Page 18 of Daniil
No, it’s fucking not.
And for the first time ever, I’m uncomfortable as hell answering it.
Chapter8
Courtney
His hesitationand silence speak volumes, telling me I made the right decision.
“Courtney.”He finally seems to find his voice.“It’s not black and white like that.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
His eyes meet mine defiantly.“There are a million variables.”
“Is what I described about your oath correct?”
Another hesitation before, “Yes.”
“So, you would have gotten Casey to safety and then come back for me.”
“I don’t know.”
“You just said you took the oath to protect the royal family at all costs.”
“Yes, but there are variables, depending on the situation!”He looks frustrated.
“There aren’t any variables—just facts.Eight months pregnant with your child.Attack on the palace.Casey and Levi vulnerable.My water breaks and I can’t keep going—who do you take care of first?”
He glares at me, but I know the answer—and this is why I hid his son from him.
“Fine,” he says at last.“That’s why you don’t want to be with me.I get it now.But why keep my son from me?”
“Because your son is aprince,” I say carefully.“Acknowledging him, even though he’s a good way down the line of succession, means he could still be a target for kidnapping.Someone to be used to control you and/or Erik.I don’t want that life for him.”
“But you made that decision without even asking for my input.”
“Yes.”I lift my head and try to keep my voice from cracking.“I made the decision I thought would be best forhim—and by extension for me.This way, he’s just another American little boy.Not Prince Micah, son of Prince Daniil of Limaj.The son of the man who’s fifth in line to the throne.”
I know he’s pissed.I can see the anger and frustration burning behind those aqua-blue eyes.I don’t blame him, but I refuse to feel bad about my decision to protect my child—knowing full well that under the most dire of circumstances, he won’t.Or can’t.The distinction doesn’t matter to me, just the end result.
“You went to a lot of trouble to hide him.”
I don’t respond because it’s true.
“But now I know.And I can’t just walk away from my responsibilities.”
“He doesn’t have tobeyour responsibility,” I say quietly.“He’s mine.I’m taking care of him just fine.As you can see, he’s healthy and happy.I have a small but reliable support system.I work.We have health insurance.And while I may not be a Royal Protector, I’m extremely capable of protecting my son.You know that.”
“I do.”He shakes his head.“But he’s my…son.”
“You didn’t like fatherhood the first time you were married,” I remind him.“Why do you think it’ll be any different this time?”
He grapples for an answer, opening his mouth a few times and then closing it again.“That isn’t fair,” he grunts.“Those kids were Jesper’s biologically.The mother was an egg donor.”
“But you were married and supposedly wanted those kids.Then you just walked away.”
“That was Jesper’s decision!”he snaps, obviously frustrated with this line of reasoning.“He’s their biological father, and when I left him, he asked for a clean break.”
