Everly

The tabloids have gone crazy, searching for any story they could get on Sage and me, or what his father was going to do. It’s been a few days, and we have yet to hear any official ruling either way.

We’ve been lying low, staying at the hotel we booked on our wedding night and enjoying the lives of newlyweds. At least there’s one good thing in our life right now. I almost don’t want all of this to be resolved. I’m enjoying being with Sage with just him and I. In here we get to be ourselves and not once have we had to worry about being seen or photographed. I knew it couldn’t last though.

He wasn’t kidding when he told the crowd he would do community service, so today we set up a time to visit the Boys and Girls Club.

As we left the hotel, he spoke to the news stations asking them politely to respect the privacy of the kids and not to videotape him at the facility. This was not about him or us. It was about playing with the children and being who he wanted to be—on his terms.

He may have told them this was his community service from the fire, but I know the truth. This is nowhere near a punishment for him. This was the kind of thing he loved to do, and I have a feeling we’ll be visiting here more often even after he’s finished.

As we entered, the kids all huddled around him, looking at him in absolute awe. When they put together a game of soccer, I seriously thought Sage’s face was going to split with happiness.

As I sit on a bench under a shade tree watching my husband play with eleven kids of different ages, nothing but joy brightens my world. I can’t help but grin to myself at how crazy these past few weeks have been. Then I look at him and butterflies swarm within me, something I’ve only ever felt with him.

He truly is the entire package. Of course he’s gorgeous, but the real him, what’s on the inside, is what I’m truly in love with.

My mom was, of course, elated when she heard the news, and she came to the hotel to meet us for dinner last night. She was a little star struck, and I had to keep hitting her leg to stop her from staring at Sage. He would laugh it off, teasing her by saying he was her son now.

A laugh escapes my lips at the memory, but it’s short lived when I hear someone approach me from the side.

“This is your doing, isn’t it?” I hear a man growl.

I turn to see King William staring down at me.

I stand nervously. “No, sir. I had nothing to do with this. This is who your son really is. With or without me, this is what he wants to do with his life.”

“You’ve made a mess of my monarchy. We had it all lined up. He was to marry Marie, and everything would have been the way it should be.”

“Way it should be?” I raise my voice slightly then stop myself from getting angrier. “He would have been miserable. You would honestly be okay with that?”

“What are you doing here?” Sage runs up, putting his arm around me protectively.

“I heard you were here. We need to talk,” William replies.

“So you come here? In front of everyone?” Sage questions.

By now the kids have all gathered around us, and when I glance to the fence, I notice news stations setting up their shot.

“What’s your name, young man?” King William leans down to the little boy.

I glance at Sage, confused, and he drops his head down in frustration.

“I’m Liam.” The little boy beams with pride as he holds out his hand to shake the king’s.

“Well, Liam. Are you having fun with Prince Sage here?” William asks, his voice a tad higher than when he spoke to me.

“Yes! We are. He taught me how to bounce the ball on my knee. Want to see?”

“Of course I do.”

The little boy steps away from us and bounces the ball on his knee just how Sage showed him earlier.

“Well done, Liam. Well done.” William claps his hands together.

Sage steps closer to him and grits out, “You are not turning this into a photo op.”

William narrows his eyes ever so slightly. “Of course I am. I know what little game you’re playing, but I play it better.”

“This isn’t a game. I like this. I want to be here,” Sage whisper-shouts to his father.

“Then you better enjoy it because your time is limited.” He turns to the little boy. “I’m sorry I could only stop by for a minute. You have fun now, you hear.”

Without another word to Sage or me, he turns to leave, and my stomach lurches itself firmly into my throat.

“What just happened?” I ask, still at a loss for what transpired.

“That’s good ole Dad. Isn’t he wonderful?” Sage asks sarcastically.

“Why was he here?”

“To put on a public show of course.” He points to the cameras. “And to piss me off. I swear that’s his favorite thing to do.”

“But why?”

“Hell if I know.”

“What’s going to happen, Sage? Can he really banish us?”

“I won’t let that happen. I promise. We just have to beat him at his own game.”

* * *

Sage

My phone dings with a text message from my mom.

I’m sorry. You know I did all I could. I love you.

I stare at it. Confused. This isn’t like her, and anger creeps up my spine, knowing this has something to do with my father.

“Sage?” Everly asks when she sees me staring at my phone, scowling at the screen.

“Something’s up.” I stand, searching for the remote in the suite we’re staying in.

I click the power button and start flipping the channels to see if I can figure out what’s going on. Not to my surprise, I quickly find my father standing behind a podium, addressing the nation.

“I want to publically apologize for the behavior of my son recently. His mother and I are disappointed and ashamed of the boy we raised.” Dad tilts his head down, putting on a show of emotion that I know goddamn well is fake.

“I hate to have to admit this, but this is why we have kept him out of the limelight for so many years.”

“That’s bullshit!” I growl at the television, having to clench my fists, so I don’t throw them at the wall.

“We thought if we sent him to boarding school and got him the best tutors and teachers that he would learn to be more of a man, someone you would be proud to call your king, but I’m here today to say I’ve”—he looks to my mother—“we’ve failed our country.”

I stare at my mom as she sits there, lifeless. How dare he do this! Not only to me but also to her. This is all a fucking lie, and she’s standing by his side, not saying a word.

He continues, “I know you all saw the silly show he put on the other day where he supposedly married Miss Everly Stanley. I’m here to let you all know that not only was their marriage not sanctioned, but it is also null and void.”

Everly grabs my arm, “Is it really?”

“No. It’s not. I promise, and I have all the paperwork to prove it. He’s lying.”

“Will they believe him?”

“Of course they will. He’s King William. People treat him like a God. Fuck me, if only they knew what a slimeball he is.”

We turn our attention back to the screen. “I hereby say, from this day forward, my son is no longer my son. His mother and I are banishing him from the country. My daughter, Mya, will become the queen in training immediately since there is no longer a royal son to take my place.”

I stand, throwing my phone on the bed and pacing the room. When I see Everly, she’s stunned and standing frozen. I grab her shoulders, leaning down to meet her vision, calming my breath so I can make sure she’s okay.

“I did this?” she whispers in disbelief.

“You did nothing,” I try to reassure her.

“Sage. This is all because of me. How can you say that?”

“Because I know my father and deep down I bet he’s happy he finally gets to kick me to the curb. It would have happened sooner or later because without you I never would have married and I’d be out anyway.”

When her eyes meet mine, they are saturated with unshed tears.

I run my fingers through the back of her head, holding her steady with my gaze. “Do you love me?”

She nods her head. “I do, Sage. I love you. So very much.”

“Then that’s all that matters. Love always prevails. This fight isn’t over.”