Page 62 of Royal Trouble

“How did the party go?” she asked, propping her head up on her hand. “We didn’t really get a chance to talk last night.”

“Are you complaining?” he asked with mock outrage.

“No complaints. Just want to know if I’ve got a future as a party planner,” she teased. Lucy would hire her in a heartbeat if it meant she’d return to Valeria, but she was a writer, not an event planner. Besides, helping Xander plan the stag night had told her everything she needed to know about the business, and it wasn’t her cup of tea. There was too much pressure and too much reliance on others for her liking.

She preferred to be in control of her own fate, thank you very much.

“The evening went well considering it was hosted by a bastard prince.” The words were delivered with enough snark that if she hadn’t witnessed his vulnerabilities firsthand, she might’ve thought him unmoved, but his eyes were flat, the comment masking a much deeper, much older hurt.

“Why would you say that?” she demanded, unease stirring in her belly.

“Why not?” He lifted a shoulder. “It’s what everyone says when they think I’m not listening. Even my brother’s closest friends believe the rumors.”

Everly’s temper spiked, flying right past outrage and going straight to pissed-the-fuck-off. “What? And you didn’t say anything? Where was Liam?” And why hadn’t he stood up for his brother? He was the crown-fucking-prince. It was literally his job to look out for his people, including his brother. No, especially his brother. “I’m going to march up to that house and—”

Before she could finish the thought, Xander’s lips were on hers, moving with such ferocity, such need, she forgot what she was about to say.

Truth be told, she nearly forgot her own name.

When he finally pulled back, lowering his forehead to hers, he whispered, “Thank you.”

“You have nothing to thank me for.” She cupped his cheek, the stubble lining his jaw pricking the tips of her fingers. It was a not-so-gentle reminder that he had no one in his corner, no one to help him fight his battles or shoulder the burden day to day. Liam seemed to be his closest ally, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that relationship was burgeoning. Xander had said himself they hadn’t been close growing up, and his military service had kept him away from the palace for nearly a decade. Better late than never, sure, but it still didn’t sit right. Xander deserved so much more than what he’d been given. “Besides,” she said, forcing a smile, “something tells me that if our positions were reversed, you’d do the same for me.”

“True.” He nodded, a slow grin spreading across his face. “And as much as I’d like to see you march up to the house and give those bloody bastards a wakeup call they’ll never forget, I’d much rather keep you here in this bed with me.”

Everly chewed her lip. He said that now, but…

“Have you considered getting a paternity test?” she blurted out, eschewing every rule of decorum she’d learned at Westbury. But really, how did you delicately suggest a member of the royal family go about getting a DNA test anyway?

Xander blinked in surprise but said nothing.

“I just mean,” she said, backpedaling as she scrambled to organize her thoughts. Why had she said that? His paternity was none of her business. Just because they’d had sex didn’t mean he wanted her stomping around in his private affairs. Besides, she was hardly an expert on royal protocol or even family dynamics—because, hello, dysfunctional pretty much summed up her own family tree. “If the old rumors are still bothering you, why haven’t you had the test? Wouldn’t it be better to know the truth than to have this ugly rumor plaguing you for the rest of your life?”

“I’ve considered it in the past,” he said carefully. “But I don’t think Their Majesties would ever give their blessing, and it’s not like I can just walk into a clinic. Can you imagine the scandal if the press caught wind of it?”

Could she ever. But didn’t peace of mind outweigh the potential risk?

“You wouldn’t have to walk into a clinic. They have at-home testing kits now. Or you could have someone you trust deliver the samples to a lab anonymously.”

“Maybe.” The reply was carefully neutral, but she could see the spark of hope in his eyes, and it fueled her determination. One way or the other, he deserved to know the truth.

“Think about it,” she said, stroking his cheek again. “You could have the results in a matter of days.” She paused as he considered this. “I can help you. If you want me to, I mean.”

Xander was silent a long time, but when he spoke, it wasn’t the response she expected. “You make it sound so easy.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, a growl of frustration rolling off his lips. “I mean, what if I find out my father isn’t my father? I’d lose my family, my title, and everything that goes with it, including the Blue and Gold Foundation.”

It was a very real possibility, but wasn’t that just the fear talking?

“Or you could gain the clarity you deserve.” She didn’t point out that he could cast off the rumors and wake every day knowing exactly who he was, because that was a question biology couldn’t answer. That knowledge had to come from within, and from what she’d seen, Xander was in the process of figuring out who he wanted to be. Soon enough the world would see it, too. “Yes, there’s a chance you’ll find out King George isn’t your biological father, but that doesn’t make you any less his son. He raised you, and I have to believe he loves you, if in his own fucked-up way.” Xander snort-laughed, and she gave herself a mental high-five. “The point is, no matter the results, your life doesn’t end, Xander.”

He closed his eyes and rolled onto his back, taking the comforting weight of his arm with him. “I suppose if I’m going to do this, I should wait until after the royal wedding.”

Her heart ached for him. How could anyone who knew him not see what she saw? Not see how he’d grown and matured? Despite years of waiting for answers, he’d gladly put his own needs aside for the betterment of the royal family. Could any of them say they’d do the same for him?

It was an unfair question. She’d only met Liam briefly, and she didn’t know the rest of them from Adam, but she hated the idea of Xander putting everyone else’s needs above his own. This was too important for him to throw himself into the role of the self-sacrificing spare.

“Haven’t you waited long enough?” She couldn’t imagine the burden of going through her whole life questioning her identity and having everyone else do the same. At least in the case of her paternity, she knew the truth, no matter how painful it was at times. “Besides, if you’re not ready, you can always choose not to open the results until after the wedding.”

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