THE SUN’S RAYS BURST THROUGH thin clouds on its way below the horizon. The urge to press the horse faster under Gemma’s legs coursed through her body. But she’d promised the doctor if he cleared her for riding, she’d keep the horse at a walk. Not even trotting. But the surf splashed against Cherub’s hooves, and the feeling was glorious.

André followed on Archangel, his chestnut stallion a few yards behind. His casual cotton shirt and pants, and ease in the saddle made him look as though he were born to ride a horse. The sun in his face made him that much more impressive.

They’d taken a path through a forest of palm trees and fauna, every step of their journey bombarded by pungent flowers and iguanas skittering away. The strong scent of the salty ocean filled her pores.

Each second on Solana grew on her; easier to fit in and become more comfortable.

More like a home.

Although the day had started out nerve wracking, because they still hadn’t heard back from Stefano. She’d been on edge, thinking the team had failed. Now they could possibly be lying dead somewhere thousands of miles away with no way of reaching home.

When André had suggested a ride, she jumped at the chance.

Cherub rounded a bend in the beach, and a secluded cove came into view, with their destination front and center. A waterfall plunged into a small lagoon a hundred yards from the beach, an oasis in heaven. A red quilt spread on the sand just on the edge of the lagoon, beneath a thin silk canopy tied to a trio of palm trees. The twilight picnic was complete with oversized burgundy pillows, dinner placements, candles, and champagne on ice.

A superb distraction.

She rode closer and dismounted. A flicker of pain nudged at her insides, but she waited it out by brushing Cherub’s mane as a thank you. Her prince followed behind her and jumped from the saddle. Two servants came from nowhere and escorted both horses off for a rest, water, and carrot treats.

André gestured to the quilt, his smile so irresistible. Full of pride and love. “Alas de Ángel. One of the most beautiful natural wonders on Solana. Other than you.”

Damn, he’s good.

“Remind you of anything?” he asked.

Gemma bit her lip through a mischievous smile. “Yep. Trying to replicate our date by the pond back at Reyna’s ranch.” Where they’d shared the most fantastic round of sex she’d ever had. She’d grown addicted to André after that…a special kind of love/hate addiction. “Only far more fancy. But you had me with the horses.”

She settled back onto the pillow, letting the sand conform to her body beneath the blanket. The slight breeze from the rushing waterfall into the lagoon combined with the ever-present ocean waves in the air, cooling the early evening to a perfect temperature. Beside them sat several trays with fresh fruit, cheese, grilled shrimp, and other delicacies. One of them looked like caviar. The heavenly scent from the lemon salmon made her mouth water. Alfred’s certainly outdone himself. He must really want that job.

“This a great way to seduce a woman.” She cocked an eyebrow at him.

André smiled as he started to uncork the champagne. Sparkling cider from the label. “I had good news. Wanted to share in a unique way.”

Her ears perked up. “Good news from Stefano?”

He smirked. “Patience.” He poured two glasses and handed one to her. “Doctor’s orders, no alcohol. But we still need to celebrate.”

She grabbed the flute, tapped the edge with his, and sipped. The cranberry flavor bubbled in her mouth, cold and ticklish to her nose. “I’m all for celebrating. Spill it.”

He settled in beside her, both of their feet spread toward the beach. Waves filled the silence as he drew out the suspense. “Stefano’s team reported back. They’re on their way home.”

Her heart soared. They survived. But her levity stopped. “Lozano?”

“He was already dead.”

The words took a moment to process in her brain. “What? How?”

“They found his head henchman gutted on the kitchen floor, six more guards, dead throughout the grounds, and all of the safes empty. The guns and money had been stripped.”

The lead weight refilled her stomach. “Vasco…”

“There’s no way to know for sure, but he suspects so.”

Her heart squeezed. “That bastard is everywhere. So where did they find Lozano?”

“You sure you want to hear this part? It’s…graphic.”

“I want every detail.”

He pressed his lips together after downing his cider. “They found Lozano in a body bag, tied to a concrete block at the bottom of the bay behind his estate. From his body temperature and coloring, he’d drowned not more than an hour before.”

“Ho-ly-shit!” Gemma dragged the words out as her brain processed the news. “They missed that prick by an hour.”

“Less than that. The man needed time to empty out Lozano’s stash of weapons and money.”

She shook her head. So close.

“Stefano said the number of hastily dug shallow graves in the backyard was insane. They managed to dig up one of them and found human bones. Alongside Lozano in the water, there were at least twenty other concrete blocks scattered nearby attached to ropes or chains. The sharks had already eaten the rest.”

“Where’s Vasco?”

André paused. “Does it matter?”

Her lips parted. Did he really ask that? “Of course. Otherwise, we look over our shoulders the rest of our lives.”

“Stefano doesn’t believe he’ll be bothering us anymore.”

“How can he possibly know that without finding him?”

“Because he found a note. On a cocktail napkin.”

She raised her eyebrows, and shook her head. No doubt now. Definitely Vasco. “And?”

“Chironex, I’m out.”

