Page 54 of Tragic Empire

“Yes, it has,” Cassio sniffs, pretending to be sincere. “Thank you for acknowledging how much strife your absence has caused me.”

“Git.” Killian chuckles.

“Layabout,” Cassio taunts.

“Oh, sod off.”

The men share a laugh and my eyes swing between my stepbrother and my husband. I’m in shock, watching the pair of them interact with such familiarity. I didn’t even know that they had met on more than one or two professional occasions, let alone that they were close enough to tease each other like this.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, shaking out of my daze. “Are you coming home soon?” The hope in my question dies when Killian shakes his head.

“My body is pretty fucked from lack of movement, and my chest is pretty vulnerable too. They won’t let me out of here just yet.”

My face falls, smile fading. “Really?”

“It’s for the best,” he says, squeezing my hand. “No one wants to see their Monarch in such a weakened state. Cassio can hold things down for a while longer.”

“Besides,” my husband speaks up. “We haven’t found the parties responsible for putting him here, and I’d prefer it if they don’t get a second shot at him before we do.”

“Aww, look at you being such a caring fucker,” Killian snarks. “Don’t want me dead? Maybe you’d be safer with me out of the way, hmm? What if I decide to come for your arse for scooping up my sister without my permission?”

“Try it,” Cassio dares.

“Absolutely not,” I cut in, glaring at them both. “No joking about harming one another, or I will lose it.”

Killian’s dark eyebrows shoot toward his hairline. “Is that so?”

“It is so,” I declare darkly. “We are family now, and you’ll bloody well act like it. You should be proud of your friend for taking such good care of me in my time of need.”

“I’m proud ofyou,” Killian counters, patting my knee.

Dumbfounded, I shake my head, thinking I must have heard him wrong. “What?”

“I’m. Proud. Of. You.”

It’s like the wind has been knocked right out of me, hearing those words.

“You did everything right, Ana. You found an ally, and you kept yourself safe. Your actions kept me alive, and you kept The Kings in order. You’re the reason they’re still being paid and can feed their families. You’re the reason I’m awake right now. Cole would be so fucking pleased with you, love. Your mother as well.”

“You know about my mum?” I croak.

“Cassio filled me in on everything while I was out, and Gerard was here to fill in the blanks when I woke,” he explains gently. “I’m so sorry that we couldn’t save her, but I know she’d be delighted that you’re still here, Ana.”

“I’m sorry that you lost your brother, and Bron too,” I murmur, my throat aching as I offer my condolences.

In a blink, we’re hugging again. Softer this time, and more comforting. Killian smells sterile like antiseptic he’s probably been cleaned with, and his hospital gown is a bit scratchy, but the embrace still feels like him.

“You don’t think Cole would be mad? That I’m with Cassio?” I rasp, voice hardly a whisper.

Killian grabs the sides of my arms, and pulls back to look me in the eye. “Cole has only ever wanted you to be happy, and to be by your side. But he’s gone, Ana. He would never want to punish you for his absence by denying you a future with someone else.”

Desperate to believe him, I swallow. “Are you sure?”

“I’m absolutely certain, love.”

“I missed you so much,” I admit, scanning his face to remember for later. His unkempt mess of dark hair, his strong jaw covered in new stubble, his deep brown eyes, and his slightly crooked smile.

He looks just the same, albeit slightly more ill than normal, but he’s still my Killian. The man who’s become a brother to me, the one who’s never looked at me as anything other than family. The man who made my mom and me feel welcome as soon as he met us, and the one who I know will always jump to protect me at any point.