Chapter 17
Daniil
The last thing I want to think about is the pipeline, but it’s my job and I’ve delayed this debate and subsequent vote for weeks. Now that the time is here, I’m not prepared for the drudgery. For some reason, I’m even more displeased than usual that I have to be here. And apparently, it’s obvious.
“If you scowl any harder, your face might crack,” Erik murmurs. He’s with me today, since we’re hoping to bring this to a vote.
“Fuck off,” I respond under my breath. Our banter is easy, casual, but it wouldn’t be proper for anyone to hear me talk to my king that way.
He chuckles. “Thinking about tonight?”
I nod. “You guys better not fuck this up for me.”
“Never. Casey’s going out of her way to make it a warm, casual family get-together.”
“There are going to be a lot of people there,” I say. “I don’t know how she’s going to react.”
“You want her to cancel?” he asks worriedly.
“No. I want Courtney to be comfortable with the family. But more than that I want her to like them. Because she doesn’t like me.”
His brows lift just a tad. “You sure?”
“Oh, I’m pretty damn sure.”
“What did you do?”
“I think she called what I do smarmy.”
“Being a politician?”
“And royalty.”
He nods. “Makes sense.”
“Makes sense?!” I glare at him. “Whose side are you on?”
“Most politicians are smarmy. And most royal families have tons of skeletons in their closets—us included. I’m trying to do better, be better, and leave a better legacy for the next generation, but the past is what it is.”
“Well, don’t get me started on her feelings about the Protectors.”
He starts to ask me about that, but then our attention is called to the front and there’s no time to talk again until we’re on the way back to the palace. We’re late, since the bill didn’t pass, and now we have to go back tomorrow.
However, I don’t want to think about that—even though I should. I need a plan, maybe some tweaks to the bill, so that it will pass, but the only thing on my mind is my son. Courtney. Making them both feel welcome in our massive inner circle.
Xander, Elen, and their daughter Priscilla, whom they call Silla.
Sandor, Lennox and the twins, Harrison and Hayden.
Erik, Casey, and their brood—Lucas, Levi, twins Jessica and Jocelyn, and Erik’s adopted daughter Leni, who lives with his ex-wife in Monte Carlo full-time but is here for the summer.
Then there’s our extended family.
Jesper, Joe, Charlie, and Briony.
Cooper and Natalia.
Ace and Shannon.
Lennox’s sister, Harlow, who lives and works here.
Their other sister Vivian and her boyfriend Gunnar, who just recently separated from the military, are living here, and trying to decide if they want to stay.
It’s a big, busy, fun-loving group, for the most part.
We all have separate lives, but we come together regularly.
We live and work together, play together, and enjoy each other’s company.
The pressure that comes with the territory is separate.
We don’t dwell on it, and when we’re just hanging out, we’re not royalty or Royal Protectors or anything else—we’re just family.
That’s what I want her to see. More than that, I want her to feel it. Because while my job drives me crazy, and I’m often lonely for companionship, I usually love my life and always love my family.
Given half a chance, I think I could fall deeply in love with Courtney too.
“Everyone is waiting,” Erik says as we pull into the underground garage, staring at his phone. “Casey says Micah is fussy and Courtney is considering putting him to bed.”
“Shit.” That isn’t what I want to hear.
We hurry down to Erik and Casey’s private back yard area.
They have a pool, patio, and yard area that’s sectioned off just for family.
There are picnic tables, lounge chairs, an outdoor kitchen with a grill, two bathrooms, a pool house, swing sets, and even a couple of hammocks.
We spend a lot of time out here in the summer when it’s warm and sunny.
I can hear Micah crying the moment we round the corner, and I make a beeline in that direction. Courtney looks tired and stressed, rocking him back and forth to no avail.
“I think the trip was too much for him,” she says when she sees me. “I need to put him to bed.”
“Can I try?” I ask, holding out my arms.
She nods, and I take the baby from her. He instantly calms down, nestling against my chest and hiccupping softly.
“It’s okay, baby. Daddy’s here.” I run one hand up and down his back soothingly, and he settles down even more.
“Oh, good.” Casey smiles, joining us. “He just needed a little daddy time.”
I don’t think that’s what Courtney wanted to hear but she looks relieved, even though she doesn’t say anything.
