The Reluctant King (The Star-Crossed Series)

by Rachel Higginson

  “Mimi, aren’t you in Lima for the next few days for that human trafficking seminar?” Bianca asked casually.

  But I was a former member of a resistance and had studied Bianca over the years when running intel. I knew she wasn’t as casual as she was pretending.

  “I am,” Amelia nodded, looking back down at her breakfast.

  “You should meet up with Sebastian when you’re finished,” Bianca stated. “It would be good for you to get some of this experience.”

  “No!” I practically shouted in unison with Jean, her father and Sebastian her brother.

  “It’s enough that you go to all of these humanitarian projects in dangerous areas, you don’t need to join your brother on these death missions,” Jean lectured with uncharacteristic emotion in his thick French accent.

  “He’s right, Mimi,” Kiran agreed.

  I was satisfied that so many other people had her best interest in mind, but a little unsettled that Amelia actually seemed put out by it. She wasn’t really considering joining us, was she? Besides the fact that the mission was dangerous, from a director’s point of view she had absolutely no experience.

  “I’m glad you’re all in agreement on how I should spend my time,” Amelia huffed, pushing her plate forward.

  “It is dangerous, Amelia,” I reminded her gently. “Look at what just happened to Titus. We were lucky Eden was so close.”

  “Not you too, Avalon,” Amelia groaned. “I am not Lucan’s spoiled niece, and I would greatly appreciate it if you all stopped treating me like her.” She gave each male at the table a nasty glare in turned.

  I shot her a charming smile, believing we had collectively made our point when a violent surge of nausea threatened to bring my breakfast back up. I leaned against the table, resting my face in my hands as I tried to get the sickness under control. My magic could not work strong enough and I had no idea where it was coming from until I caught the feint smell of eggs in the air.

  Eggs?

  Before I could examine why eggs would make me feel ill, just the thought of them had me reeling again.

  “Are you alright?” I heard Kiran ask.

  “Ugh, I’m fine, I’m just pretty sure those eggs were spoiled,” I mumbled through my hands.

  A pause before, “I’m glad to hear that Avalon, but I was actually asking Eden.”

  I didn’t have to see Kiran’s face to hear the irritation in his voice. I should have known Eden would be feeling sick if I felt sick. We had gone through the King’s Curse and enough battles together to prove that physical pain affected us both. But we weren’t really supposed to get sick outside of the King’s Curse.

  Especially not with something as asinine as food poisoning. And this was two days in a row.

  Of nausea.

  When we’re around food.

  Wait a minute.

  Eden? I demanded in our heads.

  Not now Avalon! She pleaded just as she reigned in control of the sick feelings and her magic. Please!

  “I’m fine,” she smiled brightly at Kiran. “Um, Avalon wasn’t feeling well, it must have affected me as well.” And then in our heads, Just let me figure this out first, please.

  Uh, huh. I agreed, in a bit of a daze.

  “I, uh, I need to prepare to leave. Thank you for breakfast,” I nodded to the Cartiers and then got the hell out of there as fast as I could.

  That better not have been morning sickness.

  I was going to kill Eden if that was true. Well, first I would probably hug her until it was dangerous for her unborn baby, but then I was going to kill her.

  There was probably nothing more emasculating than going through three trimesters of something only women should be blessed with.

  On the other hand…. I would probably be awesome at being an uncle.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “You wanker, how dare you keep something like that from me!” Kiran accused as I was packing up the last of my overnight bag in the fancy guest room of the Cartiers.

  Kiran and Eden had burst into my room all swirling magic and radiance. She confirmed my suspicions. Or probably her suspicions….

  “It’s true?” I ignored Kiran who looked decidedly more at ease today. I hadn’t realized how disheveled and run down he had been over the last twenty four hours.

  Eden nodded shyly, her eyes brimming with tears.

  “You’re pregnant?” I clarified, knowing she was but needing to hear the words out loud.

