Page 30

TWENTY-NINE

I did not appreciate the stench of dung in vast volume anywhere near me.

Upon finding out that Madelyn’s ex was on the prowl and headed for California, Geoff decided he would be on shift during all waking hours, and not even His Royal Majesty of Montana could dissuade him. The dispute, which served as our dinner entertainment, started from the instant California’s queen instructed the RPS agent to go to his suite and relax after dinner and lasted throughout the entirety of the meal. Eddie delighted in the older agent’s presence and determination to stick around, and I figured the young Texan didn’t get to see his father as often as he’d like.

Madelyn kept shaking her head over the whole thing, but she relaxed enough she engaged me in conversation.

As she had in the hospital, she tested my knowledge of science and natural disasters, inquiring on why there had been so much of a fuss about quicksand when she’d been a child—and if a pit of cow dung could actually kill somebody.

Not once had she seen quicksand, and judging from her disgusted tone, she had expected to encounter quicksand at least once a year.

The cow dung thing made sense, as New York had plenty of farms, and people were even invited to go on tours and learn more about the cattle industry.

I’d gone once, and learned I did not appreciate the stench of dung in vast volume anywhere near me.

“Hey, Rachel? Do you know how common quicksand incidents are in New York?”

“We don’t have the appropriate geography for quicksand. Maine has some in a limited area, and I refuse to go anywhere near said area. Quicksand is only located in a few kingdoms, but you’re most likely to encounter it here in California, if you’re foolish enough to go near the Santa Ana River, and Florida. I highly recommend against venturing into Florida, and quicksand is only the start of the problems with that kingdom.” My sister frowned, and she tapped her fork against her mouth. “The original states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah also have quicksand. I make a point of checking if I am being led to my death by evil monarchs whenever I am coerced into visiting a kingdom with quicksand.”

Ethan snickered. “It’s true, Mom. I had to reassure her several times that we were not going to lure her to the Santa Ana and leave her to perish in quicksand. When do we expect our special guest to arrive?”

Ethan’s mother sighed and raised her hand. “You may as well brief us on his location.”

“He has been met at the airport by a reporter, who judging from the conversations our planted agents have recorded or overheard, has been duped into thinking Prince Ian has kidnapped Madelyn for nefarious purposes.”

How despicable. “Are you sure I can’t punch him, Rachel?”

“You can’t punch him,” my sister confirmed. “However, I’ll allow you to kidnap the woman. As I am the final authority on who can marry who in New York, you have my permission to convince her to deal with being your wife if you’d like. It would solve numerous problems—and if that reporter is idiot enough to level such an accusation, you can display the marriage certificate along with the cleared record of status from New York.”

Then, because my sister was as smart as she was ruthless, she reached down, grabbed her purse, and pulled out a bulging envelope, which she offered to Madelyn. “I took the liberty of acquiring certified copies of all documentation before I boarded my flight in case any loopholes needed to be closed.” With a wicked grin, she fetched another envelope, which she waved at me, holding it out of my reach. “I own you, Ian.”

The battle over the envelope lasted a few minutes, during which Madelyn giggled at our antics before I managed to snatch the damned thing out of my sister’s grasp. “I’d say the girls own me, but they’re still in bed.”

Dr. Stanton chuckled. “They’re likely to stay in bed until tomorrow. Both of them, bless their hearts, are completely wiped out. And if they don’t, Barb and Celeste are on babysitting duty. They aren’t on shift, so they can take care of the girls while you’re resting and recovering. And yes, they are being paid to watch them. I’m genuinely surprised the fever hasn’t gone for your throat yet. So, what’s in the envelope?”

I opened it, wrinkling my nose at the New York Royal Emblem embossed on the sheets, which meant the documentation had been approved by the damned politicians destined to give me my first gray hairs. I removed the sheets, unfolded them, and began the tedious work of skimming through legalese. Halfway down the page, I comprehended that my sister had, two days ago, gone into a session and acquired permission for me to marry anyone she had deemed fit. Then, because my sister both loved me and wanted to see me perish at Madelyn’s hand, had explicitly barred me from wedding anyone other than Madelyn for a period of five years, after which she could adjust the documentation should no marriage be consummated.

