Page 96 of Breathtaking

My heart squeezes, making it hard to breathe. “Not even a little bit.”

“Lennon, sweetheart,” Amelia calls through the door. “There’s a man asking for you.”

Maddox moves toward the door, but I stop him and step in front, then place my hand in his, take a deep breath, roll my shoulders back the way my mother used to force me to do, and open the door. Atticus’s personal secretary stands in front of us, with Maddox’s parents and my security team behind him.

“Princess.” The word is so formal, it sets the tone for everything yet to come. “I’m sorry for your loss. Your brother has asked that I bring your team and fill you in on everything you need to know.”

“Thank you, Crowley. Do we have enough room for my mother and father-in-law as well?”

“No, ma’am. We have a separate car for them. Atticus has asked for all of you to stay with him while you’re here. He’s had an entire nursery brought in overnight for the prince.”

“Brennan,” I correct.

“Yes, ma’am. Prince Brennan.” Crowley looks genuinely confused, and it genuinely annoys me more than it should.

“Just Brennan. And thank you. I’d like to get off the plane now.”

Crowley steps aside, and I walk past him but stop when he steps in front of Maddox.

This is not how we’re going to start this trip.

I turn and reach my hand out for my husband, who’s staring daggers at Crowley, and wait until Maddox is next to me before taking Brennan from Amelia. “Are you okay with following us in a separate car?”

She runs a hand along my arm and then over Brennan’s head. “We’re here to help in any way we can, sweetheart. Don’t worry about us.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, wishing everything about this trip were going to be that easy.

* * *

Maddox

She was right. The cameras flashing and reporters calling out for Lennon as we disembarked the plane were more intense than I’ve ever seen in one place before. Like she said, my family might be high-profile, but this is a whole other stratosphere.

Behind the official press line, which had been roped off with police guards, there was a fence with hundreds of what I’m guessing are citizens of Mornea calling out for their princess.

Until today, I’d never seen this side of Lennon.

I’d never had to share her with the world.

And I’ve never been more grateful she decided this isn’t how she wants our son raised.

By the time we were brought to the house Atticus and Rhys share, Lennon was dead on her feet. She basically stripped out of her dress, dropped it to the floor, fell into bed, and told me to give her Brennan to nurse. The two of them were sound asleep minutes later, while I’ve sat here, watching them. Waiting to hear signs of life in the halls. And when I finally do, I follow it downstairs.

“Maddox,” Atticus smiles a weary smile as he pours a glass of scotch. “You made it. Is Lennon awake?”

He hands the first glass to Rhys, then pours two more for him and me.

“No, she’s sleeping.” I hold up the glass and look at Rhys. “Am I supposed to bow to you now?”

“Do I look like I fucking care if you bow?” He swallows the amber liquid in one mouthful, then shakes his head. “Our father is going to be here any minute. Just don’t be a dick in front of him.”

“In front of him ortohim?” I clarify, and the exhaustion in the lines of Rhys’s eyes intensifies.

“Oh, you can handle him however you’d like. It’s not going to be good. Trust me. I’m going to shower. I’ll be back down in a bit.” He turns to Atticus, and the two have an unspoken conversation before he heads for the stairs. “You’re in charge, Atticus.”

Atticus’s eyes tighten, and for the first time since I met him, he looks strangely serious. “I was sorry to hear about your grandfather. Does this change things for you too?”

I may sound like an idiot, but I genuinely never gave a shit about anything royal before and have no fucking clue how any of this works.

---