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Maxim
As I say my brother’s name, her eyes widen in disbelief and as I run my thumb across her lips, I wait for her to pull back. The disbelief in her face tells me I’ve shocked her, but she has to know who she’s dealing with.
“But why?”
She carries on staring into my eyes and I say blankly, “He has always been unstable. As a child, he would manipulate and lie his way out of trouble. He soon discovered if he damaged himself, it brought more trouble on me. He loved seeing me punished for something he did, and it became a destructive game. I couldn’t touch him because then it would back up his story. Many times, I watched him head butt a wall, take a knife to his arm, or pinch his skin, anything to make it look like an unprovoked attack.”
Her eyes widen and I carry on touching her because I can’t appear to stop and just seeing the pain in her eyes and the quiver to her lips sends me into a lust-filled frenzy I couldn’t ignore if I tried. I want this woman so badly and I always have and the only person that knows that is me because I kept my desire well hidden. I’d watch from the window as she played with Victor and their friends. Hearing her laughter drift along with the breeze made me smile, and watching her grow into a beautiful young woman caused a different reaction. I was always in awe of Cassie Brookes-Stanley. We both were, which is why I’m not surprised we’re in this situation now.
Victor will do everything possible to disrupt this wedding and it’s my duty to her, to me and to Andromeda, to stop him.
“What about your parents? Did you tell them? Maybe they could have arranged help for him?”
“I tried, but it only made me look worse, so I accepted my punishments and tried to keep my distance. Damage limitation that worked mainly but not always.”
“What did they do—to you, I mean?”
She looks worried and as the dark times come back to haunt me, I shiver a little when I remember my father’s anger after a particularly brutal cut appeared on Victor’s wrists. They had to get medical care for him and the blame was hurled firmly in my direction.
Sighing, I carry on stroking her face and say bitterly, “I spent the night in the castle dungeon. No food, no water and no company. It was cold, depressing, and devoid of any comforts. Twenty-four hours later, I was made to apologize and promise never to do it again.”
“That’s terrible.”
She looks so upset it makes me smile and I do something I have been aching to do since we sat down.
Shifting forward, I taste those lips that tempt me so badly and as she leans into the kiss, I take courage from that and wrap my hand around the back of her head and kiss her as if my life depended on it.
The low moan that meets mine is a long time coming because I have dreamed of Cassie being in my arms willingly. Many times I pictured this scene and I can’t quite believe it’s playing out now.
Shifting closer, I deepen the kiss and she tastes so good I could sample her all night. Part of me feels like pushing protocol aside and take her back to my room and finish the job, but I can’t. She’s worth more than that and so I content myself with tasting my future with a lighter heart than I’ve had for some time.
I’m not sure how long we sit kissing in the gazebo, but I could sit here all night. As the darkness turns a lighter shade, I regretfully pull back and, taking her hand, lace our fingers together.
“Come, you must be exhausted. We’ll talk tomorrow. I’m expecting it to be an eventful day.”
As we start our walk back to the palace, the guards follow closely behind and Cassie whispers, “Is this normal? I mean, do you have to be guarded every minute of the day?”
“Not usually, but these are testing times.”
“In what way?”
Thinking of the reason for the extra security measures reminds me what’s at stake and I say tightly, “I’m a new king, Cassie. I have many responsibilities and not everyone is happy about that, so I need to guard against it.”
Squeezing her hand a little tighter, I’m not sure whether to mention it but then sigh and stop, raising her hand to my lips and whispering, “As my bride, you are also a target. Promise me you will never go anywhere without the guards. Not with your friends, your family and especially not Victor.”
She looks worried. “Is that why the queen has an escort? Is she a target too?”
Thinking of my mother, I feel a twinge of guilt at what she’s suffering and shake my head. “Yes, she is also a target. These are troubled times, and we must navigate our way through them. The security is necessary for now but hopefully not for long.”
“When will it be over?”
“Soon. Very soon.”
The conversation reminds me of how difficult the next few days will be and I’m almost afraid to think about what could happen.
As we reach her suite of rooms, I stop at the door and smile regretfully. “I’m sorry for putting you through this, Cassie, but I’m not sorry I unmasked you. I always knew you would be my queen and I’m sorry you had no say in that. Maybe over time you will understand why and I will do my best to make it so you never regret it, but please, know this, I am never letting you go.”
Her face falls as I remind her what a fucking prick I am and as the doubt re-enters her eyes, I curse myself for being such a bastard. I hope she will forgive me for playing with her emotions, but I need her to be strong. To hold on to that strength and form her own conclusions because what I have in mind could well turn her against me—forever.
