10. Chapter 10

W e'd held each other all night, and this time when I woke, it wasn't because of a scared pup trying to get my attention. The sun broke through the golden curtains, making light twinkle and dance around the room.

Mal's eyes blinked open, and when he saw me, he gave me a wide smile. "Good morning."

I kissed his nose. "Good morning. How are you feeling?"

He stretched and yawned. "Fantastic. You?"

"Like my ass got a pounding, so…same." I smirked. I was deliciously sore in all the best ways, loving the way my body hummed with pleasure, both from my magic sparking at his nearness, and the incredible sex.

"As much as I would like to do that again, I haven't been seen since the party, and it's probably about time I do. How do you feel about breakfast in the dining room?"

A part of me wanted to stay in our little bubble, but I knew he was right. We couldn't stay holed away, not with the coronation approaching and everyone on high alert. Besides, we were a unit now, he and I, and everyone here was going to have to get used to seeing us together. Only, I didn't have any of my own stuff, and I didn't want to wear the same clothes I'd worn for two days. I'd been in such a panic over getting books to figure out what was happening with Malachi, I didn't even think to grab clothes when I'd gone home.

"Breakfast sounds good, but I don't have anything to wear."

"Right. Let me make a call." Malachi kissed me once before getting out of bed. He strode over to the phone, offering me a view of his beautiful, muscled ass.

A few minutes later, he ended the call and gave me a sheepish look, "I kind of forgot where we were. Reginald had some thoughts about us being in the king's suite."

I snickered. "I'm pretty sure Reggie has thoughts about a lot of things. But, so what, it will be our room soon enough, so everyone can just deal with it."

Malachi put on his abandoned sweats and shirt, not wanting to be naked when someone came to the suite. Not me. I refused to put on the same clothes and was perfectly content staying nude. I had a blanket over me, that was good enough.

It didn't take long before a knock sounded at the door. Malachi answered it and a pile of garments were passed through the open door before it closed again without anyone stepping foot inside. He sorted them into two stacks, because apparently he was ready for different clothes too.

Malachi donned boxer briefs, tan slacks, and a light blue dress shirt. I grimaced at the thought of what was picked out for me, except when I pulled out a velvety purple shirt that had flared sleeves and lacing on the front, I sighed and hugged it to my chest. This was precisely something I would wear.

"Will it work?" Mal asked, nodding toward the clothing.

"Yes, it's perfect. I think my soul would have cried if I had what you are wearing. Don't get me wrong, it looks sexy as hell on you, but this body isn't made for khaki."

Mal pulled me to him and pressed a kiss to my lips. "I believe Ambrosia had a hand in selecting your clothes. I'm pleased they make you happy. And khakis will never touch your skin."

"Okay, but right now, I don't mind, as long as you are the one wearing them." I pressed my naked groin against his clothed one, loving the sensation against my dick.

"If you don't stop, we aren't going to make it to breakfast," Malachi growled.

"You make it sound like that's a bad thing."

He pursed his lips and shook his head. "You are really something."

I winked before getting dressed. A jockstrap was in my pile, and I felt Mal's gaze follow my every move as I stepped into it. The shirt fit perfectly and the leggings that went with it hugged me just right, making my ass pop.

"Crowns, I don't think I'll ever get over how beautiful you are."

"Right back at ya, Your Highness."

We held hands as we walked to the dining room, and I loved that he did it so easily, despite everyone being able to see us. Malachi was showing me off, and I loved it. It felt like a big fuck-you to the walls that I'd been forced to leave.

As we approached the threshold of the dining room, I felt my magic warning me at the same time I heard a voice that made me go still. The queen's voice. It wasn't that I had been avoiding her since the party. I'd simply been too wrapped up in sexy fun and pup panic to think of her. I knew I would encounter her at some point, but the suddenness of it was a shock.

When Malachi felt me pause, he peered around the door to see this mother at the table. "Is this about what she said at the party, that she had some things to discuss with you?"

"Yes." It was a simple answer, but I wasn't prepared to say anything more.

"Now is as good a time as any, right? Besides, I'm certain news of us sleeping together will spread through the palace quickly, if it hasn't already, so I think we should tell her about us."

Drawing in a deep breath, I nodded. "Yes, I suppose so."

"Whatever happens, I'm with you, Flor." He squeezed my hand and we walked into the room.

"Good morning, Malachi, how are you feeling, son? I was told you were ill yesterday."

"Much better, Mother. Florian tended to me."

