Chapter 148

“No,” I laugh, wrinkling my nose at him and smacking him playfully on the chest. “I don’t want to give you any encouragement.”

Luca growls, snatching me closer, willing me to tell what I’m thinking. And I can’t help it – I just laugh and lean back against his arm. “I kind of like it when you’re bossy with me,” I whisper, blushing a little because I’m not sure I even knew I liked that. And I’m sure I wouldn’t like it with anyone else, not at all.

But with Luca?

He just groans, his eyes fluttering half shut, tugging me closer and taking a long languid sniff of my scent. “I’ll boss you around all you want, Princess,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “I’ll even –“

“Not in real life,” I say, pointing my finger into his face and narrowing my eyes. “Just in bed. Or…locker room. As it were.”

Luca grins, and nods once, and snaps his teeth just millimeters from the edge of my finger, making me jump and laugh again.

But then we both jump, and then go still, at the pounding at Luca’s locker room door.

“Your grandmother is waiting for you, Luca!” his uncle’s voice shouts from the other side.

And I gasp and press my hands to my mouth because – oh my god, because I completely forgot. Completely lost entire track of the world outside of this room, if I’m being honest.

“Yup,” Luca says, glancing up at the clock with a grimace. “We’d better go.” Hastily he stands up, setting me on my wobbly feet, and I frantically spin for the mirror, wanting to make sure I at least look like I haven’t been making out with my boyfriend in his private the locker room.

“Coming!” Luca calls when his uncle knocks again. Then Luca moves to the little pile of clothes that we knocked to the floor a few minutes ago, grabbing his undershirt and pulling it over his head. He turns to me and grins as the shirt pulls over his face, ruffling his wet hair.

And everything is just so perfect in this moment I can’t help but grin right back at my mate before I turn to the mirror and fix my hair. Because I’m a Princess, after all, about to meet my mate’s family. And the least I can do is be presentable.

A huge cheer erupts when we walk into Luca’s house, hand-in-hand, and I gasp, completely undone by it.

“Sorry,” Luca says, giving me a grimace even though he can’t stop smiling. “I told them that not everyone could come and meet you today – just the essentials. But I guess they…didn’t listen.”

I flick my eyes up at him, grinning like crazy, but there’s no time to respond before Luca’s family swarms forward, reaching out their hands to me, eager to make me welcome. So, I just pass all of my feelings down our bond, letting him know that I love it, and I feel so warm and loved already, and I’m thrilled to meet all of them – every single one.

Luca introduces me as his girlfriend, telling me a lot of names I unfortunately won’t remember as I shake hands with his family members, saying my hellos and giving everyone my best Princess smile. But then I find myself facing a woman who holds both hands out to me, a beautiful smile on her face. I take her hands in mine, and as I look up into her warm brown eyes, and take in her own set of perfect dimples, I know instantly that it’s Luca’s mom. “Welcome, Ariel,” she says, beaming at me. “It’s so nice to meet you –“

“It’s so nice to meet you too!” I say, eager, walking with her as she leads me forward – but we don’t get far before a very tiny, very eager little woman steps towards us, both of her hands out, smiling so hard that her eyes are two little half moons on her face. “La Principessa!” she shouts, thrilled, and then before I know it I’m wrapped up in her arms.

I laugh, hugging her back, letting her rock me back and forth. Behind me, I hear Luca laugh goodheartedly.

“Ariel, this is my grandmother,” he says, and I turn my head to smile at him before pulling away from the old woman a little bit and beaming down into her face. She shakes her head at me like she can’t believe I’m real. But then she blinks and looks around behind me. She murmurs something in words I don’t understand, and I turn with real surprise when Luca responds in the same language.

I stare at him, shocked, and Luca just grins at me. “Do you – do you speak Itablio?” I ask.

“I mean, just a little,” he says with a shrug as his family moves eagerly around us, setting out food and drinks, turning on music.

“Of course he speaks Itablio, it’s his native tongue!” his mother says, laughing and coming to press a fizzy orange drink into my hand.

“It is?” I gasp, still staring at Luca. He just laughs and looks away, maybe a little bashful.

“Where!” his Gran says suddenly, pulling my attention back to her. “Where…Rafe!”

“What?” I ask, baffled but bursting into a grin.

“Where…Rafe!” she repeats, looking around the room eagerly.

Luca’s mom laughs and slips an arm around her mother’s shoulder, grinning and speaking quietly to her in their language. I look to Luca, curious.

“Yeah,” Luca says, stepping closer and running a coy hand through his hair. “I kind of forgot to mention that Gran is…kind of obsessed with the royal family.” He lifts his chin towards the corner of the room, and I turn to see a picture of my mom on the wall, looking saintly and smiling beatifically, holding a little baby Rafe in her arms, their cheeks pressed together. A candle burns beneath the painting, and it’s clear that it’s very well cared for.

My mouth drops open in shock and delight.

“Rafe is her favorite,” Luca continues, and I burst out laughing, turning my face back up to his. “She is going to be bummed when she found out that it’s just the Princess today, and not her precious Prince.”

“Principe Rafe!” Gran says again, clapping her hands. “He so…handsome!” Luca’s mom laughs, picking up the end of our conversation.

“Don’t listen to Luca,” she says to me, rolling her eyes at her son. “Gran is, of course, thrilled to meet you, Ariel. We all are.” She opens her arms to me now, and I go to her, letting her wrap me up in her arms too. “I always prayed he had a mate,” Luca’s mom whispers to me, holding me tight, and a true warmth rushes through me at her words. “I didn’t realize he’d be lucky enough to get you.”

She pulls back a little, and cups my cheek in her palm, her eyes filled with tears.

“Mommm,” Luca groans, reaching for me. “I’ve been telling her that our family is fun –“

She laughs, pulling away and shaking her head. “You’re right, you’re right!” she says. “Call me Linda, Ariel – and please, yes, eat! Drink! Have fun! You’re partying with the Grant’s now, and Luca is right – we are a good time.”

Over the next few hours, I learn that this is absolutely true. Luca’s family instantly makes everything easy, pulling me into the cozy, well-worn living room and sweeping me up in their conversation like I’ve been there a hundred times – like I’ve always been there, honestly. I mean, they ask me about my life as Princess, of course, but his family works hard to ensure that I am instantly comfortable in Luca’s home, immediately included in all of the jokes. As time slips by I don’t all feel the revered Princess – which I don’t like, anyway, if I’m being honest – but instead like Luca’s new girlfriend, accepted and loved.

Or at least, I’m feeling quite accepted and loved by everyone in the room except Luca’s uncle, who stands in the corner nursing a beer and frowning, staring into space. He doesn’t make it clear that I’m the source of his dissatisfaction, but he doesn’t look at me.

And the way he scowls down at his drink and refuses any food – man, but anxiety twists in my gut. What possible reason have I given him to not like me?