Chapter 15 – Kian
Chapter Fifteen
KIAN
My steps are light as I rush back through the gardens to my horse.
While my visit did not quite go to plan, this new development sends a thrill through me.
Perhaps I’m a fool to betroth myself to a woman who doesn’t actually want to be with me, but I’m no stranger to foolish choices.
The arrangement should at least appease my father and improve Lady Raelyn’s quality of life.
I look to the sky and curse; the sun has disappeared behind the tree line, indicating that I have dallied far too long.
Another shipment is expected this evening, and my alter ego has plans to disrupt it.
As much as it pains me, I promised Alex he could come along this time. A trial run to see if he can keep up.
My mind drifts back to Raelyn . . . Gods, I really hope this marriage isn’t a mistake. Despite all the unanswered questions, I believe her to be a cunning thing. I will need to be extra careful to not let her get caught up in my work as the Shadow.
Memories of Raelyn holding me at knifepoint in the study that night weeks ago flash before my eyes, putting thoughts in my head I dare not dwell on .
. . but those curves pressed up against me?
I swear under my breath. That is not what we just agreed to.
Besides, being the Shadow is what matters most—saving my people and finding the lost god.
Getting distracted by a beautiful woman will not do.
Even if she is my wife . . . especially if she is my wife.
Better for her to believe the lies about my playboy persona and keep her at a distance.
“Welcome back, Your Highness. I realize you just got here, but His Majesty has requested your presence in his wing immediately upon your return.”
I hold back a groan as Giles delivers the unwanted missive. Time is already short. The last thing I want is another lecture from my father.
“Can you pretend you didn’t see me?” I joke.
Giles looks around uncomfortably. “I’m afraid not, Your Highness.”
“Fine then. I’ll head there immediately.”
Almost as if he doesn’t trust me, Giles follows behind as I climb the stairs and veer to the right instead of the left toward my wing. Perhaps if I inform Father of my upcoming betrothal, he’ll be too happy to lecture me.
Pushing open the door to his favorite sitting room, I’m surprised to see my brother in deep discussion with Father. With his child due in the next week or two, I thought Colin and his wife, Juliana, would be sequestered on our country estate, far away from the noise of court.
It bothers me that we’ve grown apart. Once he was bound, his new wife became his entire world and he completely shut me out.
That and his seeming lack of care for our people has made me keep my distance.
Every once in a while, I find myself wishing things were different, that we could be as close as we’d once been.
“Kian!” my father calls out. “We were just discussing you.”
Fantastic. What did I do this time?
“Good evening, Father, Colin.”
“Have a seat, my boy,” Father says jovially. He must be deep in his cups.
I sit on the edge of the settee, nodding when my brother holds up an empty tumbler. Something tells me I’m going to need this drink.
“Where are you coming from?” Father asks.
Better now than later, I guess. “I was at House Astoria.”
My brother frowns. “Why in the gods’ names were you there?”
“I was hoping to discuss a marriage contract with Lord Astoria. Unfortunately for me, he was not home.”
The king laughs. “I could have told you that. His business for me took him quite a distance.”
Well shit. This could definitely put a damper on my plans.
“Did you say marriage contract?” my brother asks.
“Yes. Haven’t you heard? Father demanded I marry by the end of the season.”
“Cooperating with Father’s requests? That is quite a shock,” Colin mutters.
I shoot him a glare before knocking back the burning liquid.
“I suppose it’s for the best he wasn’t home,” the king says, staring at me over the rim of his tumbler. “Your brother has managed to procure a much better match for you than one of the Astorias.”
I almost choke on my drink. “He did what?”
“Yes, that’s why I needed to see you so urgently,” Father replies, his demeanor ironically far from urgent.
“Is that so.” I shoot another glare at my brother. “I was unaware Colin was on the lookout for a wife for me.”
Colin gives me a wry grin. “It was fully unintentional, I swear. Obviously it couldn’t be someone from our court due to your reputation.”
His words sting, but I try to hide it. It’s bad enough Father thinks the worst of me, but to know Colin does as well is a knife to the gut. Even with the distance between us, I thought he knew me, but I guess I was wrong.
“Unintentional as it might have been,” Father continues, “the match is advantageous to our kingdom.”
“You said I could choose,” I grit out. “I chose.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing that can’t be undone,” Father replies.
“Damn it, Father. I made a promise and now you want me to back out on my word?” I try to keep myself from shouting.
“Kian, why don’t you hear us out before losing your temper,” Colin says smoothly. “I’m sure you’ll agree to this arrangement.”
“Not likely,” I mumble.
“Princess Helene is the perfect match for you, son,” Father says.
Princess Helene? As in my brother’s sister-in-law? I grimace.
“She’s at the country estate with Juliana now, and she’s dying to have you come and call on her,” my brother continues, amusement coloring his tone.
“Forgive me, but how in the gods’ names is it advantageous for me to marry into the same damn family Colin is already married into?” I seethe. “Surely your alliance with the kingdom of Tallinnia is already secure.”
Father strokes his chin. “You’re not wrong, but—”
“But nothing,” I interject. “Princess Helene is barely seventeen years of age. I have no desire to be shackled to that infant.”
“Come now, brother, she is a beautiful young woman, and with a betrothal in place now, you will have at least one more year to dally as you please before settling down. I thought that would make you happy?” Colin looks perplexed, as if he thought I would thank him for offering his wife’s baby sister up to me on a silver platter.
“I refuse.”
“Excuse me?” Father glares. “How dare you refuse me? I am your king, and you will do as I wish.”
“I have done as you wished, Father. I have procured a betrothal to Lady Raelyn and have no need of Princess Helene.”
“I had no idea you were even still interested in that family,” Father says. “Didn’t the girl reject you years ago?”
My face heats in humiliation.
“You can’t seriously be considering giving in to his demands,” Colin spits out. “I already promised—”
“You promised me without my permission?” I shout at Colin. “What in the ever-loving fuck is your problem?”
“Boys!” Father exclaims. “You will cease with the name-calling and cursing. I didn’t raise you to be a bunch of low-class rabble.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, attempting to ward off the inevitable headache.
“As you do not actually have a contract with Lord Astoria in place, let’s table this discussion for now,” Father declares. “I am willing to compromise . . . a little.”
Both Colin and I look at him and then each other, wondering what he has up his sleeve.
“As I do not wish to anger the royal family of Tallinnia, you will take some time to court Princess Helene. If you are still not amenable to the idea by the end of the season, I will allow you to marry the Astoria girl.”
“That is unacceptable, Father. I have already promised to court Lady Raelyn.”
“Court them both! I don’t give a fuck at this point.”
Father must be truly well into his cups if he is willing to cuss at us, especially after telling us not to.
My face falls into the palm of my hand, and I hold back a groan.
Leave it to Father and Colin to make my life even more complicated than it already is.
At this rate, I don’t know if I’ll make it to the drop point in time.
But I need to find a way to prove to Father that Raelyn is of more value to our family than Princess Helene.
A niggling voice in my head wonders why I care so much about keeping my word to Raelyn.
She did reject and hurt me, and yet she seems oblivious to that.
Would she care if I called it off? It’s not like it was going to be a real marriage .
. . but just the thought of letting her down has my stomach roiling.
Courting both Raelyn and Princess Helene at the same time is the absolute last thing I have time for. I am truly and completely in over my head.