I pressed a kiss to her stomach, intent on showing her just how well my tongue worked, as requested, but I stopped when she said, "I want to talk."
My heart stuttered, and I lifted my head to stare at her. "About?"
She smiled at me. "About what you've been up to. About your life. About anything but me returning to Rave in..." She groaned. "Tell me how your effort with Olivia is going."
"You want me to talk about Olivia while we're naked?" I asked, glancing at the bare skin under my lips.
"I mean, I assume you didn't sleep with her..."
"Hah! She kicked me out of her office."
"Did you use some of that princeling charm on her?"
I glared at her and crawled back to the head of the bed to lie next to her. "It worked on you."
"No, your selflessness did," she said, brushing a lock of hair off my forehead. "So what happened?"
I curled her black hair around my finger while I told her about my attempts to woo Olivia, from being kicked out of her office to what she'd said at the art auction, and how Rhys and I were now hoping to get the warring ministers under the same roof during the Midsummer's Ball. But the levity left me when I told her about Martin, and Mom's decision to call off the investigation. In all the excitement of seeing Theo, I'd forgotten about it, and the weight settled back onto my chest.
"Amichai, I'm sorry," she said, sliding her nails along my scalp. Then, gently, she added, "But I think it's the right decision."
"I know it is, and I hate that it is," I said, pressing my head against her shoulder. "It's like...some part of me knows that this is the best option. These guys deserve to rot in a jail cell, but at the same time, they hold too much power over my father and the economy. And when I think about the possibility that they'd reopen Mael..." I sighed. "But how can I live with myself knowing that I just let them...walk?"
"I didn't say you had to love the idea," she said with a small smile. "But sometimes, you have to put aside your own feelings for the greater good. It's like how I allowed myself to become your friend on the island, despite what your father had done. There were—still are, really—sins to be addressed, wrongs to be righted. But I had to look past that, even for the short term, so that we could survive."
"That seemed easy compared to this."
"Because you didn't have anything personally invested," Theo said with a small chuckle. "To you, I was just some nameless, faceless Raven. But to me, you were someone I really had to work hard to like...then love."
"So you still love me?"
I was too cowardly to look at her, but she gently tilted my head to meet her gaze. There was love there, mixed with adoration, relief, amusement. My Theo, the most amazing woman I'd ever met, the person who made me a better man.
"I love you, amichai. With all my heart. And I'm so sorry I ever doubted what we have."
"We have been through a lot," I said with a smile. "What was it you used to say? We wouldn't have made it this far just to be separated, right?"
She sighed and shook her head. "I just wish we could stop leaving one another. It would make it a lot easier to handle."
"Well, once you talk to Anson, what's left for you after that?" I asked, propping myself up on my elbow.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, all Mom wanted was for you to get money to Anson. When you talk to him, and he agrees to take the money..."
"Huh..." She looked at the ceiling. "I guess you're right."
"And that means..." I kissed her collarbone. "More of this. Every morning and evening. In our lake house in Jervan."
"You really like Jervan, don't you?"
"I mean... We can't stay here. Not with His Royal Dickheadedness. And we can't go to Rave either, not until it's safe for you there. And Herin's just too damned cold."
"We could go home."
She didn't have to clarify where home was. "You'd want to go back to the island? Even with the...the lab there?"
"It's kind of symbolic, in a way," she said. "A lot of things happened there that I don't want to think about. But when I went there last year, I felt like..."
"Coming home?"
She nodded. "The only thing missing was you."
"And indoor plumbing. And food. And—"
She made a frustrated sound and pursed her lips at me. "Stop poking holes in my dream. It's my job to be realistic. And you're a prince. I'm sure you can figure something out."
Theo had a point. If we could work out a way to make the place habitable, it would be kind of nice. There'd be no photographers, no politics. No ministers to have to sway. No parties. Just she and I, making love by the fire every single night.
