Royally Ever After (Royals of Valleria #7)

by Marianne Knightly

Corrado blinked. “Your Highness–”

  “It’s not enough they’re fucking with my wedding, now they don’t even have the decency to visit their king in the hospital? Can’t we arrest them for that? I’d really like to see them arrested right about now.”

  “What’s this about the wedding?”

  “They’re refusing to sign the papers approving the marriage,” Rebecca said, and she closed the waiting room door behind her. She walked to Alex and slid her arm around his waist; he tucked her tight against him. He hadn’t wanted her with him for this, but she’d known he needed her just the same, and came to him.

  “They say they won’t sign until the day before the wedding, when the Royal Marriage Notification Year is officially over.”

  Corrado’s mouth fell open and red tinged his face. “What? But that’s preposterous.”

  “Now you can see why Alex isn’t too keen to have them nearby, even if they should do their duty and visit.”

  Corrado frowned slightly. “I wonder…”

  “Wonder what?” Alex asked.

  “I wonder what else the Council could be plotting. I’ve heard whispers, but nothing concrete.”

  Alex growled. “You think they might try to further halt the wedding?”

  “I think it’s possible.”

  “Holy fucking hell.”

  A nurse came striding up to them. “Your Highness. Your father’s awake.”

  The icy shards of terror that had been coursing through his veins melted at the news; he almost sagged in relief. “May I see him?”

  “Yes, Sir. The doctor just finished his initial examination, so you may go in. His room is just down the hall.”

  Alex nodded. “Darling, stay here with the family.”

  She looked as though she wanted to say something, but instead just nodded.

  “Corrado, with me. We need my father’s signature.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Alex began walking down the hall.

  Each step seemed to be an echoing boom in his ears.

  Boom.

  The sounds of the nurses were muted as they rushed by.

  Boom.

  Another step closer.

  Boom.

  A deep breath in.

  Boom.

  Exhale.

  Boom.

  A door opened.

  Boom.

  A door closed.

  Boom. Boom.

  He was almost there.

  Boom. Boom. Boom.

  The thudding was his heart, not his feet, he realized.

  Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.

  He took another deep breath.

  Boom. Boom. Boom.

  The lingering scent of lavender filled his senses.

  Boom. Boom.

  Rebecca, giving him strength, even when she wasn’t near.

  Boom.

  He entered the room.

  And his heart shattered into pieces.

  Over the past several months, he’d, unfortunately, seen several members of his family in the hospital. His brothers, his sisters, their loves. Even Rebecca.

  Nothing, however, had prepared him for this.

  His father was covered in a thin, cotton hospital gown. Clear tubes dripped medication into his hands, while oxygen filled him through nasal cannula tubing. A heart monitor beeped discordantly. His father’s skin was indeed pale, almost as pale as the white in his salt-and-pepper hair and mustache.

  He looked weak.

  He looked broken.

  The man who gave him strength, guidance, and love, lay damaged in a bed in front of him.

  And there wasn’t a fucking thing Alex could do to help.

  Part of Alex broke, too.

  He wasn’t accustomed to feeling weak and useless. He was the heir to Valleria’s throne. He’d been raised since birth to handle any situation that arose.

  He wasn’t sure he could handle this.

  “Papa.”

  Gabriel’s black eyes shifted to him and he gave Alex a weak smile. “Come, my son. There is much to discuss.”

  Alex came in and gave a nod to Corrado, who entered and closed the door behind him.

  “Leave us,” Gabriel told the room, and the nurses slowed, but didn’t stop, their actions.

  “Your Majesty, we–,” one of them began.

  Gabriel held up a hand, silencing her. “I understand you must do your work, but there is pressing business I must see to first. A few minutes, nothing more, I promise you.”

  The nurses glanced at each other. “We’ll need to confirm with the doctor first. I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

  “Then do it quickly.”

  A nurse ran out the door and returned within a minute with approval. Then the nurses left the room, shutting the door behind them.

