Chapter 6 – Bellamy
BELLAMY
Iwake in a daze. A delicious tremor in my thighs and a flutter in my heart.
Last night…holy bejesus, last night was intense and erotic and everything I needed.
It was the sort of sex you could only have with someone you trust and love.
The electric current of last night holds me for approximately two minutes.
That is until I remember where we are and why we’re back so soon and my heart once again sinks.
It’s not even dawn yet, but that doesn’t stop me from stealthily climbing out of bed because there is no way I’m falling back to sleep and my mind is too restless to simply lie here.
I shower, wanting to see my father as early as I can.
I overheard Phaedra mention a winter carnival just outside of Tourin, and since we never did the autumn festival, I want to do this with the children.
Sebastian be damned on that.
I know he won’t like it and I know he’ll try to talk me out of it. But if he believes the curse is gone and we bring security with us, there is no earthly reason why I shouldn’t take them.
I brush out my hair and apply a bit of makeup and dress in jeans and a sweater. Sebastian is still passed out—a heavier sleeper now that he’s actually sleeping—so I slip out without wanting to wake him. He has a lot on his mind, too, and the extra sleep is good for him.
My father’s suite is quiet and dark and uncomfortably warm as I enter.
He’s on his back, his eyes closed without the flutter of dreaming, his body heavy and limp on his bed.
It takes me five steps to reach the chair beside his bed, and I collapse into it.
I take his good hand in mine, which is still cold despite the warmth of the room.
I start talking, rambling mostly, about my honeymoon and the kids and how the pregnancy is going. I told Sebastian I didn’t want to know the gender of the twins, but now, looking at my dad, I want to be able to tell him. I want to talk about names with him.
Even if none of it registers.
Sometime later, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Sebastian: Do you want me to have breakfast sent up for you?
I smile to myself. That man. He’s so different from the one I met last summer.
A small, amused laugh flees my lips. Last summer.
It feels like a lifetime ago. As much as I’d like to sit here all day, I know my father wouldn’t like it.
I just wish he would wake up so I could talk to him. Make sure he’s doing okay.
Well, at least as best as he can be.
I text Sebastian back.
Me: No, but thank you. I’m on my way down now.
Standing, I give my father a kiss on his forehead, tell him I love him, and step outside to find the nurse and his aide talking.
“Good morning,” I greet them in French since neither speaks any English. “Can you please call or text me when he wakes up? I’d like to know how he’s doing.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
I give them a wan smile and head down to the breakfast room. Everyone is already there waiting for me. All three children are running around, chasing each other, Althea is reading something on her phone while she sips her coffee, and Rowan and Sebastian are standing by the buffet, talking.
“You missed yoga,” Althea comments without lifting her gaze from her phone. “How’s your father doing?”
I shrug, walking in and fixing myself a huge plate. I’m freaking starving. This pregnancy has come with a lot of hormone swings and a big appetite. “He hasn’t woken up yet. I think whatever they gave him last night really knocked him out. I asked them to call or text when he wakes up.”
“Good. Now come and sit. Tell me all about Caleria. I haven’t been to the island since I was a girl.”
I take a seat beside her, but before I can tell her about the island and the honeymoon, Sebastian drops a kiss on my lips, and the girls are jumping in by asking if we can go to the winter festival.
“Absolutely not,” Sebastian declares without even missing a beat.
“But Papa,” Sabrina whines, finally sitting in front of her plate. “We want to go. I want to go on the rides.”
“Yes,” Phaedra chimes in, sitting beside Sabrina while Zayer climbs on my lap now that he can no longer chase his sisters. “Why can’t we go? The curse is gone.”
And just like that, the room falls silent.
“I would like to go as well,” I throw out. I won’t undermine his authority in front of the children, but he needs to know I’m on their side with this.
“Yes, that does sound fun,” Althea agrees. “Especially since I believe you two boys have someplace to go this afternoon.”
That makes me frown as I turn a questioning brow at Sebastian.
He makes a dismissive noise, but I don’t miss the quick displeased look he gives Althea. I get the impression that was something he didn’t want me, the children, or both to know.
“If you go,” he relents, not even bothering to address that comment about him and Rowan going someplace, “you have to bring royal attendants, one for each of you.”
Phaedra pouts a bit at that. “But Papa, they make us stand out. More than we already do.”
Again, I agree, but again, I won’t go there.
“I’ll have them wear civilian clothes and keep a small distance so they’re not so obvious, but if you want to go, that is my condition.”
Sabrina opens her mouth to argue because that’s what Sabrina does, but Rowan jumps in with a charming smile. “My darlings, I hear they have hot chocolate bombs there. They’re my absolute favorite. Will you be my heroes and get me some?”
“Hot chocolate bombs?” Sabrina questions.
“Oh!” Rowan comes over and lifts her up, takes her seat, and drops her back down on his lap. “Eat your breakfast and I’ll tell you all about them.”
For the rest of breakfast, Rowan charms his nieces and nephew while I eat, and Sebastian sips his coffee, intentionally not meeting my eye. I tear a piece of bread and chuck it at him, hitting him directly in the forehead and making everyone laugh.
“Are you trying to start a food war?”
I snicker. “You mean a food fight and no, I’m not trying to do that. Food is far too precious to me right now. But I’d like to know what you’re not telling me.”
He sighs and throws Althea yet another unhappy look.
“Don’t do that. You shouldn’t keep things from me.”
“Fine. I’ll tell you. But later.” This time his gaze flickers over to the children.
Only later never comes. By the time we finish breakfast, the girls drag me upstairs to help get them ready for our adventure, as they’re calling it, and then we’re all bundling up and piling into one of the large SUVs.
