“You’re going to be king. You can’t play these games anymore.”
“Games? What games am I playing?”
“I know you can’t help what you are, Julian. It’s why we have the crematorium, why we turn away from the things you do. It’s never touched us until now, but we told you if it did, I’d have to intervene.”
“And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
“I don’t want you seeing that boy anymore. This will taint him, even if he’s freed. But he will go home, and it’ll fade. If youget more involved, he may never go home. You may destroy him, Julian…it may destroy you.”
“You don’t get to tell me who I can and can’t be involved with. If you push Wynn away, if you make this difficult, I will end your reign before you’re ready—am I making myself clear?”
He sighed. “Son?—”
“Good-bye.” I disconnected the call.
Edward, thankfully, didn’t say anything. I knew my father could very well make this nearly impossible for me. He could send an order to have Wynn sent home, never to be allowed to return. If he did, I’d keep every promise I made. I’d destroy him—all of them if I had to.
The station wasn’t much farther. I had to make a call to my lawyer, or I should say the royal family’s attorney. Wynn was mine, and that meant he’d be protected as if it were me being held in that place.
Without another thought, I called and ordered the firm to get someone to the police station immediately. They didn’t question me, simply told me it would be done.
“Two minutes, Your Highness.”
I stared out the window, my mind shifting about, trying to figure out why the police believed Wynn had anything to do with her death. By the time we pulled up to the station, I was no closer to understanding the reasoning.
I waited in the car until Edward got the all-clear and he opened the door. I rushed inside and right up to the counter.
“Your Highness.” The officer paled.
“Where is Wynn Carter?”
“Wynn…” His eyes widened. “Oh,um.” He glanced behind him. “He’s in with Detectives Peters and Ridgeway.”
“Take me to him.”
The officer’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “I…Your Highness, I can’t do that.”
I glared, and his already pale face turned sickly. “Wynn Carter is not responsible for the death of Governor Rambles. He’s my partner; this is an insult to the royal family.”
“Oh, okay. Let me go and see if I can get one of the detectives to come out here and speak with you. My authority doesn’t stretch so far as to let you go in there. Sorry, Your Highness.”
I released a growly sigh. “Go on, then. Don’t keep me waiting.”
I watched as he practically ran down the hallway. I knew the lawyer was on the way, and for the sake of this police department and the detectives, they’d better get here soon.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Wynn
Right before Iwas pushed into the police car, Mark had shouted at me to say nothing until counsel arrived. I didn’t know what that meant because I had no lawyer coming for me. I could only hope Hannah would get a hold of Julian, and he’d help me get out of this mess.
“Hello, Mr. Carter. I’m Detective Peters of the Thrindell Police Department, and this is Detective Ridgeway of the Crellesia department. Can we get you something to drink—coffee, soda, water?”
Detective Peters was a petite woman with blond hair tied back in a ponytail; her cornflower blue eyes weren’t cruel and weren’t kind—she was here with a purpose. Detective Ridgeway was a tall man, lean, with red hair and piercing green eyes that glared at me as if he wanted me to burst into flames.
“No, nothing to drink. I think there’s been a misunderstanding, though.”
She hummed. “Has there? Well, here’s the thing, Mr. Carter. Several eyewitnesses said they saw you and the governor arguingat the state dinner, but that she warmed up to you later that evening. The governor’s babysitter told us she was excited because of a date the night she died, someone she met at the state dinner. See, Mr. Carter, you’re the only person at the state dinner that isn’t known to us. Everyone there was married, and with all this information, we believe not only did you see the governor that night, but you were still angry with her and strangled her to death in her own home.”