  “Yes,” she whispered, a tear of joy slipping from the corner of her eye.

  I crossed the room in three steps and swept her up into a tight hug. “I’m going to be an uncle,” I laughed.

  “Of course you would only be thinking about yourself,” she mumbled. I could tell that she was overwhelmed. Actually, I could feel the hundreds of emotions going through her and it was a bit disconcerting. She was excited and happy, completely thrilled and filled with joy, but at the same time terrified and unsure, she was nervous, anxious, sick…. She was too many things.

  I separated our connection, hoping she wouldn’t notice. But honestly, there were too many feelings for me. I was happy and that’s all I wanted to feel.

  “Not true,” I defended myself. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “I know,” Eden agreed softly.

  “I would like to say though, that next time you feel her morning sickness you clue me in,” Kiran lectured. “You have no idea what I’ve been going through the last few days. I was sure you picked up something weird on your mission and Eden was going to die by default.”

  I laughed. Loudly. “You would blame me for something like that.”

  “You’re damned right,” Kiran nodded enthusiastically. “You’re a liability to my happily ever after.”

  “To be fair, I obviously didn’t recognize it as morning sickness until this morning and even then if Eden wouldn’t have figured it out on her own I’m not sure I would ever have gotten it. It’s not like I really thought I would ever get pregnancy symptoms. I mean…. ever.” I reiterated. Suddenly I was panicking. “Oh no, what else do I have to go through?”

  Eden laughed at me. “Nothing, I have it figured out. I just didn’t understand what was happening before and it kept sneaking up on me. I promise, now that I know I will not let you feel sick anymore.”

  “Better safe than sorry,” I mumbled and I know she felt the disconnect between us, but she only nodded her approval. “So when will you leave for the Citadel?”

  “Eden doesn’t want to go back to Romania,” Kiran replied and I could tell he wasn’t happy about her decision.

  “Why not? You obviously need medical care,” I immediately took Kiran’s side. My sister was notorious for her stubborn tendencies.

  “I know that, but I am not about to get it from the doctor/notary/weirdo/one of the three wise men,” Eden bit out sarcastically, referring to the Witch back at the castle.

  I laughed again, her assessment of him was not that far off. “He was not one of the three wise men.”

  “No, but he did slice my hand open in a blood oath and I am not about to let him near my hoo-ha,” she grumbled.

  I immediately covered my ears like a child. Some topics would always and forever, as in forever ever, be off limits.

  “You can’t go to a human doctor, E. Won’t they want blood tests and what not? You’re not human, remember?” It was a legitimate question. Sometimes she didn’t remember.

  “There is one human doctor I can go to,” Eden said firmly. “We’re going back to Omaha, Aunt Syl will take care of me.”

  I beamed in response. Sylvia would take care of Eden, and it might do her some good to be back in her home town. Plus, Kiran could still run things from the downtown club. She had thought this through.

  “That will be good for her,” I turned to Kiran who was looking at Eden with all of the love any one man was capable of holding. She was his world, that much was clear.

  “I suppose,” he relented, his face softenin
g as she returned his gaze.

  This was getting gross.

  “Eden, I’m so happy for you,” I broke whatever weird love connection was happening around me and pulled her into another hug. “You’re going to be a fantastic mother.”

  Kiran cleared his throat suggestively. “What about me? Don’t I get a hug and a speech?”

  He was joking. Thank God.

  “I’ll leave the hugging up to my sister, but seriously man, congratulations,” I shook his hand feeling even closer to my brother in law. He wasn’t just in charge of taking care of my sister now; he was in charge of raising and protecting my niece or nephew.

  “When are you leaving?” Eden asked, nodding at my backpack.

  “Half an hour. We’re meeting back at the airport. There are too many of us to use Gabriel’s small plane,” I explained.

  Eden shuddered. “That’s probably a good plan. He flies a death trap.”

  “Eden, it’s not a death trap because we’re-“

  “I know, I know…. magic,” she waved me off impatiently.

