Page 75 of Bride By Coronation

Brax grunts. "Sounded like a threat to me."

I fling the back of my hand against his head.

"Ouch!" he cries out.

I point to him and Vlad. "You and you. Get out."

"What did I do?" Vlad asks.

"Nothing. Keep this one out of my hair. Go in the other room. Watch TV or something," I suggest.

"Come on. I'm hungry," Brax gripes.

"You can eat there. Now, don't make me tell you again," I threaten.

Vlad rises and nods toward the other room. "You heard the king. Let's go."

Brax leaps out of his chair, shaking his head. He begrudgingly follows Vlad into the other room.

When the door's shut, I turn to Sean. "You and I have some things to work out."

"Like why you're such a prick?" he mutters.

Anger courses through me. I breathe through it, remembering that this talk will either hurt or help Fiona. When I'm calm enough to speak, I declare, "You and I both got Fiona into this mess. If we all walk out of here alive, it's because she married me. That means, she'll have a lot to deal with once the outside world knows she married a Petrov."

"No shit," he snarls.

"Don't you think it's better for her if we get over whatever it is between us?" I ask.

His face hardens. He keeps his disapproving gaze on me.

The bell rings.

"Come in," I shout.

The door opens, and a server steps inside. He bows. "Your Majesty."

"Thank you," I reply.

He rises, then wheels a large cart inside. The scent of bacon, sausage, pancakes, and cinnamon fills the air.

My stomach growls. I point to the door, directing, "Set it up in the other room, please. You can leave through the southern exit."

"Yes, sir." He disappears through the door.

Once it's shut, I continue, "Is staying pissed at me worth hurting Fiona?"

Sean's jaw twitches.

"Well?" I push.

He sighs. "No."

"Good. I don't think so either. So besides the fact I'm a Petrov and marrying your sister, what else is the issue?"

"Isn't that enough?" he questions.

I shrug. "I don't know. Is it?"

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