"Fine, I'll consider it," I said. "But we're going to have to bring cows or something because I'm not eating rabbits for the rest of my life."
"As I recall, you were pretty squeamish killing those rabbits, how are you going to manage to kill a whole bovine?"
"I got over my squeamishness, Captain—"
"I was promoted to Major, thank you very much—"
I found the ticklish spot on her hip, and she shrieked with laughter. My assault was merciless until she was wheezing, begging me to stop and let her breathe. So I silenced her with a kiss, which turned the fire back on. We still had a few hours, and I was done talking.
I began my journey down her body, kissing, nipping, and taking cues from the way she gasped and moved under me.
"I think I promised someone a refresher course," I said, chancing a glance up to her. She was beautiful, breathless, and I was ready to claim my prize between her legs.
"We're back!"
Rosie's chipper voice cut through the mood like a knife and I released a loud groan that was anything but pleasurable. With a frown, I crawled back to the head of the bed and snuggled up next to Theo.
"Guess all good things come to an end," she said, a little glumly.
I pulled her back into my arms. "But you're okay, right?"
"Thanks to you," she said, tucking her head beneath my chin. "There's always something dangerous beneath the ocean—even when the surface is calm. Damn that Anson. I never would have remembered something like that without you."
"Just add it to the reasons you love me. What with my charm, charisma, sexual prowess—"
She snorted. "Pompous princeling." And before I could respond, she added, "And yes, I know. I'm the one who fell in love with you."
I laughed as Kader rapped hard on the door. "Johar says you need to get a move on, and we do too, Theo." He sounded less gruff than usual. Perhaps I wasn't the only one who'd just gotten laid, but I dismissed that mental image as fast as humanly possible.
"I don't want to get out of bed," Theo whispered. "Can we stay here forever?"
"Whatever you want, ay-me-key—"
"Amichai," she said with a smile.
"I don't think I'm ever going to get it, Theo," I whined as she crawled on top of me. "Help me."
"Ah." She kissed my left cheek.
"Ah," I recited.
"Meh." She kissed my right cheek.
"Mey," I said.
"Meh, like..." She thought for a minute. "Well, like meh."
"Meh."
"Ch—
Rap-rap-rap. "Galian. Get downstairs."
I sat up, but Theo pushed me back down to kiss her once more. We played this game for a while, until another impatient knock on the door ended it.
"Your clothes are by the door. Get them on and get the hell out of here."
Theo sighed as I retrieved the clothes we'd left in the bathroom. I pulled my shirt back on as she went to her dresser to start packing new things to take with her. That was when I saw the black lacy item that she'd discarded in her underwear drawer.
"What are these?" I asked, pulling them out before she could stop me. They were nothing but lace, and it sent my already sexual thoughts into overdrive. "And why weren't you wearing them?"
"I forgot," she said, snatching them away from me with a flush on her face. "I'll wear the
m next time."
I kissed her neck, but Kader swung open the door and glared at me. So, sadly, I gave Theo one more extremely passionate and inappropriate kiss then patted Kader on the shoulder as I passed.
"Take good care of my girl," I said. "And yourself."
"Go home."
"Love you, too."
I met Theo's gaze and she smiled at me—a genuine smile that was happy and sad and resolute and rejuvenated all at once. And I closed the door to the apartment, finally feeling like I'd done something useful for the first time in my life.
TEN
Galian
The ghost of Theo followed me around for the next few days. Every so often, I'd taste her skin on my tongue, I'd get a whiff of something that smelled like her hair. Our time together had been far too short, but enough to keep me going until she was back. The promise that there was finally an end to our separation put a spring in my step and a smile on my face.
In the meantime, I redoubled my efforts to bring all the ministers to the Midsummer's Ball, and try to bridge alliances between the hawks and doves. Rhys and I met to discuss strategy over coffee, breakfast buns, and the photos of all the ministers we needed to speak with.
