Though, to be nose to nose,Alekseihad to lean into him since he was three inches taller, and making matters worse, with the two of them that close together,InotedAlekseihad to have four stone more of pure muscle.
Timothee did not miss this, and he was no longer unclear about his brother’s mood.
What he was, was visibly shaken.
“Outside.Asmales,”Alekseigrowled.
“Are…are you…are you being serious?”Timotheestammered.
The king stood and commanded, “Standback this instant!”
Aleksei turned away from his brother, but it was far from a good thing his attention went to his father.
“Laura is hiringNata,” he announced. “However, ifNatawishes to stay at theCatalogues,I’llspeak personally with the director and have her promoted to preservation.”
I stifled a gasp.
Aleksei continued. “Itwill be her choice which avenue she wishes to take in the furtherance of her career.”
“As you know, she deals with priceless treasures of the realm, and this is a delicate matter—”KingFillionbegan.
“WhatIknow is that it was a delicate matter because you made it so, and after years of living in that particular level of the hells,Ifoolishly fell into that line of thinking, but nowIknow, this is no longer a delicate matter,”Alekseicut in.
The king focused fully on his son.
And the color ran out of his face.
“You wouldn’t,” he whispered.
“Yes,Iwould.Andmake no mistake,Father,Iam,”Alekseiretorted.
Okay,Iwas thinkingIlost track of the conversation.
I had zero time to get a lock on it, becauseAlekseiturned toTimothee.
“I’ll be taking over negotiations with the female you drugged.She’llbe offered a year of your allowance, and as a result, you will lose that allowance.Youwill cost the throne not another mark for your bad behavior.Youwill also apologize to her, in person, for your lack of judgement, which resulted in misguided and malicious intent.”
I felt my eyes get wide even asInoted the queen moving to the back of the couch.Curlingher fingers around the gilt, she watched her eldest son avidly.
Aleksei was far from done withTimothee.
“You will also be suspended from your royal duties for six months, you will lose access to all the facilities of thePalace, save food, cleaning and laundry services.Notransport will be available to you unless where you’re going is approved by me.Visitorswill also be approved by me.Youwill be banned from other royal properties, again, unless approved by me.Youwill lie low here and consider your course for the future.Oncethe six months is up, we’ll discuss that future.”
“You can’t possibly—”Timotheetried.
Aleksei was having none of it.
“If you refuse, negotiations with this female will cease and your allowance will be revoked indefinitely, along with the property and facilities ban.Yourroyal duties will also be indefinitely suspended, including your attendance at theCouncilChamberin theCenter.Further, you will be disallowed access to royal legal representation, and if she chooses to press charges, you will stand before a panel of magistrates to do your best to try to convince them you aren’t a piece of shit.Youwill also fail.Thiswill happen in public.Sothe citizens ofNight’sFallwill know what you’ve done.”
I swallowed.
Mine was about shock.
I watchedTimotheeswallow.
His was fear.
Aleksei turned onErrol.