“For goodness’ sake, Reigna, spit it out. What did he want?”
Reigna chuckled at Regina’s impatience. Usually, it was Reigna who was snapping at Regina to get to the point. This was just more proof that this man was changing things in her life, possibly even changing her.
“He came to tell me to back off where you’re concerned. He told me you were upset, and you felt like I didn’t believe in you. He told me that my meddling made you doubt yourself, and he demanded I mind how I spoke to you and stay out of your relationship with him, because he wasn’t going anywhere.”
Panic settled in her bones. Those were fighting words if she’d ever heard them. Regina took a breath, letting calm spread throughout her being. Since Aléx was still in possession of all his faculties and his limbs, Regina was certain this heart-to-heart couldn’t have gone too terribly. Again, Reigna was the firecracker in the family. That was especially true when she was angry. And Reigna being told about herself where her twin sister was concerned was a sure-fire way to piss that woman off.
“Considering he’s still walking under his own power, I’m assuming you didn’t try to commit regicide at this meeting.” That got Regina a loud bark of laughter that broke the tension.
“Oh, I contemplated it.” Reigna’s huff was halfway between serious and “girl, you know I’m just teasing.” “I told him I don’t play about my sister. I also told him if he hurt you, he wouldn’t have to worry about Jasiri’s wrath. His pales in comparison when it comes to how I protect who and what’s mine.”
“Is that all you said?” Regina knew her sister, and this recitation of what had to be a heated exchange between Aléx and Reigna was all too polite as far as Regina was concerned.
“I told him, when it came to him hurting my sister, and I quote, ‘Please don’t fuck around and find out… Your Majesty.’”
Regina howled. Not that she condoned threatening people. However, since she’d made a similar threat to Jasiri regarding Reigna, Regina didn’t exactly have room to throw stones.
“If I told you that I wasn’t mad at what he dared to say to me, I’d be lying,” Reigna continued. “But it needed to be said. I hadn’t taken the time to really see that I was undermining you and not protecting you. For that, I’m rightly convicted and so terribly sorry. I owed you better, and your king made me see that.”
Regina marveled at the turn of the conversation. She’d expected this chat to have gone in an entirely different direction. But this was Aléx changing everything for her with great ease, apparently.
“Regina, if he was willing to fight me over a woman he’d just reconnected with after four months of no contact, he must really care about you. As much as I didn’t like his tone, I couldn’t be mad at him for protecting my sister better than I ever had. And please understand,” Reigna added quickly, “that is the only reason I didn’t lose my ever-loving mind and snap his neck.”
The line went quiet again as Regina processed everything her sister had said. What Aléx had done was brave, exceptionally ill-advised, but still brave nonetheless. Apparently, he’d truly meant it when he’d said he would put her first in all things.
“Are you happy, sister?”
Regina thought about Reigna’s question, and deep down, she knew the answer. Even if it didn’t make a lick of logical sense.
“Yes, sister, I am.”
“Then that’s all that matters to me. I want to be there. I want to stand up for you the way you stood up for me. Will you let me?”
Her eyes watered, and her heart swelled. Her sister was coming through for her, and damn if it didn’t have Regina all weepy and emotional. She was the logical twin, damn it. Why couldn’t she keep her eyes dry in her interactions with her sister as of late?
I wonder if sympathetic pregnancy emotions are a thing in twins?This had to be because of Reigna’s pregnancy. It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with her.
She’d have to look that up later and see if there was any science behind it. But right now, the only thing she managed was saying, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The ceremony had been quick and quiet, and now their very small gathering of close family was moving about, enjoying wedding cake and champagne. Regina was utterly alluring in her white two-piece pantsuit accented by a matching corset. Her curves were on display, and he wanted to peel that suit off her, but these people were still in the room, extinguishing any hope he had of consummating his marriage in this moment.
“I recognize that look.”
Aléx looked to his side to see Jasiri, his distant cousin and the current king of Nyeusi.
“And what look is that, Your Majesty?”
Jasiri leaned his broad body against the wall where Aléx stood, jostling him with an elbow nudge.
“The look that says you want everyone out because you can’t take your eyes off your bride.”
Jasiri wasn’t wrong. He rarely was. That was probably the most annoying thing about the man. That and his effortless carefree air that always made Aléx want to shake him.
“You would know. From the rumors, you didn’t leave Reigna’s side through all three of your receptions or your coronation on your wedding day.”
Jasiri nodded as he placed a forkful of cake in his mouth. “Exactly. And while you have that same hunger in your eyes, I have to wonder why you aren’t plastered against your wife. I smell a marriage of convenience.”
Aléx’s entire body stiffened at Jasiri’s words. Aléx wasn’t ashamed of why he’d married Regina. But he wouldn’t have anyone taking a cheap shot at her. Not even his royal cousin.