  “Corrado has the paperwork ready, Papa.”

  Gabriel nodded. “I am sure he does. While I am…unable…to complete my duties as king, you must stand in my stead.”

  Alex cleared his throat, but his voice still came out rough. “Of course, Papa. I’ve already signed. I’m ready.”

  Corrado handed the letter over to his father, who signed.

  Corrado took the letter, once again signing it as a witness along the bottom.

  “After the doctor signs, confirming His Majesty’s mental acuity, I’ll take this to the Royal Council and formally file the paperwork. I’ll work with Tavin on a statement to the press.”

  “Thank you, Corrado,” Gabriel said softly.

  Corrado gave his father’s shoulder a squeeze. “You are most welcome, Your Majesty. I’ll return to the hospital as soon as this is done.” He turned to Alex. “We’ll need to speak as soon as I return.”

  Alex nodded. “Take extra security with you; the press must be swarming the hospital by now.”

  Corrado nodded and left.

  Alex stepped forward and took his father’s hand, holding it gently to avoid pulling the IV line tethered to his thin, pale, and unnaturally cold skin. “Papa.”

  “I’ll be all right, my son.”

  “Mama’s quite upset.”

  Gabriel chuckled weakly. “I’m sure she’s cursing me right now.”

  “She’s concerned.”

  “And using anger to hide it. Believe me, my son, I know my wife very well.”

  “The doctor?”

  “Is still running tests. He may have to do some procedures, but we’ll find out soon.” Gabriel sighed. “I’m sorry, my son.”

  Alex gently squeezed his father’s hand. “Why are you apologizing?”

  “The wedding. I may not be able to attend or we may need to postpone it.”

  Alex’s heart lurched. Few thought about how a groom dreamt of his wedding day, but Alex had. He’d been looking forward to seeing his parents there, their proud looks and shared happiness. Now that day seemed to be slipping further and further away from him at every turn. “Your health is more important. We can delay the wedding. I understand that, Papa. So does Rebecca.”

  “All that planning. All those attending. I had so many meetings with different world leaders arranged.”

  “If they come, whether or not there’s a wedding, I’ll take those meetings. I can handle it.”

  Gabriel squeezed his hand. “I know you can.”

  “Let’s just take this one step at a time. Let’s see what the doctor says. Let’s see how the next few days go. Then we can decide.”

  The nurses entered the room again, forcing his father to give in; he couldn’t argue with his son with others around, even if they were bound by confidentiality. “All right, Alexander. As you wish.”

  Alex gave his father’s hand a squeeze just as the doctors entered. Dr. Maggie Wilson and Dr. Raul Soto were a husband and wife team of doctors. While Raul was the official Royal Physician, and thus his father’s regular doctor, his wife just happened to be one of the top cardiologists in Valleria.

  Dr. Soto went to stand by Gabriel’s side, his wiry frame encased in a white doctor’s coat. Dr. Wilson, her
face subdued, pushed her blonde hair over her shoulder and spoke. “I have the results of your initial tests, Your Majesty.”

  “My wife should be here.”

  Dr. Wilson nodded to a nurse who left to get his mother.

  She entered barely a minute later, and moved to hold her husband’s other hand. “Well? What’s the word?”

  Gabriel gestured to Dr. Wilson. “The doctor was just about to tell us.”

  She nodded. “The blood tests showed what I believed it would: a protein called troponin. What that indicates is that you did have a heart attack, but you can consider it a mild one.

  “The fancy name for it is a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, or NSTEMI. It means there is likely some damage to your heart, but not as much as there would be in a more severe heart attack.”

  “Will I need surgery, or more tests to confirm?”

  “We’ll repeat the blood tests every few hours, and do an ECG, or electrocardiogram, to confirm. From there, we have two likely courses of action. You may have blockages in your arteries, though they’re likely partial or temporary blockages. We could do an angioplasty to correct those; I don’t believe we’ll need to do more invasive surgery than that. However, there is a chance the medications we’ve already started you on could correct this as well. We’ll continue to monitor you, and see if you have any more chest pain before deciding how to proceed.”