As the papers involved her, I handed over the sheet to Madelyn before reading the next, which officiated both Danielle and May into the royal family properly, establishing their official order in the succession. I sucked in a breath, as they came behind any flesh and blood children either of us might have but were in the line before any of our half-siblings. “Rachel?”

“You can thank Senator Louisa Devonni for that gem. Upon learning about the girls, she went, had their records pulled, and investigated both of their parents. Their mother is elite, and their father is borderline elite, which qualifies them for the succession. We suspect that those monsters had the girls to weaponize them, abusing them for that purpose. To say the least, I assigned her to crafting the list of charges, as I’m not in New York to handle that matter personally. Mom, I’d like to borrow Cassandra’s parents for this,” Rachel requested. “The girls are probably waveweavers, and I fully intend on shipping them to Texas after Pat recovers to find out if they have lightningweaving, which is what their asshole parents were trying for. If they can work storms like Jessica, we’ll start sending them to Texas yearly to help out—and to help California during the wildfire season.”

Ethan’s mother sighed, shaking her head at the news. “I’ll give them a call. I sent Thomas and Cassandra to their place due to the terrorism event. It’s bad enough Mike and Rob are loitering.”

Ethan’s brothers grinned, and Rob blew a kiss at his mother.

Ethan’s father shook his head. “The RPS panicked at the thought of the entire succession out and about, and the palace is easy to defend, especially with two angry New Yorkers around. The one New Yorker will be suppressed, but with his temper issues? I foresee a replacement suppressor needing to be ordered. Mike, assign yourself to Madelyn and make yourself useful. If anyone looks at her wrong, dispose of them. Ian, please don’t trash your suppressor and let Mike do the heavy lifting. If you must use your talent, please take your suppressor off first.”

As I used my watch suppressor, I took it off and held it out to Madelyn. “If I seem too fevered for responsible talent usage, tell me to put the watch back on. That thing cost me a fortune, and if I break it, I will start crying, and nobody wants to deal with me crying over a damned watch.”

She laughed and took my suppressor. “That’s sensible. What’s this paperwork about?”

I leaned over and pointed at the relevant section, which was written rather plainly for a legal document. “My sister likes you and wants you to be her sister.”

Madelyn stared at the section, and her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “You’re serious.”

“My sister pulled something very similar to keep Ethan as hers, so I’m not surprised she made that arrangement. It prevents what happened to Ethan from happening to me, and you have the freedom to accept or decline any proposals from me. In New York, if the plague of politicians and the ruling monarch make a declaration like this, the named people are barred from engaging in matrimony with anyone other than on the list. That protects you from your ex. As my sister is sensible, there is a time limit on it. Mostly, this was the one way she had available to protect you from your ex. And should I be asked, I will absolutely be supportive of that document. I actually like you.”

Technically, I lied. I loved everything about her, but I didn’t want to scare her off.

Her eyes widened further, and she stared at me. “You like me?”

Hope was a dangerous thing, and I wondered if we might be able to turn scraps of it into something lasting. “You have always treated me like I’m a living, breathing person. I like everything about you, even when you’re grilling me over the various ways the planet attempts to kill us off. But really, Madelyn? Methane death clouds from cows? Of all the ways to die, you wanted to learn about that?”

“That motherfucker wanted to take us to one of the farms with the manure pits, probably to get my life insurance policy.”

I scowled and stared at California’s queen. “Are you sure I can’t punch him before I kill him?”

“I’m sure, baby boy. I’m sorry. I’d be happy to marry you off to your little lady, but you’re going to have to accept that you’re not going to be punching that abusive bastard. There’s a long line for a chance at him, and due to heroism, you are at the end of the line. The only person behind you is Madelyn, and if she had the talent and the physical skills to do so, she probably would have killed him already.”

“He was smart enough to keep the kitchen knives locked up, else I would have taken him out with extreme prejudice,” she confessed. “He’s just smart enough to be dangerous.”

And like most other abusers, he couldn’t tolerate the thought of losing his victim. “Come on, Mom. Let me punch him in the face.”

“There will be no punching of our victim. We will, from a safe distance, inform him and that reporter that he is an abusing nitwit, that we have verified evidence of abuse, and that his choice to violate his restraining order could result in his execution. And once the reporter figures out he’s been duped, the bastard dies, and we’ll be fighting over the body. I’ve heard enough; he will not be leaving my kingdom in anything other than a body bag. Men like this bastard never change, they never will change, but in this case, justice will be served. It will just be served in a way that better protects everyone. If he is allowed to run free, he will pick a new victim—and only after he’s done everything he can to erase his previous victim. Or victims—and we just don’t know if he has any previous victims.”