“Let’s get something to eat,” I suggest. “I’ll hold him while you relax.”
She frowns. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.” We make our way over to one of the large picnic tables where Sandor, Lenox, Xander and Elen are sitting. There are two places for us, and I sink down on the end, rocking Micah back and forth.
“The time difference is annoying,” Xander says. “But he’ll adjust.”
“I hope so.” Courtney seems unsure what to do, so I scoot in and pat the spot beside me.
“Sit down. Relax. I’ve got him.”
She hesitates but then does as I ask.
“How about I get you each a plate?” Lennox suggests, getting up. “Any preferences, Court?”
Courtney shakes her head. “Everything looks and smells good.”
Five minutes later, there are two heaping plates in front of us with everything from standard American fare like burgers to a Limaji vegetable casserole with potatoes, leeks, carrots, and a cheesy cream sauce.
There’s also corn on the cob, a Mexican style layered bean dip, cornbread, fresh fruit, and…
filet mignon. Casey doesn’t mess around when she entertains.
Micah’s half-asleep, his head on my shoulder, and I pick up a fork with one hand so I can eat without disturbing him.
Courtney’s just picking at her plate, and she looks…
tired. There are faint bags beneath her eyes, and I feel bad that she didn’t sleep last night.
I offered to help, though, so it’s up to her if she wants to accept.
Everyone is talking around us, and though they’re not leaving Courtney out, it’s awkward that she has nothing to contribute.
She wasn’t with us on a family trip to St. Tropez last summer.
She wasn’t here when Sandor bowled a 300 in the new palace bowling alley.
She didn’t see Luke win the science fair… she’s missed so much.
It’s weird to think that way considering she has nothing to do with our family.
Not really. Not until six months ago. But she’s been in and on my mind since the first time I saw her, which was over two years ago.
I never stopped wanting to call her, convince her to let me take her out on a real date—and I compared every woman I’ve been with since then to her.
Unfair, but true.
“What do you do in Las Vegas?” Elen asks politely. My sister promised to be civil, but she was furious when she found out about Micah.
“I work for Westfield & Carruthers part-time,” Courtney replies. “I’m going to go full-time soon, but I hate the thought of Micah being in daycare.”
“What about a nanny?” Lennox suggests.
“That’s definitely an option. I have a neighbor who comes over the times I’ve had to work at night, but that’s hard because then I don’t get any sleep and he’s usually up by seven.”
Micah takes that opportunity to lift his head, blinking as if surprised to find out he’s in a crowd. He rubs his eyes with his fists and then frowns.
“Ma-ma-ma,” he says, reaching for his mother. He started saying that just yesterday, and she loves it.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” She takes him from me, and he buries his head in her shoulder. I’ve never seen Micah behave shyly before, and I figure it’s overwhelming to be in such a large group.
“God, he looks just like Dan when he was a baby,” Elen whispers. “I have photos at home. I’ll bring some tomorrow.”
“I’d love to see them,” Courtney says, rubbing Micah’s back. “Can you say hello to your auntie?” she whispers.
Micah lifts his head, almost like he understands, and turns, assessing everyone at the table carefully.
“Uncle Sandor,” Courtney says with a smile, pointing. “Uncle Xander. Auntie Lennox. Auntie Elen. Can you say hi?”
Micah raises a little hand, like he’s going to wave, then he giggles and blows a raspberry.
Sandor laughs, nodding his head. “I feel the same way at these big gatherings, buddy.”
“Oh, you hush!” Lennox elbows him.
After that, the ice is broken and Micah seems to go back to being his usual happy, friendly self. He lets Elen and Sandor hold him, but not Xander or Lennox. When Erik walks over, he holds out his arms and Micah practically jumps into them.
“I can’t decide if I want to go snatch him back,” Courtney whispers to me, “or take a picture to torture him with when he’s a teenager…”
“That time you abandoned your parents to go hang with the king,” I say, laughing. I did take a quick photo—I’ve been taking a lot of them since I found out about him—but having one of him with Erik is special.
“Can you say Your Majesty?” Erik is asking Micah, who seems enthralled with his deep voice. “Your Majesty?”
Micah responds with another raspberry and Erik shakes his head, pretending to be upset. “No respect from this generation.”
Everyone laughs, including Courtney.
This could be my life.
Our life.
I just don’t know how to make it happen.