the entire world held its breath, waiting to see what happened next. “You tell me.” I opened the box, revealing the glittering diamond ring that had burned a hole in the back of my dresser drawer for two months. I’d wanted to wait until the perfect moment. Now it
was here, and I felt like an eighteen-year-old walking into Navy training for the first time again, determined but scared as hell about how the next chapter of my life would unfold. A proposal was inevitable. I knew it, Bridget knew it, the world knew it. But just because something was inevitable didn’t mean it wasn’t important, and this was the most important moment of my life. “I’m not the best at flowery language, so I’ll keep it simple.” Fuck, was my voice shaking? I hoped not. “I never believed in love. Never wanted it. I didn’t see the practical value and, to be honest, I was doing just fine without it. But then I met you. Your smile, your strength, your intelligence and compassion. Even your stubbornness and hardheadedness. You filled a part of my soul I always thought would be empty, and you healed scars I never knew existed. And I realized… it’s not that I didn’t believe in love before. It’s that I was saving it all for you.” A half sob bled through the hand pressed to Bridget’s mouth. I took a deep breath. “Bridget, will you marry me?” The question hadn’t fully left my mouth before Bridget threw her arms around me and kissed me. “Yes. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” Yes. One word, three letters, and it filled me up so completely I was sure I’d never hunger again. I slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. “There’s no taking it back,” I said gruffly, hoping she couldn’t hear the hitch in my voice. “You’re really stuck with me now.” Bridget let out another half sob, half laugh. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Mr. Larsen.” She curled her fingers around mine. “You and me.” A deep, pleasurable ache spread in my chest, warming me more than the late afternoon sun ever could.
I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve her, but she was here, she was mine, and I was never letting her go. “You and me.” I cupped her face and brushed my lips over hers. “Always.”

EPILOGUE
RHYS Six months later “Do you solemnly promise and swear to govern the People of Eldorra according to their respective laws and customs?” “I solemnly promise so to do.” Bridget sat in the coronation chair, her face pale but her hand steady on the King’s Book as she took her official oath. Her grandfather stood beside her, his face solemn but proud, and the rest of the cathedral was so quiet I could feel the weight of the occasion pressing into my skin. After months of planning, the big day was finally here. In a few minutes, Bridget would be crowned Queen of Eldorra, and I, as her fiancé, would officially be the Prince Consort in waiting. It wasn’t something I’d ever dreamed of or thought I wanted, but I would follow Bridget anywhere, from the smallest, shittiest town to the grandest church. As long as I was with her, I was happy. I stood with Nikolai, Sabrina, Andreas, and the other von Aschebergs in the front row, closest to the coronation. The ceremony took place in the sprawling Athenberg Cathedral, which was packed with thousands of high-profile guests. Heads of state, foreign royals, celebrities, billionaires, they were all there. I clasped my hands in front of me, wishing the archbishop would speed things up. I hadn’t talked to Bridget all day, and I
was itching to get to the coronation ball so we could have some alone time. “Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?” the archbishop asked. “I will.” Pride seeped through me at Bridget’s strong, clear voice. She completed her oath, and a collective hush fell over the cathedral when the archbishop lifted the crown from Edvard’s head and placed it on hers. “Her Majesty Queen Bridget of Eldorra,” the archbishop declared. “Long may she reign!” “Long may she reign!” I repeated the words along with the rest of the guests, my chest tight. Beside me, Nikolai dipped his head, his face shining with emotion; next to Bridget, Edvard stood ramrod straight, his eyes suspiciously bright. The archbishop finished the ceremony with a few verses from the King’s Book, and it was done. Eldorra officially had a new ruler and its first female monarch in over a century. A low, electric hum replaced the hush. It skittered through the soaring hall and over my skin as Bridget rose for the exit procession; judging by the way the other guests shifted and murmured, I wasn’t the only one who felt it. It was the feeling of watching history being made. I caught Bridget’s eye during her procession, and I flashed her a quick grin and a wink. Her mouth curved into a smile before she tamped it down, and I fought back a laugh at her overly serious expression as she left the church. “That was the longest ceremony ever.” Andreas yawned. “I’m glad I wasn’t the one who had to sit up there.” “Good thing you’ll never sit up there, then.” My relationship with Andreas had developed into something resembling genuine friendship over the months, but his personality still left a lot to be desired.
