Page 137 of Wanted

Midnight passed, and I could see that Alex was exhausted. He couldn’t keep his eyes open, but he pushed through it. His dedication warmed my heart. I urged him to go home, but he insisted.

The palace was empty.

All the royals were in the hospital.

It was past three in the morning when Felicita emerged from the delivery room. I had experienced Felicita at some of the lowest moments in her life. I’d never been prepared for this. Jordan put aside the laptop and his phone, rushing to comfort his sister.

“She needs help breathing, but… She’ll be fine. They promised us that she’ll be fine. She’s so precious. You have to see her…” Felicita mumbled. The hallway rejoiced, but Felicita couldn’t stop crying. She heaved, and I could feel her stress from a mile away. “Valentina can’t believe it. She’s in a state of shock. The doctors want her to rest for now.”

I glanced at Alex, and his tired smile gave me the confirmation that I needed. We’d be fine. Our niece was here early, but she’d come home to the palace soon. Fylox didn’t let me read his indifferent face. He sat there like a soldier, ready for the next command. But his eyes were soft when they met mine.

“F—” Weston almost cursed. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. Amid all the panic, we forgot to bring the gifts!”

Mandy’s eyes widened. She raised her chin, regenerating. “Let’s go and get them now while Valentina rests. Kamila’s here. We’ll be back in a bit!”

“It’s four in the morning,” Fylox reminded them in his monotonous voice.

“And I’m the Prince of Katantia. The entire country’s waiting for news concerning the baby. Not a single soul slept tonight.” My brother observed his girlfriend. “We should make an announcement. Would that be okay?”

I nodded. “Please, do. I’ll make another one later today.”

Mandy and Weston left the hallway. I took a seat next to Alex. “You should go back to my place and sleep. We’ll be here for some time.”

“She’s right,” Jordan agreed.

Alex shook his head. He grabbed my hand, his thumb rubbing my skin dizzy. “I’m staying right here.”

“We could arrange for a bed,” Felicita suggested, addressing Jordan.

“That’s a good idea!” Jordan distanced himself from his sister, picking up his phone. The orders began, and in no time, Alex had a place to sleep close to Valentina’s room. Fylox followed Alex after he left, and I saw him stand outside the room Alex would sleep in. It broke my heart to see them in an argument, not speaking to each other.

“She wants to see you,” Felicita said, taking a seat next to me. “She asked me to tell you that.”

“Of course. Anything she wants.”

♥♠♥

Wearing a pantsuit had been a wise decision.

I could’ve asked one of the nurses to bring me a change of clothes, but it wasn’t like I was sweating. I sat next to Jordan and Felicita while we waited for Valentina to wake up. All we did was discuss the baby and the new living arrangements.

Jordan insisted that they moved into Felicita’s house until Aris woke up, but Felicita argued that it wasn’t what Valentina wanted.

They ended up agreeing on setting up two rooms for themselves at my brother’s home.

“You don’t have to stay here with us,” I blurted out. “We can—”

“Fuck no,” Jordan argued, shutting the laptop in front of him.

“Travis’s death has hurt us, but we can manage. They don’t need a patriarch in the house,” I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest. From what I understood, Jordan didn’t stay in one place in America. He followed his son’s games, and he didn’t have a home base. I didn’t want him to feel obligated to help us out.

I was Queen of Katantia now. I would find a solution.

Felicita quieted, but Jordan said, “I want to help my sister and her daughter out. I’m all they have left now.”

“They have us,” I argued.

“I’m not leaving, Kamila,” Jordan said. He inhaled. “Travis only ever asked one thing of me. He wanted me to keep the people that meant the most to him safe. Being on Katantia isn’t ideal. I don’t dream of sex dolls. However, the small space is perfect. The borders are controlled. I can work in peace here and travel less.”