A Royal Secret: Book 1 (Bad Boy Princes of Malvidence)

by V Vee

  The cathedral exploded in applause and Valerie turned with Algerone, happiness filling her. They began their processional down the aisle but came to a halt when the doors of the cathedral flew open and Lady Taylor stood just within the shining lights.

  A very pregnant and disheveled Lady Taylor. She smoothed down her hair and stepped into the cathedral fully.

  “How the fuck did she get in?” Algerone growled, he nodded at the palace guards who came up to grab her beneath the arm to carry her out.

  “Wait! I’m not here to ruin the wedding, I just wanted to be here when my son’s uncle got married!” she yelled.

  “Uncle?” Valerie, Algerone, and everyone in attendance gasped.

  “Put her down,” King Callum barked out. When the guards placed lady Taylor on her feet, King Callum swept past Valerie and Algerone where they still stood in the middle of the aisle.

  “Lady Taylor, who are you saying is the father of your child?” he asked her.

  Valerie watched as Taylor swallowed nervously before pointing. Valerie turned and her eyes widened at which of Algerone’s brothers she was indicating.

  “Augustus?” she whispered.

  “You bloody fool,” Algerone hissed. “What have you done?”

  Augustus’s face grew red, though Valerie couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. When a sob sounded, Valerie’s gaze turned to Helen whose face was streaked with tears. Without a word to anyone, Helen raced out of the room.

  “Helen!” Augustus roared as he took a step to chase after her, only to stop when King Callum held up a hand.

  “Son?” he indicated that Augustus should follow him as he led Lady Taylor through a side door.

  Valerie’s fingers squeezed Algerone’s bicep as Augustus stormed passed them.

  “Well, no one can say this wedding was simply boring,” Algerone muttered.

  Valerie snorted as the two of them continued their walk down the aisle amid murmuring guests. “I much preferred our first wedding,” she told him.

  Algerone grunted then leaned down to press a kiss to her temple. “So did I, ruga, so did I.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Two months later

  The Bedroom of the Crown Prince and Princess of Malvidence

  3 o’clock in the morning

  V

  alerie was going to kill her husband. Again.

  She really did love the man, but after fourteen years of marriage, and two months as the official Crown Prince and Princess of Malvidence, enough was enough. 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. Although, did the Princess actually have a jury of her peers? Maybe they would have to contact all of the princesses from all over the globe. Valerie wouldn’t mind meeting them, though the thought of it being at the trial of her husband’s murder was not how she’d envisioned it.

  “Are you sure you’re not in labor?” Algerone asked into the darkness of their bedroom.

  Valerie sighed. “Algie, I told you that I would know if I were in labor. What I experienced earlier today was simply Braxton Hick’s that’s why it has been so long since I’ve had another ‘contraction’ because it wasn’t actually a contraction,” she told him.

  “But it wasn’t like this with the other kids,” Algerone pointed out.

  “Yeah, well, this pregnancy hasn’t been like any of my others, which is why I said it’s our last child,” she stated firmly.

  “So we’re definitely stopping at six then?” Algerone asked, amusement in his words.

  Valerie opened her mouth to curse him out, when what was definitely a contraction tore across her abdomen and lower back. She hissed and slapped down a hand on Algerone’s stomach.

  “Oof!” he grunted. “What the gravcor?” he cursed in Malvidencian.

  Valerie panted and breathed through the pain of the contraction which was very sharp, and long, considering it was just her first one.

  “Honey? Are you in labor?” Algerone asked.

  “No shit, Sherlock,” Valerie rasped as the pain finally passed.

  “Well let’s go!” Algerone jumped up from bed, turning on the lights in the room as he scrambled for the hospital bag that sat next to the bedroom door.

  Valerie huffed out a laugh at her usually stoic husband rushing around in nothing but a pair of navy boxer briefs. She pushed herself up into a seated position and settled the covers over her lap, rubbing a hand across her extremely distended stomach. She still didn’t believe the doctor when he’d told her that there was only one baby in there. Chikere and Chiamaka had hidden one behind the other throughout her entire pregnancy. She was certain it was Chikere hiding behind his sister, as he spent his days silent and almost hiding in plain sight.

