Page 46 of Royally Tempted

I just had no idea how much that night was going to change that for me. Insomany ways…

Chapter 2

Cade

“You ready for this?”

I rolled my eyes at Caspian as we stepped through the formal front entry-way into the palace.

“Sure,” I sighed, heading immediately to a bar set up by one of the immense windows overlooking the countryside of Avlion around King Lucian’s castle. My brother followed, wordlessly nodding as I ordered us both a bourbon, neat, from the middle-aged bartender.

“Thanks.”

I tossed two $100 bills on the bar and turned to give Caspian his drink.

“Oh, sir, the bars are open for the ball.”

I glanced back at the man.

“That’s fine, consider it a tip then.”

I liked being generous with money. And not in an obnoxious flaunting way, but in meaningful ways. Both of us were, actually. Twins think alike like that. I liked rewarding hard work, especially when it probably wasn’t being appreciated. No one appreciated a good bartender.

I donated to charity, often. I supported a wounded warrior fund back home in our kingdom of Marland. Caspian supported a non-profit that made sure single, destitute mothers and their children were clothed, fed, and housed. And yes, we both tipped ludicrously well. Because in the end, it was just money. But by the same token, money was everything when you didn’t have it by the truckload like we did. Our father had raised us to appreciate that, and in our world of royalty and privilege, that was a rare lesson to learn.

But Dad had taught us well. After all,he’dcome from nothing — a chauffeur’s mechanic son who’d caught the eye of the Princess of Marland. One look, and he’d never looked away.

That was another thing Dad had taught us — keep fighting for what you want, and never let someone else tell you that you can’t have it “just because.” Our dad knew what he wanted with our mom, and he fought tooth and nail for it. It’d been quite the scandal in Marland when the pure-lineage princess and only daughter of King Horace took a shine to her chauffeur’s son. I mean, princesses don’t date mechanics. And they sure as shit don’t marry them.

But this one did.

So yeah, Dad had taught us the value andin-value of money, because he’d had none of it and then more of it than he’d ever know what to do with. Mom viewed wealth and privilege the same way he did — that it was a responsibly, not a gift. Having it meant helping those who didn’t, not lording it over them.

Andthis,to make a very long story short, was why I did things like tip $200 for two drinks at an open bar.

“I assure you, sir, it's not necessary.”

“I know,” I said with a smile. “But humor me.”

“Sir—”

“Please keep it.” I shook my head. “It's not charity, I just like rewarding hard work.”

I sipped the bourbon. “Fantastic pour, by the way.”

The guy grinned. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

I turned back to my brother as we strode back down the gilded always of Lucian’s castle towards the sounds of crowds and music coming from the ballroom.

Was I ready for tonight? Not really, but here we were.

“The bourbon’s good, at least.”

I snorted at my brother. As if theKingof Avlion was going to be serving cheap shit. I hadn’t caught the label, but I had no doubt the bourbon we were drinking was nothing short of priceless — collector’s vintages, or a private label or something. The truth was, neither of us were ready for tonight. It’d been ahellof year, and that was putting it lightly. Twelve months ago, our father had finally lost his battle with cancer. Fuckin’ cancer — the fight even a guy as much a fighter as him couldn’t win. A few months after that, we’d had to step uphardin order to squash a power-grab for the throne from within the advisor’s council.

Marland laws being what they are, our parents had ruled together — equal power as both king and queen. My parents had beenlovedas king and queen. People loved their love story, loved the way they ruled, and loved the way they’d been “of the people.” But of course there’d always been those who hated my father for not being “royal by blood,” and for “soiling” the bloodline.

Fucking idiots.

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