Page 12 of The Prodigal Prince

They hadn’t had a relationship all those years earlier. They’d had a fling.

A series of flings.

But nothing deeper than that.

So the comfort in his arms came as a surprise to her.

“We’ll find him, Fi.” Mac brushed a kiss against her temple. “We’ll find him.”

“Why did you walk away?” She blurted the question out before she could stop herself. She’d always wanted to ask him and who knew when she’d have another chance. “What could have been so bad...” Her voice trailed off, not quite certain how to ask the rest of her question.

“Silas is the only one who knows. It seems that King Edward does as well, but I don’t think my sister does. My mum did. My father probably does. I haven’t talked to him since my mother’s death, though, so I wouldn’t know for sure.”

Fiona waited.

She could feel him suck in a deep breath then blow it out slowly.

“I found out that I’m adopted.”

That couldn’t be the only reason. The information hadn’t been made public. If it had, maybe he would have run off, but not with no one knowing.

“That’s not the issue.” He took another deep breath. “The reason I walked away has to do with who my father is. Who Gray’s grandfather is.”

Fiona’s mind raced as she tried to figure out who it could be.

“Isaiah.” He spoke before she reached a conclusion. “My father is Prince Isaiah of Eyjania.”

4

Before Fiona had a chance to react to the news that her son’s grandfather was the most notorious criminal in the Quad Countries in over a century, the door opened letting the king, queen, and Gabriel into the sitting room.

Mac waited for a signal from her before moving, but she leaned further against him rather than pulling away.

He tightened his hold.

Since he realized Mac’s identity, Gabe had something between a glare and a scowl etched on his face. It deepened when he realized how close she was to Mac.

“Is there any news?” Mac asked the king, not purposely ignoring his brother-in-law, but not including him either.

“Nothing new.” The king shook his head. “Hopefully soon. One of the investigators should be here shortly.” He motioned toward the sitting area. “There are a few things we need to discuss.”

Mac kept his arm around Fiona’s shoulders as they walked toward the seats. She took the same spot she had earlier.

As Mac moved toward the next chair over, the king stopped Gabe before he could sit down. “This doesn’t concern you at the moment. If you’d like to wait in your guest quarters, you are welcome to, or I can have someone show you to another waiting area.”

Gabriel shot one last glare toward Mac before walking away. He stopped next to Fiona and whispered something. She nodded, and he left.

When the four of them were seated around the low table, the king looked directly at Mac.

“Mac, it’s time to let Fiona know why you kept your distance.”

Mac leaned back in his seat. “I told her right before you came in.”

The king turned his attention to Fiona.

She shifted in her seat. “I feel like I should know who Prince Isaiah is, but I don’t.”

That explained her lack of reaction. “He’s the younger brother of the late King Alfred II of the Quatremaine dynasty in Eyjania,” the king told her. “Uncle of the current king, Benjamin. He was a criminal mastermind and responsible for untold numbers of crimes.”

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