“No, that was the middle son, the lazy one. He was set to watch them while they slept, but he fell asleep.”
“And the youngest climbed a tall tree to both keep watch and try to find their way out. But instead, he saw another camp fire, went to investigate, and got caught by a band of thieves.” Aunt Liv’s hands gesticulated as she spoke, her face animated. “He fooled them into believing he was one of them, and so they took him with them when they went to steal from the king and queen. This is where it gets fuzzy.”
“It was all those shots the other night.”
“You’re probably right.”
“So, the thieves wanted to rob a king and queen staying in a hunting lodge. Some versions say that the king of the thieves wanted to marry the princess. The thieves find this crack in the wall around the hunting lodge, but it is very narrow. They send the young son in to scout because he’s pretty scrawny. He sneaks in, finds the king, queen, and princess huddled in the hall. The king and queen are so afraid they lock themselves in a cellar, but the princess attacks him with her belt knife. She chases him all over the hall before he finally takes the knife from her and convinces her that he’s not a thief, he’s just pretending to be one, and now he needs her help.”
“Sneaky boy.” Aunt Liv wagged her finger at him.
“He was smart. So, the young son and the princess devise a plan. She gives him the ring from her finger, she cuts some gold cloth from her gown and hands him the knife from her belt. These were supposed to be what he’d show the thieves to prove that there was both great wealth inside, and that it would be easy.”
“But it’s never easy, is it?”
“I wish, but no.”
“Then what?”
“I’ve already told you the story. How does it end?” Kade folded his hands together and tried not to grin.
“I can’t remember.” Aunt Liv’s face creased and she clutched his shoulder. A bit overdramatic, but that’s what he loved about her. “Tell me the rest of the story.”
“Fine. So, the young son goes out to the thieves, shows them his great bounty, and then leads them in through another opening in the wall. It’s so narrow they have to go in one by one. The young son goes first and draws the knife the princess gave him, and as each thief enters the wall, he cuts their heads off. The princess is there, sweeping the heads away and dragging the bodies off.”
“That’s why I liked this one. The girl actually does something.”
“She had to be pretty brave to take on a threat her parents just wanted to hide from.”
“Then what happens?”
“Well, they kill all the thieves. The king and queen come out, and they’re overjoyed that he saved them. The princess then says that since tomorrow is her birthday, she would like permission to marry the young son because she’s fallen in love with him. The young son though, he can’t leave his family, so he has to say no and return to them. The princess tells him to keep the bounty he showed to the thieves as gifts and not to forget her.”
“Oh, young love.”
“The son returns to his mother and brother. They go on their way and find work in a village. They work for a few years in a tavern, and the mother proceeds to spend all that the boys earn on ale. She begins beating on the boys, turning into her husband, really.”
“And that’s the lesson part, at least one of them.”
“Correct. One of them. The mother claims they were better off when they were with her husband.”
“Grass is always greener, ain’t it?”
“That’s a common theme in a lot of the stories I heard growing up.”
“I wonder why?”
“Because a lot of gypsy families wanted to keep the kids insulated from the rest of the world.”
“The story—finish it.”
“The mother, the lazy son, and the young son pack up and leave. Oh—when the mother started spending all their money, the young son hid the princess’ gifts. That’s important. Anyway, they begin their journey back. Now, the young son remembers his secret adventure and the princess fondly as they travel, and he wonders what his life would have been, if he’d married her, instead, since his family had abused him. They enter the same forest, following a path. After a while, the mother sits down and tells her sons to light her a fire and feed her. She’s tired.”
“The lazy bitch. I wonder where the older boys got their surly tempers from?”
“The young son goes hunting with the knife the princess gave him, while the lazy son is supposed to be gathering firewood. Along the path comes a carriage with the princess, she’s on her way to the city to celebrate—”
“Her birthday!”
“You guessed it. Along the way, she wants to get out because the hunting lodge isn’t that far and she wants to remember the brave young man who saved her life. She knows she must marry someone soon, and she wishes it was him. Well, the lazy son sees her and tries to rob her.”
“She’s too smart for a lazy sack of bones like that.”
“She is. She fights him off and takes him prisoner, all before her guards can come to her rescue—all of this happens in sight of the mother, who does nothing.”
“The bitch.”
“The young son returns, and no one is there. He runs, catches up with his mother, who tells him everything. The son figures his mother will be safe enough on the path, but his brother? He can’t let his brother die, so he goes to the city to seek audience with the king and queen. They are busy entertaining the guests, but they’re tired of it all and ask for storytellers.”
“Ah, now I know why you like this story.” Aunt Liv wagged her finger at him again.
“Maybe.” Kade grinned. “So, the young son takes the gold cloth and makes himself a fine shirt. He puts on the princess’ ring and presents himself as a royal story teller. They let him in. He begins to tell the tale—”
“Of the Forester’s son?”
“And the Brave Princess.”
“I’m going to have to write this one down.” Aunt Liv sighed.
