“You’re not useless. You’re not,” he reiterated. “You adore my sister. That’s the only reason we forgave you for taking her so far from us.”
Finn grinned.
“You love her, you support her; Arianna needs all that, and she gets it from you without asking for it.”
“It doesn’t feel like enough. She gives so much more back every day—to me, to Brazenbourg. Fuck, she’s carrying our child. She’s given me a family.” Finn shook his head. “Anything I do doesn’t feel like enough.”
How many times had Ethan felt that, too? He still felt as though he wasn’t good enough for his family, for Anda. Seeing three of his loved ones hurt and in pain…it was making him doubt his abilities as a doctor and as an agent, but he’d come through, for all them. “It’s enough for her. Remember that. And remember that we’re your family, too, and you’re stuck with us. We’re not going anywhere, and you don’t owe us anything because of that. Family helps family. The end.”
“The end?”
“The. End.”
“Can’t say I mind being stuck with all of you.” Finn nodded his head towards the room. “Arianna’s had a tough time of it. So have I, if I’m being honest. Missing the wedding, then not being there for Gabriel…”
“Papa understands. You know that.”
Finn nodded. “So does Arianna. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel guilty for not being there for them. She also feels selfish for wanting to be there for the wedding in the first place.”
“Selfish? Why the hell is that selfish?”
“The baby. Brazenbourg’s heir must be born in Brazenbourg. She couldn’t risk a trip to the wedding. Now, I’ve got to say, I’m glad she didn’t go. I feel like an asshole for thinking of it, but the baby’s got to be born here. If she was put on bed rest in Valleria, there’s no telling if she’d be able to travel back here.”
“I’m going to channel Alex for a second, so prepare yourself.” Ethan cleared his throat. “You’re not an asshole. You’re a leader. You’re the crown prince of Brazenbourg, so you’d better fucking act like it. If that means you keep Arianna on Brazenbourg soil, so be it. You’re not an asshole for considering the future of your country. You get me?”
Finn’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “I get you. I just…I just can’t lose her.”
Something sharp twisted in Ethan’s gut; even though he was a doctor, even though he knew the risks, he couldn’t think of any of them—Anda, his sister, or his father—as no longer being part of his world.
He knew exactly how Finn felt, because he felt those same things for Anda. “You’re not going to lose her. And, even if we got transported to a parallel universe where that shit happens, you would never loseus. You’re a part of this family, now and forever. You’re not getting rid of us. Do you get me, Finn?”
Finn took a deep breath. “I get you.”
“Are you sure you get me? Because I can have Alex call you and straighten you out.”
Finn shook his head. “Alex has enough to worry about. I get you, Ethan.”
“Good. Now, where is Arianna’s doctor?”
“Right here,” a man called as he approached them. He was tall and lanky, with dull black hair streaked with duller gray. A set of practical glasses sat on his squat nose, and his mustache held more gray than his hair. “Dr. Orr,” he said as he extended his hand.
Ethan took it and shook firmly. “Dr. Santoro. Pleased to meet you.”
“I as well, Your Highness.”
“Please, Dr. Santoro is fine. Do you have a few moments to chat?”
“Of course. Prince Finn, would you care to join us?”
“Have there been any new developments?”
Dr. Orr shook his head.
“Then I’m heading back inside.”
Ethan watched Finn disappear before he turned to Dr. Orr. “Now then. Let’s talk business.”
After their conversation, Ethan felt confident in her doctors.
