Chapter 19 – Kian
Chapter Nineteen
KIAN
Striding into the dining room for the breakfast I was told to attend, I stop short when I see my heavily pregnant sister-in-law chatting with her baby sister.
Of course it’s a damn setup. Colin is known to always get his way.
He’s in deep discussion with Father, but all conversations pause as I take my seat next to him.
“Good morning,” I say with false cheer.
“Nice of you to finally show up,” Father grouses. “You should have been here forty minutes ago.”
“Apologies,” I reply. “I had a rather late evening of debauchery.”
“Kian!” Colin chastises. “You’d do well to consider your audience.”
I turn my gaze to his wife, Princess Juliana, and then to Princess Helene. Giving them a quick nod, I say, “Apologies, ladies.”
Princess Helene flushes a bright shade of pink, her blonde ringlets pulled up in a way I assume is meant to make her look older. It’s not working. She still looks like a child to me. I have to put a stop to this farce. There is no way I can marry her.
“It’s so nice to see you again, Prince Kian,” she says shyly. “It’s been years.”
“Likewise,” I reply before turning my attention back to my brother. “I thought you said they were at the country estate,” I say under my breath.
“Did I?” he replies. “They arrived yesterday evening. It’s Juliana’s last chance to be at court before the baby comes.”
“Wonderful,” I mutter.
“Don’t be rude, Kian,” my brother says. “Catch up with Princess Helene.”
If I could shoot knives out of my eyes, they would pin Colin to the wall, but I paste on a fake smile and turn my attention back toward Juliana and Helene, who are seated across the table.
“You look well,” I say to Juliana.
A joyful laugh emerges from her as she puts a hand to her swollen belly. “I don’t quite believe you, Kian, but thank you.”
I force my gaze to Helene. “Are you enjoying your time at court?”
Another blush stains her cheeks, and she bobs her head excitedly.
All I can think when I look at her is that this child has no business being stuck with me—a potential husband who could very well be tried for treason if caught. Could I really do that to any woman though? My mind flashes to Raelyn, and I feel a pang of guilt.
“I do hope you can take some time to show me around this afternoon,” Helene says.
Not happening. The last thing I need is more fodder for the court gossips and busybodies.
“I have quite a busy day today,” I say, “but perhaps another time.”
Colin kicks me under the table, and I grit my teeth as pain reverberates up through my shoulder. Asshole.
“Can’t you move some things around?” Colin asks.
“I’m afraid not,” I reply, turning to glare at him.
“I have some business in town I must see to.” My shoulder aches just at the thought of it, but I really need to go so that I’m not found out.
Word of the vigilante’s injury could have reached my father for all I know, and I need to get to Margot before he notices me favoring it.
“What a shame,” Helene says demurely. “We’ll be here another day or two before heading back to the country estate.
Of course, you are always welcome to come call on me there.
” She smiles at me, but the whole situation feels wrong.
I have to find a way to make Father see that this match is unreasonable.
If only I’d had the idea of marrying Raelyn a week earlier, I wouldn’t be in this mess.
“That sounds nice,” I lie, then rise to my feet. “As lovely as this has been, I really must be headed out. I’m afraid I overslept this morning and am now running behind on my appointments.”
My father waves a hand at me dismissively. “Do stop by and see me later, son.”
“Yes, sir.”
I nod at the ladies and give my brother a glance. His displeasure is written all over his face. I’m sure he’ll give me an earful later as well.
Phantom nickers as I dismount and tie him to the post outside Margot’s business in town. The steps creak underfoot as I jog up them. At the sound of the jingling bell, Margot comes out from the back room.
“Your Highness,” she greets me, her eyes immediately darting toward my shoulder.
How she always knows, I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ll ever find out.
Must have something to do with the diluted godsblood in her veins.
She is said to be directly descended from a demi-god in Galyna’s, the goddess of healing’s, line.
Margot is incredibly sought after in our kingdom, and I am more than lucky she is on my side, not to mention discreet.
“I wish I were here under better circumstances.” I grin.
“Hush now, Prince. We both know you’d never visit unless you actually needed me.”
I bark out a laugh but wince as my shoulder shakes.
“Come on back before you make that shoulder worse,” Margot chides.
I follow her into her workspace and hop up onto the examination table. As I unbutton my shirt, Margot goes to her workbench and starts mixing some herbs into a paste.
“As much as I love to see your handsome face, I’ve been seeing a little too much of it lately,” she remarks.
“I’m not quite sure what you’re talking about,” I reply. “Though my trainer did get a little too bold yesterday.”
She snorts as she unwraps the bandage. “The court healer must have been too busy, huh?”
“You’re the only one for me,” I tease.
A faint flush heats her weathered cheeks. “You’re too kind.”
I play along with our usual song and dance.
While she’s aware of my alter ego’s nighttime activities, thanks to an injury that almost took me out, we rarely speak plainly of them, and never face-to-face.
As my eyes and ears around town, she finds other ways to send word. One can never be too careful.
“Have you been to Marietta lately?” I ask, treading carefully.
Her gentle fingers prod at the wound, and there’s a spark of heat as if it’s warming from the inside. The instant relief makes me close my eyes and sigh. The court healers truly have nothing on Margot.
“It’s been a few weeks,” she replies, “but they seem to have no need for me anymore.”
Wishing I could pry for more but not wanting to put her at risk, I choose to take her on her word. She cares about the people of our kingdom just as much as I do, if not more, and I’m grateful for her help.
After covering the wound with her special paste and rewrapping it, I’m feeling almost as good as new.
“You might want to hold off on training that shoulder for a few days,” she says.
“Got it. Healer’s orders.”
She shakes her head and mumbles something under her breath that sounds vaguely like she doesn’t know what to do with “foolish bleeding-heart princes.”
“Shall I send your usual payment?” I ask. A bob of her head is all I get, and I hop off the table. “Thank you again,” I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“Get out of here before someone sees you,” she reprimands. “Oh, wait.” She turns back to her workbench and reaches up on the shelf for a small pouch. “Here are your monthly contraceptive herbs.”
I utter a thanks and stuff them into my pocket.
No use telling her I haven’t had much need for them despite the prolific rumors that circulate about me.
As much as everyone thinks I’m sleeping my way through our kingdom, I haven’t been with a woman in quite some time.
All the vigilante shit has kept my evenings full.
Yes, I might stop at parties just to show my face, and I may have slipped into some dark corners and exchanged kisses among other things, but no woman has fully captured my attention in quite a while.
Until her. I should have known from the moment we met that she’d be trouble.