“The young son tells the story of a young man who tricked thieves and saved a royal family—all with the help of a brave, young princess. Now, the king and queen had never heard the full story, so they didn’t know it was him, but the princess knew. He’d grown into a man, so she didn’t recognize him, but she knew her ring, her knife and the dress from which he’d made his shirt. She rushes to him, overjoyed that her love has returned. The king and queen bring him up, they give him a seat at the table and the guests are amazed that the fictional story is real. The son then asks if he may make a request, and he tells them of his foolish, lazy brother and asks if he may trade places with him.”
“Why? Why are the good ones so…good?”
“Wait for it. The king and queen agree, bring out the brother, tell him what they’re doing, and then send him on his way. The young son is immediately released, and the princess once again requests that she be allowed to marry the young man.”
“Does he love her?”
“I imagine he does. In my head, he loves her, but his sense of duty won out when it came to taking care of his mother. At least, until she showed the same tendency for abuse that his father had.”
“The ending. I love the ending.” Aunt Liv sighed and propped her hand in her chin. “Tell me how it ends.”
“The princess and the young son are married on her birthday, and the son is made a prince. He goes on to be a much loved, kind king…and—they lived happily ever after.” Kade spread his hands and smiled.
“Do you think it’s true?”
“Maybe. I’ve looked into a few theories that link this story and a few others to a sixth century Slovak king who was renowned for being a well-loved king. There were rumors that he was a peasant who married the queen—not the princess. Some other theories are that he was from a wealthy family that fell on hard times, so he had the education and knowledge to move into being the role of a king. No one really knows, but it’s fun to think about.
”
“So, now that you’ve distracted me with a story, what about this girl?” Aunt Liv tapped Kade’s phone. “It’s gone off four times since you’ve been sitting here.”
Four?
Kade snatched it up. Had Shelby hurt herself? Four messages?
“Hey, Aunt Liv, Kade.” Jaxon, one of the other pub regulars, slapped Kade on the shoulder before giving Liv a quick hug.
Kade only half paid attention to Jaxon and Liv’s conversation. He was too busy reading Shelby’s messages.
“You’re looking different.” Liv twisted to give Jaxon her attention.
“I’m getting back into fighting.”
I was thinking, you free tonight? I could get you that drink.
“Is that a good idea?”
“It seems that’s all I’m good at, Aunt Liv.” Jaxon sighed.
If you don’t want to, I totally understand.
“Jaxon, don’t say that.”
“I know, it just seems that way right now. If I pick up a few fights, it could help me out.” Jaxon slid onto a stool across from Kade. “Can I get a burger, Aunt Liv?”
And crickets… No is a perfectly fine answer.
“Oh, Christ. I bet your food’s ready.” Liv slid off her stool and quick stepped back to the kitchen.
“What are you smiling about?” Jaxon asked.
Okay, please answer me?
“Nothing.”
“He’s got a girl.” Aunt Liv slid the plate of hot fish and chips in front of Kade.
“Oh, I see.” Jaxon grinned.
For as dangerous as mixed martial arts was, Jaxon did seem happier than he had the last couple of weeks. Because of the fighting? Or something else?
“It’s not what you’re thinking.” Kade shook the ketchup bottle. Okay, so maybe it was what they were thinking, but it was still the ethical gray area he didn’t like.
“You think… After you eat you, could do that card trick?”
Kade glanced at Jaxon, brows rising.
Jaxon had never shown interest in Kade’s tarot readings. His mother had the true gift for discerning the cards. Kade wasn’t as good, but he found they helped him hone in on things. From time to time, he’d read the cards for friends, more as a joke than anything else.
“Sure, if you want.” Kade took in Jaxon’s freshly-trimmed hair, the new workout shirt, that glisten in the guy’s eye. Jaxon had met someone.
“Ryan, Vito.” Jaxon waved the two guys over.
Kade glanced over his shoulder, zeroing in on Vito out of habit. The guy had suffered a particularly bad gunshot wound to the thigh that’d nearly gone septic. He seemed to be recovering well and fitting into life here.
“Don’t you two look slick?” Jaxon spread his arms out across the back of the chairs.
Ryan and Vito took up seats across from Kade and Jaxon.
“You’re working, finally?” Kade asked.
“Yeah, they cleared me.” Vito sat down, his expression devoid of pain or discomfort. Good. He must be almost healed up then.
“What you working on these days?” Jaxon leaned over and filched a fry from Kade’s plate.
“Just a stand-around gig.” Ryan leaned forward, staring at Kade’s plate.
“Hey.” Kade pushed the plate to the very corner and shielded it with his arm. “Get your own food.”
“Oh, come on. I’m starving.” Ryan grinned and reached toward Kade, but he smacked the guy’s hand away.
Who needed brothers, with these thieves around?
Aunt Liv saved the rest of Kade’s lunch by bringing out a plate of cheesy fries, loaded with bacon. Ryan and Vito bitched about how boring their job was, and Jaxon gave everyone shit. He must really like whoever the girl was, if his mood was this much improved. For as long as Kade had known Jaxon, he’d been prone to brooding silences. This jovial version was an interesting change.
Kade had never quite belonged anywhere.
