He would have gotten on it, with no clear intention but to see her again, get his hands on her again, but he’d received an email from Alexandre that day about some party in Alis he wanted Gabriel to attend.
Gabriel had canceled the plane immediately, gone to the insufferable party and thought of Evelyne the whole time.
But he knew what would happen if he ever went back to her. He would not be able to resist. Because separation had not dulled this obsession. He thought of her, dreamed of her, cursed her.
Wanted her with every breath, like she had become the very air he needed to survive. It was insanity, this warped thing inside him. Because he could think of nothing, feel nothing, want nothing but her.
He would not allow it to tear him apart a second time. Perhaps it felt different from before. He thought more ofherthan avenging her.
But at its heart it was the same, so what did it matter?
When his phone rang one night as he tried to convince himself to go out, find a woman, he saw the screen readAlexandreand he answered it, teeth gritted. He felt an immeasurable guilt every time he spoke to his friend that did not go away with time or separation from Evelyne.
“Alex.”
“You must come at once,” Alexandre said with no preamble. “And I cannot explain until you get here.”
So, quite against his will, Gabriel flew to Alis that very night, because Alexandre had not sounded himself, and it worried Gabriel. He arrived in the dead of night, and it was Alex himself who let him into the palace.
The princeneveranswered the palace doors.
“What is it?” Gabriel demanded on a hushed whisper—the dark, silent halls around them seemed to demand it. Everything felt wrong, but Alex vibrated with a strange kind of energy.
He leaned in close. “My father is dead,” he whispered.
Gabriel wasn’t sure he understood the words. “I beg your pardon?”
“We have not made it public yet. The doctors thought they’d be able to save him at the eleventh hour, but he took his last breath right before I called you. I have much to do. A million arrangements to make.” He raked a hand through his hair, an almost never seen movement of being overwhelmed from the pri—theking.
Because the old king was dead. Enzo was…dead. It felt impossible, but Gabriel knew he had to be more than shocked. Alexandre had called him for a reason. For help. He would jump to do whatever Alex required.
“What can I do?”
Alex turned to him as if he just remembered he’d been the one to call him here. “You must bring Evelyne home.”
Ice slid through Gabriel’s veins. Evelyne. Home. He had to clear his throat to speak. “I’ll send for her.”
“No. No, you must fetch her. This is delicate. I have taken the oath, but until the coronation happens, things are very complicated. Especially with the general. I want her here for the coronation, but I do not want it to be publicized. Not yet. You must go get her and bring her here without anyone in the palace knowing. Ensure she is safe. We will not make the announcement until she is here.”
“Are you certain…” Gabriel wasn’t sure what he meant to ask, so he only trailed off, not sure how to proceed.
Alex laughed. Not a joyful sound, but not a bitter one. Just a kind of wondering. “He just…keeled over in front of me after dinner.”
Gabriel said nothing, let Alex talk. Clearly he needed to say it, accept it.
“He was talking to me, muttering about some slight handed to him by some diplomat. He was planning a war.” Alexandre shook his head. “And then he put a hand to his head, complained of a headache and just…crumpled. The doctors believe it was a stroke.” Alex looked around the darkened entryway as if seeing it for the first time. “He is truly dead, Gabriel. I saw it for myself. A stroke.”
“A stroke of luck, perhaps.”
“I suppose,” Alex agreed. He was looking into the dark shadows of the hall. His voice was very quiet, very tortured when he spoke. “He lay there, Gabriel, and I did not want to call for help.”
“And why should you?” Gabriel returned, knowing his friend needed assurance, comfort, even as Gabriel’s mind whirled with thoughts of Evelyne. “But you did call for help. There were doctors. So there is nothing to concern yourself over,” he said fiercely, because he could see Alex doubting himself and it would not do.
One of them was a good person, and one of them was not. Alex would always be the good. Gabriel…never now.
“I suppose.” Alexandre shook his head, as if to scatter unwanted thoughts. His gaze zeroed in on Gabriel again. “You must bring Evelyne safely home, Gabriel. As quickly as possible. I want my family together. To usher in a new era for Alis. A good one.”
Good. God, Gabriel hoped so, but first he had to face Evelyne.