  “Algie,” Valerie called out softly as Algerone pulled out clothes from their closet and laid them on the foot of the bed. He just continued pacing back and forth, muttering to himself, grabbing things, not responding to her. “Algerone Smythe!” she yelled out, which caused him to come to a halt. He blinked at her, then ran to her side to take her hand.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her. “Do you need anything?”

  Valerie laughed and shook her head. “No. Nothing except for you to sit down and rest with me. We have time. That was simply my first contraction. We don’t have to go to the hospital until they’re five minutes apart, and that won’t be for hours from now. So let’s talk about names again,” she cupped his cheek in her free hand and smiled. “What do you think about ErOooooo—” she let out a painful moan and squeezed his hand and jaw as she leaned forward struggling to breathe through another contraction.

  She distantly heard Algerone’s curse, but she couldn’t respond to him. Not even to laugh, as her body turned itself inside out, the pain causing her toes to curl. Breathing as she’d learned to long ago in Lamaze class while pregnant with Beaumont (because neither she nor Algerone thought they’d need it with AJ—but they were so wrong), Valerie tried to find something to focus on, to calm her mind and help with the breathing. She opened her eyes and what she saw caused tears of love to fill her eyes.

  Algerone, who had to be in pain, judging from the red fingernail marks in his cheek and hand, was staring at her—wide eyed with fear, no doubt—and breathing with her, his gaze centered on her. He’d barely left her side throughout this pregnancy, living up to his promise to always be there for her and their children, to be a better man. And now, he was there, right by her side, breathing with her, as she went through labor, when he could have gone for help.

  When the contraction eased off a bit, Valerie released his face from her firm grip, and leaned forward to kiss what was going to bruise in a few hours. “Thank. You. For. Staying,” she panted.

  Algerone swallowed thickly and nodded his head. “Iak, of course. You are mine. This baby is mine. I will not leave you, either of you, none of you, ever again.” His gaze flew to the bed where she sat the moment Valerie felt a pop and a rush of fluid rush from her.

  “Did…um…was that?” he stammered.

  Valerie nodded. “My water just broke,” her words came out warbly as her emotions got the best of her. This wasn’t how this was supposed to happen. This child was supposed to be born in the private hospital the royal family used. She was going to have drugs. Then she would be cleaned up, the baby would be cleaned and dressed and then an official announcement would go out announcing the birth of the newest prince or princess.

  But as another contraction gripped her, then another just a few minutes later, Valerie realized that her dream labor was not going to happen. This child was determined to be born in the palace, in the bed she shared with her husband, right at that moment.

  Valerie tossed back the covers that lay over her, at the thought, and tried to get out of the bed. Algerone pressed her back.

  “Where are you going?” he asked her, his eyes wide.

  Valerie pointed towards the bathroom. “To run a lukewarm bath, so I can ha
ve the baby in the tub. You know. A water birth? Like on Youtube. I am not going to ruin the mattress even more,” she stated firmly, gritting her teeth as another contraction came on the heels of the last one.

  Algerone shook his head. “Fuck the mattress. We will buy another. I will buy you all new bedroom furniture, but you will not move from this bed. Our child is coming into the world.”

  Valerie glared at her husband. “So wasteful.” She clenched her teeth and shoved him out of the way. “You don’t tell me what I can do. Bastard.”

  Algerone nodded. “I forgot you get very mean when you bring our children into the world.”

  Valerie rose from the bed and started towards the sitting room, so she could go to the bathroom and run the water. “Shut. Up.” She snarled, before doubling over in pain.

  “You see?” Algerone shook his head. “I will take you back to bed,” his concern and anxiety causing his accent to thicken.

  “N-no,” Valerie waved her hand at him. “No. I can make it.” She paused next to the couch and clenched the back of it as pain rippled through her body. The urge to push overcame her, and she reached her arm behind her, wiggling it around in search of Algerone.