He shrugged. “C’est la vie. Let Bridget shoulder the burden of a nation while I live like a prince with none of the responsibilities.” Nikolai and I exchanged glances and shook our heads. While Andreas and I never missed an opportunity to sneak a dig at the other, I had a much easier relationship with Nikolai. Another brother, albeit by marriage rather than blood, and I didn’t want to murder him half the time. After the formal exit procession, the guests filed out of the cathedral, and soon, I found myself in the palace ballroom, impatiently waiting for Bridget to arrive. Only five hundred people received invites to the coronation ball compared to the thousands at the ceremony, but that was still too many people. All of them wanted to shake my hand and say hi, and I indulged them half-heartedly while eyeing the door. At least my lessons with Andreas came in handy—I remembered everyone’s titles and greeted them accordingly. My pulse kicked up a notch when the Sergeant at Arms’ announcement finally rang through the ballroom. “Her Majesty Queen Bridget of Eldorra.” Triumphal music played, the doors opened, and Bridget swept in. She wore a lighter gown than the ornate affair she’d donned for the ceremony, and she’d replaced her crown with a more wearable tiara. She waved to the crowd, her public smile firmly in place, but when our eyes met, a hint of playfulness crept in. I excused myself from my conversation with the Prime Minister of Sweden and made my way through the crowd. For once, I didn’t need to use my height or build—everyone parted when they saw me approaching. The perks of being the future Prince Consort, I supposed. By the time I reached Bridget, she had half a dozen people fighting for her attention. “Your Majesty.” I held out my hand, cutting off a woman who’d been gushing over her dress. The crowd fell silent.
“May I have this dance?” A grin played at the corners of Bridget’s mouth. “Of course. Ladies, gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me.” She took my hand, and we walked away with six pairs of eyes burning into us. Bridget waited until we were out of earshot before saying, “Thank the Lord. If I had to listen to Lady Featherton compliment my outfit one more time, I would’ve stabbed myself with the spikes from my tiara.” “We can’t have that, can we? I very much like you alive.” I rested my hand on the small of her back as I guided her across the dance floor. “So, you’re officially queen. How does it feel?” “Surreal, but also…right.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain it.” “I understand.” I did. I felt much the same way. I wasn’t the one who’d been crowned, of course, but we’d waited and planned for so long it was strange to have the ceremony behind us. We’d also had time to get used to the idea of Bridget being queen, and now that she was, it felt right. We always end up where we’re meant to be. “I know you do.” Bridget’s eyes glowed with emotion before she made a face. “I can’t want to get out of this dress, though. It’s not as bad as my coronation dress, but I swear it still weighs ten pounds.” “Don’t worry. I’ll rip it off you later.” I lowered my head and whispered, “I’ve never fucked a queen before.” A chuckle rose in my throat at the deep blush spreading over Bridget’s face and neck. “Do I have to stop calling you princess now?” I asked. “Queen doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as nice.” She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you dare. By royal decree, you’re never allowed to stop calling me princess.”
“I thought you hated the nickname.” I spun her around, and she waited until she was in my arms again before saying, “As much as you hate when I call you Mr. Larsen.” I used to. Not anymore. “I was joking.” My lips grazed her forehead. “You’ll always be my princess.” Bridget’s eyes shone brighter. “Mr. Larsen, if you make me cry at my own coronation ball, I’ll never forgive you.” My smile widened, and I kissed her, not caring if PDA was against protocol. “Then it’s a good thing I have the rest of our lives to make it up to you.”
