Page 38 of Alpha's Magic

Chapter Fourteen

Asher

We traveled back to the king’s palace mostly in silence. I knew Harrison was seething, and I also knew Leo was terribly upset. My allegiances were mostly with my omega, but at the same time, I’d been friends with Harrison all my life, and I didn’t want this estrangement with him. He was also my cousin and my liege. Yet I was in love with Leo. It was a tricky situation and one I didn’t want to be in. It made me angry and uncomfortable. I was completely out of sorts by the time we reached my room.

“You were incredibly rude to the king,” I snapped at Leo as we walked back in.

“No more so than he was to me.”

I grabbed his arm and made him face me. “You’re not on an equal footing, Leo. Get that in your head.”

“My father was the rightful king of Sudfarma.”

“So you say. We have no proof yet that he even was your father. This could all be some delusion of yours caused by trauma.”

He looked shocked. “Of course, he was my father! Wait—you think I’m delusional?”

Exasperated, I turned him loose and flopped down in a chair. “Yes, Leo, I think it might be a possibility. Or not you, but some of your ideas about what happened. At least I have some doubts about what you believe to be true. You were a child, according to your own statement. Only ten years old. And you were terribly traumatized by what happened to you. Anyone would be. Your memories might not be accurate—at least admit that much.”

“You didn’t doubt me in the least before we arrived here. Before you spoke to Harrison.”

“Leo…”

“No, just tell me why you suddenly think I’m lying.”

“I never said that you’re lying. I know that you believe what you’ve said to be true. But after considering it more carefully—after hearing Harrison’s arguments and concerns… I think he made a few good points, and I think those same questions would be asked by the Sudfarman council. We don’t have any proof. We need to prove your story and have the answers when those questions come up.”

“And how am I supposed to do that?”

“By finding witnesses. Ten years is not such an insurmountable period of time. There must still be people around who worked for your father. Or people in the village who knew Prince Ludwig and his family—who traded with him, or provided goods for your family, perhaps. They could back up your story. I’ll help you.”

Leo had gone to stare out the window, his shoulders stiff and angry. “I don’t believe this.” He turned to look at me. “And I don’t need your help. I can help myself.”

“Don’t be silly. Look, you need to calm down some. You can’t imagine that strangers who don’t know you and who know nothing about you will simply believe your story about your background. I don’t even know why I did. If I hadn’t been so distracted by you, I would have realized that before we even came here to talk to Harrison. In fact, I should go talk to Harrison and Lex about all this again. Stay here and don’t let anyone in. Someone may still be able to get to you even inside the palace.”

“Oh, so you believe that someone is after me? That’s not just another one of my delusions?”

I went over to kiss him, but he pulled ever so slightly away. I pulled him back and managed to kiss him pretty thoroughly, but I knew he was upset. I just didn’t know what to do about it. We had to have the truth between us, or we had nothing at all. I was determined to find that truth.

I left him brooding by the window and went back down the hallway to Harrison’s office. He and Lex were still inside, and both had grim expressions on their faces. They looked as if they’d been arguing.

“I wanted to talk to you, Harrison,” I said.

“Good, because we need to talk.”

“You don’t believe Leo, do you?”

Harrison’s lips tightened. “I don’t know this boy, Ash, and I fear you barely know him either. I think you married in haste.”

I didn’t like what he said, but he was the king and used to saying whatever the hell he wanted to.

“Is that your only objection to him?”

“No, of course not. He’s arrogant. Not to mention rude and uncultured.”

“What do you expect of him? He lived in a cave with an old hermit for the past ten years.”

“If you believe that story.”

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