  Kiran and I smiled.

  “Be safe?” she asked, knowing it was useless to assume I would be.

  “Probably not,” I admitted, giving her a playful smile. “But I will be thorough and that’s the best you can ask of me right?”

  “Will you kill him there or bring him back to Romania?” Kiran asked and I liked how he already assumed my victory.

  “Probably bring him back to Romania. You know with the whole ‘I’m pushing for a Democracy’ thing, it’s better to give the people the benefit of the doubt rather than murder our citizens on the down low, no matter how scum of the Earth they are.”

  “I’ll meet you there after you wrap this thing up,” Kiran offered.

  “Sounds good.” I paused for a moment and thought things over. I didn’t want to admit there was a possibility of failure, but I had to include every option in my plans. “Kiran, just in case though, maybe you should make plans to inform the Kingdom. If we don’t catch up with him soon, I’m afraid of what that could mean for innocent people just because they weren’t warned. I’ll be in touch in a few days and depending on my progress we can go from there, but I want to be prepared, just in case.”

  “Absolutely,” he nodded.

  “Give Sylvia my best,” I changed the subject and pulled Eden into one last hug. “And take care of the little pot roast.”

  “Pot roast?” Eden laughed.

  “You know, because you’re cooking him,” I clarified. I mean, that was obvious.

  “Him?” Eden asked again.

  “Obviously,” this time I rolled my eyes. “An heir.”

  “Obviously,” Kiran agreed with an identical eye roll.

  “Sure, obviously,” Eden laughed at us. “Call when you get there.”

  “Sure thing, have your own safe travels,” I demanded and then they left me alone.

  Putting the last of my meager belongings into the suitcase I felt her before I heard her. Her magic infected my room with the feel of her. She was everywhere around me and I stilled myself before I could toss her onto my bed and move our relationship right along in the best ways possible.

  I forced myself to take my time zipping my backpack and putting it on before I let my eyes find hers. She stood in the doorway, her long wavy hair tumbling over her shoulders. She was wearing fitted trouser pants and a white blouse that seemed very grown up but in that sexy secretary way.

  “Hey,” I offered her a small smile.

  “Hey yourself,” she grunted in her cute little accent. She was irritated.

  Shit.

  “Uh, come to see me off?” I asked, knowing it would get me into more trouble, but honestly I couldn’t help myself.

  “Not quite,” she shook her head just slightly. “I’m a grown up, Avalon.”

  Ah, there it was.

  “I am well aware, Amelia,” I promised, letting myself look her over from head to toe and then back up again. I thought I was being subtle, but by the way her eyes narrowed on me I didn’t think she thought I was.

  “Then I should be allowed to go on this mission. You’re as bad as my brother and my father and even my cousin for goodness sake. I’m not twelve anymore, I don’t need anyone fighting my battles or protecting me from the rest of the world.” Her stance was very casual as she leaned against the doorframe, propping her hip to the side, but by her tone I could tell it was all an act. She was rigid with irritation and self-righteousness. And while all I wanted to do was kiss her until she relaxed and melted into me, I couldn’t help but going on the defense just a little.

  She might not be a little girl, but she still needed protection. My protection.

  “Nobody is treating you like you’re twelve,” I said firmly so that there was no misinterpreting my meaning or my authority. “But you do need protection, Amelia. Hell, the entire Kingdom needs protection, but not everyone is as lucky as you to have so many capable people willing to give it to them.”

  “Oh please,” she rolled her eyes. Actually rolled her eyes at me! “Lucky? Hardly. I am sheltered, and fussed at, and hidden away from the world while life happens around me. You, and my father and brother have all conspired against me to make sure life will just pass me by while I don’t get to enjoy any of it.”

  Was she kidding me?

  “Keeping you out of a mission is not locking you up in a tower,” I snapped. “So stop acting like a spoiled princess. Not three weeks ago you were on your way to Africa, and nobody stopped you. You are living life, a very full life, but I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we would all like you to keep living that life. This mission could be a death sentence for anyone of us and I refuse to put you in that kind of danger.”