  “How long would he need to remain in the hospital?” Genevieve asked.

  “A few days, at least. If we need to do the angioplasty, most patients are able to go home that day or the next. Of course, Your Majesty, you will need to be on a strict regimen of diet and rest when you do go, for at least four to six weeks.”

  “That’s all been taken care of already, I assure you.”

  The eyes in the room flicked to Alex before focusing on his father again.

  “When will you do the ECG?” Gabriel asked.

  “We’ll want to run at least one more blood test first, which we’ll do in about two hours. Based on those results, we may do the ECG at that time.

  “You were really quite lucky, Your Majesty, all things considered.”

  Lucky wasn’t how Alex would put it.

  Dr. Soto spoke up. “Maggie will take good care of you, Your Majesty. If you or your family need anything, please don’t hesitate to let me or the staff know. We are all at your disposal.” He nodded to the others in the room, and they all left, leaving Alex and his parents alone.

  “There’s a heavy burden on your shoulders now, my son. Not only the country, but our family as well.”

  Alex kept a straight face, all while his gut twisted in vicious knots. He expected to be the head of the family and the country one day. Just not today. “I won’t let you down, Papa.”

  “I know you won’t, my son. Corrado knows what needs to be done, he’ll be there to assist you. Use your siblings as well; they’re all there to help you.”

  “Don’t worry about anything but yourself. I’ll take care of everything.” He would. Somehow.

  “Please let the others know they can come in, but no more than two or three at a time,” his mother said.

  “I’ll go now.” Alex bent over the bed and kissed his father’s left cheek, followed by his right; his father’s cheeks were warmer than his cold hands, a small comfort. He tried to think of something profound to say, something that might bring his father some sense of ease. His mind, however, was a total blank, so he said nothing at all.

  A king should know what to say.

  He leaned over and gave his mother a kiss on each cheek and turned to go. At the door, for some reason, he looked back.

  His mother was bent over the bed, her forehead resting against his father’s. It had been several minutes ago that Alex and Rebecca had held a similar pose.

  And in those minutes he’d become acting-king.

  Holy hell.

  He strode into the waiting room a few moments later, which was now full of family and friends. Rebecca’s parents were speaking with a few of the hospital staff, his paternal grandmother, Victoria, was speaking with Rebecca, while the majority of his siblings were scattered in small groups.

  His twin sister, Cat, stood with her fiancé, Edward, in a corner with Grace, Marcello’s fiancée and Cat’s longtime friend. His sisters, Sarah and Carolina, were in a huddle with his brother Lorenzo. Another brother, Nate, was grouped with his love, Charlotte, who seemed uncomfortable or upset; likely both. Charlie, as she preferred, had clearly brought in some food and drinks; as head of the palace kitchens, she did have the means for it.

  The only sister missing was Arianna, who was set to give birth any day now. Because she could be giving birth to the heir to the Brazenbourg throne, she was remaining there with her husband, Finn, until after the birth.

  The only brother missing – the one he really fucking wanted to see at the moment – was Ethan, who was a doctor in the Vallerian Royal Navy. Doctors were good to have in a family during times like these.

  In the few seconds it had taken him to assess the room, his grandmother had noticed him. “Alexander.”

  “Nonna.” Alex walked over and gave her a hug, followed by a kiss on each cheek. The former queen was still, by all accounts, as elegant and graceful as she was as at age twenty, when she’d married Alex’s grandfather. Though she normally resided on Ilva, the small Vallerian island off the coast, she, too, was in town for the wedding.

  “How is he?”

  “Awake.” Alex glanced up and noticed the entire room had gone silent, all eyes on him. He gave everyone a brief overview of Gabriel’s condition. “It’s not as serious as it could have been. They’ll do more tests soon. Only one or two should go in at a time; there’s not room for more with the hospital staff going in and out.”

  “I’ll go,” Victoria said. “Let me see him first, then you children can take turns.”

