Page 17 of A True King

I jump and grab the closest thing to me, an umbrella, but in the instant it takes me to turn, I already recognize the voice. Christian.

“How?” I ask, my eyes meet his as I slowly set the weapon down.

He’s sitting on a chair along the back wall of the living room. He doesn’t look royal at all. He has on shorts and a t-shirt and sandals. He must have arrived at least a few days ago because he’s tan. I haven’t seen him this tan since we were in the Bahamas rescuing Logan after Anna discovered a plot to kill him.

“What? No kiss?” he asks. His voice is laced with anger, and I tremble under the vibrato of his words.

“How did you find me?”

He cocks his head to the side. “I think you can answer that for yourself. The real question is, why did you hide?”

I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “I…” I hadn’t thought this far ahead. I have no idea what to say to him.

“I don’t know if I should spank you, fuck you, or arrest you?” he states as he looks me up and down. His eyes which normally are full of love are distant. He’s beyond angry. His knuckles are white where his hands grip the arms of the chair.

“I can explain,” I say softly.

“Please do. I love a good story,” he replies as he motions to the sofa next to him.

I slowly walk over and sit, but not too close to him. I’m afraid, I’ve been afraid, of everyone and everything for a while now. I don’t know who I can trust anymore and that scares me the most.

I fold my hands in my lap and steeple my fingers and then un-steeple them. I chance another look in his direction and he’s assessing me, waiting for me to speak.

“There are…things you don’t know about me,” I admit, not knowing where to even begin.

His eyes narrow. “Like that you’re a fucking princess?”

Holy shit! How did he know that? I feel the color drain from my face.

“But why do I feel like that’s not your only secret?” he muses as he plays with a ring on his finger with his royal insignia and diamonds on it.

I swallow. I’ve never seen Christian this angry. And yet, he’s hot as fuck. The anger only makes me want him more, which is unsettling and something that I need to work through later. I clear my throat, trying to collect my senses.

“Please, continue,” he states.

I take a few breaths. I can’t lie to him. I should lie to him. I should make up a story. I should protect him, but right now, I just want him to hold me and tell me it will be alright. I need to tell him.

“A few years ago, not long after I started working for you, I was approached by a man while in line at a coffee shop. He knew my name. He had pictures of my family. He also had DNA test results saying that I was a princess and granddaughter to King Ivan of Skogdal. He wanted me to share information with him, and in return, he wouldn’t kill my family while I watched.” I pause and look into Christian’s eyes. He looks ready to murder someone, maybe me. “I was afraid and unsure. He gave me a burner phone and said I had twenty-four hours to decide what to do. I flew home that night. Remember when I said Dad had a heart thing and I needed to go home quickly, but it turned out to be nothing?”

Christian gives a nearly imperceptible nod.

“I confronted Dad about the DNA test and he confirmed it was true. He also said that he had left that life behind and that as long as we stayed out of the limelight, he could keep us safe. He wouldn’t tell me why or safe from whom. He just said his mother had left his father because of…concerns for her and his safety and he had left his mother to be completely free of his past. I still don’t completely understand all of that, but regardless, I knew. He swore me to secrecy. He said I could put you in danger if I told you, so I didn’t. I left him with so many thoughts swirling in my head. I had an entire identity that I didn’t even know about, it was…well, overwhelming. I decided that sharing your schedule wasn’t that bad. I mean, most of your events are public events anyhow, so I did it. I…we hadn’t…it was before I really knew you.”

“So, once you did…know me, why did you continue?” he asks, his face like stone. The only tell I can see is the pulsing vein in his forehead.

“I didn’t have a choice,” I whispered.

He glares at me.

“I swear it. I was going to stop. I didn’t send your schedule one week and nothing happened. I hoped it was over, but then, I went to get coffee and he was there again. The same man. It’s always the same one. He cornered me and showed…” I trail off and blush. “He had a picture of us,” I whisper.

Christian’s eyes widen. “What do you mean?”

I blush. “He had a photo of us…making love…in the garden.”

Christian’s eyes go from wide to narrow slits. His anger just went up a few notches. Shit.

“He explained that I would either comply with his request or you would be dead.”

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