  She was silent for a long time, staring me down with her piercing rich, full brown eyes. I stood my ground, a position I had learned from being a leader for the last five years and not because I felt as strong as I appeared. Her gaze was unnerving and really intimidating if I was being honest. But I could not admit that she was getting to me.

  Nobody got to me, so it was a little surprising that Amelia had been in my life for such a short time and could already unseat me with one intense glare.

  This woman had power.

  “Fine,” she gave in and I forced myself not to act like an ass in celebration. “I understand your concerns for the mission.”

  “Thank you,” I conceded graciously.

  “But I am still on my way to Peru for a Human Trafficking Summit,” she explained. “And before you can talk me out of it I will just tell you that there is nothing you can do to stop me. You and all of your forces will be there and my parents have already forced a Guard detail on me with Kiran’s help, not to mention I plan to meet up with Analisa and she has her own detail.”

  “That’s very responsible of you,” I sounded like her father now and inwardly kicked myself. She rolled her eyes again.

  “Anyway, I really don’t feel like taking the jet with all of the Titans by myself,” her voice softened and her eyes grew big with her petition. I was in trouble before she even asked what she really came here to ask. “So do you mind if I just tag along with you until we get there?”

  And then she smiled.

  “No, I don’t mind,” I agreed immediately.

  She stepped into the room completely and I took a step toward her without even realizing what I was doing.

  “Really? I mean, I think it will be fun. But I don’t want to be a distraction,” she admitted and her attitude was completely replaced by her flirtatious energy.

  “Amelia, I’ll be distracted by you whether you’re with me or not,” I mumbled coming toe to toe with her.

  She blushed a deep red. I lifted my hand to play with the end of one of her long waves, rubbing it together in between my fingers. She looked down at her hair in my hand and then up in to my eyes underneath her thick lashes. My heart did this kick start thing where I swear it completely stalled for a moment before it st
arted thundering in my chest.

  Something flickered in her eyes, like she was resolved not to be this close to me, but I was wholly set on kissing her. I licked my lips in preparation and heat flooded her gaze, deepening the color of her eyes. I dipped my head down to her, forcing myself to take this slow.

  But before I could taste her she had bounced up on her tip toes and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  What the hell?

  “I need to gather up a few more things,” she said in a rush already walking away from me. “I’ll meet you downstairs in a few minutes.”

  Damn it, what just happened?

  Women.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Contrary to popular belief, or at least my belief, Amelia did not sit by me on the plane trip over to Lima. She barely even acknowledged me.

  Which was weird.

  She kind of stayed in her brother’s shadow and talked with Titus the whole time. I was not jealous of Titus. I mean, I didn’t need to be jealous of Titus. Amelia and I had this amazing connection, she wasn’t interested in Titus.

  She wasn’t.

  Titus and Sebastian had this weird bromance thing going on, and Titus had probably been around her a lot, spent a lot of time with her because of Sebastian. She was more than likely just worried about him after everything.

  Reassuring myself of this every five minutes did nothing to pacify my rapidly declining mood though and by the time we had suffered through Peruvian customs, gathered our baggage and filed into taxi vans that would take us to our hotel I was beyond irritable.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Jericho asked from the seat behind me.

  We had ordered three separate vans, since we were traveling in such a large group. It wasn’t until baggage claim took two hours and we were settled in all of our different vans that I realized our entourage was way too big. Not to mention packed full of alpha males. I should probably split us up in some way, but right now we only had one lead to follow and so we were stuck together for now.

  I decided to get everyone settled at the hotel before I made a final decision. And frankly I needed to see Amelia off before I could really focus on the mission at hand. Her Guard hadn’t arrived yet and so she would stay close to us until they did. I wasn’t sure when her conference or summit or whatever started, but I wasn’t letting her out of my sight until there were at least four armed Titans surrounding her at all times.