Her eyes rounded at the sound of my name, and they slid past her son and locked on me. Her eyes drifted down to see our hands clutched together. The queen's mouth turned down. "Oh. I see."

This time it was Mal who tensed. "What do you have against Florian?"

"I…don't have anything against him."

I scoffed, couldn't help it.

"Can I have a word in private with your friend, son?"

Malachi straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. "The thing is, he isn't just my friend. I love him. I always have and always will. He's going to be at my side as my husband, so whatever you need to say to him, you can say in front of me."

A mixture of emotions flashed across her face, and she offered a sad smile. "Come and join me for breakfast then."

Mal slid a glance to me, and I gave a slight nod. It was time to get everything out in the open. He led me in and he sat in the seat nearest to his mother, who was at the head of the table, and I took the chair next to him.

No one spoke until after our orders had been placed, and his mother asked the room to be vacated. Once we were alone, she let out a long exhale before lifting her chin, much the same way Mal had. He resembled her in many ways. They had the same eyes, same curly hair, though hers had turned white, and some of the same mannerisms.

"Young Florian, I know it isn't enough, but I would like to extend a sincere and deep apology. There are few regrets I have and what happened with you is my biggest."

I didn't know what to say. It was nice to hear an apology, but too much time had passed. All the anger and sadness that had followed me for twenty years came bubbling up to the surface, but I couldn't pick where to start.

Mal jumped in instead. There was an edge in his voice, one I'd never heard before. It came out in defense of me. In all this time alone, I'd never had anyone defend me, and it felt really nice to know I had someone who would stand by my side. "What happened with Florian? What do you regret, Mother?"

Her eyes shifted over to me, showing me the remorse in them. "We were told magic was real. It was a story that had been passed down through generations, but it hadn't been seen in a long time. When it was, it was often associated with danger and threats to the throne. When we learned that Florian was developing magic, your father, the king, was scared he had been planted in our house to uproot it."

Mal stood, pushing his chair back. "You knew? You knew about his magic, and no one helped him?"

"You have to understand, son, it was the first anyone had heard of such a thing in decades, and we didn't know where Florian came from. Was there a reason he was found at the palace door? How did he get there? Had we taken in the enemy and raised him as our own, giving him access to every part of our lives?"

I felt my eyes grow hot with tears, as that awful night all came back to me, and yet, hearing it now, I kind of understood their actions. It didn't excuse it, but I didn't know my past. What if there had been a nefarious plan at play, and I was a mere pawn?

"He wasn't a threat. He was a fucking child." My eyes rounded at hearing him let loose a word I'd had to work hard to coax out of him. But then, while I was reliving it, this was new to him. He hadn't known what happened. "He was scared and confused and…what did you do?"

The queen's head fell, and her voice was small when she spoke. "We sent him away."

I could feel his emotion roiling off him. I stood at his side and held his hand, letting my magic flow into him. Mal closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, calming himself. He squeezed my hand.

When he opened his eyes, he looked straight at his mother and said in a quiet tone that resonated with strength behind it. "You are unfit for the crown you wear. You were tasked to serve the people in this country, and yet you couldn't even help one individual under your care when he needed it the most. When it is time, and that will come sooner than originally planned, I will happily and proudly receive the crown, and be a greater ruler than you or my father ever were."

One large tear rolled down her cheek. She dabbed it with her napkin before standing. "You will, son. You will be a great king. I've lived with this for too long, and it's worn on me. I'm ready to step down whenever you see fit. For what it's worth, I really am happy to see you again, Florian. It broke my heart to send you away, but seeing you two together again has mended a tiny piece of that."

She walked out with a sniffle, leaving us behind. It was a lot. I hadn't managed a single word. I didn't know what I could have said anyway. Suddenly, Mal's arms were around me and he pulled me into a tight hug, burying his head into my neck.

"I'm so sorry, Flor. I didn't know. If I had, I would have left with you." I could feel pain radiating out of him. Pain I spent too much of my life in, and pain I now tried to comfort. My magic flowed out of me, wrapping around us.

At that, the words I'd lost finally came. "No, Mal. You needed to be here. You were meant to be king. If you'd have left, who knows who would lead next, and this country needs you. We need that catalyst for change, and you are it."

Mal lifted his head and met my gaze. "You are, too. Flor. The country needs you. They may not know it, but they do. And we'll ensure something like this never happens again."

"Together, then?" I offered a half-smile.

"Together, always." He sealed that promise with a kiss, one that spoke to the boys we once were who were torn apart, to the men we were now who found each other again, and to the future that we would build together.