“What is this, then?” A question he should know better than to voicenow.
Her smile went soft. “It’s love. And love doesn’t stop when it’s no longer convenient. This isn’t a battle we can fight for you, but we can stand at your back and support you while you fight it for yourself.”
The aching in his chest increased tenfold. In all his scenarios, he’d never once stopped to think that love might actually be the result. He’d loved Galen since they were kids. That relationship was as known to him as his own heartbeat, steady and sure and always present. Even when he sent Galen away, he never doubted their feelings for each other.
Meg was different.
She had a life that didn’t include him. She had goals and a plan that he didn’t factor into—goals and a plan that she’d staked her entire future happiness on.
When this started, he never planned on derailing her. He’d just wanted her and a window of time where they could all enjoy each other. Crossroads were supposed to be temporary, after all.
“You love me.”
“Yes.” So simple, that answer. No dicking around, no playing hard to get. She just met his gaze and gave him the one thing he never dared hope for. “And you love me, too.”
It was not a question, and why should it be? Of course he loved Meg. How could he not? “You know I do.”
“Yeah. I do.” She gave him another of those achingly sweet smiles and squeezed his hand. “You’ve got this, Theo. And we’ve got you.”
In front of them, Isaac slowed. They had reached the door to the palace.
It was time.
18
Meg fell into step next to Galen as Theo started up the stairs. Galen leaned down and took her hand, steadying her despite the fact her steps were sure. “Stay by me. Don’t say anything. Theo’s got this dog and pony show planned down to the last second, no doubt, but Phillip will lose his cool at some point and I may have to step in.”
He said it so casually, as if his protecting Theo was as second nature as breathing.That’s because it is.
She nodded and squeezed his hand, and then they were through the door at the top of the stairs and into another world.
Meg hadn’t had nearly as much time to examine Thalania when she and Galen were rushing to beat Theo there, and the tunnels were just tunnels. Impressive for their scope, but not particularly jaw-dropping.
The palace changed that.
She stopped short and took in the great domed ceiling, the tile beneath her feet that looked positively ancient despite being shined within an inch of its life, and the framed paintings lining the wall that had to be priceless. She recognized a few of the styles, though Meg had never been particularly into art. The factshe recognized them at all spoke to their value.This is where Theo grew up.This is where Galen’s spent the last decade and a half.
“This room used to have double the amount of art, but Theo’s mother thought it should be enjoyed, so she spread it out through the rest of the palace. After Mary died and Teddy remarried, Katherine kept things the way they were.” Galen gave her hand one last squeeze. “Stay close.”
Theo smoothed a hand down his shirt. He’d changed since they’d seen him last and now he wore slacks and a button-up. He glanced at her. “After this, we’ll talk. All three of us.”
Talk about the future.
She nodded, her heart a caged beast in her chest. Meg had meant every word she’d said to Galen, and every word she’d said to Theo. She loved them. She wanted to figure it out. Find some sort of compromise that wouldn’t drive them all insane.
It had to be possible.
She really, really hoped it was possible.
“Let’s go.” Theo led their strange little procession out of the room and down an equally impressive hall, its thick white walls making her think of the home in Greece they’d left not too long ago. But where Galen’s place was sparse and strangely comfy, this one radiated cold power. It was a reminder of how different the worlds they came from were.
And, for the first time, Meg just didn’t give a fuck.
Theo and Galen might have been raised completely different than her, but if she was going to fight so hard to scrub off her history, she would allow them to do the same. The only thing that mattered was the future. It had enough hurdles without her throwing a few more up because of her issues. She would likely never be comfortable with their wealth, but she was willing to try to get over the money stuff if it meant having these two men in her life.
She half expected him to lead her to an honest-to-god throne room, but the door Theo walked through ended in a glorified sitting room. The room held an array of chairs and couches that were all artfully arranged to create an intimate setting where deals were obviously made. Seven people filled them, four men and three women.
Meg automatically categorized them as she took up a position next to Galen, three steps behind Theo. The older man with the distinguished mustache was a good tipper, and he had kind eyes that didn’t quite mask the intelligence and ambition there. She would have pegged him as a CEO or someone high up in a corporate office based on that combined with his expensive suit. The two women under fifty looked at Theo as if he was a piece of prime rib that had been delivered specifically for them. The older woman had to be approaching ninety, but from the other six’s body language, she was the one to watch. The final three men were cast from the same mold—rich and ambitious—though they couldn’t look more different in their coloring, ranging from pale and blond to dark brown skin and black hair.
