Page 108 of Reckless Royalty

“Come on,” he says, standing and holding out a hand to me. “You need to rest.”

I take his hand, letting him help me up. My legs are shaky, but he keeps a steady grip on me as he guides me to the bed.

“Stay?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes search mine, and he nods. “Always.”

MIHAI

The room is quiet, save for Maddy’s soft breathing against my chest. My arm is wrapped securely around her, and her head rests just below my collarbone. Her blonde hair spills across my skin like silk, and I can still catch the faint scent of strawberries from her shampoo.

It’s calming in a way I didn’t expect, her warmth grounding me like nothing else has.

Four months ago, she was just a job. An obligation. A loose thread we had to tie down so the whole fucking tapestry wouldn’t unravel.

I didn’t see her—I saw her circumstances, her silence, the chaos she brought into my world. But then… that first night when she let her guard down, when I saw the tattoos on her skin… something shifted.

Those tattoos made me wonder. What else was she hiding underneath her layers? Who was the girl behind the wide, frightened eyes and the silence that screamed louder than any words?

Now, I don’t have to wonder. She’s lying right here, her head tucked under my chin, her warmth soaking into my skin like a drug I can’t quit.

But the panic attack earlier… that fucked me up. Seeing her like that again after all this time, unable to breathe, clutching her chest like the world was closing in—it scared me more than I’ll ever admit to her.

It terrifies me to think what might have happened if I hadn’t gone to her room when I did. If I hadn’t been there to pull her back from that edge.

I tighten my grip around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she never gets to that point again.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand, the screen lighting up in the dark. Careful not to wake her, I reach over and grab it, squinting at the message. It’s from my father.

Ion:

It’s done.

The words settle heavily in my chest, and I know exactly what he means. He’s finalized the arrangements for the memorial. The bodies couldn’t be kept for long, so my father took the initiative at the time and had them cremated. He was holding onto the urns all this time and never said a word to me.

I glance down at Maddy, still sleeping peacefully, and I feel a knot of dread in my gut. She’s been through so much already, and now this… It’s going to rip her apart all over again. But she needs closure, even if it comes with a world of pain.

I turn off the screen and place the phone back down, letting out a slow breath.

One step at a time, Mihai.You’ll help her through this, just like you’ve helped her through everything else.

The smell of coffee fills the kitchen as I crack eggs into a bowl, whisking them lazily while Maddy sits at the counter, her hair still messy from sleep. She’s wearing one of my hoodies, the fabric practically swallowing her whole, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. She looks… right. Like she belongs here.

“Is this your way of buttering me up before telling me something serious?” she asks, her accent lilting in a way that makes me smirk.

“Maybe,” I admit, sliding a sideways glance her way. “Depends. Is it working?”

She rolls her eyes but smiles, propping her chin on her hand. “What’s on your mind, Mihai?”

I plate the food and set it in front of her before leaning against the counter across from her. “I’ve been thinking… you’ve been through a lot. More than anyone should have to deal with. And I know it’s not easy to talk about, but maybe you should… talk to someone, that is.”

Her fork hovers over her plate as she looks up at me, her brown eyes wide and questioning. “You mean a therapist?”

“Yeah.” I nod, shoving my hands into my pockets. “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with you. I just think… with everything that’s happened, it might help to get it out, you know? To have someone guide you through it. A professional.”

Her lips press together, and for a moment, I worry I’ve said the wrong thing. But then she nods slowly, her shoulders relaxing a fraction.

“You’re probably right,” she admits softly, her gaze dropping to the plate. “I’ve been thinking about it too… I just didn’t know where to start.”

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