The children are prattling on about the festival, too excited to notice much else, so I lean into Althea and ask in a whisper, “Where are Sebastian and Rowan going?”
“Ugh, clearly I was not supposed to say anything, but since he will tell you himself later, they found a diamond from Desta’s tiara.
” She proceeds to explain about the diamond and the tiara and how Rowan and Sebastian are taking a trip to the tower where all the royal jewels have been kept since early medieval times for their protection.
“What are they searching for there?”
“The tiara itself as well as to see if anything else is missing. You are the first to wear anything from there since the former king died.”
That surprises me. “Nora didn’t wear anything?”
“Nora wore one of her family heirlooms as a tiara and her mother’s diamond earrings at their wedding and nothing else. No necklaces or other jewels.” Her gaze dips to the diamond heart on my neck and the engagement ring on my finger.
“Oh.” Because I’m not sure what else to say to that. “Does Messalina have a large collection?”
“It rivals that of England’s and contains some of the rarest and most expensive pieces in the world, so yes. Desta’s tiara should never have been in the palace that night, and so far, my sister is blowing it off, saying that in her grief she forgot to mention it was there.”
“And none of you believe that to be true?”
She shrugs. “None of us know what to believe, but the tower is the easiest place to start.”
I decide to let it go there. This seems to be growing more and more complicated by the second, and clearly, there is more at play than Desta simply being kidnapped.
The festival grounds are just outside of Tourin, edging along the river. Tourin is in the valley and it rarely, if ever, snows here, but that doesn’t mean it’s not cold. The temperature is hovering just a few degrees above freezing, but the sun shining down on us makes it feel warmer than it is.
It’s a Saturday and therefore very crowded, and after securing our tickets, we enter along with everyone else.
Instantly we’re recognized, but other than a few people waving excitedly and calling out our names, no one approaches us.
They must know they’d be stopped if they tried, or perhaps it’s against some sort of decorum I’m unaware of.
But it’s a relief that we’re not going to be bombarded and that the children are able to run around, get in line for rides, and generally act as any other children in Messalina.
We start with the merry-go-round, which Zayer absolutely loves.
After that, we go on the pirate ship, the Ferris wheel, and then Sabrina and Phaedra argue back and forth over a rollercoaster.
Sabrina—no shock there—is all for it whereas Phaedra isn’t. I can’t go on it since I’m pregnant, and Althea declared she’s too old for such rides. Finally, Phaedra gives in, and after they come off, they decide to go back on two more times.
By the time we make it to the food stands, I’m ravenous and already exhausted.
I have no idea how I’ll manage in the coming months or even after I have the twins.
I get myself a baguette loaded with cheese, ham, and tomatoes and take a seat on a picnic bench.
Phaedra and Sabrina swear they’re not hungry.
Personally, I think they’re saving their appetites for the hot chocolate bombs, but I tell them to stay close as Althea, Zayer, and I dig into our late lunches.
Not even ten minutes later as I’m midchew, the girls come rushing over.
“We should go,” Sabrina declares.
“Yes,” Phaedra agrees. “It’s getting late.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Getting late? Who are you and what have you done with my queen and legendary princess?”
“We’re just tired,” they say, almost in unison, and frankly, I’m too tired to challenge it. I need a nap after waking up too early and going to bed too late, plus a day at the festival.
“All right, but I think we have to get your uncle those chocolate bombs.”
The girls agree, and after purchasing about a dozen hot chocolate bombs, we pile into the car and make our way home. I end up falling asleep on the ride that isn’t more than twenty minutes or so, only to be jostled awake when the car comes to a stop in front of the palace.
We pile out, the girls immediately rushing up to their room without so much as a backward glance, when my father’s aide comes out to greet me.
“Your Majesty, he’s awake.”
Well, that’s good timing. I leave Zayer with Althea since Sebastian and Rowan haven’t returned yet, and I race upstairs, straight for his room. When I get there, he’s sitting in his chair, watching a streaming movie.
“Dad?” I call out softly as I enter, slowly moving in his direction. He looks up and blinks at me blankly and turns back to the television as if I didn’t say a word. My hands start to shake, and tears burn in my eyes. “Dad?” I try again.
“This is my favorite movie.”
I take a seat near him and notice his cast is covered by a towel. I’m not even sure he’s aware it’s there.
“What is it?” It’s actually not his favorite movie and it’s in French, so I doubt he’s understanding much of anything since he lost most of his French when he got sick. His long-term memory is far stronger than his short-term.
“That one we saw together on our first date.”
I smile and reach out to touch him. He thinks I’m my mother, and right now, I’ll gladly take it.
“Oh, I remember it now. Can I sit and watch with you for a while?”
He doesn’t reply, but after a few moments he asks, “Where’s Amy?”
My heart hiccups in my chest at how he uses the nickname he gave me when I was a girl—the nickname only he uses—and now there is no stopping the tears.
I’m right here, Dad.
“I’m not sure,” I say because I have no idea how to answer. “We went to the winter festival in Tourin today.”
He sneers at me. “Tourin? Where the hell is that?” And I can see it.
The agitation is setting in, and I know I don’t have long with him.
I sit here quietly, watching whatever the hell this is with him until the nurse comes in with his supper.
I say goodbye to him, but he hardly acknowledges me, and I leave with my heart in my feet.
I have no idea if Sebastian is back or not, but as I turn the corner on the second floor, going to my room to change into something more comfortable before dinner, I hear a high-pitched sound I can’t identify, followed by both girls screaming at the tops of their lungs.
Alarm races through me. What in the hell is that?