Page 119 of A Queen and HER Bad Boy
Achilles stiffened, not surprised, not even upset, but hoping that Bris didn’t take it as a personal affront, until Venice continued: “He’s in negotiations with the International Criminal Court, trying to find some help against the Myrdons. But he wanted me to tell you—he gives you his blessing. To the both of you.”
Unbelievable. Just six months ago, they were barely on speaking terms, and now… things were changing, he hoped for the good! By now, Chises Mnon knew about Phoenix’s lies—how General Peleus had never turned against him, which meant that he’d been the one to betray his best friend, not the other way around. That would be a hard thing to sit on, and perhaps, with Chises Mnon’s habits of resentment and the cruelty he’d justified in the name of revenge; it wasn’t even something he could fully comprehend.
“I know who we should get for our media director,” Venice said. Achilles was groaning even as he said it, “Deedeelicious.”
That woman had more viral content based on him and Bris than he could count—the “escape from the palace as the fake princess” footage had absolutely blown up, followed by the exclusive behind-the-scenes conversations she’d caught between Achilles and literally E-VER-Y-ONE after she’d picked up the phone when he’d speed dialed her and stuffed his cell away to hide it from Phoenix.
Little did Achilles know, he’d had his very own Deedeelicious in his pocket for the rest of the night, going live, dropping commentary to her audience in real-time, and crowdsourcing solutions based on every move he made. Talk about a security breach! He supposed the livestream gave his father the head’s up on the Myrdon’s final attack and blocked Aggie Mnon’s getaway, but still… the woman had turned his life into must-watch content.
“I don’t know…” he hedged.
Venice laughed even harder. His ex-girlfriend was a legendary influencer with mythic status!! “Okay, okay, well… I thought we’d ask Deedee instead of having her crash the party on her own, but you know…”
He didn’t have to say it—there was no stopping her.
The chatter from Bris and Livvy grew louder as they drifted closer to their husbands to bring them into their conversation. “What do you think? Should we establish the youth education grants this year or focus on the infrastructure projects first?” Bris’s face was only that animated when she was talking up a new pair of Valentino heels.
“Why not do both?” Livvy asked.
Bris threw her head back with a laugh. “Now you’re talking my language. Let’s buy out the store!”
Achilles marveled at the transformation in his wife. Six months ago, she’d been a fiery spitball at his throat and incapable of understanding the needs of her own people. Now she took that same passion and threw it into her kingdom. The confidence she carried showed that she was a woman who knew her own worth—graceful, determined, every inch a queen.
Could that be why Chises Mnon had finally released the reins? Or was it that he had his hands full hunting down Aggie Mnon, who’d healed from his gunshot wound and escaped from prison with the help of Phoenix? Last they’d heard, the two criminalswere holed up in some miserable boat in the middle of the ocean, likely using each other as target practice by now. They deserved each other.
As they walked up the palace steps together, Achilles was struck by the difference between this moment and that first night he’d carried Bris over this threshold. Of course, she was still stubborn, fiery and gloriously unpredictable—but now she used that backbone to build their marriage into something everlasting.
Venice and Livvy disappeared inside, but Bris stopped at the threshold, turning to face him with those luminous hazel eyes that still stole his breath away.
“This is the last time we’re walking through these doors as Prince and Princess,” she said softly. “Tomorrow we’ll be King and Queen.”
He cupped her face in his hands, thumbs tracing the delicate line of her cheekbones. “You’ll always be my queen, baby!”
She rose on her toes to kiss him, her lips expressive and sweet against his. When she tried to pull away, he caught her closer, sharing a kiss that was deeper, celebratory, unforgettable, until she was breathless and laughing. “We can’t just stay out here all day!” she cried. “We need to get ready for the coronation!”
“See?” he murmured against her lips. “Still so mouthy.”
“Someone has to keep you in line,” she snapped back.
Without giving her any kind of warning, he swept her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest as he had that first night. She squealed and grabbed his shoulders for balance.
“Achilles! I might be expecting, but I can still walk!”
“And miss another chance to hold my sweetheart close? Now I get two for one—you and the baby!”
He carried her over the threshold into their home, into their future, just as she dropped the bombshell to shake up his world: “Oh, by the way. Gena is here. She’s bringing a special guest.”
He groaned dramatically. His mother never tired of saying she saw something special in that double-crossing, smooth-talking charmer she’d brought with her. The man was trouble with a capital T, but Gena adored him, and hehadsaved her life. That earned him some points, even if Achilles hated to admit it.
Bris reached up to trace the line of worry between his brows, her touch gentle and soothing. “He loves her, you know, really loves her.”
“I know,” he sighed. “That’s what worries me.”
She laughed and kissed the corner of his mouth, chasing away his concerns with the warmth of her love. He carried her the rest of the way inside into the palace that had become their home, his heart full to bursting with gratitude for this life they’d built together.
As husband and wife.
As king and queen.
But most importantly, as two stubborn souls who’d found their soulmates at last.
The End