"Our best bet is to focus on the provincial ministers," Rhys said, between bites. "Bassett and Mansela are on Collins' side, but Kopec, Serret, and Faltan are hawkish. But Kopec could possibly be swayed if we could get the trade minister to raise tariffs on Herin, thus making Kylaen oak cheaper. I also know there's an air base in Norgate that needs fixing, so we could make sure to pressure Serret to write the contract stipulating the materials must be Kylaen."
I rubbed my face, already lost. "All this work, just to appease twelve people so they'll stop being dicks."
"Welcome to politics."
He played chess with himself for a moment, moving pieces around as if the ministers would do what he wanted if he ordered them just so.
"So does that mean you're on board with Mom giving up the investigation into Martin's death?" I asked, after growing tired of his mumbling.
His gaze darted to me for a second before he busied himself with pouring more coffee. "It's not ideal, and it's not forever—"
"What if they'd actually killed me?" I asked.
"Then things would be different."
"Why is my life worth more than Martin's?"
Rhys sighed. "Because as shitty as this sounds, no one in Kylae cares about some faceless, nameless sergeant who died in the line of duty. But you? You're Prince Galian, handsome doctor who gave up his partying for medical school. Even without our help, the country would be in an uproar."
"Were they?" I asked. "When I was on the island, were they in an uproar?"
"We mourned for two months," Rhys said. "Look, Galian, would you rather avenge Martin's death but potentially kill thousands more?"
"Isn't there another, less shitty option?"
"If there were, we would've found it, I promise you. I don't want you to think that we made this decision lightly." He picked up the cards and began to reorganize them again. "Now, let's get back to these ministers."
I'd never been more glad to go to the hospital and stand on my feet for twelve hours, the strain of diagnosing disease and patching up injury less stressful than dealing with Rhys' calculated schemes. But when I returned to my room, Rhys was waiting with the photos and a new plan of attack he'd dreamed up while I was at work. I didn't even remember falling asleep on my uncomfortable antique couch, but I sure remembered him poking me awake at seven and ordering me to look presentable for our meetings.
"I just don't see His Majesty budging on this issue." Minister Perks oversaw the Meigart province on the southern end of the country. He was at least seventy, but his love of country (and hatred of traitors) kept him spry. "He's made it clear that Mansela and her ilk aren't invited to the ball. After all, they've got treasonous dissenters in their ranks."
I shared a glance with Rhys, whose mouth twitched at the sound of the work "ilk." This was our third meeting of the day, and every time, Rhys would leave decrying that the word needed to be stricken from the common tongue.
"At the end of the day, we're all Kylaens," Rhys said, with the patience of a saint. "And we need to do what's best for the country, even if it means compromising on a few things—"
"Compromise? On what?" He sniffed. "Letting the Ravens go free? Giving up all the barethium that is our birthright?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"We don't need barethium anymore," Rhys said. "Our building industry can get along with building shorter towers, and our manufacturers can move to different industries, like shipbuilding—"
"Are you suggesting that we allow the turncoat Silas Collins to take more of our money? After he made a deal with the Jervanians and Herinese?"
Just six months ago, Silas Collins was heralded a hero, and the treaty he'd gone ahead with was lauded as a major step in Kylae's economy. Apparently, opinions were fickle.
"The deal is good for us all—" Rhys began.
"They would've seen Norose obliterated," Perks said. "That is unforgivable."
And that was the end of that. These hawkish ministers were so horrified that someone else would think to bomb Kylae (after we'd been bombing the Ravens for half a century) that the idea of compromise was abhorrent. Trying to get them to see reason was a lost cause. I wasn't sure why we continued to press them, although Rhys swore he was trying different strategies.
"It's like talking to a brick wall," he said as we walked out of the minister's offices together. "How'd you get Theo to stand you on the island again?"
"My animal magnetism."
"Seriously."
