Page 73 of Royally Bad

“To celebrate the uniting of Francesca Badd and Midas ...” Shit. I didn’t remember his last name!

“Tengelico,” Kain whispered at me.

“Midas Tengelico,” I said, giving the couple an apologetic look. Behind me in the darkness, I heard Matilda giggle. “Did you two write any vows?”

Midas nodded, facing Fran. “Frannie,” he said, “I knew the day that I met you that we’d be perfect together. Everything I do, I want to do it with you. You’re perfect ... you’re my light, my world. I love you so much.”

Her eyes welled with tears. Inhaling deeply, she gathered herself. “Midas,” she began, “I wrote a whole bunch of stuff down. I don’t have that, so I’ll just say this: I love you, too. I love your eyes, your smile, how you always let me try your food when we go out to eat.” Beaming, she dabbed at her eyes. “Oh. And if you ever,eversleep with one of my friends, I’ll cut your balls off.”

I covered my mouth hastily.

Kain didn’t look surprised at all. I guessed he was used to his sister’s relationship, and Midas must have been, too, because he hadn’t even flinched.

Love could be fucking weird.

“Uh, please join hands,” I said. They did, their fingers linking. “If no one objects, then by the power vested in me by the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” I prepared to speak the final words—the whole you-may-kiss-the-bride-thing.

Francesca never let me.

She threw her arms around Midas, dragging him to the ground with a kiss too passionate to handle while standing.

I jumped back, my hands held up like I was being arrested. Wide-eyed, I looked at Kain; he was busy bending at the middle and laughing. It was contagious, that big grin of his. With the pair making out in the middle of the gazebo to the sound of violins, I couldn’t hold myself together.

My dad had taught me that when things get hard or ugly, that was when you needed to laugh the most.

So I did.

Wiping my eyes, I looked out over the gardens. It was then that I saw them—three figures looking on like statues meant to stand forever. Fran’s parents were hugging, Costello hovering by their elbows.

Each of them was smiling.

- CHAPTER NINETEEN -

KAIN

“I want to talk about Sammy,” I said.

My father lifted his head from the tablet he’d been scrolling through. Wearing thin-framed glasses, he almost looked like a nice grandfather instead of a dangerous beast.

Putting it aside, he folded his hands. “Talk.”

“I want her out of that room. I want Costello and Thorne to stop guarding her.”

His forehead strained under his heavy eyebrows. “And why should I do that?”

I’d thought this over for a while. It had been over three weeks since Sammy had been locked away. Far too long, by any standard—but especially my own. I knew my father, he was stubborn and didn’t like being challenged. But he also appreciated someone who could admit their mistakes. While I didn’t agree one bit that taking Sammy to see her mother was a mistake ...

He certainly did.

Lifting my jaw, I said, “Because this time, I’ll watch her every move. She won’t leave the estate untilyouthink it’s safe to do so. I promise that.”

Tapping his chin, he puffed out some air. “Done.”

My mouth fell open. I’d been prepping for a much harder fight. “You’re really agreeing to this?”

“Did you want me to argue?”

“I expected you to,” I said gravely.

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