Page 33 of A True King

“I don’t like this, Lion. I don’t like the secrets and radio silence. I don’t like all of us separated.”

I run a hand over my face. “I don’t either, but it didn’t do a fucking lot of good when we were all together either,” I say, reminding him of the time the palace was bombed when we were there.

“I suppose. It’s just…I don’t like it,” he reiterates.

“Noted. Now, go back to sleep,” I insist.

“Like I can sleep after hearing all of that. I’m hitting the gym. I’ll talk to you later,” he grumbles as he hangs up, mumbling something under his breath.

I touch the cool stones behind me and smell the fresh country air. I should talk with Pete. I wonder what he knows. We haven’t touched base in a few days, although I know Cain and Vince have been reporting back to him. Why does all of this seem so disjointed? Auggie has a point. I’ve only been back for two days, and I already feel separated from everything and everyone. Could that be on purpose?

Shaking off my thoughts, I head back into my bedroom. Mia is still fast asleep. Perhaps a workout isn’t such a bad idea, I think as I walk into my closet and change.

I put my earbuds in as I walk to the gym. The hallways are void of staff, and I relish the opportunity to be completely alone. It’s an odd feeling considering that just a moment ago I was wary of being separated from my family. However, it is a rarity as a royal to ever be alone. I ponder this as I step onto the treadmill and begin running. I turn my music on through the speakers in the gym, letting my brain stew my thoughts.

Why can’t I shake the feeling that Mia’s family somehow plays into whatever current threat mine is facing? My mind pours over the basic history of our countries. Norddale and Montelandia were merged as one in the beginning. A small nation that went to civil war and separated into two principalities about six hundred years ago, making the marriage of my sister to the Prince of Montelandia even more ironic since it once again merges our kingdoms in a most unique way. But Skogdal was never part of our country. It was settled by the enemy of one of my ancestors. Skogdal and Norddale didn’t even have a trade agreement until the early eighteen hundreds. And now, someone knows that Mia is the rightful heir of Skogdal and that she’s sleeping with me. There has to be something more to that.

I’m so deep in thought that when Mia’s voice rings out from behind me, I jump and nearly go flying off the treadmill. My gaze meets her amused one in the mirror.

“Fuck! Don’t startle me like that!” I yell.

She leans on a piece of equipment behind me. “Penny for your thoughts?”

I stop the treadmill and turn to her. “Just musing over history.”

Her eyebrows rise and she comes to stand next to me on another treadmill, leaning her forearms on the side bar. “History?”

I lean mine on the side of the treadmill so that our hands are mere millimeters apart, our faces close enough for me to smell her minty toothpaste. “I was racking my brain to see if I could figure out any connections between the royal family of Skogdal and The 44.”

Her frown tells me she hadn’t considered this. “But…my family wouldn’t want to take themselves out? The 44 doesn’t like any monarchies. They don’t like power funneled into any one office or person. That doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe not. But something about all of these different pieces of the puzzle don’t make sense to me,” I admit as I lean forward toward her and plant a small kiss on her lips. She sighs and stands before punching start on her treadmill. I go back to running alongside her. Even with our height differences, our strides sync up and the room is filled with the single beat of our feet hitting the tread. It’s a perfect example of us, of how our bodies belong together as much as our souls. If only I could figure out who was trying to stop them from being together.

Chapter Nineteen

Mia

“I need to speak with my parents,” I announce as Christian and I finish our breakfast. I’d texted them to let them know I was safe and heading back to Norddale. But that was it. Everything has been such a whirlwind that I haven’t had time to think, let alone prepare for a conversation that will be less than pleasant.

Christian pushes back from the table and looks at me. “Are you sure you’re ready to speak with them?”

Nodding, I get up and walk over to him. He’s at the head of the table in a chair that makes him look every bit the king. I sit on his lap, placing one leg over each of his large thighs. His eyes don’t leave mine, but his hands grasp my waist. I can feel the bulge in his pants press against my core. As much as I want to give in to the temptation to have him fuck me right here on the long cherrywood table, I need to get this discussion over with and I need answers.

Christian’s lips find mine. I let myself get lost in them for a brief moment until my hands collide with his chest, pushing him back.

“No. I need to do this now,” I state as I take a breath, letting my right hand feel the strong beating of his heart from beneath his shirt.

His hands lower and grip my hips, keeping me seated on him as he grinds against me. I moan from the contact. “Are you sure that I can’t convince you to stay?”

I clench my jaw and shake my head. He leans in and kisses along my neck. “You are stubborn as hell, pigeon.”

“Takes one to know one,” I manage as his teeth nip the skin above my collarbone.

Just as abruptly as he started, he stops and releases me. “Use the secure phone in the office.”

I scamper off him and head toward the phone as fast as my legs will take me. I can hear his footsteps echoing behind me, but he doesn’t rush. He’s giving me a minute of privacy with my parents.

I dial their number and bite my lip as the phone rings. There are so many questions that I want to ask, but one stands out the most.

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