Chironex. The first mission, where they’d left Vasco behind. “What is a chironex?”

“A sea wasp. The box jellyfish, most deadly creature in the sea.”

Gemma sighed, more than little irritated. “So, that’s it?”

André shrugged. “The mission was successful. They went to kill or capture Lozano. The head of the snake is dead.”

He reached over to the fruit plate and grabbed a strawberry. He brought it up to her lips and smiled.

She looked into his eyes, the mocha color not clouded with anxiety or panic anymore. This is André at peace. If only I could be that calm. She chalked it up to her decades of waiting for the bottom to drop out. Because it always did.

Gemma bit into the strawberry, all the way to his fingertips. The sweetness enveloped her senses. Looking through the thin canopy overhead as she leaned back, the stars twinkled across the pink and yellow streaks in the sky. With a deep breath, she consumed the sweet and fresh scent from the lagoon, the waterfall sounds more soothing than she anticipated. Just as soothing as the sounds of the ranch used to be. “The head of the snake is dead, his youngest son in captivity, and probably will never walk again. Which leaves only his eldest son left unaccounted for.”

“Known to authorities as the least threatening of the Lozanos.”

“What did your sister say?” After all, she’d been the one detained by Ricardo Lozano when she escaped Solana. She had the most vested in his capture.

“She said now we can all move forward. There’s no more time bomb waiting to explode while we negotiate a new defense agreement.”

“We?”

He smiled. “This has always been a family affair. We’d like it to continue that way.”

“We all know how important family is to you.”

“It is. And it’s taken a beating over the years, some more than others. Much more recently.”

“But not for long.”

He shook his head, his gaze focused solely on her. Her insides warmed and fluttered. She leaned forward and kissed his lips. Soft, sweet, and salty. Still like kissing the ocean.

He suckled her top lip as he pulled away. Then he reached over to the tray and grabbed a covered silver platter, no bigger than a salad plate. “Ready for dessert?”

“I’ve always been a fan of dessert before dinner.”

He grinned. With a deep, shaky breath, he lifted the lid.

A gold plate covered with red and white flower petals stared back at her, with something insanely glittery in the center. Her jaw dropped.

A single round diamond dazzled from inside a circle of Solana’s ammephire stones. They wrapped around the center gem like a rose bloom, blossoming at the first touch of light. The center diamond was the size of her pinkie nail, not too large or overbearing on her hand. Just the way she never imagined a ring could look. Each stone shimmered at different angles, more breath-stealing than the next.

“Marry me, Gemma.” André murmured the words more sweetly than she’d ever heard. “Marry the man who loves you most. I promise to make you happy and give you the life you’ve always wanted.”

She swallowed her astonishment. The life she wanted was much simpler than the life he’d lived. She didn’t care about his millions, his palaces, or the extravagances that came with royalty. But there was something she wanted from him more than anything else. That only he could give her. “I want no more lies, no more secrets, and no more gambling with lives. I demand a lifetime of spectacular fights, amazing make-up sex, and casual family dinners.”

With every word, his worried gaze turned into a smile until her knees shook from the smoldering grin on his perfectly shaven face. “I can do that.”

“You’re damn right you will.” She grinned and couldn’t hold back the joy in her heart. She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him into her. Their mouths crashed together, searing the love in her heart into permanence. Their tongues danced, the sparkling cranberry cider still bubbly on her lips and no less sweet. He grabbed the ring from the center of the platter and slipped it on her right ring finger. Her left was still in the splint. But she’d proudly wear this rock anywhere.

“Your hand will be back to normal in no time.” He carefully kissed her knuckles up to her wrist. “Ready for even bigger jewels.”

“I don’t want bigger jewels.” She kissed him again, finding it impossible to hold back her smile. “But this means you have something important to decide with Alanna.”

André brushed some of her hair back, studying her face with an awe that made her weightless. “I want you by my side. Crown or no crown.”

“If you were to stay a prince, what would that make me?”

“Mine.” He smiled. “To the world, Princess Gemma. But the former is far more important.”

She placed her hand over his heart. “Whatever you both decide, I’m with you. Crown or no crown.” Though deep down, the thought of the first frightened her. But as long as he was beside her, she’d figure it out.

André covered her hand with his own. “To hear you say that brings the greatest joy I’ve ever felt.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded envelope. He handed it to her.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.”

With the Peralta family royal crest inscribed at the top, a simple, typed letter read:

I hereby decree on this date and forever more André Miguel Peralta, first son of Rodrigo Alfonso Peralta and Esperanza Peralta Domingo, is no longer exiled. He may resume his official royal duties, and return to Solana as he desires, with the love and grace of his people.

Gemma gasped to herself. Tears welled behind her eyes. For eight years, André couldn’t return home or see his family. The agony that had caused must have been too great to bear. He was finally home for good. “You’ve been living here for several weeks. But now it’s official.”

The corner of his mouth lifted higher. “Do you know what this means?”

She shook her head. “You’re officially eligible to ascend the throne? No. Wait…who signed this decree?”

André’s smile widened.