The Prince and His Stolen Throne (Stolen Groom #2)

Prologue

The citizens of Bane were too drunk to enjoy the midnight fireworks.

Good food and good drink were abundant as the kingdom celebrated the five-year anniversary of their crown prince’s marriage to Prince Frederick of Woe.

The marriage was the last component needed to complete the Kingdom Defense Spell protecting the five kingdoms of the Desolated Lands from evil forces for another generation.

Naturally, everyone believed the anniversary belonged to them as much as it did the married couple.

The couple themselves had snuck away a few hours into the festivities to enjoy a private celebration. They escaped to the top-most room of a magic tower, where no one could disturb them. While red sparks lit the night sky, red ropes bound Rick to reinforced hooks above their headboard.

Brendon straddled his husband, examining his handiwork.

After years of marriage, he’d gotten quite good at tying the ropes into intricate patterns without relying on magical assistance.

Tight enough to redden Rick’s bronze skin without cutting off circulation.

Brendon knew he’d done an excellent job when Rick squirmed under him, rubbing his rock-hard erection against the curve of Brendon’s ass.

A wicked gleam entered Brendon’s eyes, and he leaned forward, shifting closer to Rick’s mouth while pulling away from his cock, denying him any release. Rick groaned, his tongue thrusting between Brendon’s lips, mimicking the other pleasures he’d been denied.

Brendon chuckled and reached between them, either to tease Rick or offer some minor relief, he hadn’t decided yet.

A bell jangled above their heads.

Rick had installed the doorbell a few years ago because his mother-in-law complained that they never answered her knocks.

The enchanted tower door only opened for Brendon and Rick except in emergencies, but some people had different definitions of ‘emergency.’ After the second time she’d let herself into the tower on the power of a mother’s worry alone, Rick decided they needed proper warning of her arrival.

He closed his eyes and groaned, “Please tell me they aren’t expecting us to give a speech.”

“There was nothing on the agenda.”

The bell rang again, more insistently this time.

“Alright, untie me so we can deal with this.”

“No need,” Brendon said, keeping his voice casual. “I’ll tell our visitors you’re indisposed.”

Slight panic widened Rick’s eyes, and he writhed against his bindings. “You can’t leave me tied up when we have visitors!”

Brendon ignored him and grabbed a gag from the side table, thrusting it between Rick’s teeth, using enough force to assert dominance without hurting his husband. “Be right back, don’t make too much noise.”

“Brndn!”

Brendon hadn’t undressed yet—being fully clothed while Rick was completely naked excited both of them—so he left the room without delay, closing the bedroom door behind him.

He paused to listen for Rick’s safe word.

Even with the gag, 'pestilence’ could be said clearly, ending the scene.

If Rick really wanted to stop, he would say it without hesitation.

Some muffled curses continued, but that was all. Despite Rick’s protests, he enjoyed the game.

Grinning, Brendon thought the interruption might be worth it—if he could move the visitor along quickly. He hurried down the stairs and opened the door to see who had disturbed their night.

A guard stood outside, steady on his feet. He and the other guards on duty might be the only sober adults left in the kingdom.

Beside the guard stood a young child in rumpled clothes, their face smeared with dirt and their bright blue eyes wide with unease. Red hair, similar to Brendon’s, stuck out from their head like a wild flame.

“Your Highness,” the guard began, expression grave. “This child claims to be yours.”

Brendon stared at the child in shock for a long time, then in a dazed voice replied, “Give me a moment.” He slammed the door in the guard’s face and ran upstairs to untie his husband.

Rick’s eyes lit up when Brendon opened the door. Once the gag was removed, he purred in a low, husky voice, “You’re absolutely evil.”

Brendon silently untied his handiwork with trembling fingers.

“What’s wrong?” Rick’s excitement faded as his husband remained silent. “Pestilence.”

The ropes untwisted, falling limp as they released him. In his haste, Brendon had forgotten that they were enchanted.

“Brendon, calm down,” Rick said, grabbing his husband’s shaking hands and squeezing them to stillness. “Tell me what happened.”

“Child—downstairs—I didn’t know, really, still don’t—”

The rambling sentences caught Rick off guard. Usually, he was the one who struggled to find words in times of distress. “Deep breaths,” he instructed. “I’m going to let go and put some clothes on, alright?”

Once he was appropriately dressed, he clasped Brendon’s hand, interlocking their fingers, and they walked back down the stairs together.

“Sorry about the wait,” Rick said as he opened the door. With one look at the child, he understood Brendon’s distress. “Please, come in.”

The child looked uncertainly up at the guard. When the guard nodded and gestured for the child to enter, they walked into the front room and perched on the edge of the closest chair.

Brendon dropped into the seat across from them, his stunned gaze locked on the child. He scanned their face, searching for traces of himself.

“Tell us what happened,” Rick ordered, standing beside Brendon’s chair, his hand resting on his husband’s shoulder.

“This child arrived at the castle with a note,” the guard explained, holding it out to Brendon.