“Ask the insurance companies,” Madelyn suggested. “Before he showed his true colors, he had me set up an insurance policy. I’m worth three million to that bastard dead.”

“As you’re priceless to me alive, I’ll deal with any fines or penalties earned when I punch the bastard in the face.” I glared at the Californian monarchs. “If you don’t want me punching him, you’ll just have to get to him first. We can explain shit to the reporter afterwards. A corpse can’t surprise us.”

Ethan’s father shrugged. “The boy makes a good point. I’m sure if Will explains, in no uncertain terms, that the bastard violated a restraining order and attempted to use a reporter to access the palace… actually, I need all press badges revoked for the next twenty-four hours, and please escort all reporters within the palace grounds off for the rest of the night—and give them the dirt on what’s going on. Just leave out the part about us committing premeditated murder. Arrange for a hotel for the visiting ones, as it’s no fault of theirs they’re being displaced for the night.”

Several of the Californian RPS agents left the dining room to do the king’s bidding.

“That’s one way to do it,” Rachel replied, and she smiled. “So, Madelyn. Are you the impulsive kind or would you like my brother to wine and dine you, lose you in rose gardens, and otherwise drive us all mad over the course of several years before hopefully taking pity on him? You’ll have some problems with him, of course. If you want him to get rough with you, you’re going to have to be convincing and teach him. He comes bundled with a bunch of pets now that he’s figured out he can, in actuality, have them. You’re going to have to peel him out of his junkyard, as he has this infuriating belief that he has to earn his fiscal keep. He does need to be taken to museums at least once a month or he is overwhelmed with sadness.”

Was my sister helping my cause or ruining my chances? I couldn’t tell. “I am not overwhelmed with sadness.”

“You sulk.”

I scowled. “I do not sulk.”

“You brood, like a chicken trying to incubate eggs, all sorts of grouchy and ready and willing to fluff your feathers. Also, there is absolutely nothing sexy about brooding. If you want to be sexy when sulking, you need to flounce more and be less grouchy,” my sister informed me in a rather solemn tone. “You are attempting to win a date, so you must flounce and be sexy rather than brood and irritate everyone around you.”

Somehow, my life had become a living hell, and my sister was determined to shove me to the edge and then push me over. “This is revenge for getting shot, isn’t it?”

“It is, but you’re slow and clueless. I only needed to be told once that I could make off with my Californian before I took advantage of it. Do I need to beat you with the papers for you to get the hint?”

“Madelyn does have a say in this.”

“Ian, this is a woman who threatened to tear an RPS agent’s balls off if he thought he was going to be stopping her from being your sitter for this bout of fever.”

Madelyn’s face flushed. “I’m so sorry, Terry.”

I raised a brow. “When did I miss that?”

“You were in the bathroom,” Terry informed me, and he grinned at Madelyn. “I had been attempting to give her a chance to have a restful night. In good news, I was not gelded for my idea, although I endured five minutes of her contemplating how best she might dismantle me for even suggesting she leave you for longer than mandatory visits to the washroom or short ventures to retrieve art supplies.”

Madelyn’s expression turned rather worried. “If things do not work out, is divorce an option?”

Somehow, I kept from wincing at the question, which was a good one despite my dislike of the idea of losing the woman I’d admired for so long.

Rachel nodded. “It is. I have a second document that, due to the nature of the arrangement, states divorce is an option, and that such a severance has already been approved. Everyone wisely agreed that, due to the circumstances, nobody will be trapped in an unwanted relationship. You can come and go as you please. Ian also retains the right to come and go as he pleases, but he doesn’t play around with women despite his reputation. Honestly, I’m not sure how he got his reputation.”

I could work with playful banter to ease some of the nervousness in the room, mine included. “I believe it’s because I’m that pretty. And someone as pretty as I am is automatically a player and womanizer. In reality? My reputation is pretty far from the truth.”

The last thing I wanted was to be anything like my parents—or anything like the man who had terrorized Madelyn.