Until that day he’d met Ryan and then Jaxon at the physical therapy center. They’d laughed, shot the bull. Talked about their time in the sand box, and then he’d come out for a drink. He’d met the rest of the guys.
They were all a little different. At odds with their lives, for one reason or another. Their differences made them closer. Friends. Maybe even a family of sorts.
Case in point, the stunt he’d pulled for Ian. Kade hadn’t thought twice about doing something that had ultimately got him suspended, pending a disciplinary review. It’d helped that the FBI stepped in on his behalf to cover their asses. For the first time, Kade’s ethics hadn’t mattered. The only thing that had was being there for Kade’s chosen family.
Maybe he was being a stickler on a point that ultimately did not matter.
Shelby was a consenting adult.
So was Kade.
What was the problem?
He pulled out his phone, considering his next words carefully.
He’d been on shift for twenty-four hours. He was bound to crash for a while, once the food settled.
Can we do later tonight? Maybe some food? Need to get some sleep first. I’ll get the drinks.
He hit send and set the phone down.
“There, that smile’s back.” Jaxon wiggled his fingers in Kade’s direction.
“Aunt Liv, he’s touching me.” Kade swatted at Jaxon, earning a laugh from the others.
“Boys, boys—behave.” Aunt Liv swatted Jaxon and then Kade with the towel permanently attached to her hip.
These guys weren’t the family he would have picked, but they were the ones that’d picked him. Kade wouldn’t trade them for the world.
4.
Iestyn leaned toward the screen, watching the figures transport crates into the shop space.
Usually, he didn’t feel the need to keep such a close eye on his projects, but this one was special. He’d been carefully working toward it for years. Biding his time. Waiting until she was the right age.
There.
Shelby came into the frame, hoisting two, long crates in either hand. It was hard to tell from the grainy camera, but he could imagine her cheeks were rosy, her skin dewy with perspiration. Sharon had never been one for physical labor. When Iestyn had her back where she belonged, he’d make sure that she didn’t lift anything heavier than her fork.
A lady had to be cared for.
“Circle up, everyone.” Gil stepped into the frame. “Where are we with our entrance plan?”
“I still say we go in late, take care of the security guards, and get the goods.” A young man with a petulant face crossed his arms. Iestyn couldn’t recall his name, but then again, it didn’t really matter.
“Gil? Sir? If we might suggest? Our brother,” Anton gestured at Sasha, “works with the Seattle Fire Department. I’d be willing to bet he could get us in and out without having to take care of anyone.”
In the background, Shelby glanced away.
Iestyn chuckled.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall if the two older Tsaplin brothers ever discovered the woman they disdained was already working with their sibling.
This was working out better than Iestyn had planned.
It was glorious.
He’d win Sharon back, of that he had no doubt.
Shelby stared at her phone.
“Kade took the bait.” She hated those words, but that was what had happened. She should be overjoyed, but…that meant the plan was a go.
“Good. About damn time.” Rusty didn’t look up from his laptop. He’d brought the thing over for their brainstorming session today and hadn’t left.
“We need to be prepared for this to not go well,” she said slowly.
In the last twenty-four hours, she’d become something of an expert on Kade Tsaplin. First step was scrapping everything she thought she knew about him, everything his culture ascribed to him, and starting over again. Since she’d been waiting on paint to cure, she’d had time to kill, which she put toward her budding profiler skills.
Shelby regretted
that choice now.
She hadn’t just read his personnel file from the army or the reports on his performance as an EMT or firefighter. She’d stalked his social media accounts, his friends, anyone remotely connected to him who wasn’t family. It painted a bigger, more sweeping picture of the man who was Kade. The Romani brother who’d walked away from his black sheep family. The man who always did the right thing.
Because that was the kind of person Kade was. He was a fascinating study of nature versus nurture.
“Rusty,” Shelby snapped. “Are you listening to me?”
“No.”
“Why do I put up with you?” She sighed.
“Because I’m cute?”
“Not that cute.”
“You could just tell me I am.”
“I’m trying to be a better, more honest person, remember?”
“Maybe you should go back to being a liar and a thief. I might have liked you better that way.”
“Now who’s lying?”
Shelby pushed to her feet and paced the loft. “We need to be prepared,” she said again. “What are we going to tell him?”
“We appeal to his sense of morality. You said yourself, that’s the best way to get at him.”
“Yeah, but he’s not going to like being lied to.”
“He’ll get over it.”
“Should we put cameras up?” Shelby chewed her lip. She’d fought long and hard to get the FBI to remove their ever-watchful eyes from her space.
“What? No. If Gil decides to do a sweep of the team, that would be bad for you.”
“You mean us?”
“Yeah, us, too.”
“Okay. Fine. No cameras.”
This was Kade, not Anton or Sasha they were talking about. Kade was different. But the problem there was that he’d blame her. In his shoes, she would. Then what? How would he react? If he did at all? Strangest of all, she didn’t want Kade to hate her. It was completely illogical, and she knew it. Plenty of people hated her, but most of them were bad people.
Kade was one of the good ones.
Her Prince (Twisted Royals #2) Page 3
