Chapter 26 – Kian
Chapter Twenty-Six
KIAN
Ihave to be strong for her. Showing my nerves will only make the beautiful woman on my arm even more anxious than she already is, and I really need us to sell this.
We take the side entrance into the throne room, and to my relief, the king isn’t yet seeing petitioners. He’s seated on his throne, flipping through pages of intelligence. I can only pray to the gods he’s in a good mood today.
“Father! I’m so happy I caught you,” I call out as we approach.
Letting go of Rae’s arm, I wrap an arm around her waist, tucking her into my side.
To my relief, she rests a hand on my chest, turning in toward me while her other hand slides around my waist. Her curves press into my side, and for a moment, I forget what I’m supposed to say.
She fits so perfectly—as if she were made for me.
The king raises a brow and looks down on us with a frown. “Kian, what a surprise.” His gaze moves to Raelyn, suspicion high. He probably doesn’t recognize her.
Might as well get this over with.
“Father, I’d like to present Lady Raelyn Astoria.” I pull her in just a little closer. “My wife.”
The king’s face turns a sickly shade of purple, and the veins in his temple protrude as he rises to his feet. “What. Is. The. Meaning. Of. This.” Each word is punctuated with spittle as he accusingly points a finger in my direction. “Tell me you’re joking.”
Raelyn flinches, and I squeeze her waist in what I hope is a reassuring way.
I straighten my shoulders as I hold his glare. “Is that any way to treat the brand new princess?”
Fury pours off him in waves, and I feel very bad for whoever walks through that door next.
“You can’t be married,” he spits out. “Not without a priestess.”
I pull the scroll out of my pocket as I let go of Raelyn and step forward. “We were priestess blessed this morning.”
Father snatches the scroll out of my hand and opens it, his eyes wide. “Ethan!” he screeches, calling his faithful advisor out from the shadows. He hands him the scroll. “Find this priestess and bring her to me immediately.”
I’m thankful Alex is getting her out, even though there’s nothing she could have done to undo this.
I try to keep a casual air and not let my father’s rage rattle me. “As I said, it’s official.” I raise my arm, letting him see the shimmer of the marriage bond.
My father seats himself back on his throne, his nostrils flaring. I step in front of Raelyn in an attempt to protect her.
“What makes you think I’ll allow this to stand?” my father asks in a sinister tone.
“Because I did what you asked—I married before the end of the season—and most importantly, I love her.”
“Love?” my father scoffs. “When did you even have time to get to know the girl?”
I turn back to Rae, noting the nervous smile on her face. My hand cups her cheek, and I stare into her eyes, trying to project to him that she’s my world. “I’ve known her for years, and it’s always been clear she was meant to be mine.” The half-truth feels oddly hollow in my chest.
Raelyn’s body quivers ever so slightly, and there’s something akin to longing in her eyes.
She’s a better actress than she gave herself credit for.
Her throat bobs, and my hand slides from her cheek, gently encircling her neck as I lean down and press a soft kiss to her forehead.
Her sweet scent envelops me, and my heart catches in my chest.
“Is she with child?” Father blurts out.
Rae jumps back in surprise, her hands flying to her mouth as her cheeks turn bright pink.
“Surely that is the only reason to explain your impetuousness,” he continues.
“Father.” I bristle. “Do not insult my wife with false allegations.”
Raelyn appears to have gathered herself as she steps in front of me, dropping into a deep curtsy before the king. “Your Majesty, Prince Kian is more than I could have ever dreamed of. I promise to love and cherish him for the rest of my gods given life.”
My father raises a brow, as if not entirely sure he believes the charade.
“Well, Kian, I have to say this news is quite shocking to say the least. I’m not thrilled you went behind my back, but if you’re as infatuated with the girl as you claim, I can perhaps understand a little recklessness.
” He flicks a hand toward Raelyn. “You may rise.”
My father is being far too reasonable, what is he trying to play? His switch from anger to this sudden understanding gives me pause. The king’s eyes harden to a steely glint—perhaps he isn’t fully buying our ruse.
“Kian,” he continues, “if I find you have deceived me, there will be consequences. Do you understand?”
I swallow and nod, my father’s stern voice taking me back to the child I used to be, always on the receiving end of his anger.
Rae turns to look at me, a glimpse of fear shining in her eyes. I close the gap between us, pulling her back into my side protectively.
“Well, Father, now that we’ve shared our news, I’d love to take my bride to our rooms. We have a lot of celebrating to do.”
Raelyn blushes again, and I grin at her, my hand possessively gripping her waist.