“You are pretty,” my sister agreed. “He’s a rare find, Madelyn. He has the looks and the personality, and if you met him on the street for the first time, you’d have no idea he’s actually wealthy because he is happy living like he’s poor. Just claim him as yours and save us all from a great deal of drama and political nonsense.”

Madelyn alternated between gaping at me and eyeing my sister. “You’ll actually let me marry him?”

“Let? I’m practically begging you to. Please, take him. Run off with him, just return him in comparable condition. You can do whatever you want with him as long as you leave him alive,” my sister confirmed. “If you wish to remove him from his clothes, do so in private. Questionably private is fine. If you want to live in his suite, move your stuff in and refuse to leave. If you’re caught by the girls, expect to have to help Ian give them the talk about what happens when adult girl and boy people are left unsupervised. Once your asshole ex is dealt with, the RPS agents will relax enough to guard the hallway leading into your suite rather than in the suite itself.” My sister winced. “Sorry, after his fever breaks. Because Ian with a fever needs numerous people managing him, else he goes on a wander.”

“I am really sorry about that. I’ll try to behave until your ex is a smear on the sidewalk.” I regarded the various monarchs and armed myself with my most pathetic pout. “Are you sure I can’t punch him?”

“You can’t punch him, but you can fight us over the body,” my sister replied, and she laughed at me. “I will be attending, but I will be attending at a distance. Ethan is going on my behalf, and I’ll be trying to get my hits in from one of the windows overlooking the palace entry.”

“Did Ethan already tell you no?”

“I may have been forced to promise to not get within ready talent range before we landed, but he didn’t ban me from opening a window and frying the bastard from there.”

My brother-in-law shook his head. “If Terry approves of you joining the delegation going out front, you can. Terry?”

“If you can strike first and ask questions of the body, I have no problems with you accompanying; stay behind your brother and with Madelyn,” the RPS agent replied. “He doesn’t have an offensive talent worth worrying about, the reporter has a weak but potentially dangerous offensive talent several agents can readily counter, and it’s as safe of a situation as I can make it. If I order you to go inside, I want you to bolt for the palace like you won’t ever receive another milkshake if you don’t break a world record.”

“I can do that. Can you point at the problem while giving me the order so I can destroy it with extreme prejudice?”

“If you can run like you mean it while destroying whatever I’m pointing at, yes.”

Sometimes, I adored the RPS agent’s willingness to usher in chaos and property damage. “Can I join in?”

Terry sighed. “If I’m pointing at something with the expectation of your sister destroying it, I am not going to complain if you two wage war over who can strike faster and harder.”

“I accept your terms. Rachel, if you hide behind me with Madelyn, Terry might be happy with all of us. The Californians can feel like they’re stealing the show until we start battling over his body like we’re a bunch of unruly dogs after the same bone.”

“Do you think we can beat them to the kill?” Rachel frowned. “I haven’t practiced being quick on the draw with my talent much.”

“You can view this as a lesson in talent usage. Madelyn, if you see my sister snapping her fingers, she’s using her talent aggressively.”

“That’s good to know. What do you do when you use yours?”

“Nothing,” I admitted. “If I’m worried about taking someone out, I’m taking them out. No wasted words, gestures, or anything. I act first and ask questions of the body.” I attempted to engage Ethan’s mother in a staring contest. “I do not see what you have against me punching him hard enough he shits his teeth.”

“And that would be the start of the fever talking. You can’t help him shit his teeth, Ian. I respect your desire to protect Madelyn, but you’re going to have to settle with us warning him off and making it clear that he’s a treacherous little snake. And if he doesn’t get the point, eradicate him.”

“What if I went on a wander, but I wandered near him, punched him, and eradicated him with extreme prejudice?” While killing people wasn’t my first choice, I could and I would if necessity demanded. “He doesn’t lie to a reporter and claim I kidnapped Madelyn before flying here with good will in mind.”

“I know, but we do need to correct the reporter before you resolve the problem. Madelyn, if you decide you wish to have your very own New York prince to do with as you please, we can finalize the paperwork before they arrive. It’s not the first time we’ve processed such paperwork for New York, and everyone needed to handle it is here. Will can witness, verify that you are both interested in marriage, and verify your union. And this time, we don’t have to battle with New York’s pox of politicians over it; Rachel already did that work.” The Queen of California rose from her seat, rubbing her hands together. “The reporter is not going to like when he finds out his ban from the palace is permanent due to being duped by some nobody in New York. Darling, do we have a replacement reporter in mind?”

