Free The King Takes A Bride (Royals Book 4) by Danielle Bourdon Page A

meet Sander's eyes or even say goodbye.
    Rising from his chair, graceful and smooth, Sander brushed a hand down the front of his suit and glanced between Chey and Mattias. “Let's retire to the upstairs sitting room for lunch and concentrate on the upcoming meeting with Paavo. The council can deal with his Excellency. ”
    More than happy to retire to a more private setting, Chey abandoned her chair for the security of Sander's arm. With Mattias flanking, they headed to the 'royal' floor of the castle where they were sure not to be overheard or interrupted by visiting guests.
    Glad for the reprieve, Chey put the Crown Prince from her mind and looked ahead to dinner with her soon to be brother-in-law.

Chapter Seven
    Paavo's holding sat on a low hill overlooking a broad valley that seemed to stretch for miles. The castle itself, an older structure that had withstood the test of time, boasted four turrets at each corner, a high surrounding wall and an iron coat of arms on the wooden entry gate. This particular holding had a secondary wall and gate system they passed through after navigating the winding road leading up the hill. The limousine Paavo sent to the small helipad adjacent to the castle ferried the group to the front doors, where members of Sander's personal guard waited. A handful had arrived by car an hour before.
    Ushered inside, Chey discovered a broad foyer, arching ceilings, stone walls and tall windows. Like Kallaster, Paavo's castle was more medieval in the making. Coats of arms decorated the walls between giant oil paintings depicting scenes of battle or portraits of ancestors. High beams criss-crossed over the ceiling and enormous rugs covered portions of the floor.
    Shown to an upstairs chamber after splitting off from the others, Chey found it to be a suite of rooms with an attached bathroom and large closet. Sander paid little attention to his surroundings, as if he'd seen it all too many times before. Every castle was a new adventure for Chey, who was endlessly charmed and fascinated by the intricacies and mystery of the structures.
    After unpacking a few items and checking her dark pantsuit in the mirror—a more formal outfit than the one she'd worn to the disastrous luncheon—she exited the chamber with her fingers hooked under Sander's elbow. They ran into Mattias coming out of a suite not far from their own, and finished their descent in his company. He, like Sander, wore a sharp suit of black with a crisp button down beneath. Each man wore a complimentary tie and polished shoes.
    Once, when Chey glanced over, she caught Mattias giving Sander a specific look. She wasn't sure what it meant, only that the men were communicating on sub-levels, reading each other's expressions and eyes with old familiarity.
    A long wooden table capable of seating more than twenty guests was the center feature of the dining hall. Candles threw flickering light across glittering china and crystal waiting before each chair. Vases of flowers decorated side tables against the walls, adding a touch of whimsy to an otherwise barbaric setting.
    Paavo, also in a suit, stood at the head of the table with a glass of red wine in hand. Carefully groomed, as was his wont, he toasted the others as they arrived. Built more like Mattias than Sander, Paavo cut a lean yet athletic figure, dark hair combed away from his angular face.
    Gunnar and Krislin entered last, also having changed into more formal attire, and took the seats indicated by placards with names.
    Chey whispered her thanks to Sander after he saw to her chair, and noticed that Paavo had put himself in the end seat. She supposed it was tradition for the man of the house to take that position. For some reason, she expected Paavo to forgo that honor and instead give it to the King. Sander sat next to her a moment later, appearing unaffected that he'd been placed on Chey's other side. He reclined in the chair in that way he had, one elbow propped on the arm, blue eyes assessing