“Which one?” I held the two ties toward Elena. “It’s bullshit I have to wear a tie to have dinner with my brother.”

She approached, eyeing the options. She poked at the deep blue. “This one.” She lifted my collar for me to loop it around my neck. “It’s your first meeting with your sister-in-law since she became queen. Wear the tie. The king will be insulted otherwise.”

I stepped forward to make the knot.

“You know in rehab I wore T-shirts. There were no suits or tuxes. And I sure as hell didn’t miss my military uniform. Life is simpler in a T-shirt and jeans.”

“You can’t wear a T-shirt to dinner, and definitely not jeans.”

I lifted the jacket from its hanger. “I know.” I huffed.

“Ok. Well if that’s all you need, I think I’ll leave for the night. Enjoy the dinner with your family. I know they are excited to have you home.”

“Wait? You’re leaving?”

“Do you need something?” she asked, spinning in front of the door.

“True, but you’re always here. When I get home. You’re here.” I shoved my hands in my pockets.

“That was different. I don’t think it’s necessary for me to be here at night when you get in because… well…”

“You can say it, Elena. You were here to keep me from getting so fucking hammered I couldn’t see straight.”

She blinked. “I wouldn’t put it that way, but yes.”

“You don’t have to tip-toe around it. I was a drunk. A royal drunk.”

She shifted on her heels. Damn. I caught an eyeful of long, lean legs. I brought my eyes upward, begrudgingly. I wanted to follow the lines of her smooth legs toward her ass.

“But you aren’t anymore.” She smiled. “Let’s focus on that today.”

“Was there ever a time you were here at night that you weren’t grabbing a drink from my hand?” I prodded.

The nights before rehab had never been stored in my memory. It was as if I wasn’t really there. I didn’t have memories of stumbling in, clambering across the bar for more booze. But I knew I did. I had the hangovers to prove it.

“Sometimes,” she whispered.

“What I must have put you through, Elena.” I shook my head.

“It’s all right, your majesty.”

“No. It’s not. It never was all right.” I rubbed the side of my jaw. “I’m lucky I didn’t lose you in this mess. I don’t know of any royal managers who would put up with my behavior. I’m truly sorry. You could have transferred a long time ago.”

“You’re better now. I’d rather focus on that. Spain was good for you.” Her smile was sad.

“Chess?” I blurted.

“Excuse me?”

“Chess. Tonight after my family dinner. Would you like to play?”

She shook her head. “I don’t really play.”

“Ok. You choose something else. I need to make healthy habits, according to my sessions with Dr. Garcia. You can help me start something new.”

“Surely, you’d rather spend time with Prince Henri or Prince Broderick.”

I sighed. “I guess I could go to the Titan instead. Maybe there’s a gala tonight.”

“No!” Elena leapt forward.

I chuckled. “I was kidding. I’m not about to start boozing and bidding on women. At least not on the first night home.”

Her eyes were hard. “Not a funny joke.”

I shrugged. “Humor is the best way to heal, I’ve found. But I’d rather start something new at night with you than rely on my brothers and their bad habits. Look what happened to Alaric. He bid who knows how much at that gala and ended up with a wife.”

“You’re asking for my help? To keep you out of trouble?”

“Yes. No.” I walked toward her. “Maybe I want to undo those memories you have of me and replace them with something else.”

I saw the color rise on her cheeks. It was sort of adorable. I cocked my head to the side. Did Elena always do that?

“I have a lot of history to re-write, Elena. I’m sure you’re not the only person in the palace who saw me drunk. There are a lot of people here who need to know I’ve changed. I’m a different man. You can understand that, right?”

Her eyes closed, and for a second I wished they were open so I could study the flecks of blue. I didn’t remember them being so fascinating before. They sparkled every time she blushed.

She sighed. “Yes. I can understand.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you tonight.” I picked up the dinner jacket. “I have to welcome the queen into the family.” I brushed past her. “With my tie,” I mocked.

* * *

The royal guard ushered me onto the elevator as soon as I approached the entrance for my brother’s apartments.

The doors retracted and I was deposited in the massive foyer.

“Brother.” Alaric rushed over and slapped me on the back. I knew I’d never seen him look happy and relaxed like this before. It was true then. Finding a mate could settle the beast within.

He was usually a man with a deep scowl on his face.

“You remember Eden.” He gestured next to him.

“Of course.” I grinned, embracing my new sister-in-law. “How are you, your majesty.”

She laughed. “Please don’t call me that.” She looked at Alaric. “I’m not really used to the royal stuff. I don’t think the title suits me.”

“Royal stuff.” I laughed. Dinner wasn’t going to be as boring as I thought.

“Come on.” Alaric lead me to the dining room. “Eden planned this whole thing out for you.”

“I hope that means it’s going to be an American meal. I could go for a cheeseburger.”

“It is a little bit of everything.”

I noticed the bar in the dining room was bare. “No bourbon, brother?”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t need it.”

I stopped short of my chair. “I’m probably going to have to say it a thousand times, but you can drink around me. You too.” I eyed Eden. “I can handle it. I swear. I won’t be offended.”

I saw Eden’s hesitation. She bit her lip. Her eyes were on Alaric.

“What? What is it? I’m serious. Drink you two. Champagne. Eden, what do you like? I’ll order something for you.”

Alaric took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “We have some news to tell you. But I thought maybe we’d save it for dessert. At least get past the salad.”

