Page 58 of Fit for a King

I could make something up. Hell, I could demand it. I was the king, for God’s sake.

“Ah, yes. Now the idea is forming, isn’t it?”

I arched a brow at my annoyingly perceptive brother. “Are you going to be this irritating all night?”

Gabriel got to his feet and smoothed down his jacket. “I plan to have a couple more drinks, so probably?”

I shook my head as I walked toward the door, but Gabriel quickly moved in front of it to block it.

“Just tell me so I don’t die of curiosity—are you going to invite him into your car?”

“I guess you’ll have to go and have a chat with the staff after I leave to find out,” I said, and shoved him aside. “You know, the ones you’re on a first-name basis with?”

“No need to get snarky, brother. Let’s go get some food into you. You have a big day tomorrow.”

I shook my head and opened the door, and as we stepped out into the hall and the guard there straightened his shoulders, we once again became the King and Prince of Valoria. Not twin brothers cooking up a scheme.

But I couldn’t help my smile as I thought about what tomorrow—and even the next two weeks—might bring.

19

NOAH

IREALIZED I was in trouble the moment Baxter directed me to the king’s car. My limited belongings had already been packed up earlier that morning, and I was following the line of staff heading to our dedicated vehicles to begin the two-week tour of Valoria with the king when I was summoned by the head butler.

Without a word, he led me to the glossy black car with tinted windows so dark you couldn’t see inside. The one with the small Valorian flag fixed to the front. The king’s private car.

My stomach dropped as Baxter opened the door. What was he doing?

“Is there a problem, Mr. Bennett?” he said.

Yes, there was a problem. A huge, glaring one. Why was he holding open the door to the king’s car like he expected me to take a seat?

But I knew better than to question my superior, so I said, “No, sir.”

“His Majesty requested that you accompany him for this leg of the trip.”

Oh my God. He hadn’t.

Was he out of his mind? Apparently our rendezvous in the secret passage and almost getting caught by Gabriel hadn’t been enough of a risk, and now I was supposed to ride beside the king across the country and pretend I didn’t know what his mouth on mine felt like?

This was a terrible idea.

But I nodded at Baxter and stepped inside the dark interior, and the door shut behind me with a soft click.

As my eyes adjusted, I took a steadying breath. The car just smelled expensive, like leather and polished wood…and Nicholas. It instantly had my heart beating faster as he came into view. He’d unbuttoned his jacket but looked so regal and untouchable that I found myself taking the seat opposite him. Professional distance and all, which was laughable considering our knees were only inches away from each other.

“Your Majesty,” I said.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “That’s how we’re beginning?”

“This is a public tour, sir.”

“We’re currently in my private car.”

“With a driver and security. Not to mention the motorcade and the other staff, which is where I should be.”

“You should be where I want you to be, and it’s not sitting opposite me, Noah.”