by V Vee
The entire time, Valerie was consciously aware of Algerone’s hand on her thigh, or his heat pressing against her side. It was the most content and the happiest she’d been in a very long time. She knew the feeling was only temporary, but she would revel in it while she could.
Elsewhere
He stared down at the newspaper that prominently displayed the Crown Prince of Malvidence holding a press conference where he admitted to being married and having children. He grit his teeth at the image and curled his fingers into a fist, before slamming it down on the top of the table where he currently sat. How could Algerone do this? Didn’t he understand that he was meant for more than what he was? There were so many plans in place, money had been paid, leaders had been threatened, and others had been killed all because of him. For Algerone. And now this? No. It absolutely would not do.
Lifting his cup of coffee to his lips, the man chuckled softly. He would allow Algerone to have a few moments of peace and happiness with his family, then he would make sure he stepped in righted the wrongs that had been done. Algerone had a plan to fulfill. The prince may not know about it at this moment, but the man was sure that once Algerone heard it, he would be onboard. And if the only way to get the Crown Prince to listen was to eliminate the distractions in his life, then he would.
While he didn’t relish the idea of having to hurt, maim, or even kill a pregnant woman and her children, he would do what he had to in order to ensure that he’d done his part for the good of his people. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people were more important than that of the Princess of Malvidence and her children.
His fingers caressed the knife next to his plate as he looked over at Algerone in the restaurant, oblivious to the precariousness of the situation he currently found himself in. The lives he held within his hands.
He would make sure Algerone made the right choices, even if he had to murder to do it.
Kingdom of Malvidence
The Royal Receiving Room
“You promised me!” Lady Taylor Weshian screeched. Her pale face flushed red with anger, broken pride, and embarrassment. “You told me Algerone would return and would be happy to hear of our engagement, not that he would take back off for America and announce that he’s been married for the past fourteen years. With five children and one on the way!”
“Honey,” Lord Jeffrey Weshian held up his hands in an attempt to calm and placate her.
“No, Daddy! You are a liar.” Lady Taylor glared at him. “I am supposed to be queen! We had plans. I have been groomed, trained, and educated for this my entire life. Mom was right about you, you can never do anything right.” She stomped her foot, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder, her blue eyes flashing fire at the older man. “I will take care of this. There is no way I will let some black bitch from America take what’s rightfully mine.” She slammed her clenched fist into the palm of her other hand.
“Taylor,” Jeffrey stepped toward her, hesitantly. “Let us not be rash and do something foolish. While the Prince is married, yes, it has not yet been acknowledged or accepted by the Crown. Regardless of the children, or the length of their relationship, Prince Algerone is only married on paper, not in name, and certainly not in title. Let us be reasonable and plan for this. I promised you that you would be queen and I intend to see it happen. No matter what I have to do, to see it done.”
Taylor scrutinized her father for a long moment, before she exhaled and nodded. “I will give you a month, Daddy, then I am setting my own plans in action. Prince Algerone has a destiny and a duty to fulfill, and it will be with me by his side, not with that…dark, ugly, fertile womb.”
Jeffrey opened his mouth to respond when the door opened and the King and Queen of Malvidence stepped inside, effectively putting a halt to his conversation with his daughter. Jeffrey hoped that the royals hadn’t heard what he and Taylor had said to each other, but by the looks of guilt that briefly flashed on their faces, he did not think so. They had been just as embarrassed by Prince Algerone’s press conference as Taylor and him. No doubt they were here to make amends and assure them that they were going to take care of the American.
“Thank you for meeting with us, Lord Weshian and Lady Taylor,” King Callum said genially. “Won’t you have a seat?” He gestured to the settee behind them.
