Page 120

Acid scoured his stomach like steel wool. What he’d accused his father of—manipulation, using her—he’d done himself. She should have gone to Erik. His brother had always been the more decent man. Alex had been blinded by his own jealousy to see that there wasn’t anything between Tilly and Erik other than quasi-sibling care.

‘We’re the same,’ Domenico said. ‘We always have been.’

There it was—his biggest fear outlaid. For the first time in his life Alex truly wanted the throne. He wanted to do better for his citizens. Do better for the two people he truly, deeply cared about. Erik would be freed from taking care of everything while the prodigal older son sowed his wild oats. Tilly would be freed from public judgement. Alex was stepping up.

‘Not entirely,’ Alex said calmly. ‘You’ve allowed yourself to be manipulated. Your greed, your own lust has brought you within the control of someone morally dubious who doesn’t have the best interests of your citizens at heart. You’ve accepted money from criminals. You’ve allowed Montaurella to be the meeting point for unsavoury deals. It ends now. You cannot remain as King.’

He was furious for not looking closely enough. He’d been too focused on his own business and blinded by his bitterness.

‘You’ll never be a great king,’ Domenico said.

At least he would never be a target for financial coercion. He had enough money of his own to refuse bribes, and even if he didn’t he wouldn’t be swayed. He was not a gambler. Sex scandals were in his past and unhidden—no blackmail there. There were no children and never would be.

‘I only have to be honest and fair to be a better king than you ever were.’ He shrugged. ‘You have two minutes to decide. I’ve emailed a draft notice of abdication to your secretary. All you have to do is sign it and I’ll have it posted on the gates in fifteen.’

Domenico stared, turning pallid—pathetic. ‘There’s no room for compromise?’

‘None.’

‘I’ll need funds to survive.’

‘You’ll have an annual stipend paid in monthly instalments. Your accounts will be monitored daily by my forensic accountants, who’ll pick up any anomaly instantly. It’s over, Father.’

‘Ruthless.’ Domenico nodded with a small, spiteful smile. ‘Looks like my lessons to toughen you up worked after all.’

Alex stared fixedly at the man and allowed his rage to wash through. ‘You’re down to one minute.’

The ruthlessness within Alex wasn’t acceptable. He would never risk inflicting that part of him on children. That was the lesson learned from all those hours in the dark beside the bones of his ancestors with bruises forming on his back.

‘Fine.’ Domenico turned away. ‘I can’t be bothered with any more banquets and balls…they’re boring.’

It was a pathetic attempt to save face.

‘Gather your court to witness the signing in the throne room,’ Alex ordered. ‘Five minutes.’

He should have kept a closer eye on his father’s financial affairs. Then he could have forced the abdication sooner instead of marrying Tilly. He could have avoided all Tilly’s torment. He would course-correct. Reframe. It wasn’t too late to repair the damage he’d wrought.

He could not keep Tilly. He was not manipulating her into staying. He could. She was soft and sweet and she curled into his embrace like a starved kitten. But staying with him would require sacrifices she shouldn’t have to make. She’d put other people’s wants ahead of her own her entire life to secure her basic safety. She deserved more than safety. She deserved to find and follow her own dreams. Tilly had been used all her life—a pawn, a weapon, a source of blame. No more. Ever. He wanted her to be free from it all—even him. Especially him. If she ever wanted more—a real marriage, children—he couldn’t give it to her. He was tainted by his father and he wouldn’t trap her with him for a moment longer. Montaurella would become his life. Once he’d settled, it would be a good life.

Alex left the apartment and headed back to his own. He rubbed his temples and glanced out of the vast window to Zaffira. At least he’d be able to appreciate the view of it. He’d return there on the weekends to ride the perimeter track. He would need the respite. But he would be alone.

He sucked in a breath, trying to ease his pounding headache, ignoring the bigger pain burgeoning beneath his ribcage. He’d faced down his father and taken the Crown.

Now he would free her.

Chapter Eighteen

Alex wasn’t curled around her when she woke. He wasn’t at the table working in the lounge, nor at the window looking at Zaffira. The sun was still rising—where had he gone so early?

Tilly picked up her phone but there were no messages. She sent him one and stared at the screen, hoping for an instant reply. None arrived. She exhaled. No need to be anxious. Except her intuition worked overtime and she was. She’d thought last night had been magical. She’d offered him everything and he’d been unbearably tender. So close to confessing her feelings for him except he’d kissed her breathless, unable to rake coherent speech together. Had he seen it in her eyes and silenced her deliberately? Because now he’d vanished and actions spoke louder than anything.

Her heart quickened. She would find him. She would talk to him. Say what she felt, wanted, needed. Loudly.

She pulled on a dress and slammed her feet into low sandals and made her way to Erik’s apartment. The door opened just as she got there and Erik almost collided with her. Laughing, he pulled her into an apologetic hug.

‘Nice timing. You guys left so soon last night I didn’t get a chance to talk to you properly and I didn’t want to disturb you early this morning…’ He held her at a distance and looked into her face with an indulgent smile. ‘Where’s Alex?’

Clearly not with his brother. ‘Doing some palace stuff, I think,’ she murmured vaguely.