“I like Miss Natalie Hollands. She’s an import from Nevada working on expanding her boundaries and continuing her education. She isn’t attached to a network yet, as she’s still a student, but her record is clean, she came in with a high score, and she’s been working on good causes on her own to get them coverage. She does a lot of charity work. We could use a goody-goody around. Why?” The Californian king eyed his wife. “You are up to something.”

“I need one of you RPS agents to go find Miss Hollands, bring a camera in case she doesn’t have one, and inform her that she is the only reporter we’re inviting to a rather important show. Delay the bastard at the airport. If he has checked luggage, make the carousel break until we’re prepared. If he doesn’t have any checked luggage, break the gate. Tell the airport to leave his plane on the tarmac and concoct something until we’re positioned. I don’t want that fucker leaving that airport until we’re ready for him.”

Several of the RPS agents loitering around left the dining room and went to work.

Once again, Madelyn stared at the queen before her gaze settled on me and stayed. “Why aren’t you protesting this whole idea? I don’t understand. I’m a nobody. You’re the Prince of New York.”

I foresaw a great deal of work ahead of me improving her self-esteem, a problem I didn’t mind having in the slightest. If patience was what she needed, I had it in plenty. “You treat me like I’m a real person. We also have a great deal in common. If I’m getting the choice between you or some princess, I am picking you every single time.” I glanced at Will. “Your daughters are lovely, but they are way too young for me.”

His Royal Majesty of Montana snickered. “He’s telling the truth, Madelyn. There is very little Ian values more than people treating him like he’s just some other man you’d encounter on the street. He has never liked his rank, and he’s never wanted it. He’s always been happiest helping others shine. He’s a New Yorker, so he has to be difficult. You’ll have your hands full with him, I’m sure. I can tell you this much: he’ll bend over backwards to make you happy. And let’s face it, all you’re going to have to do to make him happy is exist. That’s just how it is with men like him. I’m guilty of the same tendencies. But I can promise you this: with Ian, you will never have to worry about anyone hurting you ever again. Should someone try, he will deal with them personally. You can take your time with your relationship. You’ll just take your time while wearing the armor of being married. But you both are in control of your destiny and marriage. You decide your happily ever after. In this case, marriage is the first step of the journey rather than the destination. It just makes certain nobody can tear you apart before you have a chance to see if you fit well together. If it doesn’t work out, it’ll be okay. You can quietly go your separate ways. But Ian isn’t going to give up on you, and judging from the fact you threatened to feed Terry his own testicles for even suggesting you don’t stick close, I don’t think you’re going to give up on him, not without a fight.”

Madelyn’s face reddened further. “I am so sorry, Terry.”

The RPS agent smiled. “I will tell my wife, and she will worship the ground you walk on for having the courage to stand up for yourself and your needs. You will be entering a relationship with a man who cares about you. If you need space, he will give you the space you need. If you need someone to protect you from the rest of the world, he’ll be that for you. And if you leave because you need to leave, he will love you enough to let you go until you’re ready to come back again. That’s just the kind of man he is. He’s everything your abuser is not, and if you let him, he’ll show you. Of course, he’s going to be a bit of work. You’re going to have to make the first moves until he’s confident you’re comfortable. That will be annoying. And one day, you’ll end up throwing everything you can at him to get the point across that he needs to take the initiative.”

I snorted, aware Mackenzie had gotten tired of Will’s tendency to step with too much care and had resorted to throwing things. “I am perfectly capable of taking the initiative should she want me to take the initiative. Madelyn, if you want to give marriage with me a try, I’m a willing participant. If you don’t, I’ll pretend like my feelings aren’t hurt because I’d like to at least try. But if you don’t want the responsibilities of being a mother to my girls, that’s okay. They’re a part of the package. You don’t have to do any princess stuff you don’t want to do. If you want to fully embrace being a princess, I’m going to stand back, make suggestions on your lingerie, and otherwise support you.”

Madelyn raised a brow. “And what kind of lingerie appeals to you?”

As I hadn’t perished yet for overstepping, I decided to fling myself right over the line for better or for worse. “The kind I’m permitted to remove with my teeth comes to mind.”