Jeffrey nodded to Taylor and sat back on the blue embroidered settee, trimmed in gold, with a cherry wood base. His eyes took in the receiving room where they currently sat. On the walls were paintings of different areas in Malvidence, from the royal library to the royal gardens, the walls were adorned with images made to show the inhabitants of the room the beauty of the country they were currently in. Jeffrey felt a sliver of envy and anger worm its way through his heart and gut. For centuries his family had faithfully served the royal family of the kingdom of Sovrex, Kings and Queens of the Lovdem bloodline had taken possession of the Crown three centuries before, and the family of Weshian had stood beside—or behind—them with dignity. However, the truth of the Weshian elite had been passed down from generation to generation. The Weshians had previously held the throne and lost their positions due to an insurgent regime. The Weshians had pledged their fealty to their new leaders, but had never forgotten their former positions. Or the wealth and power that came with them.
While they could never hope to one day regain the throne of Sovrex without some crafty maneuvering, the part of the kingdom of Malvidence had played in overthrowing the previous rulers was always a part of every story told. Jeffrey’s father had planted the seeds in his son’s head about a marriage with the royal family of Malvidence being a way to take not only the throne in Malvidence but to eventually take over the throne of Sovrex. Jeffrey had been unable to secure a merger with anyone of noble or royal blood as King Callum was the only child born to his parents: King Yohan and Queen Liovenia, who was the princess of the Kingdom of Tepprysi, bringing the two kingdoms into a merger and state of peace, where previously there had been unrest and fighting. However, King Callum’s wife had proven to be extremely fertile, bearing the Crown and her husband five children. Jeffrey had seized his opportunity and made sure that a daughter of his blood was present and claimed as legitimate in order to set his plans in place for a marriage between the Weshian family and that of the royal family of Malvidence. His other children—none of them borne of his wife—had never quite been acknowledged by their father, but Jeffrey would rectify that as soon as the Crown—any Crown—was in the hands of the Weshians once again.
It was by pure dumb luck that Prince Algerone had not met his Taylor until after he was already married. But no matter, a plan began to form in Lord Jeffrey’s mind, if Algerone would not come to his senses regarding his precious American bride, then Jeffrey would just have to divert Taylor’s attention elsewhere. And whichever son of King Callum and Queen Araminta that Taylor was able to snag would be the next king.
Jeffrey would make sure of it.
“We wanted to see you, Lord Weshian and Lady Taylor to apologize for the embarrassment and scandal you have been forced to endure, regarding the prince,” Queen Araminta stated, looking remorseful, or as much as she would let her face to show.
Jeffrey nodded and glanced over at his daughter to be certain she was appearing adequately sympathetic and disappointed. When he noticed the appearance of tears in her eyes, but a look of abject concern on her face, he had to force down the preen of pride from showing on his own. He reached over to pat Taylor’s hand to give off the façade of concerned father. Letting his eyes connect with that of the king and queen, he took a deep breath as if he were appearing to ask a difficult question.
“I understand that we cannot control the world or the actions of others outside of ourselves. And Lady taylor and I appreciate your apologies and remorse over this situation. I am certain we will be able to weather this storm. However, if I may be frank, Your Highnesses?” he asked, glancing down.
“Please do, Lord Weshian. You are a friend to the Crown and we
hold you in great esteem,” King Callum stated.
Jeffrey shrugged and inclined his head. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I merely wanted to inquire as to the acceptability of the new princess? What is actually known about her? Will your people acknowledge a marriage, and children, that even the Prince himself denied and lied about for over a decade? I merely ask in concern,” Jeffrey shifted in his seat, deliberately, to give the sense he was uncomfortable saying such a thing. “I do not mean disparage or call into question the Prince’s choice, or the new princess’s character. I am simply wondering if this matter is more serious than a mere secret marriage and five heirs that have not been raised here in the kingdom and know nothing of Malvidencian culture or history. I would hate for the new royal family to feel unwelcome, or to even be objects of ridicule or rebellion on the part of the prince.”
