Chapter 78

MILA

True to their word, Isla and Marie picked me up the next morning in a sporty red car. BRIDE TO BE had been spray-painted on the back windshield in big, bold letters.

The sight made me laugh. I had never really had friends before, and to have found both of these women in the past few weeks felt like I had finally found something I had been searching for my whole life: genuine friendship. Nadine certainly had never been a friend to me, and no one in my hometown had ever paid me much attention.

But Isla was carrying my favorite vanilla latte and Marie had a giant white sun hat with “BRIDE'' embroidered on the side. They were both giggly and excited to see me, and I felt my heart warm.

“Remember our arrangement, Miss,” my main security guard, Mick, reminded me. I smiled at him crookedly.

“Of course, sir,” I said. He gave me a brief nod and headed towards the black SUV parked behind Isla and Marie.

Marie watched him and turned to me, confused. “What’s that about?”

I sighed. “For the next few weeks, Felix and I have to have extra security. But I still wanted a day out with my friends, so the agreement I reached with my security team is that they can trail me all day and keep an eye out on things, but also make sure I still have my privacy. Hopefully things will settle down after the wedding.”

Hopefully someone would catch Charles by then, to be exact. But I didn’t want to get into that today.

Marie nodded thoughtfully. “I’m sorry you have to be dealing with all that. It must be… stressful.”

Isla shot me a knowing look. As an employee of the castle, and someone who directly served the royal family, I was sure she had heard rumors of Charles’ betrayal. But Isla was a good employee–and a good friend–because of her discretion, and I knew she would never gossip about the goings-on in the castle.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?” I asked as I settled into the passenger seat. Isla, our trusty driver for the day.

“Nope!” Isla said cheerfully. “We told you it would be a surprise and we are guaranteed to deliver on our promises.”

We drove towards the coast, but to a more southern region than the remote area of Carnea. According to Marie, the closest beach was only two hours from the castle.

“It’s a little touristy, but there are some nice resorts there,” Marie finally revealed from the backseat. She was scrolling through the day’s itinerary on her phone. “We thought it might be a good place to take you.”

As we finally drove over a hill to reveal the rolling ocean and shore spreading below us, the gleam of the water brought a tear to my eye. I remembered my trip to Carnea with Felix a few weeks prior, and how that had changed our entire relationship. To go back to the ocean, now, mere days before our wedding…it felt like a lovely full circle moment I had not prepared myself for.

This coastline was lined by high-end, high-rise resorts with private beaches and what I could only imagine to be amazing views. Isla grinned as she pulled up to the Royal Beach Club, which I could only imagine was the nicest hotel on the strip.

“Welcome to your bachelorette, Mila,” she said.

Workers met us at the grand entrance of the hotel, giving us each a mimosa and a shortbread cookie to welcome us to the Beach Club, before escorting us to the top level of the building.

When we stepped out of the elevator, I gasped.

Through some sort of magic or last-minute planning, Isla and Marie had worked miracles. The rooftop pool was perfectly positioned in the sun and overlooked the sparkling sea. White chaise lounges with MILA’S BACHELORETTE pillows were lined up in both the sun and the shade for maximum comfort. Servers stood by with trays full of cocktails, snacks, and tiny cakes. Even my security detail consented to merely standing by at the doors and exits to maintain safety and privacy.

It was perfect. I felt like I was going to cry.

Marie handed me a white swimsuit and gave me a wink. “Go change and then meet us back out here! They have a bellini bar I’m dying to try.”

We spent the afternoon drinking champagne and lounging in the sun. The girls had hired a private chef to make whatever meals we wanted, so I was delighted to have some lemon chicken pasta while staring out at the water. It was a perfect way to celebrate my upcoming marriage.

I was washing my hands in one of the club’s immaculate bathrooms when a figure appeared behind me in the mirror. I jumped to see Esmeralda watching me with curious eyes.

“Hello, Mila,” she said softly. “I hope you don’t mind me interrupting.”

“Esmeralda,” I whispered. I hadn’t seen her in weeks. According to Felix, she had been locked away in her chambers looking for a way to break the curse. Also according to Felix, she was one of the most powerful witches to ever live, and that intimidated me.

“Are you having a good hen party?” she asked, looking at my white bikini. I blushed.

“Yes, Isla and Marie did a great job,” I said.

“They’re lovely girls,” Esmeralda said, smiling. “I know it has been a difficult road to get here, Mila, but I am glad you are marrying Felix. I am so looking forward to the wedding.”

“I’m glad he finally told me the truth,” I said. “I want us to go into this marriage with no secrets between us.”

Esmeralda nodded thoughtfully. “I know you carry a great burden as the prince’s Destined Bride.”

“I’m just happy to help,” I said. It was the truth. “I love Felix. The thought of losing him to an ancient curse is unbearable. I would do anything to save him.”

Esmeralda smiled slightly. “Your love is a powerful bond. It is a great magic unto itself.”

“I suppose that it is,” I agreed. “May I ask, though, why are you here? I assume you did not come by car like the rest of us.”

That made Esmeralda chuckle. “No, my dear, I have other means of getting from place to place. Truth be told, Mila, I believe that there is more to your connection with Felix than just your role as his Destined Bride. Are you… aware of your birth family? Do you know anything about them?”

I could not place Esmeralda’s tone. Why was she bringing up my birth parents? The people who cruelly gave me up?

“I don’t really know anything about them,” I said. “Why?”

“I have reason to believe that there is something very unusual in your bloodline,” Esmeralda said. “Something that even my magic cannot quite trace.”

“Do you know something?” I asked. My voice was trembling. “Do you have information on my birth family?”

Esmeralda shook her head sadly. “That is precisely what I am trying to figure out, my dear. Who are you, Mila? Who are you, really?”