Page 129 of Modern Romance Collection Books (5-8)

‘That is a fine welcome,’ Khalil said. ‘I left my pregnant wife because you are sulking like a child. I hope you are happy.’

‘I didn’t ask you to come,’ Augustine growled.

‘No,’ Galen said. ‘Freddie did.’

Instantly everything inside him went taut with pain. ‘Well, you can go home again. She’s got nothing to do with either of you.’

‘Actually, she has,’ Galen said. ‘I’m fully intending to be godfather to your child, and Khal is too. Also, I was promised a wedding and your stubbornness is going to do us out of one, and quite frankly, I’m annoyed. Solace was looking forward to it.’

‘So was Sidonie,’ Khal added. ‘I do not want to upset my pregnant wife.’

‘Too bad,’ Augustine said. ‘Freddie said no. She doesn’t want to marry me.’

‘Because you’re being an idiot.’ Galen kicked his feet up onto the coffee table and sent him a hard glare. ‘She loves you and you love her. You’ve been in love with her for years—don’t lie to yourself.’

Augustine’s heart contracted in his chest, the pressure, the relentless pressure inside him gathering. ‘No, I’m not. I can’t. You don’t understand.’

‘Of course, we understand,’ Khalil said.

‘We know that you think you’re broken and a terrible king, etcetera.’ Galen waved a hand. ‘It’s all very boring, Gus. Because you’re not broken, and you know it.’

Augustine sat forward. ‘But you—’

‘So, there are some things you cannot do,’ Kahlil interrupted. ‘And you have some difficulties. Everyone has difficulties. You are not that different.’

‘Except I—’

‘You’re a damn good king,’ Galen said, taking up the thread. ‘You play to your strengths and you have a gift with people. Your country and your people are thriving, and that is all down to you.’

The taut things inside him tightened still further, the urge to deny it so strong his jaw ached with the effort of biting down on the words.

Your friends don’t see you as broken, and neither do your people. And neither does Freddie. Why can’t you accept it?

‘And also, Freddie has loved you for years,’ Galen went on. ‘All she wants is to make you happy and you won’t let her. Why the hell not?’

‘You know my moods are...difficult,’ Augustine said through gritted teeth. ‘I get angry easily, I have little patience. I have—’

‘Do not be any more stupid than you are already,’ Khalil cut him off. ‘I did not take you for a man who relies on excuses and those are excuses.’

He’s right. That’s exactly what they are.

Augustine tried to ignore the thought. ‘I don’t want to make things difficult for her,’ he said roughly. ‘And she shouldn’t have to put up with a moody bastard of a husband. She deserves better than that.’

‘But don’t you deserve better too?’ Galen asked. ‘Don’t you deserve to have happiness?’

Something inside him twisted. ‘This isn’t about me.’

‘Isn’t it though?’ Galen’s blue gaze was uncompromising. ‘Aren’t you making it all about you right now? You and your terrible ‘failings’?’

Anger gathered inside him, a hot ball of it sitting in his gut, and he opened his mouth, ready to spill all the furious, defensive words he wanted to say.

‘Is she not more important?’ Khalil asked quietly before he could get a word out. ‘Is her happiness not more important than your feelings of brokenness? Does she not deserve more than a man who thinks his pain is more important than hers?’

Something in his friend’s voice echoed inside him, hitting a deep truth he hadn’t wanted to face.

She is more important; you know that.

‘It is only love that she wants, Augustine,’ Khalil went on, still quiet. ‘And you might not think that you can give her that, but you can. It is a choice and you have to choose. And what is more important? Her happiness or your fear?’

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