My sister slapped her forehead. “Ian!”

“What? I’m being honest. My interest in lingerie generally begins and ends with the methods I’m allowed to use to take it off. If she didn’t want the answer, she wouldn’t have asked the question.”

My sister sighed. “That is definitely the fever talking. Ian, perhaps you should convince her it’s a good idea to marry you before publicly informing her you would like to investigate her lingerie with your teeth.”

“Should I have told her I’d replace any I break first?” Of all the people in the room, I could rely on Will to support me despite my ability to step directly into trouble. “Was that a trick question?”

“I think it depends on if she agrees to marry you or not at this stage,” he replied, and he grimaced. “I may be at fault for opening that can of worms. I’m sorry.”

“If I said the wrong thing, I’m sorry. If I said the right thing, well, I meant every word of it.” I bowed my head. “I don’t feel fevered, but I’m pretty sure I would just be trying to crawl under the table at this stage otherwise.”

“He’s shy,” my sister said. “But he did tell you the truth. You’re the first woman who has really treated him like he’s a real person. He loved when you were at the palace, and he hated every day you were gone, which is why I made the arrangements for you to come back. Had we known about that asshole abuser, we would have brought you into the palace sooner. But that’s how abusers operate. They do their best to make certain their victims can’t escape. But tonight, you mark my words, Madelyn. You will be free. You are free to marry Ian or not. You’re free to come and go. You will never have to worry about anyone hurting you ever again, because no matter what decision you make tonight, Ian’s going to be nearby making certain you’re kept safe. Yes, even if you decide that you don’t want to be part of his life. But that’s why I dealt with those damned politicians over this matter. You deserve to be free, and this was the only way I could give true freedom to you. You decide your fate from this point forward. And don’t worry about hurting Ian’s feelings. If you need him to wait, he’ll wait.”

“I really will,” I confirmed, and when I stopped to think about it, I understood what it meant to love someone enough to let them go.

Madelyn needed the freedom to chart her own course and choose her destiny.

Love was accepting what she needed over what I wanted.

“What if you never love me, Ian?”

Some truths were easier than others to speak. “I loved you from the moment you swept in and pitied me for sharing the same name as some spoiled prince, not realizing I am that spoiled prince. And every day thereafter, I loved you more for you being you. I hate what that bastard did to you, but I admire what you endured to protect your cats. If I were in your shoes, I would do the same.” I somehow kept from glancing at my sister. “Don’t tell Rachel this, but I really like taking naps with her tigers.”

“I already knew, Ian. It was pretty obvious from the fact you’d read books to them and sleep with them on the floor. But he’s telling the truth, Madelyn. The greatest gift you could ever give my brother is a chance. It need not be tonight. We’re just nosy royals who want to see you be happy and safe. If you need the rest of your life to decide, Ian will wait through it all. If you decide you want to sign the papers, you’ll have to leash him, as his determination to eliminate your asshole ex will become problematic. You will be his top priority, tied with his little girls. And honestly, you’ll always come first. Don’t get me wrong, Danielle and May are important to him, but you’re the foundation of the family he wants to build with them in it.” Rachel got up from her seat, came around the table, and kissed my temple. “You’re broiling alive, by the way.”

Madelyn got out her temperature gun, pointed it at my forehead, and stared at the screen. “102.1.”

Dr. Stanton sighed. “Yep. That’s about when his common sense starts leaving the building. However much I’d love to process their marriage now, I’m going to set some limitations: he can sign engagement papers and nothing else. Engagement papers are an excellent start, it will support the New York documentation, and California can make the arrangements for a fancy wedding. For protecting them both, it’s sufficient, as they can’t sign the marriage papers without both being healthy enough in mind to sign them. That level of fever means you’re not sound, Ian. I know you’re sincere about wishing to pursue a relationship, however.”

“I’m in,” Madelyn blurted.

“If California is making the arrangements for a fancy wedding, that means I don’t have to plan it—and Madelyn only plans exactly how much she wants to plan, I find this plan to be quite a good idea. Can I punch the bastard with a copy of the engagement papers?”

“No,” Dr. Stanton replied. “But you can kill him with extreme prejudice should he even look at Madelyn.”

“I can live with that compromise.”

That abusing bastard wouldn’t, and that was all I cared about. One way or another, Madelyn would be free.