  “Al-Algie,” she cried.

  He stepped from behind her to her side. “Yes, love?”

  “I. Have. To. Push,” she told him.

  “I will take you to the bed,” Algerone lifted her in his arms, but Valerie shook her head.

  “N-no. Bathroom. Tub,” she whimpered. He sighed, and Valerie felt herself being carried quickly into the bathroom. Algerone set her down on the edge of their large tub, and turned the knobs to fill the tub, as Valerie stripped herself of her soiled clothing. She put her hand beneath the rushing water and nodded at the lukewarm temperature. She gripped Algerone’s shoulder, and swung her legs over the edge, sinking into the tub that had a few inches of water in it. Not enough, but it was filling quickly.

  She looked up in surprise when Algerone stripped and climbed into the tub with her. He moved across from her and exhaled deeply, closing his eyes for a second. When he opened them later, his blue eyes blazed with fire. “Are you ready?” he asked her.

  Valerie nodded her head. And slid down until her head rested on the pillowed headrest side of the tub, and spread her legs. She could tell that their child was ready to come into the world, and they weren’t waiting for anyone.

  As her next contraction exploded through her, Valerie gripped her knees and pushed with all her might. She eased off as the contraction waned slightly, panting, as she stared at Algerone who watched her carefully, his eyes filled with love. As the next contraction barreled through her, Valerie pushed again.

  “That’s it, miora ruga! Volkov! Tua ps’ee!” Algerone encouraged her.

  Valerie grunted and whined. Over and over, through each push, the water having been shut off when it covered just her hips, Valerie pushed, her gaze trained on her husband’s face. Algerone’s hands were there between her legs, rubbing soothing, comforting, and encouraging circles in the skin of her thighs, until with a sigh on her part, their newborn… daughter slid from her body.

  Algerone lifted her from the water, and laughed as he grabbed a washrag to clean the baby’s eyes, nose, and mouth. When she let out a wail, Valerie and Algerone let out relieved chuckles.

  Algerone handed her to Valerie and stood from the tub. “Let me go and get a blanket and diaper for her," he said with a big grin on his face.

  Valerie smiled at him, exhaustion pulling at her. “Good job, Kothrey,” she said, calling him by the affectionate “Daddy” title.

  Algerone’s face flushed with excitement and pride as he walked over to press a kiss to the top of her sweaty head, then strolled out. Valerie held their newborn daughter in her arms, her light caramel skin still dewy from the birth and bathwater. Valerie ran her fingers over her baby girl’s face, humming softly to her. A slight cramp gripped her lower abdomen, but Valerie paid it no mind, sure that it was the afterbirth. She could hear Algerone’s deep, rumbling voice and someone’s answering bass rumble. Figuring out that her labor was discovered, Valerie laughed softly, then lifted…hmmm, for now, Baby Girl Smythe to a nipple so she could breastfeed.

  “Val? We have been discovered. Alastair heard the baby’s cry. He’s gone to wake the rest of the family,” Algerone said as he walked back in the room, holding a baby blanket, a tiny newborn diaper, and a bassinet. He came to an abrupt halt in the doorway and dropped it all, his eyes widening. “Nerls,” he cursed.

  “What?” Valerie asked, as she felt the afterbirth pressing against her opening.

  “Don’t push!” Algerone yelled, waking their daughter where she’d fallen asleep on Valerie’s chest.

  “Why?” Valerie asked in surprise.

  “There’s another baby!” Algerone exclaimed over the baby’s cries.

  Valerie gasped and then let out a loud groan as the pain intensified and Alastair rushed in behind Algerone.

  “Gracvor! Twins!” he cried out and rushed over to take the baby from Valerie, his eyes focused above her head. He turned away and Algerone climbed back into the tub, wearing a fresh set of boxer briefs. He shook his head at Valerie and chuckled.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  Valerie nodded and pushed.

