Page 21 of Six Types of Apology

“I’ve got to admit, I’m not strictly sure.” John was rubbing his head. “I got word to Crown Prince Onyx after you wererescued, and he said your husband had contacted him a few days before, determined to make amends for his atrocious behavior in Carntan. He’d come to the mine to assist you in any way possible as a means of apologizing. In fairness, he arrived at the perfect time. It would’ve taken a lot longer to get you out without the help of him and his men.”

Orion let out a long breath. “Remind me to send him a heartfelt note of thanks as soon as I’m free from this bed. So where are we again?”

“The inn that sits on the border of Monce and Tyrion, and sir, you should prepare yourself to deliver the thanks in person.” John looked down at his hands, and then met Orion’s eyes. “Crown Prince Vincent transported you here personally, he contacted the Monce Court because they were closer than the Tyrion castle to gain access to a royal healer. He’s been staying here, the five days you’ve been unconscious, riding out to the mine the past three days to work with Ryan. Sir, he’s brought in safety equipment, given Ryan a budget to hire more miners, and has even upgraded the cabins where they have all been staying. He’s…”

“Why?” The word flew from Orion’s mouth unbidden, but that was all he could think as he listened to his personal aide list all that Vincent had done. “Is he taking over the mine on behalf of the Faast royal family? Is he going to take away the work Onyx and I, Ryan and all the others have done since this project started?”

“Sir, please, you’re not to get agitated.” John’s hands landed on his and Orion realized he was flailing them about. “I know it’s difficult to believe, especially in light of what your husband had done in Carntan, but he’s trying tohelpyou. Your back was broken in three places. If Crown Prince Vincent hadn’t saved you when he had and got the prompt medical attention you needed,you might have never walked again, and that’s assuming you’d have lived. Sir, I promise you, I’m not saying this lightly. If I hadn’t seen evidence of it myself, I would never have mentioned it, but your husband cares about you. He’s fixing the mine because he hopes that by doing that, you’ll consider speaking to him again.”

“What evidence?” Orion wasn’t sure he could believe what he was hearing. But he trusted John would never lie to him.

“You should’ve seen him when he got you out of the mine. Jacket off, mud on his shirt and face, his nails chipped and cracked because he was digging in the dirt with his bare hands…”

“My husband told you he did that?”

“I was there, sir. I saw it with my own eyes. He insisted, fought with Morgan about having to be the one to be lowered down the hole in the cave roof to get to you. Even when he barely fit in the hole that he helped dig.”

“Did he get stuck?” That struck Orion as truly funny, a crown prince getting caught in a hole, but then the whole idea of Vincent being anywhere near the mine was weird enough.

John nodded. “He had to do a bit of wiggling to get in that hole. And there’s more.” John leaned closer. “Morgan told me, in the strictest confidence, that when Crown Prince Vincent was being lowered into the hole, being suspended by nothing but a rope, he found out he’s scared of heights.”

“Oh no.” Orion quickly put his hand over his mouth and tried not to laugh. His head was still really painful, and he probably shouldn’t be thinking any Vincent had done was funny.

“You can laugh, sir, but at the time it was no laughing matter. Crown Prince Vincent spent the first two days sitting where I am now, sleeping in the chair, refusing to eat unless someone bought something for him, determined not to leave your side.It was your brother Onyx that pointed out to him that he’d be more useful to you if he helped out at the mine instead of getting under the healer’s feet all the time.”

Orion suddenly remembered why they were in that cave in the first place. “The rockfall. Did it expose a crystal seam?”

“It did, your highness.” John’s eyes gleamed as he nodded. “It was there, just as Ryan thought it was, and it does meet up with the other seam, which you had suggested. Sir, Crown Prince Vincent has called in more geologists, all working on a strictly confidential basis, but their early reports suggest that whole mountain range, from one side of Tyrion to the other, could be full of crystal seams.”

A dream come true. “I have to get to the mine. I have to see. Help me get out of this bed.” Orion gripped John’s hands, hoping to leverage himself upright. But John gently pushed him back.

“Sir, don’t. Did you forget already? Your back was broken in three places. Three places! The healers have worked their magic, and I understand the breaks are healed. Now you’re awake, they can conduct further tests to make sure there’s no residual nerve damage or loss of use in any of your limbs. But it will be at least another week before they let you out of bed. The mine will still be there when you return, sir, but for now you have to heal. I must insist. Your brother gave me the authority to do so.”

Orion knew when he was beaten. “Fine, but can Morgan give me a detailed report when he returns? I will rest a lot easier if I am kept updated on what is going on.”

“Crown Prince Vincent would probably be thrilled to hear you’re finally awake. Wouldn’t it be a nice gesture to at least share a meal with him this evening?”

Eyeing his personal aide, Orion felt as if he was being gently manipulated. But John only had his best interests in mind. “If Ican sit up,” he said firmly. “I am not sharing a meal with Crown Prince Vincent if I have to lie flat on my back and have to be spoon fed something.”

“I’ll call in Mortrin and his team and let him know your request,” John said with a smile as he stood up. “You gave us all quite a scare your highness. I’m truly thankful you’re awake.”

“Me too, John. Me too.”

Chapter Twenty

The innkeeper they’d been staying with gave Vincent the good news as soon as he arrived that evening. “My husband’s awake and wants to see me?” Vincent looked down at his dusty clothing and then shrugged. Orion was the last person to care about the state of his clothing. “Please let the lovely people in the kitchen know I will be dining in my husband’s room as usual this evening.” Even if Orion didn’t want to talk to him personally, he would want to hear about the mine improvements and Vincent had a lot to tell him.

“Sir, don’t you think you should at least wash and change your clothes first?” Morgan protested as Vincent made his way upstairs.

“Nope, this is honest dirt, formed by honest dust and honest work. Besides I have a present for Orion and you know how I am about presents. I do hope he likes it.” Vincent clutched his backpack to his chest.I’d settle for him being happy to see me.

Vincent had a lot of time to think while he’d sat by Orion’s bedside and then later as he worked at the mine. It was understandable that Orion’s brother and sister would care about his husband. Vincent’s four sisters thought he hung the moon and stars. But as he took the time to listen to other people, from Ryan and the other workers at the mine, to John who had been with Orion the longest… even the innkeeper where they were staying had kind words to say about his husband.

They hadn’t spoken about Orion’s looks or the fact he was a prince. Instead, these same people felt strongly about Orion despite his royal position. They admired his integrity, his honesty, his dedication and loyalty, and the fact he was always ready to pitch in and physically help with anything that needed doing. Vincent learned more about his husband in five days thanhe’d likely have ever done if he’d been left to work it out on his own.

But something had changed when Vincent rescued Orion. People seemed inclined to want to help him put things right. They clearly knew what a fool he’d been, there were still a few digs about his card playing and his choice of dance partners, but those same people were simply teasing him. Regular people teasing him. Vincent had never enjoyed anything so much. He genuinely felt a part of something bigger than himself for a change, and it was a good feeling.

There was one thing, though, that Vincent couldn’t ignore. That nagging tiny voice in the back of his head that kept reminding him that Orion could disappear just as quickly again, once he could get out of bed. He had the power to banish Vincent from the mine, from Orion’s life, and if Orion decided to do that there was nothing Vincent could do to salvage the situation. He’d already decided if that happened, he would move back to Faast and stay there. Whatever happened, his days of partying were over. But, willingly or not, Orion had given Vincent a reason to belong, a purpose, and Vincent wasn’t going to let that go without a fight…or a kiss.

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