Page 11 of The Prodigal Prince

“Is it at least more comfortable in here?” she asked kindly.

Fiona nodded. “Those chairs weren’t the best, but I’ve sat in worse.”

“I think we all have.” The queen motioned for an aide. “I’m going to have a cup of tea. Would you like one?”

She didn’t, but Fiona nodded anyway. It would give her something to do.

About the time she finished sipping the tea given to her by the queen’s aide, Fiona realized Mac had left the room.

Sitting up straight, she looked around. “Where’s Mac?” Despite everything, he should be here.

“He and Edward went to the palace.” Queen Penelope had a calming manner that helped Fiona understand why she ended up married to the king. “When you’re ready, we’ll follow them.”

Setting the tea cup down on the side table, Fiona clutched the small animal as she stood. “I don’t want to wait here anymore. If he was on the property, they would have found him already.” Probably.

She let herself be led to an SUV with dark tinted windows. The queen’s security team whisked them to the palace. They were driven through a back entrance and into a garrison before exiting the vehicle.

They walked through the halls filled with ornate artifacts and portraits of monarchs in the distant past, eventually coming to a stop in front of an open door.

The queen gave a gentle nudge. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

Fiona did notice the door close behind her, though she had no idea who closed it.

Walking across the room, she went to a window and stared out of it until she heard a noise behind her.

Turning, she saw Mac standing on the other side of the room.

“They told me to wait in here.” He shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his shorts. “If I knew where else to go, I’d leave you alone.”

“It’s okay.” With a sigh, she took a seat.

“Do you want to talk about any of it?” Mac sat in a chair across the low table from her. “Or yell at me?”

The desire to take it out on Mac had dissipated in the last couple of hours. Though he didn’t know Gray, he’d been noticeably shaken. That had to mean something.

Fiona shook her head. “I don’t want to yell at you right now. I might later, but not now.”

“How are you coping?”

She picked at the fur of her son’s animal. “I’m numb. I’m scared. I’m angry. I’m frustrated that there’s literally nothing I can do. I could put up a reward, a large one even, if that would help, but they don’t want me to yet.”

“No one really knows that you’re a mother,” he pointed out. “You’ve done an excellent job of not just keeping Gray out of the limelight, but keeping his existence out of the tabloids.”

“I’ve had a lot of help. I’ve traded interviews and other exclusives for keeping him out. It won’t last much longer if he’s not found soon.” The tears coming back to her eyes meant she hadn’t cried them dry after all. “We’ll have to go public.”

“I’ll do whatever you want me to.” His voice remained gentle. “If you want me with you, telling the world that we share a child, then I’m there. If you’d rather I stay out of the limelight for the moment, I’ll do my best, and I won’t volunteer anything.”

“Thank you.” Which route did she want to take? A decision didn’t need to be made right that moment, so she’d put it off as long as she could.

“What can I do to help you?”

Rather than looking at Mac, she stood and walked back to the window, aware that he followed her.

“I don’t know,” she finally said as he came to stand beside her. “Short of bringing my baby back to me, I don’t know what anyone can do.”

Before she realized either one had moved, Fiona found herself in Mac’s arms.

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