South Carolina was hot as shit. I held Elena’s hand as we descended the stairs to the tarmac. It didn’t look like the local sheriff’s office had followed all her requests. There were a few cars parked near the gates with lights flashing.

I smiled and waved and we ducked into a leased black car. I was pleased there wasn’t a mob of reporters. So far, we were flying under the radar. I needed it to stay that way.

I had never been to my sister-in-law’s home state. My U.S. trips were always the heavy hitting cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and I’d tried Dallas.

The speaker crackled. “I have the itinerary for the trip, Your highness. It says I’m driving you and Miss DuBois to a home address? Would you rather go to the residence first?”

“No. The itinerary is correct, Kurtis. Please take me there now.”

I rolled my eyes at Elena. Of course, Kurtis had no idea what was going on. The last thing I needed was Sophia seeing a picture of the jet before I could knock on her door. I didn’t know what she’d do. Would she try to run? Would she hide out? Would I scare her? I didn’t want any of that to play out.

Our residence during our stay in Charleston was a coastal home. Elena had been able to lease it for as long as we liked. I preferred staying somewhere other than a hotel. And for this trip, it seemed more fitting. Leave it to the woman I loved to think of everything.

Elena was on her tablet, clicking through emails and messages. Every few seconds she looked out the window.

“Are you all right?” she asked. “The GPS says we’re only ten minutes away.”

“Are you asking if I want to slow down?”

She nodded. “Do you? We can take a pause, Cor.” Her fingers curled around mine. “Just say the word and I can tell Kurtis we need a break. It’s perfectly understandable if you want to process this some more. We can take it slower.”

“Not at all.” I wasn’t backing down. I had flown across the Atlantic Ocean to see my daughter. And if things went the way I wanted, she would be flying home with us.

I was going to make the most of my new lease on life. I had wasted two years being wasted. The memories were blurry and hazy. The few times I stayed sober were only the in between times. I missed my brother’s wedding because of it.

And the demons hounded me that maybe Sophia had reconsidered when she was pregnant. Maybe she had wanted my help. Wanted to tell me, but when she heard I was a drunk, she stayed farther away. Maybe it was the bourbon that sent her to South Carolina. I was never going to let a drink be the reason someone made a decision about me.

I inhaled, filling my lungs until they burned. My knuckles whitened in a fist.

This was the moment.

This was exactly why I spent fifty days getting sober. Fifty days making sure I’d never go backward. I was never going to be a perfect man. I had sins yet to commit, but they weren’t going to be while I was drunk. My children would never know that side of me.

It was in me to be the kind of father my father was. There were five of us, and he managed to be our dad while ruling the country. It had never seemed as significant as it did to me now. I knew Alaric was sorting through the same emotions. Only he didn’t have to face the betrayal I did. What Sophia did was unforgiveable. She had stolen the most precious thing from me.

The car drove over uneven cobbled streets. I looked outside. It was quaint and charming. Part of me was relieved Sophia hadn’t had to resort to a penniless existence. Tall oaks lined the streets and there was a park on one side of us. Not the worst place my daughter could live. We pulled in front of a row of townhomes.

“This is it,” Elena whispered. She leaned over and brushed her warm lips on my cheek. Ten minutes had passed like ten seconds. “I love you, Cor.”

“You aren’t going in?” I already knew the answer.

She shook her head. “You should meet your daughter first. This is going to shake Sophia. Having me there will only threaten her more. I want this to be special for you.”

Kurtis walked around to the door. “Your Majesty.” He held it open for me.

I kissed Elena. “I love you, baby.”

She smiled. “Good luck.”

Luck wasn’t what I needed, but I smiled and walked up the stone staircase. The royal guards flanked me, scanning the bushes and sidewalk.

I rang the doorbell and waited.

I heard footsteps in the hall. The door opened.

“Hello, Sophia.”