CHAPTER THREE
Callin
I was striding up the stairs to my room after seeing Andrea out. She was leaving with her family in their car, looking a bit stricken by what happened between us. I was a lot for a woman to handle so I decided that there was no need to settle down with just one. I’d sample the goods and if one got to me enough, I might make her mine. Mom wanted us married with kids, so she could have the heirs to the castle once she was gone, particularly since Dad was close to death. I hated thinking about that. He was a good man if not too much of a leader at times. We had good memories of him from when we were kids. We were always aware of our place in the country, but my parents had some tender moments with us.
“Callin.” I recognized her voice and turned slowly, waiting for the usual question.
“Yes, mother?” I asked as I sensed my brother nearby. We were close and had a sometimes-eerie connection.
“Did you like Andrea? She seems like a wonderful young woman,” Mom said as I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
“Very nice girl. I don’t want to marry her though.”
Mom sighed, dropping her hands to her side.
“You’re twenty-one now, Callin. Your brother is two years older. We need to have heirs for this castle and this life.” Mom looked sad for a moment and a twinge of guilt hit me. I knew that she’d lost twins shortly after we were born; a boy and a girl.
“Plenty of time, Mom. I don’t want to spend my life with a snobby socialite, smiling for the parties and dinners.” Her eyes hardened as she looked at me. “Let it happen on its own. I meet a lot of girls and I’m sure one will be a good fit.” I didn’t add that Andrea was a great fit for the time we were fucking in my room. Mom knew that Braden, and I enjoyed women while not looking to settle down with any of them.
“I’m going to sit with your father. Hopefully he eats some soup tonight.” Her voice was cold as she turned and walked down the hallway that led to the room that he was living in now. Dad got sick several times over the last few months and each time made him weaker. He was just in a room on antibiotics to keep him stable and pills to help him sleep. Nothing more could be done for him at this point. I tried to go see him when I could, but it was difficult for me and Braden.
I turned to walk upstairs, seeing Braden standing at the end of the hall.
“How did you like Kendra?” I asked, referring to Andrea’s sister. He smirked, and I walked up the steps, joining him in the room that we had set aside for our man cave. There was a big TV on the wall and several gaming systems set up from since we were kids. I went to the fridge against the wall and pulled two beers from it, taking a seat near him on the couch.
“Probably as long as you liked her sister. They were hot but screamed high society.” He replied as I nodded. We were high society, but we wanted more to life than the kingdom. I wanted adventure and memories. “Mom is breathing down my damn neck.”
“Mine, too. I’m not ready for that shit.” I sipped from the bottle and leaned back. “I want to go away. I need a vacation.”
“Not with the Summer Ball coming up. We’ll need to make an appearance.” Braden reminded me as he popped open his own beer. We chatted for a bit while we caught up on sports. We both ran in the morning along with a long hour in the gym, but I wasn’t ready to sleep. I still felt restless despite my tryst with Andrea in my room.
“I saw the new girl earlier tonight. I was coming out to take a call after I was with Kendra and she was rushing upstairs. She looked like she’d seen a ghost.” I glanced at him.
“Freya, right? Mom did a great job of picking someone we wouldn’t want to sleep with. You’d think she learned with Brandy.” We both laughed, and I shook my head. We both got the lecture not to even look at the new seamstress the wrong way from Mom as well as a few other staff members. Freya was gorgeous with her bright red hair and deep forest green eyes. Her skin was pale, and she looked incredibly innocent.
“I heard that she was the best for miles. She worked somewhere making clothes or something like that. Helen was talking about her.” Braden shrugged. “You know Mom and her clothes.”
I preferred shopping for my clothes along with Braden. Mom wanted hers created for her. She wanted to be the only one in the room wearing that outfit. Her ball gowns were famous across the city and she was written about often in the paper. I think that some girls wanted to latch onto us because of her at times. Mom knew how to charm people when needed and everyone flocked to her when we were out of the castle.
While we were royalty, it was more of the modern kind. We still had the highest power in all of Venice but with a whole host of lawyers, advisors, and assistants. It wasn’t like the old days when people were hung after a quick trial. Dad didn’t make decisions like that and now that he’d fallen ill, Mom let all of those under her handle any situation. She was very much the one to host the parties and the dinners and make appearances around town. She was the trophy wife on Dad’s arm.
It was an arranged marriage after all. I was glad that died after their wedding. Mom would love to pick our wives, but it wasn’t going to happen.
I glanced at the clock on the wall and groaned.
“I have an early run. See you in the morning?” I asked as Braden nodded. He flicked the TV off and finished his beer before following me to the hall. Our rooms were at opposite ends of the hallway, offering us privacy. I walked into mine, glancing at the messy bed as I walked to the bathroom. I showered under the hot water for a long time, rinsing the sex from my body before slipping into boxers to sleep in. I slipped under the covers and stared at the ceiling as the light breeze fluttered my light curtains. It would be hot soon. We’d have parties with friends and time on our boat on the water.
I thought about the redhead sleeping on the floor above me. Based on the look on her face when we passed her to go into the castle, she was attracted to us. It was hard not to be. I knew how women responded to me and my brother well by now. Freya seemed interested as well as intimidated by us and Helen was a total cock blocker. She’d ridden our asses before when we got involved with Brandy. Mom loved her designs.
I went for a jog as the sun was rising alongside my brother. We enjoyed the cool air and quiet of the morning. There was plenty of acreage for us to enjoy privacy but sometimes we went down to the road that led to our castle. We lived high above a lush forest that offered trails and various ponds and streams. It was gorgeous, and we managed to get down there sometimes. It was gated being our property, but Mom always told us that we couldn’t be too careful.
When we came back in the house. I smelled breakfast. Helen always made something for Mom and if we were here, we’d eat as well. Helen was a fantastic cook, and I’d never turn down her food. I poked my head in the kitchen to greet her, watching as the staff looked my way.
“What’s for breakfast, Helen? It smells great.” I asked as she poured me a cup of coffee and walked it over to me.
“Your favorite, Callin. French toast and fresh sausage.” She smiled at me, having been in my life since I was a kid.
“Perfect.” I glanced over the staff, not seeing red hair. Freya was the seamstress and Mom would keep her busy. I hoped that she’d get a chance to eat during the day. “I’ll be in the living room.” I held up my cup and walked out, heading to the couch where the papers were stacked up on the table. I liked to keep up on the world since I was royalty, thought the speculation about Dad irritated me. He was my father, and I hated that it was the talk of the town. Losing him would destroy everyone and Braden would be the new King, with me next in line.
I glanced up as Braden joined me, reaching for another paper.
“We’re on the front page,” I told him in a low voice as we shared a look. Braden read the headline about Dad and let out a sigh. He wasn’t ready for this and I sipped my coffee as I looked at him. We hadn’t been out of the house too much since he grew worse. I didn’t want to be hounded by the press and even the best security couldn’t keep them at bay. My runs were the best part of my day right now.
Mom came into the room and we rose to greet her. I might not always agree completely with her, but she was my mother. I kissed her cheek and asked her how she was doing, inhaling the scent of her expensive perfume. She’d been wearing it for years.
“I’m fine. I have to go to a luncheon today.” She was dressed in ivory silk slacks and a pale pink shirt that was tucked in. Her makeup was flawless, and I realized that my mom looked the same as she did when we were born. I was sure that there was some work involved in that, but she was beautiful either way. Her light blonde hair was in a bun at her neck. I rarely saw Mom not looking this perfect.