  Epilogue

  Two days later

  The Office of Prince Alastair, Advisor to the King

  Alastair

  “T

  hank you very much for stopping in for an interview,” Alastair told the potential nanny, a young petite blonde. While she’d been sent over from a certified, exclusive, and approved nanny and governess service, the way she’d been appraising him since she’d walked into his office, let him know that she wouldn’t be a good nanny for his nieces and nephews. She’d be spending the bulk of her time trying to become his princess.

  Sorry, doll. I doubt you could handle what I need in the bedroom, and I have no plans to marry even if you could, he thought to himself.

  “It was my pleasure, Prince Alastair,” she breathed out in what he assumed was supposed to be a sexy baby-like voice. He barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Really? Didn’t the girl know that only Marilyn Monroe could pull off that voice? “You have my number, don’t you?” she asked.

  Alastair nodded at her and escorted her out the door of his office. “My assistant has your number. She will give you a call if my brother and his wife decide to hire you,” he said.

  “Oh,” she frowned in disappointment. “You won’t be calling me?”

  This time Alastair did roll his eyes. “I am not the one in need of a nanny as I have no children. I merely did this as a favor to the Crown Prince and Princess since they are still recovering from the unexpected birth of the new princesses.”

  “Oh, yes. Well maybe you—” Alastair cut off her words with a firm close of his office door in her face.

  “Bloody piranha,” he muttered. He turned and walked to his desk. Pressing on the intercom button on his phone, he waited for his assistant to answer him. When he heard the click of her coming on the line, he cleared his throat. Talking to her was still uncomfortable thanks to their one night threesome months before.

  “Persephone? Do I have any more interviews?” he asked.

  “Iak, Mexoria Źeylήia, there’s one that has just been added by Prince Algerone’s personal guard, Danorian,” she responded.

  “Let me know when she arrives,” he replied before clicking off the line. He walked over to one of the windows in his office and sighed, looking down at the palace’s driveway. He felt… unsettled. It was a feeling he didn’t like. Alastair had been certain and sure of everything in his life since he was a young boy and he’d discovered that as the third born, he was the spare, to the spare, and right in the middle of five boys. He really didn’t have a purpose as far as the line of succession went unless something happened to his two older brothers and they’d had no children.

  Times had certainly changed. He was no longer the sp
are to the spare. There were so many in line to the throne before him, that Alastair never had to worry about taking on that mantle.

  Though he’d still wanted to serve his people in some way. Like his brothers, he’d served his required time in His Majesty’s Military, then he’d turned his focus on assisting his father. Just as he’d done as a young boy. Serving the people, serving the Crown, without the burden or responsibility of the actual title of King.

  His gaze was captured by the sight of a figure walking up the driveway to the castle. Alastair narrowed his eyes, then reached over to grab his binoculaurs, when he looked again, his breath caught in his chest. The figure was a woman, her golden brown skin gleaming in the sunshine, her hair blowing in the wind, tiny braids that she pulled up into a top knot as she walked up the palace’s drive. She wore a black sleeveless dress that came to below her knees, a blue sweater draped over her arm, and black flats on her feet.

  Alastair licked his lips as he took in her appearance, his groin tightening at the sight of her thick lips, and hourglass figure. He couldn’t see all of her, but what he had seen had him completely intrigued, and incredibly hard.

  Well, well, well. Who do we have here?

  Before Alastair could think of what his next steps would be, his office door swung open. He turned and choked on a laugh at the sight of his eldest brother, hair mussed, eyes red-rimmed, stubble covering his jaw, wearing a robe, pyjamas, and slippers, holding his twin daughters: Eliava and Eckha, in his arms. Alastair walked over and lifted Eckha from his brother’s arms, cooing to her.

  “Help. Me,” Algerone groaned. “My wife is a goddess, I can’t believe she did this with our other five children with little to no help. I told her I would watch the twins and Dahni while she took a nap, and I already want to curl up in the corner and cry.”

  Alastair laughed then looked around. “Uh, Al? Where’s Dahni?”