Jeffrey lowered his head, looking up through his lashes to see the effect his words had on the royal couple. He watched as they looked at each other, having a silent conversation, their eyes lowered in concern and wanted to crow in triumph. He may not be able to tear apart Prince Algerone’s marriage to the American woman—though he would certainly try—but he would be able to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of the King and Queen as to Prince Algerone’s motivation for marrying his wife, and their ability to sit on the throne and rule someday.
Jeffrey thought of the second oldest prince: Augustus. The man was a bit of a brute, quiet, his eyes ever watchful as if he were taking in the measure and secrets of those around him, but as the second heir, the large man would be perfect for Taylor when Algerone was deposed. Yes, Augustus would do nicely.
“Thank you for your words of concern, Lord Weshian. I have to admit my own thoughts have strayed in the same direction as yours. It certainly gives the Queen and I something to consider and to discuss with the Crown Prince.” King Callum rang for tea and settled further back in his seat. “Now, I would hate for you and your lovely daughter to feel as if you have to rush off with the termination of Lady Taylor’s engagement to Prince Algerone. Please, feel free to stay for another fortnight,” he offered graciously.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Lord Jeffrey said.
Thirty minutes as he walked his daughter to her rooms, Jeffrey considered their next steps.
“My engagement to Prince Algerone is not terminated until I say it is,” Taylor said harshly.
“Shh, my daughter,” Jeffrey admonished her. “We will, of course, still pursue the Crown Prince. We will attempt to void his marriage to the black wench and have you replaced in her stead. However, if we are unable to do so, we will simply marry you off to Prince Augustus and have Prince Algerone removed as the heir.” He looked at her with resolution. “One way or another.”
Taylor’s eyes widened only slightly, before a sort of bloodthirsty smile crossed her face. “Oh, thank you, Daddy,” she said.
Jeffrey pulled his daughter to him and held her tightly, kissing the top of her head. “anything for you and the Weshian family, my child.”
Anything at all.
Queen Araminta stared at the now closed doors of the Royal Receiving Room-or Triple R, as her sons referred to it. She crossed her arms before looking at her husband who watched her with amusement. She huffed and turned to him fully.
“What?” she asked.
King Callum merely shrugged his shoulders. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours,” he told her. “you seem particularly anxious about something.”
Araminta pointed at the closed door. “You know I have never trusted Jeffrey. It is why I have never committed to his vacuous daughter marrying one of my boys. But that? His concern for the reputation of the Crown? His submissiveness, meekness, and acceptance that his daughter would not be the princess and next Queen?” She shook her head. “No. I distrust him even more now. He and that harpy of a daughter are planning something.”
Callum hummed and smoothed down his beard. He nodded. “I must admit that I agree with you, my dear. They are acting completely out of character. We shall have to keep an extra eye on them.”
Araminta bobbed her head in agreement. “More than that, we must have Algerone and his family here in the palace to show our support of their relationship and positions in the royal family.”
Callum rose from his seat, holding out his hand for his wife to take. He pulled her up from her chair. He intertwined their arms and headed for their bedroom. “yes, and the sooner the better. It is time for the new princess of Malvidence and our grandchildren to live here in the palace and begin their new lives as members of the royal family.”
“Agreed,” Araminta stated. “I will send for them all.”
Good, Callum acknowledged his wife’s words by placing a kiss on her temple. Algerone had taken the right step in claiming his family before the world, but now he needed to take it the rest of the way. His son’s lessons in becoming a true and great king were not over yet.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Westchester, New Hampshire
Home of the Crown Prince and Princess Algerone Smythe
Four Days After the Press Conference
V alerie was going to kill her husband.
She loved the man, but she was at the end of her rope. She was sure a jury of her peers would see it as justifiable homicide. At least the women would.
“Are you comfortable, love?” Algerone asked… for the fifth time.
Valerie sighed. “Yes, Algie. I’m fine.” She rolled her eyes when Algerone adjusted the covers around her legs again. “You know, you weren’t nearly this attentive right after I was discharged from the hospital. Remember the bathroom at the restaurant?” she goaded him.