BRIDGET Three months after my coronation, Rhys and I returned to the Athenberg Cathedral for our wedding. It was as grand and luxurious as one would expect of a royal wedding, but I worked with Freja, the new communications secretary, to keep the reception as small as possible. As queen, I couldn’t have a friends-and-family-only party for diplomatic reasons, but we cut the guest list from two thousand to two hundred. I considered that a major victory. “I’m jealous,” Nikolai said. “You only have two hundred people to greet. My hands nearly fell off at my reception.” I laughed. “You survived.” We stood near the dessert table while the rest of the guests ate, drank, and danced. The actual wedding ceremony had gone off without a hitch, and as much as I enjoyed seeing my friends and family let loose, I was counting down the minutes until I could be alone with Rhys, who was currently talking to Christian and a few of his friends from the Navy.
He hadn’t expected his military buddies to come, since he hadn’t spoken to them in so long, but they’d all showed up. Whatever worries he might’ve had about seeing them again, they seemed to have disappeared. Rhys was smiling and laughing and looked perfectly at peace. “Barely,” Nikolai joked before his smile faded. “I’m glad things worked out for you and Rhys,” he added softly. “You deserve it. When I abdicated, I didn’t think…I never wanted to put that kind of pressure on you. And when I realized what it meant…what you had to give up…” “It’s okay.” I squeezed his hand. “You did what you had to do. I was upset when you first told me, but it all worked out, and I enjoy being queen…for the most part. Especially now that Erhall is no longer Speaker.” Erhall had lost his seat by half a point. I’d be lying if I said the news hadn’t given me immense pleasure. I had, however, worried Nikolai would be upset or jealous about the repeal. Would he be bitter I got to stay with Rhys and keep the crown? But he’d been nothing but supportive, and he’d admitted he enjoyed his new life more than he’d expected. I think part of him was actually relieved. Nikolai had grown up thinking he wanted the throne because he didn’t have a choice to not want it, and now that he was freed from those expectations, he was thriving. Meanwhile, I’d taken up the mantle and grown into the role. Ironic, the way things turned out. “Yes, he was a bit of a toad, wasn’t he?” Nikolai grinned and glanced over my shoulder. “Ah, it seems my time is up. I’ll talk to you later. I need to save Sabrina before Grandfather forces her to name our baby Sigmund after our great-greatuncle.” He hesitated. “Are you happy, Bridget?” I squeezed his hand again, a messy clog of emotion tangling in my throat. “I am.” Did I feel like the weight of the world was on my shoulders sometimes? Yes. Did I get angry, frustrated, and stressed? Yes. But so did a lot of people. The important thing
was, I no longer felt trapped. I’d learned to master my circumstances instead of letting them master me, and I had Rhys by my side. No matter how terrible of a day I had, I could go home to someone I loved who loved me back, and that made all the difference. Nikolai must’ve heard the sincerity in my voice, because his face relaxed. “Good. That’s all I need to know.” He kissed my cheek before he beelined to where a five-months-pregnant Sabrina sat with our grandfather, who’d spent his post-ruling days fussing over his future great-grandchild and trying to find a suitable hobby to fill his time. Edvard had forced Rhys to teach him how to draw for a few weeks before it became clear his talents did not lie in the artistic realm. He’d since moved on to archery, and I’d had to add a hazard pay bonus for the staff accompanying him to practice. I turned to see what had made Nikolai leave, and my face broke into a smile when I saw Rhys approaching. “Long time no see,” I teased. We’d only had one dance together before we were pulled away by various friends and family. “Don’t remind me. My own wedding, and I barely see my wife,” he grumbled, but his frown eased when he drew me into his arms. “We should’ve eloped.” “The palace would’ve had something to say about that.” “Fuck the palace.” I stifled a laugh. “Rhys, you can’t say that. You’re the Prince Consort now.” The King Consort title didn’t exist in Eldorra, so even though I was the queen, he was called the Prince Consort. “Which means I can say it even more than before.” Rhys grazed my jaw with his lips, and goosebumps of pleasure dotted my arms. “Speaking of Prince Consort…what benefits come with the position?” “Um.” I tried to think through the fog in my head as he caressed the nape of my neck. “A crown, a lovely room in the
