“My children can’t lose another mother.”
“They won’t.”
“If it’s not real, why is it one thing after the other? Why are they all happening to her?”
“I don’t have an answer for you, but there is no satisfactory reply. What if I said, yes, it’s real? What will that change? You said you weren’t going to let it control you again, and now you have to prove that to Bellamy and to your children.”
“I brought her into my life. I did this to her.”
“Sebastian, what is that going to change or fix? You just said you love her more than your life, and she’s the mother of your children. She’s part of this now. No changing that. But she’s so strong. A fucking fighter like no other.”
He nods slowly, pacing in a small circle. “You know, there might not be a way to break this thing. If that’s so, then my children will be subject to this.”
“Sebastian…” I trail off. He’s scared. I know that. I can’t imagine his riotous or violent emotions right now. I’m positive that if I were him, if I were the king and my wife and children were at risk, I’d be much worse off than he is. I’d be losing my mind to the tenth degree. “What can I do? Name it. I’ll do anything.”
He stops, and his eyes meet mine, resolute and intense. “I want Marie found. I want the tiara returned. I want to know what happened to our sister. If we can do all of that, perhaps we have a shot at ending this. But with so much unresolved, maybe my loving Bellamy wasn’t enough. Maybe we have to close the loopholes and put that chapter to rest.”
“I’ve thought the same thing,” I admit.
He scrubs his hands up his face, releases a strained breath, and heads for Bellamy’s room. “I won’t be home tonight.”
“I know. I intend to spoil your children.”
He twists back to me. “Thank you. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“Can I see her?”
“Yes, but she’s in a gown and very out of it with the medication they’re giving her.”
“I won’t stay long. I just want to give her a kiss on the forehead. Then I’ll go.”
“Rowan.” He stops, his hand on the lever of the door. “We need to find out who Marcella is. I feel you’re right about her, but I also believe those who sent her won’t stay hidden for long, and we need to be a step ahead of them.”
“I’m on it,” I promise, feeling a pang of guilt. I don’t want to let her go. I want to hold on with both hands. But this is about a hell of a lot more than just me. It always was. It’s easy to forgetthat when I’m with her or hear her voice. But the time for playing around is over.
Bellamy was pretty outof it, as Sebastian said, flushed and complaining of being hot. The nurse who was in there said the medicine prevents seizures, which is terrifying to even think of. They’re also debating if they’re going to give her a transfusion. Sebastian climbed into bed beside Bellamy and held her, which was a relief. I know his instinct is to pull away to protect her, but he’s not, and I give him credit for that.
If what happened with Charlotte taught him anything, it’s that they are in this together and he won’t be parted from her again.
The moment I get home, I change into swim trunks and go out to the pool. The kids are running around, having a contest to see who can make the biggest splash. Althea is sitting in the shade, and I head toward her even as my focus is glued to the woman wearing the most basic and boring bathing suit on the planet and yet somehow managing to make it look sexy with the hint of her breasts trapped beneath the fabric and her blonde hair twisted on top of her head in a messy bun.
She glances up when the kids call out to me. I throw kisses and waves at my nieces and nephew and a smile at the pretty blonde who is trying to show just how unaffected she is by my shirtlessness. Newsflash: She’s failing. I wink at her, and she rolls her eyes and returns to the children.
“You’re drooling, Rowan.”
I chuckle under my breath. “I see there are no secrets in this palace.”
“Sebastian told me about her, so I would keep extra close watch.”
I take the chaise beside her and toss an arm behind myhead. I can’t blame him for telling Althea. In fact, I could use her wisdom.
“What do I do?”
“I’ll admit, I haven’t spent a lot of time with her,” she says, keeping her voice low so it doesn’t carry. “I looked into her family. Or at least the family she claims to have come from.”
“And?”
“And her documents are pristine, Rowan. They passed our every inspection.”