“You’re dismissed,” the king declares.
We exit through the side door, and I take a deep breath, relieved it didn’t go worse. The murmur of petitioners around the corner fills the air, and I start to lead Raelyn back toward my wing when a disturbance causes her to stiffen and stop in her tracks.
“You’ll let me through to the front of the line immediately,” a shrill female voice commands.
That almost sounds like . . .
“I have urgent news for the king!”
“Stepmother,” Rae whispers.
Kyros help us.
“She could ruin everything!” Raelyn sounds panicked. “You heard what your father said. If she reveals our plan or exposes my questionable parentage, he could have me put to death!”
I close my eyes. What in the hells was I thinking. There is no way I will be responsible for her death. I won’t allow it.
“Let me handle it, love. Head back to my wing, and I’ll see you soon.”
Rae bites her lip, wringing her hands, but nods.
I march back into the throne room right as Lady Astoria is led in before the king. She reminds me of a peacock, the way her teal silk dress floats about her and a giant feather adorns her golden hair.
“Your Majesty,” she croons before dipping into the most exaggerated curtsy I’ve ever seen. “I have urgent news I must share with you.”
The king looks up from his papers, boredom seeping from his pores, and he hasn’t even started yet. “Please do share.”
“I’m afraid the prince has run off with my stepdaughter, Lady Raelyn Astoria.”
The king snorts. “Old news. Is there anything else?”
Lady Astoria’s haughty sneer turns to disbelief, and she seems at a loss for words when I step into sight.
“Are you here to congratulate me?” I ask. “I suppose we are family now.”
Her eyes drop to the shimmering bond on my wrist, and she stiffens before a calculating look lights her eyes. How far will she take this? Would revealing Raelyn’s parentage harm or benefit her?
“Oh my, I see . . . Your Majesty, I hope you can understand. I’m most concerned that we were unable to draw up official betrothal papers. And her father is away, so the matter of her dowry . . .” She trails off. “Clearly you can see this is unacceptable.”
The king sits forward on his throne, looking down his nose at her. Will he pretend to be as outraged as she is or will he be afraid of that making him look bad?
“Do you think I’m unaware of what happens in my own kingdom?”
Ah. His pride wins out. I sigh a breath of relief.
Lady Astoria looks flummoxed and starts to stammer. “I’m sorry . . . Your . . . Your Majesty, I thought—”
“You thought what?” the king demands. “You thought I wouldn’t be aware of my son’s priestess-blessed marriage before it happened?”
“I can see I was mistaken, Your Majesty.” She sinks to the floor, keeping her eyes downcast.
“As far as the papers, trust they will be handled between me and Lord Astoria when he returns.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lady Astoria simpers. “I look forward to celebrating the union of our families soon.”
I roll my eyes. Of course she would try to get some kind of party or notoriety out of the match.
“Dismissed,” the king’s voice booms out.
Before she’s led away by one of the servants, she catches my eye—the cold look of cunning sends a shiver down my spine. My relief is short-lived. This isn’t over.
“Kian, a word.”
I close my eyes. Shit. What now?
I make my way to the dais. “I thought you were off to celebrate with your wife,” he says suspiciously.
“Yes, I was, but I—”
“I will not be made a fool of, Kian!” the king interjects.
“I might have saved face with Lady Astoria, but clearly there is something going on that you wish to hide. Now, I’d like to believe that your infatuation caused you to behave like an imbecile as you claim, but if word gets out that you deceived me, I meant what I said, and you won’t be the one to pay the price for your mistakes. ”
“Yes, sir,” I reply.
“Now out of my sight before I change my mind. Lord Astoria is a loyal subject whom I once considered a close friend, and he is the only reason your lovely wife still has her head.”
I bite my tongue as I nod and hurry out of the throne room. The king cannot find out about her parentage. He’d have no trouble at all getting rid of a bastard princess.
By the time I make it back to my wing, I find my new wife curled up on the settee, fast asleep.
Why isn’t she in bed? Surely that can’t be comfortable.
With half a thought, I turn down the sheets before returning to carry her to my room, laying her gently on the black silk sheets.
She murmurs something unintelligible before falling silent, her slow, deep breaths telling me she’s still asleep.
I gently brush her hair off her face before tucking the blanket around her.
Failing to hold back a yawn, my own exhaustion hits me like a ton of bricks.
The bed is quite large, and sleeping somewhere else would surely raise suspicion.
After shrugging out of my coat and kicking off my shoes, I slide in, taking care to keep my distance from Raelyn.
I don’t want her to be frightened when she wakes up next to her husband.