“Right now, my father and mother don’t know you. They only know what’s been going on. Once they get to meet you, I have no doubt they will accept you and learn to like you. Probably more than they do me.”
“You’re their son. They love you.”
I shrugged. “They fear me. Which will make you an enigma to them.”
“Why?”
“I’ve never had a partner. Never dated, even. Sure, I have gone to galas and such with someone on my arm but it was usually a friend of the family, someone I fancied for a night. Nothing serious.”
Wynn bit his bottom lip. “And we’re serious?”
I gently pulled the lip from his teeth with my thumb. “I can’t tell if that’s a joke or not.”
“Sorta is. Last night, well, it doesn’t get more serious than that. Your approach with relationships isn’t normal and, well, there’s the fact that you kill people. You say you’ve chosen me, want to keep me, won’t let me leave, and it makes me wonder.”
“Wonder what?”
“What happens when you get sick of me? I know too much. There’s no way you or your family will let me just walk out of the castle and move on.”
I gripped his face in my hands, maybe a little more forcefully than I should have, but he needed to understand.
“Wynn, listen to me. Hear me. I will never tire of you. I will keep you always, and you’ll never want for anything, and if anyone ever tried to hurt you and take you away from me, I’d hunt them down and make them wish they’d never been born. No matter who it is. Do you understand me?”
He swallowed and tried to nod, but my grip was steadfast.
“Now, my family will be here soon. Let’s go find your friends and wait for them in the sitting room.” I pressed my lips tohis, wanting more than anything to show him right here on this couch how much I was obsessed with him, but time wasn’t currently my friend.
With a sigh, we rose, gathered his friends, and strolled into the sitting room. There was no hiding Wynn’s anxiety, so I held his hand in mine. Hannah and Mark talked a lot, and I knew it was for Wynn’s benefit, hoping to get his mind off meeting the family. It was almost effective until Brantly stepped into the room and announced my family’s arrival.
“Oh, God.” Wynn squeezed my hand.
“It’s going to be fine.” I kissed his knuckles and made a silent promise to destroy my family if they upset my Wynn.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Wynn
I was goingto make an ass out of myself—I was sure of it. I was staring at Hannah and Mark, hoping they’d be able to offer me some hope, but they looked as freaked out as I did.
Julian slipped his hand in mine. “Breathe.”
That was easy for him to say. He knew these people, had been raised by royalty. Me? My knowledge consisted of what I’d learned on television and in books. Not to mention, the king was putting his neck on the line for me even though I was innocent. He had to know Julian was the one who’d killed the governor, so perhaps that had something to do with it.
Brantly and Edward entered the sitting room and Julian rose, so Hannah, Mark, and I did the same.
I could only gawk as each family member entered. There was rich, and there was whatever they were. It wasn’t like they came in wearing gowns and tuxedos, but they emanated wealth and power and I was speechless. I hoped they didn’t want to actually talk to me.
A woman, clearly his mother, walked up to Julian and kissed each one of his cheeks. She then smiled at me….Shit.
“Hello, you must be Wynn Carter. I’m Victoria, Julian’s mother.”
Shit, shit, shit. Do I call her Victoria or Queen or…
“Don’t mind him, he’s kind of freaking out internally,” Julian offered.
“No need, dear. Please call me Victoria, if that’s what was confusing you?” Her expression was all knowing.
“Yes, that’s…” I held out my hand. “Wonderful to meet you.”