  A chorus of staggered ‘Yes, Nonna’ filled the room.

  “His room is just down at the end of the hall. Shall I show you?” Alex asked.

  “I’ll find it.” She tugged at Alex’s arm, forcing him to lean down, and she whispered in his ear when he did. “Have you signed it?”

  Alex went stiff, but managed to nod.

  “Will you cancel the wedding?”

  “We don’t know yet.”

  She nodded, lips pursed, and walked away.

  “Your Majesty.”

  If Alex was stiff before, he was rigid at the sound of the title behind him. The entire room went still when they realized Corrado was addressing him, not their father.

  Not even a breath was taken.

  Not a single movement was made.

  The moment was etched in time.

  None of them would likely soon forget it.

  He never would.

  He turned his back on the room and faced Corrado. Alex understood the meaning behind Corrado’s actions; to prove he would support Alex as king, even as an interim one.

  Holy hell.

  Alex was the King of Valleria.

  He cleared his throat. “Corrado. Let’s find a room and talk.”

  “We’ve set up a space for you next door,” Rebecca said, and his eyes traveled to the woman who was his love and his life. Fear and pain and love were etched on her face, all for him and his family. He had an overwhelming urge to claim her, hold her, and consume her.

  Duty held him back, at least for now. “Thank you, darling.” Rebecca nodded and Alex turned to Corrado. “Let’s go.”

  “Do you need us?” Marcello asked.

  “I’ll come, too,” Nate said.

  As Marcello was Valleria’s Minister of Security and Defense, and Nate was Valleria’s Minister of Finance and Treasury, Alex often needed their help.

  “Perhaps later. I’ll let you know.” He turned and walked out. Despite his father’s urging to seek their help, he needed to face this first test alone.

  Rebecca’s gaze followed Alex until he left the room. Even though hi
s broad shoulders remained straight, she sensed the weight of worry and unexpected duty bearing down on him.

  She didn’t know what to do. She’d run around, trying to anticipate his needs, or his family’s needs. She’d had an office with secure lines established next door, and she’d asked Charlie to bring sustenance from the palace kitchens. She’d setup a phone tree of sorts to keep the extended family apprised and worked with Tavin and Mara to draft press releases.

  The greatest task of all still lingered, however.

  Postponing the wedding.

  The decision hadn’t been made yet – at least not officially – but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was coming.

  What could be worse than her king and future father-in-law in the hospital, and the wedding postponed?

  She gripped her stomach, where she held all her stress.

  She wanted the permanence of being Alex’s wife, especially now when he needed her most. She hated the unsettled feeling under her feet, and worried that postponing the wedding would eventually lead to no wedding altogether.

  Francine stepped next to Rebecca and began rubbing a hand down her back. “It sounds as the though Gabriel may be all right.”

  Rebecca nodded. “I know. Though, I’m worried about Alex, too.”

  “He’ll be all right.”

  “What should I do, Mama? I feel so useless right now.”

  “You’re anything but.” Her mother kissed her forehead. “You’ve been running around like crazy. Why don’t you sit down? I know your feet must be in pain by now.”

  Rebecca glanced down at the dark purple shoes, her wedding shoes. Her whole body had gone so numb, she hadn’t even felt the pain of the shoes since they’d left the church. Now, however, the pain was slowly seeping back into her senses. “Maybe after I see Gabriel, Mama. I don’t think I could relax until then.”

  Just then, Victoria came back into the room looking a bit shaken, but still as strong and authoritative as ever. “Rebecca, dear, why don’t you and your parents go next? Gabriel was asking for you.”

  Rebecca swallowed. “Of course.” Her father was beside her in the next moment and they walked down the hall together. When they walked into the King’s room, she wasn’t prepared to see their gracious and stalwart leader looking so weak in a hospital bed.

  She forgot all protocol and rushed to his side, gently gripping his hand. He’d become so much more than her king; he’d become her family since she moved into the palace with Alex.