Page 92 of Regally Binding

“It’s always been about making you renounce the throne, because that’s what you want.” He’d never asked her if that’s what she wanted. Maybe it wasn’t what was in her heart, but it wasn’t his decision. It was hers. “Marianne has called every day to find out where you are. The bomb was to stop you, hitting what you loved so you’d make the right decision.”

Liss stepped back, her thighs hitting Bear’s legs behind her as Steve wept. She needed to feel Bear’s presence.

“You’ve got this,” he said so quietly she wondered if she’d imagined it. His belief filled her, and his touch centred her. “You’re strong and confident, and you’re incredible.”

Liss said, “But the bomb couldn’t go off.”

“That wasn’t part of the plan. Marianne told me to call Isla and find a way to get you here, and then once you were, you’dfind the bomb. You’d go into hiding and never accept the throne, but I couldn’t do it. I called the police instead.”

“Steve, what you did was beyond wrong. You don’t get to force me into decisions. It doesn’t matter what you thought you knew. You didn’t speak to me or check what I wanted. What you did wasn’t an act of love; you underestimated me. You tried to control me. I didn’t think you were like that,” she said, her voice breaking.

Bear touched the back of her leg, grounding her. She took a deep breath.

“I’m not. I was scared. I regret everything, Liss. You have to believe me,” he said tearily.

“You should have spoken to me, but instead, you betrayed me when I needed the people I believed I could trust. And you did this with Marianne. How could you?”

Steve’s head dropped, and he wept. It broke her to see him like that. He’d gotten mixed up in a situation for the right reasons and yet did the worst thing imaginable.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” His blond curls jumped with each crying breath.

Liss grabbed a chair and pulled it next to him. “I don’t know if we can come back from this.”

“I’ll do anything to make it better. I need to get your trust back.”

“I don’t know if you can,” she said, resigning.

He lifted his head. “I could give a statement to the police about what I did and Marianne’s part in it. I’ve got messages I could show them.” He fumbled with his phone. “Will it help?”

Liss shrugged. “Maybe. But you should have already done it.”

Steve nodded, although tears streamed down his face as Liss stroked his back.

Suddenly, Strike crashed through the door. Confronted by the scene of a seated Bear, a gentle Liss, and a weeping, defeatedSteve, he let out the only thing he could. “What the actual fuck is going on here?

Before anyone could answer, he added, “It’s like I’ve walked into an episode of bloodyEastEnders. Get me a whisky, Liss, before I lose my mind.”

“Nice to see you too, Strike,” Liss said with a roll of the eyes. “You do love the dramatics.”

“Whatever,” Strike announced. “The test results are in, and we’ve got a rich witch to confront. But whisky first. I’ve had a fuck of a day.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Within an hour, they were back on the road.

They’d left Steve at the police station with Luke for updates. The confession should be enough to ensure Marianne was held to account for her criminality. Combined with the test results, King Archibald must believe them. But what if he didn’t?

By the time the sun started to rise over the city streets, they were like a rogue gang high on coffee as they headed to the palace with the test results. Strike’s scientist friend did them a massive favour by testing the tablets and providing results in about a day.

It was impossible to believe that the last time the sun rose, Liss was in the warmth of Bear’s arms before they’d made love. As the car skidded to a stop, Liss checked her watch. It was six a.m. Bear touched her leg from the front passenger seat. It was brief and yet comforting. She wasn’t alone yet.

“Why haven’t the gates opened?” Liss demanded as her heart rate rose and her fingers trembled. “Is it because they didn’t know we were coming?”

“It’s because theydidknow we were coming,” Strike replied between gritted teeth. “But we’re ready for anything. We’ll find a way in.”

“All for one and one for all,” she replied half-heartedly.

“We’re not the three musketeers.” But Strike’s smile and Bear’s chuckle made her smirk. There was nothing like a little light humour with your bodyguards before bringing hell to the royal palace. “Right. Let’s do battle.”

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