Page 13 of A True King

“Mia grew up in a fairy-tale cottage,” Anna whispers as we wait. “She was a real-life Sleeping Beauty.”

Now it’s me that’s rolling my eyes. I glare at her. “Seriously?”

She giggles and shrugs. “I mean, come on, look.” Waving her hand at the scene in front of us as though it will make me agree with her immediately.

I’m saved from more torturous fairy-tale talk when Cain opens my door.

“Sir,” he offers as he motions that it’s all clear. I nod and exit, giving the house a once-over before I proceed to the front door. I know our security doesn’t like the idea of us showing up anywhere unannounced because it means anyone could be here, but right now, all I care about is figuring out what the fuck is going on.

“Thanks, Cain,” I mutter as I approach the door. Anna and Logan are behind me, but they might as well be a million miles away because right now, all I see is that blue door with the circle window. I want to see Mia on the other side. I need to see her.

Raising my hand that feels too heavy, I grab the brass lion door knocker and tap it, once, twice, three times. There’s silence at first but then I hear the faint echo of footsteps.

Marilyn’s face appears at the door’s window, and when she opens it, she frowns. “Your Highness?” she asks, her voice telling me she’s both surprised and concerned by my second visit in the course of one week.

“I’m sorry to arrive unannounced…again, but I need to speak with you and your husband,” I explain. Her frown deepens at both my words and at my fellow guests which she peers at over my shoulder.

“Please, come in.” She steps back and motions for us all to enter. This time, it’s quite the entourage. Cain, followed by Anna and Logan. We follow her into her kitchen where she motions for us to sit at the table.

“Tea, coffee, water?” she asks.

Everyone declines her offer, so she takes the seat across from me.

“Max! Max, dear, we have company,” she yells. From somewhere above us, I hear footsteps. Then Max Edgewater enters the kitchen. I’ve only met him once. Had I not known his secret, I wouldn’t have put it together, but now…it seems glaringly obvious as though his truth had always been plastered on the wall for all to see.

“Your Highness, good to see you,” he greets me, extending his hand. I shake it and sit back down as he joins his wife across from us.

“I…sorry, this is a little, uh, awkward, to say the least,” I confess.

“Sorry? What’s awkward?” Marilyn asks.

Anna clears her throat and Marilyn and Max look at her. “It’s nice to see you both again.” She pauses and looks at me before continuing. “I came across something in looking for Mia, and well, we decided to come straight to you to discuss it.”

Marilyn and Max look at each other and back at us. They know.

“Have you spoken to Mia over the past few days?” I ask.

They shake their heads but then Marilyn gets up and walks to the kitchen counter, retrieving a postcard and setting it on the table. With her eyes on me, she pushes it across the table. Max glares at her but doesn’t say a word.

I look down at it. “Bahamas,” it says over a picture of a white sandy beach with palm trees. Flipping it over, I see the following in Mia’s handwriting. “All is well. Taking a holiday.”

With a frown, I push it back across the table. “When did this arrive?”

“Day before yesterday,” Marilyn states as she glances at her husband again.

“And you didn’t see a reason to let me know about it?” I fume.

Max clears his throat. “Listen, there are some things…” He trails off as he looks at each of us.

Marilyn reaches over and takes his hand in hers, giving him a small nod.

Max sighs and strokes his graying beard. “Our family is not exactly what Mia thinks it is.”

I can see Anna fidgeting and I know she is going to overstep, so I decide to take matters into my own hands. “We know who you really are, Max,” I admit.

His eyebrows shoot up.

I motion to Anna. “Anna discovered the truth while looking for Mia. Who all knows this?”

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