Chapter Twenty-Two

Elias wanted a mint, a nap, and to go on a four-day bender.

Instead, he straightened his tie—and his spine—as he entered Christian’s office.

Was this what other people felt like before an audience with the prince? Jumpy? Nervous? Because the coffee he’d been mainlining for almost three days straight since the attack had his gut in spasms.

Or it was because he and his best friend hadn’t cleared the air yet? They’d had their worst fight of all time and not resolved anything. And then he’d gone and let the prince’s sister-by-proxy get shot. Not to mention how he’d hurt Kelsey by pushing her away. How much he’d hurt himself with that action, no matter how necessary.

Worst. Week. Ever.

“You summoned me, Your Highness?” That was new, too. The prince never sent for Elias. He just texted him to get his ass up here.

Until now.

“Yes.” Christian stood and buttoned his suit jacket. “Thank you for coming so promptly.”

Was this what they’d come to? Polite prattle? “Well, your wish is literally my command, Your Highness.”

“Do take a seat.” Christian gestured to the chair across the desk. The chair used for other people who hadn’t laughed and drank and trained and sailed and stood by the man through thick and thin.

Damn it, Elias wasn’t giving up on their decades of friendship that easily. He knew he’d fucked up. Knew Christian was furious that he’d moved in on Kelsey. But that was over now. And, as a result, he needed his friend more than ever.

So he remained standing. “Since when do you send a minion for me? Can’t text anymore? Did your phone self-destruct after that heiress from Luxembourg sent the topless photos?”

Christian looked over his head to the painting of a sea storm above the sofa and said coolly, “I wasn’t sure you’d respond.”

Elias knew Christian felt he’d failed in his duties on that date with Kelsey. The thought that he doubted his loyalty, though? That was a donkey kick to the stomach. “You are my sworn liege. My sworn brother-in-arms. I would never ignore you.”

“Is that what—” Christian broke off and shook his head. “I assumed you were furious with me.”

“Why?”

“Because I blatantly and unforgivably insulted you when I accused you of being a lax bodyguard. Of betraying your duty. Dishonoring your office. And then you risked your life to save my sister. You threw your body between her and a bullet.” Christian came around the desk swiftly to stand right in front of Elias. “I’m ashamed that I said those things to you. All I can do is offer my most sincere apology.”

And then he started to drop to one knee.

It was the most surreal moment of Elias’s life, aside from the one three days ago, when he’d kept his ex-girlfriend from being assassinated.

He caught his friend beneath the forearm and didn’t let him sink any lower. “Stop. I won’t let you apologize.”

“Too late, but I’d be grateful if you’d accept it.”

He dropped his hand, shaking his head. “I can’t, because I did let you down. You were right. I led with my heart instead of my head, and it was dangerous. The events of Sunday prove it. If I’d been a molecule less focused, I wouldn’t have saved the princess. You telling me to break it off with her made all the difference.”

“You did?”

What was with the surprise? “Of course. You told me to.”

“You’ve a mind of your own, Elias.” A hint of their usual teasing surfaced in the sting in the prince’s tone. “The past two weeks have proven that.”

“I’m sorry. I meant to tell you that I’d followed through, but then…well, the world turned upside down.”

“No kidding. I meant to apologize sooner but couldn’t make it happen. Papa’s not well.”

Guilt flashed through Elias, remembering the very personal request he’d sent to the king just yesterday. “I thought he was uninjured?”

Christian jerked his head to indicate the sofa, and they both sat. “Physically, yes. Emotionally? He’s a wreck. He’s been in a state of shock since Kelsey reappeared, blowing off appointments. Almost like he can’t accept this new reality where he actually gets to be with his daughter. And then to almost lose her again on Sunday? It broke him.”

“Kelsey’s fine. Her wrist will heal. Her sister’s being moved as we speak from the hospital to convalesce here at the palace.”

“He hasn’t left his suite.”

That was shocking. King Julian never missed appointments, rarely took sick days. He said he didn’t want to disappoint anyone when half of his job was just showing up. “He didn’t go to the hospital to visit Kelsey and Mallory?”

“No. He Skyped them. And he’s kept a few appointments that way, or via phone. But he won’t come out. I’ve been running myself ragged, not just picking up the slack, but covering for him.”

What a clusterfuck on top of all the other life-and-death drama. Christian must be tearing his hair out. “Does he need a doctor?”

“Hell, yes. There have been daily visits. Pills to calm him down, I guess. I’m not getting the whole story. I’ll respect his privacy for a few more days. Then I’ll throw the doctor onto the rack until he tells me everything.”

“If you need a hand with that…”

“Always.” They clasped forearms and squeezed. Hard.

Just like that, they were fine.

Thank God.

The prince violently jerked at the knot of his blue tie to loosen it. “Shit. I wish you hadn’t broken up with her.”

That made two of them. “Kind of sending mixed messages, Christian.”

“I hate the thought of Kelsey being upset about losing you on top of worrying about Miss Wishner. Can you fix it? You want to, right?”

Yes, desperately. Every cell in his body ached to be close to Kelsey again. “My wanting her is not, and never was, the issue.”

“But you do care for her? I mean, you did save her life.”

Care for her? Sure. That was the watered-down version of it, anyway. Since breaking up with Kelsey and then being confronted with her almost being killed pierced Elias with the surety that he was falling in love with her.

With a small dip of his head, Elias said formally, “That was my duty and my privilege. Just as it is my duty to stand back and let her find happiness with a suitable man. Of which I am not.”