Algerone blushed and shook his head. “Yes, well,” he cleared his throat. “Seeing as how you were dizzy and experiencing discomfort as soon as we returned home, that’s something that won’t be happening until we are certain that our child is properly growing within you.”
Valerie growled. Yep, the homicide was completely justified.
“Algie,” she reached out to grip the front of his black t-shirt that seemed to be two sizes too small on his broad torso. His biceps and wide chest stretched the fabric of the cotton to its seams. He looked absolutely edible and Valerie was starving. “You can’t deny me the d. That’s like grounds for divorce or something.” She looked up at him with a smile on her face.
Algerone laughed, shaking his head and gently removing her fingers from his shirtfront. “Isn’t that something that husbands try to use on their wives to justify cheating or whining for sex more often?” he wondered aloud as he sat next to her on the couch.
Valerie huffed out a breath. “Just like a man thinking that the male population has a monopoly on horniness. Or cheating.” She waved her hand when he opened his mouth to speak. “Look, I always want you. Even when I don’t want to want you, I do. And my being pregnant just makes it that much more prevalent. It has gone beyond want into pure, unadulterated need.”
“It’s been four days!” Algerone chuckled and brushed the hair that had escaped her silk bonnet back behind her ear. “Honey, it’s not that I don’t want you too. I do, badly, I just want you and the baby to be okay even more.” He sighed. “It almost ripped me apart to see you in the hospital because you and the baby were in danger. And to know that I was the reason for it?” he swallowed thickly. “No. Even if I have to suffer from blue balls for the next five or six months, then I will, but I will not endanger you because I want to get off.”
Valerie grunted and released his shirt in order to poke him in the chest. “Who said anything about your balls? What about me? I have a serious lady boner and if you’re not going to do something about it, then bring me my B.O.B. and I’ll do it myself. Just like I do whenever you’re not home.”
Algerone quirked an eyebrow at her. “You have a… sex toy?”
Valerie glanced down and noticed the lump growing between her husband’s thighs. Oh, so that turns him on huh? She lowered her
voice and ran her fingers up and down his thigh, getting closer to, but not quite touching, his erection that strained the zipper of his jeans. “Yes, I do. I bought one shortly after you left the first time.” She wrote her name in cursive on the top of his jeans with her index finger. “It’s not as big as you are, and it doesn’t satisfy nearly as well as you do, but it gets the job done.” She leaned up to his neck, kissing the skin just below his chin, flicking out the tip of her tongue, abrading the surface of it with the stubble there. “Especially when I turn it on low and just let it caress the outside of my slit.”
Algerone’s harsh breathing in her ear, made her smile internally. “Then I turn the setting up to medium and I push just the tip of it inside of me. Not too deep, but enough so I know that it’s there. Then I let my other hand play with my nipples. I lick the fingers and pinch each one. Mmm, the little bite of pain makes me so wet.”
Algerone groaned and gripped Valerie’s hips in his large hands. “What do you think about?” he asked her in a rough voice.
Valerie placed a kiss at the base of his throat. “You, of course. I think about you kissing me. Your big hard body on top of mine. Your mouth on my breasts, your thumb caressing my clit. You shoving your fingers deep inside of me. Making me feel so good.”
Algerone growled and put his hand in between her legs beneath the covers. Valerie hissed when she felt him pinch the lips of her pussy squeezing her swollen clit. She bit her lower lip and moaned as he ran a finger up and down the center seam of her shorts, directly over the length of her folds.
“Don’t stop talking,” Algerone commanded. “tell me what else you do with my replacement.”
Valerie shook her head. “N-not a replacement,” she stuttered, as Algerone leaned down to nibble on the skin of her neck. “S-substitute. And a pale one at that.” She moaned softly when Algerone bit her shoulder.