palace, medical benefits…” “Boring. Boring. Even more boring.” I laughed. “What do you want then?” Rhys lifted his head, his eyes gleaming. “I want to bend —” “Hi guys, I’m so sorry for interrupting.” Ava appeared beside us. She looked lovely in her mint green bridesmaid dress, but her face was etched with concern. “Have you seen Jules and Josh? I can’t find them anywhere.” “She’s afraid they’ve murdered each other,” Alex added, coming up behind her. Ava rolled her eyes. “You’re exaggerating.” “Not by much. I saw Jules with a knife earlier.” “I hope they haven’t. Bad press if there’s a murder at my wedding,” I joked. “But no, I haven’t seen them. Sorry.” Still, I swept my eyes around the room just in case. Booth, whom I’d insisted attend as a guest instead of a guard, was deep in conversation with his wife and Emma, who’d flown in a few days ago so we could catch up before the wedding. Apparently, she’d gotten more attached to Meadow’s cuddliness and Leather’s foul mouth than expected, and she’d adopted both from the shelter. I was delighted, especially when Emma promised to send me pictures and videos of them often. Steffan was dancing with Malin. I’d called him after my press conference to apologize for not giving him a heads up, but he hadn’t been upset at all. He said it’d given him the courage to stand up to his father, and considering he was attending the most publicized event of the year with Malin, it must’ve all worked out. Christian stood in the shadows, chatting with Andreas, but his eyes strayed to something—someone—on the dance floor. I followed his gaze and winced when I saw Stella.
That’s not good. Or maybe I was reading too much into the situation. Even Mikaela was in attendance, hanging out with some of our old school friends. I’d invited her as an olive branch, but it would take a while before I trusted her again. Almost everyone who played a major role in my life was there…except Jules and Josh. “I haven’t seen them either,” Rhys said. Ava sighed. “Thanks. I just wanted to check. Sorry for bothering you, and congrats again!” She dragged Alex away, probably to look for her brother and Jules, even though Alex looked like he would rather eat nails. “Well, that ruined the mood,” Rhys said dryly. “We can’t even have a conversation without getting interrupted.” “Perhaps we should wait until after the reception because that’ll keep happening. I already see Freja coming toward us. Unless…” I lowered my voice, a spark of mischief kindling inside me. “We hide.” We stared at each other for a beat before a slow smile spread across his face. “I like the way you think, princess.” Rhys left first, slipping out under the auspices of using the restroom, and I followed soon after. We couldn’t be gone long, but we could steal a few moments for ourselves. “Your Majesty!” Freja called as I passed her. “Where are you going? We need to discuss—” “Ladies’ room. I’ll be back.” I quickened my steps and contained my laughter until I reached the small drawing room where Rhys was waiting. “It’s like we’re sneaking around again.” I shut the door behind me, my heart racing with the twin thrills of finally being alone with him and doing something we weren’t supposed to do. “Just like old times,” he drawled. The lights were off, but enough moonlight filtered through the curtains for me to see the carved planes of his face and the tender heat in his eyes.
“So, tell me.” I looped my arms around his neck. “Was this where you expected to end up as a kid? Hiding in a royal drawing room with your wife on the night of your wedding?” “Not exactly.” Rhys brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. “But someone once told me we always end up where we’re meant to be, and this is where I’m meant to be. With you.” Forget butterflies. An entire flock of birds took flight in my stomach, soaring into the clouds and taking me with them. “Mr. Larsen, I do believe you’re a secret romantic after all.” “Don’t tell anyone.” He cupped my ass and squeezed. “Or I’ll have to spank you again.” I choked out a laugh right before his mouth crashed down on mine and everything else—Freja, the reception, the hundreds of people gathered in the ballroom just a few doors down—ceased to exist. Kidnapping, blackmail, betrayal…our path to where we were now was anything but conventional. I wasn’t a storybook princess, and Rhys wasn’t Prince Charming. I didn’t want us to be. Because while what we had wasn’t a traditional fairytale by any means, it was ours. And it was forever. THE END