Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Julian
It was closer to three hours before Wynn was released from the police station with instructions not to leave the island.
“I’m supposed to go to Korvanna tomorrow; it’s part of my vacation.” He slumped in the seat of my SUV. It was late and he was exhausted, so I was taking him to his hotel.
“I will speak with my father and get this to go away. It’s absolutely ridiculous.” I was seething. In my mind, I’d strangled Peters and Ridgeway at least ten times by now.
“I can’t ask you to do that, Julian.” He offered me a tired smile. “You already got me attorneys, and I know I didn’t do this and it’ll get cleared up. It just sucks because timing wise, I won’t get to see Korvanna by the time I need to fly home.”
I had to do something. I wouldn’t sit by and allow them to do this to him. I took his hand in mine and squeezed. “I’ll get you to see Korvanna—please don’t worry about that. As for my father, also let me worry about that.”
He rolled his eyes. “I feel like there’s no talking you out of this.”
I smirked. “You’re as smart as you are handsome.”
He rested his head on my shoulder, and some of the rage that was simmering below the surface calmed.
He had that effect on me, which was strange because no one ever had.
He also had the ability to control the beast from within to tear free and eviscerate all his demons, and I’d do it if they didn’t leave my Wynn alone.
We pulled up to the hotel, and he sighed. “I’m going to go pass out for at least eight hours.”
“Please call me after you’re up. I will speak with my father and hopefully have good news for you when you wake.”
He gave me a chaste kiss, and I watched him until he was inside the hotel. Right before we pulled away from the curb, my eyes snagged on something…more like someone. Detective Ridgeway sat by a fountain across from the hotel, glaring at my vehicle; then his eyes shifted to the hotel.
“Keep people on Wynn. I don’t want anyone who isn’t his friends talking to him.”
Edward followed my line of sight. “The detective included?”
“Especially him.”
He nodded. “Very well, Your Highness.”
We drove off, and I immediately contacted my mother.
If Father was going to be an issue, I’d bring out the one person who would make him do as I’d instructed.
I’d say she’d do it out of love, but that wasn’t it.
She feared me—they all did, and they’d be smart to remember that if they denied me this.
“Julian,” she answered.
“Mother.”
“I’m guessing this is about Wynn Carter.”
“Yes, I need you to talk to Father and get him to step in on his behalf.”
She sighed. “Julian, how would that look if he used the crown to help a stranger who you fancy?”
I gritted my teeth. “I don’t just fancy him, Mother.”
There was a pregnant pause; then she answered, “Oh, I see. He means a lot to you.”
“More than anyone ever has.” I didn’t care if that hurt her feelings. Wynn woke things up inside me, while at the same time he calmed the other parts.
“Julian, I’m going to ask you something, and I need you to really listen to what I’m saying.”
“Go on.”
“Does he feel the same way about you?” Before I could answer she continued.
“We know you have an obsessive nature—possessive, even. It doesn’t always translate to the other person you’re involved with.
I’m sure Wynn likes you a great deal; I’ve been following the news.
He’s very handsome and sweet-looking. But to love him, or whatever it is you’re capable of feeling toward him, you’d be asking him to leave his home and stay here, because there’s no way you can go with him.
I don’t say this to upset you, Julian. I say it because if your father is going to put the crown and our family on the line for him, you need to be sure he’s forever. ”
These weren’t things I hadn’t considered. Wynn was mine and where he went, I would follow. If it meant giving up the crown because he didn’t want to be here, so be it. But Mother needed to hear the words, the ones opposite any of those thoughts.
“He’s forever, Mother. You’ll just have to trust me on that.”
“I’ll speak to your father, but, Julian, two things. Talk to Wynn about your feelings, maybe not words like ‘own, mine, or obsesses,’ because the other thing is that your father will do anything to keep our family’s name clean. Anything. Wynn needs to be ready for that.”
Anything could be finding someone to take the fall for the killing or announcing a royal engagement. I imagined that while Wynn wouldn’t worry much about the fall guy simply because he’d assume that would be who was guilty, a royal engagement could crumble everything I’d built with him.
“I will speak with him later; he’s resting.”
“Okay, son. As I said, I’ll go speak with your father.”
“Very good.”
I disconnected the call just as we were pulling up to my residence.
I wished Wynn were with me. He could rest in my bed, I could feed him, bathe him.
Yes, I would have words with Wynn because Mother was right about that.
Wynn needed to understand exactly what he meant to me.
I wouldn’t tell him my secrets—no way was he ready for that—but I was sure he could love me.
I had to convince him that being mine was right, because if he tried to leave I wasn’t positive what I’d do…
nothing “normal,” I was sure. I could say I’d give up the crown but in reality, that would make things worse with my father. He had to stay here.
Edward opened the door, and I exited the SUV.
Rain was starting to fall, and there was a slight chill in the air indicating a storm was brewing.
Wynn would be asleep for a while; Mother was talking to Father.
In the meantime, I’d be looking into the detectives and exactly what kind of threat they were to me and mine, and what I might have to do if they didn’t back off.