“I’m listening.” I eyed them.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Shit. Congratulations.” I walked out from the chair and hugged my brother.

I kissed Eden on the cheek. “That’s great news. I’m happy for you. A cub here in the palace.”

Alaric put an arm around his wife. “We haven’t told anyone. Eden’s parents know, but that’s it.”

“And they’ve been sworn to secrecy,” she added. “I don’t think a royal baby is big news to their neighbors in South Carolina, but still, we’d like to wait before we announce it.”

“So Wallace doesn’t know?” I asked.

“God no. He still hasn’t recovered from the wedding.”

“Sorry I missed that.”

“It’s ok.” Eden smiled. “What you were doing was more important.”

Alaric held the chair for Eden and they took their seats. One of the waiters walked in with the first course. We were quiet for a moment, while they poured water and tea. There was something freeing about Eden knowing our family secret. We kept it hidden from everyone inside these walls. No one knew. Not even Elena. But now Eden had been brought into the fold—she was one of us. At least in name. She was a Marquis.

“I wanted to give you a chance to digest the information before we told Wallace, or Mother.” He eyed me.

“Why?” My fingers twitched. I didn’t know if I had the instinct to drink because there was something to celebrate, or the natural craving to drown the guilt that had surfaced.

“Naturally, your succession to the thrown has been altered.”

“Right. That.” It wasn’t the most pressing issue I had. But tonight’s news had changed a lot of things.

“And once Wallace knows, documents will be drawn up. He is going to want to set up protocol in case something happens to either Eden or me. It’s going to become a damn ordeal.”

“Always is with him.”

Eden reached for her water. “We’re hoping to keep the news just in the family as long as we can.”

“I won’t say anything.”

“I knew I could count on you.” Alaric held up the glass of water.

It was bullshit toasting with water. But I pushed my glass forward.

“To the new royal.” I smiled at Eden.

“Thank you.”

After dinner I followed Alaric to the balcony. He pulled a pair of cigars from his jacket.

“These are all right, aren’t they?”

I took one. “Yeah. I can handle a cigar.”

I smelled the unique blend. I knew my brother had paid a few hundred for these.

“Eden can’t stand the smell. I’ll shower after this.”

“Well, she is pregnant. Isn’t that one of the side effects?”

He laughed. “I’m learning it is.”

We leaned against the marble railing. “Can you fucking believe this?” he asked. “I’m going to be someone’s father.”

I shook my head. “Hard to believe.” I stared at the lights on the shore. We all had great views, but Alaric’s was phenomenal.

The letter was still pressed inside my jacket. I had every chance to tell him, but his news crushed it. The timing was off. I couldn’t bring it up on a night like this.

He chewed the end of his cigar. “Married. Baby. King. Who the fuck am I?” He turned to me.

“All those things now.” I hated that I came home to so much change. I had missed my big brother’s wedding.

“You think it takes the pressure off for you?” he asked.

“Not being next in line?” I twirled the cigar. “I never thought about it to be honest. I’ve never been heir material.”

“I want you to be…” he stopped. “If something happens. And I’ll make sure this is covered in whatever damn paperwork or royal decree Wallace comes up with. If anything happens to us…” Alaric inhaled. “Will you raise our child?”

I huffed. “You can’t be serious. I’m the drunk uncle.”

“No, you’re not. You’re my brother. And Galona is as much yours as it is mine. I need to know someone will help him or her rule. You were dealt a rough hand, brother. And you’ve fought like hell to come out on the other side. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t have complete faith that you’re going to keep fighting. Will you be there? Will you be that person? Can you teach my son how to face his bear and humanity if that time comes?”

“Alaric, if this is some kind of psychological hook to keep me from drinking again, it doesn’t work like that. You can’t dangle something like your child’s life in front of me and think that will make the difference.” I swallowed. He didn’t know what the thing was that made me crave sobriety more than I craved whiskey.

“It’s not,” he hissed. “I need to know that if I drop dead like Dad did, that my wife and child will be safe. That you’ll take care of them. That I’m not leaving them alone to defend themselves in front of the court or the country. I need that. I need to know my mate and cub are safe. Forever.”

We never talked about him. We never talked about his death. But I understood the fear that ran through my brother now. Alaric was fearless. What did death matter when there was no one to leave behind? But with a pregnant wife, death had suddenly become the only thing he could think about.

I knew that feeling.

Our father had died so unexpectedly, it had left its mark on all of us. We were bound to be scarred in some way for the rest of our lives.

I clasped my hand on his shoulder. “I will take care of them. I’d be honored.”

He let out a long breath. “Good.”

“But really, I’m just going to hand the kid off to Juliette.”

We laughed. Why was she still in Spain?

We turned to the shore again. “It’s good to be home.”

“I told Elena to start the schedule light. She knows how to ease you back into things, but I didn’t want her to have pressure from the crown.”

Oh shit. I needed to get back to my apartments. Elena was waiting. A flash of her legs was the first thing I thought of.

I tossed the two-hundred dollar cigar in a nearby flower pot. “I’ll tell Eden thank you for dinner on my way out.”

“You can stay. Catch up.”

“It’s been a long day. I woke up in rehab and I’m going to bed in the palace. I need to wrap my head around that.”

Alaric walked toward me, putting his arms around me.

“I don’t want you to ever go back there.”

I stared at him. “I won’t. I can promise you that.”