“Damn it, I was an ass when I said that. Of course your lack of royal blood doesn’t make you any less.”

“Technically, it does precisely that.”

“Hell, you’ve been my best friend my whole life. Being a”—Christian cleared his throat and put his hand beneath his lapel in a Napoleon pose—“most worthy and trusted confidante of the heir to the throne gives you plenty of street cred.”

Right. Because that was all it took. “I don’t think street cred is on the list of desired qualities in prospective partners for the princess.”

“It makes you not just good enough, but more than acceptable in my eyes. So screw what anyone else says. Including your own antiquated notions of worthiness. I refuse to let you distance yourself based on some archaic title, or lack thereof.”

Didn’t Christian see that, while kind and good for clearing the air between them, this attitude only emphasized the painful finality of his break with Kelsey? “I’m relieved my place at your side is secure. But I’m a commoner. No matter how you try and spin it, our country would not accept me by the princess’s side.”

“True, undeniably so.” Christian rose swiftly, walking to the fireplace to rest his elbow on the mantel. “I haven’t thanked you properly for saving Kelsey’s life.”

“No need. All in a day’s work.” The guilt that had been eating at him needed to be released. Wincing, Elias said, “A better man would’ve saved Mallory from losing a few pints of blood. I’m already designing a new training regimen to deal with large crowd identification.”

“That’s excellent news. And don’t let me catch you beating yourself up about Miss Wishner again. You had one job, and you executed it flawlessly. We failed Miss Wishner by not providing her solo protection.” His brows drew together into a fierce scowl. Especially fierce with the dark circles under his eyes from doing double duty for the king. “It was an oversight that was quite…costly.”

The Royal Protection Service had already implemented her new bodyguard rotation. It stretched their ranks, so Elias was headed out to the training facility in a few days to test who was ready to be cycled up to full royal duty. And if his request to the head of the RPS for permanent reassignment was granted, he’d stay out there.

“We’ve worked out the schedule to give her full coverage. There’s going to be some long shifts as we compensate for the extra assignments on the duty roster.”

“Then why did you ask to be cycled out of active rotation?”

Damn it. He’d been hoping the prince wouldn’t find out until it was a fait accompli. Unfortunately, their deep friendship had probably prompted a check-in with the prince about his unusual request.

“I think I can do more good elsewhere, training others, focusing on how to prevent another assassination attempt, rather than just react to one.”

“You don’t want to lay your life down for me anymore?”

“No, I don’t.” Elias had worried it’d be impossible to say that to Christian. But now, in the moment, his mind was clear and calm. This was the right choice. Now. Finally.

For Kelsey, and himself.

Eyes wide, Christian gave a low whistle. “That’s harsh.”

“I will—as your best friend—do everything to protect you. But not as a job. Because”—Elias paused, wanting to tread carefully—“my life is as valuable, as worthy as yours.”

An odd, secretive smile played over Christian’s face. “I agree. My thanking you for saving my sister comes with a reward. A promotion.”

Not again. Elias waved off the suggestion. “Enough with this. I don’t want a promotion for doing my job.”

“I let you slough me off last time, when you found Kelsey. You’re not allowed to reject my largesse a second time.” Christian lifted down his ceremonial sword. He held it out, flat, pointing at Elias. “So you’re getting that knighthood. No argument. As of today, you’re no longer a commoner. You’re Sir Elias, Duke of Arcalia. Comes with a nice income, too.”

His head was spinning. No longer a commoner? “I…I don’t—”

Christian sliced the sword through the air. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence with the words ‘want’ or ‘deserve.’ You’ll take the damned dukedom. And you’ll move off of protection duty to head-up the training program for the royal bodyguards.”

Even though it was what he’d requested, Christian’s description of the job was odd. That would only be a promotion on paper, to the outside world. What was Christian up to? “That’s a lateral move, not a vertical one,” Elias pointed out.

“That’s one interpretation, but it has the added benefit of keeping you out of danger, which is what I believe Kelsey would want.” Smiling broadly, the prince tapped a finger against his temple. “I promised to figure out what you truly want. The favor you need but are afraid to request. This is me coming through, repaying you for, well, everything.”

It sounded like Christian had stacked the deck so that Elias could date his sister. And gave him the change of career that was exactly what Elias had realized he needed after his brush with death. Unexpected didn’t begin to describe these moves. Still, he needed confirmation. Yanking loose his own suddenly too-tight tie, he asked slowly, “What are you saying?”

Christian put the tip of the sword on the floor and stood hip-shot. “Look, I know you’re brave enough to sacrifice your life for the good of our country. Nobody asked you, however, to sacrifice your heart.”

“You did, actually.”

“I recanted, apologized. Acknowledged I was an ass. Can we move on?”

A wave of hope surged through Elias, knotting his stomach up again, but in a good way. “Please do.”

“The only thing standing in your way now is you. And that boulder of honor and duty that your father’s weighed you down with all these years. Are you brave enough to follow your heart? Brave enough to, like Kelsey, let go of your old life plan? Take a different path?”

He’d take that leap in an instant. These last few days without Kelsey had been torture. He’d made a mistake giving her up, and he’d do anything to fix that mistake. There was only one problem… “What if she doesn’t want to stay?”

“Give her good enough reason to.” Christian leaned his sword against the desk and crossed his arms. Then he lowered the boom with that annoying, princely “do my bidding” look that was only ever a joke to Elias. “Didn’t I give you that order a week ago?”

Yes. And he would not let his prince down.

“Like I said, your wish is my command.”