"Honestly?" I stopped in the middle of the hall. "We had no other choice. She couldn't walk, and I had no idea what I was doing."
"So that's it then..." Rhys said. "We just need to put all the ministers on an island and hope for the best."
I smiled at his joke, but shook my head. "It was more than just that, Rhys. Once we realized we needed each other, we began to see each other as human beings, not as nameless, faceless creatures. That man in there thinks anyone who disagrees with him is an idiot. It's hard to win someone over when they don't even see you as a person."
Rhys rubbed his chin and kept walking. "Animal magnetism sounds a lot easier. Maybe you can try your luck at getting him to sleep with you."
"Funny," I said. "You know, it wasn't that many girls before Theo. Two, maybe three."
"I counted five," Rhys said with a sly look. "Are we counting the girls you took out, or the ones you slept with?"
"Jealous?"
"That you got to swagger around university and pick up any girl you wanted? A little, yeah." But there was no animosity in his face. "I haven't even had time to think about finding a girlfriend, let alone a queen. Do you know how much pressure is on me? Mom's a lot to live up to."
"That she is," I said, then came up short.
My father was walking down the hallway with his defense and home ministers. Rhys straightened his shoulders and walked straight ahead, bowing his head slightly in deference. Although it ate me up, I also tilted my head in his direction, to which he plastered an almost-too-pleased smile onto his face.
"My boys, it fills me with delight to see you've grown so close," he said, loud enough for the ministers to hear. "Galian, this is the second time I've seen you visiting ministers with Rhys. Does this mean you'll be taking another sabbatical from the hospital?"
I cleared my throat. "Not at all. Just trying to help Mother with the Midsummer's Ball."
His eyes flashed, and I felt Rhys' warning glare. Before I got into any more trouble, I tilted my head. "Father, Ministers."
Rhys' footfalls were close behind me, and as soon as we were out of earshot, he yanked me to a stop. "You need to be a hell of a lot more careful."
"You saw that look on his face. He knows exactly what we're up to," I said.
"He knows it's easy to push your buttons, Gally, and that
's what he's doing," Rhys said. "He and Mom are in a very difficult dance about this stupid ball right now, and the less we get involved, the easier it'll be for her to sway him."
"You don't think Perks is going to walk out of his office and tell Father we were in there?" I said.
"There's a difference," Rhys said. "Perks will go to Father in confidence. You just skirted a fine line of disrespect in front of his ministers. You, above all, should know how much he values his image."
I couldn't disagree with that, nor could I disagree that seeing him always set me on edge. I hated having to pretend I respected him after all he'd done to me and, more importantly, Theo.
"If you can't handle these meetings, maybe it's best you go back to the hospital," Rhys said after a long silence.
"No," I said, with a small shake of the head. "I can do this. I'll behave."
"Good, because we've got to go meet with your boss from the health ministry next. And I guarantee Biasek's going to try your patience."
The halls of the castle were silent, save for my footsteps along the tiled floor. It had been the most ridiculous day—five meetings with five ministers who were firmly entrenched in their positions and unwilling to move. Rhys hadn't even bothered to see me to my rooms, too frustrated with his failed strategy to try anymore. I, too, was restless, so after the sun set, I took a stroll around the castle to release some energy.
The moon was visible out of the windows I passed and I took a moment to gaze at it. Theo would be home in a few weeks (I hoped) and I would have nothing to show for my efforts.
Our tangled web of politicking confused and frustrated me. More than once today, I'd had to walk myself back through the complicated dependencies of peace. It seemed like so much effort when there was one person who could make it all go away.
Against my better judgement, I ventured toward the other end of the castle. As I drew closer, the halls became populated with unfamiliar guards who stared but said nothing as I passed. It struck me how different his side of the castle was than my mother's, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd been in my father's private residences. My mother had moved out when I was very young, and since I'd always wanted to limit my time around my father, I'd never sought him out.
The Complete Madion War Trilogy Page 52