It took a moment for Brendon’s eyes to focus on the words.

Dear Brendon,

I know years have passed and you haven’t heard a single word from me. I should have written this letter long ago, but I feared you wouldn’t believe me. I promised I would take my secret to the grave, but if you’re reading this … I already have.

Our one night of passion led to the greatest joy of my life. I named him Treasure, for that is what he is to me. Now that I’m gone, I hope you will guard him close and give him the best life possible.

Yours, if only for one night,

Imogene

Brendon stared at the name for a long time. Then he looked up at Rick and said, “I swear, I have no idea who this is. I’ve never strayed, I would never cheat on you.”

Rick snorted. “Is that why you’re so flustered?”

Brendon hesitated, then murmured, “You know my reputation.”

Turning to the boy, Rick softened his voice and asked, “How old are you, Treasure?”

The boy looked between the three grown men surrounding him and shrank further into himself. “Nine.”

“See? I don’t care if you fu—loved—” Rick caught himself in time “—a hundred people before me, as long as I’m the only one you love now.”

“You are.” Brendon clutched his husband’s hand. “You always will be.”

“Wonderful. Relationship crisis averted. Now we figure out the rest of it …” Rick trailed off and looked down at the letter again, realizing that they had a much larger problem on their hands. He nudged Brendon’s shoulder. “Go meet your son.”

Brendon released Rick’s hand and knelt in front of the boy. “Hello, Treasure.”

“Hello,” Treasure whispered.

“You look like you’ve had a rough time.”

As Treasure nodded, two fat tears streamed down his cheeks, clearing a trail through the dirt.

“Where are you from?”

Treasure opened his mouth to speak. It took him a second to get the words out, and when he did, they were louder than anything else he’d said. “I peed my pants.” A heavy flush colored his freckled cheeks, and he covered his face with his hands. “I didn’t mean to say that!”

“It’s alright, Treasure,” Brendon assured him, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. “It’s late, and I’m sure you’re tired. The nice guard will take you back to the castle to find you a room for the night. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

The guard held his hand out to Treasure, helping him off the chair. As they left, the guard closed the door behind them.

The moment they were alone, Brendon said, “I swear, I don’t remember anyone named Imogene.”

Rick sat on the couch, leaving space for Brendon to join him. “Do you remember all of your partners?”

Too full of nervous energy, Brendon chose to pace instead. “Yes, I try to avoid things like this.” He waved his hand vaguely. “I was engaged to Francesca practically since birth. Even if I knew she wouldn’t love me, bringing other children into our marriage would have only complicated things.”

“It certainly is a complication,” Rick agreed. “Maybe his mother used an alias and forgot that she didn’t give you her real name.”

The suggestion baffled Brendon. Lying to a partner about his identity had never occurred to him. “Do you really think someone would do that?”

Rick shrugged. “I doubt all of my partners told me their real names.”

“Maybe. Or …” Brendon rubbed a hand down his face. “Nine. Treasure said he was nine.”

“Yes?”

“The Anniversary Ball in Misfortune was about ten years ago.” At Rick’s blank look, Brendon explained, “That was the night I was supposed to meet Francesca and instead found her with another woman.” After he’d witnessed the scene in the garden, he’d gotten dead drunk.

Rick’s eyes narrowed. “Did this Imogene take advantage of you when you were so drunk you couldn’t even remember?”

“I don’t know.” Brendon finally sat down, and Rick wrapped his arm around him. “I hate not knowing.”

Rick hugged him for a while, stroking his back. “There is one other possibility.”

“What?”

“Treasure may not be your son.”

“But his hair—”

“Red hair isn’t that uncommon. If you were a woman alone, with no one to rely on, and you knew you were dying, would you leave your son to the mercy of the world?

Or would you find a scapegoat to play his father?

Someone who had a reputation for being a lady’s man, who looked just enough like him to pass.

Someone who could give him a good life.”

Times like this reminded Brendon of his husband’s potential for evil. Their first meeting had involved crossing-dressing, false identities, and magic, all because Rick thought kidnapping a prince would solve his problems. Even an evil mage had once sought to take him on as an apprentice.

Brendon stared at the letter discarded on the table. “What do we do?”

“He’s a child alone in the world. Whether he’s your son or not, we take care of him. Besides.” Rick gave Brendon a tentative, guilty smile. “We need fresh blood in the royal families to maintain the Kingdom Defense Spell.”

Brendon snorted. “Do you think that would work?”

“The Good Wizard seems generous with his loopholes. As long as we raise Treasure as our son, he’s a member of the royal family.”

“Our son,” Brendon repeated, testing the words.

Rick grinned. “If I’m honest, I like the sound of that.”

Brendon leaned in to kiss his husband. “Thank you for being so understanding. When he first came to the door, I really didn’t know what you would think. I didn’t even know what I thought.”

“I love you, Brendon, and I trust you. And I am looking forward to this next chapter together.”