Chapter 9

Nick

Nick felt his cheeks heat at the question. He straightened a little in his seat and inhaled. "If it was my mother, she'd be frantic. I thought it might help."

Malachi smiled at him, cheeks bulging with eggs and toast as he nodded. "It did," he mumbled. He chewed quickly, his hand covering his mouth while he did. "She was thankful she'd been told and said you were very kind, so thank you for reassuring her."

"You're welcome."

"I'm sure she'll lynch mob me when I see her next." Malachi chuckled. "Grandma won't, though. She knows I can look after myself." He paused. "Not that my mother doesn't, but she worries." He waved his hand, his fork circling the air. "What are the plans for today?"

"Well, it's Prince Consort Kean's birthday today, so apart from your meeting with the king, I thought we could speak with Randall, the king's assistant, and he can answer some of your questions. If you have any other requests for things to see and people to talk to, let me know, and I will see what I can do. Prince Freddie has agreed to a brief tour of parts of Frogmore Cottage, and we can do that tomorrow."

Nick crossed his ankle over his knee, a little uncomfortable with how open the royal family was being, but rather too comfortable with Malachi's company recently. Was he concerned about the two hospital visits and whether it was a regular thing? A little. His gut was telling him something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what. If things had been happening to him or one of the bodyguards, then he would've guessed it was that idiotic, stalkery weirdo that had been after Dominic and Owen, but it wasn't aimed at him. And there was nothing between him and Malachi to make whoever it was think they could get to him through the reporter.

No, whatever was going on—if anything was—was related to Malachi himself. Nick needed to figure out what it was and whether it was something of concern to the royal family. He would not put them in danger if he could help it.

"That's amazing!"

It took Nick a moment to follow the conversation again, and he must've taken too long to reply because Malachi looked down at his plate and put his fork down.

"I promise I won't do or write anything to cause problems. I really am just grateful to have this opportunity to see the castle and to meet everyone."

If Malachi had said those words before, Nick would've brushed them off as empty platitudes, but something niggled at him. Both Brett and Freddie had told him to look beneath the surface with Malachi, and Nick hadn't. But maybe he should.

Nick smiled across the space, and if Malachi's wide eyes were anything to go by, he'd not done it before. Fuck, he was an ass. "I know you won't." He tilted his head, continuing to meet Malachi's stare. "There's something you're not telling me, though, Malachi, and I will find out what it is. But…I know you won't hurt anyone."

Something akin to relief, maybe, and possibly a touch of fear passed across Malachi's expression, but the man gave a small chuckle and put his plate back on the table.

"I have no doubt that you already know all my secrets, Nick, but thank you for trying to make me think you don't." Malachi frowned down at his hands and then met his gaze again, squaring his shoulders. "I will tell you this, though. I have less than a year left on my contract with Windsor Chronicle, and I will be moving on to decidedly greener pastures afterwards."

Nick raised his eyebrows. "Well, that's one thing I didn't know. Any reason?"

Malachi rubbed his lips together for a minute. "I would like to go in a different direction to where they are."

Nick almost grinned at the vague answer, but instead, he nodded. "Fair enough." Deciding they had spoken enough about serious topics, he dropped his foot to the floor and clapped his hands on his thighs. "Are you ready to speak with the king?"

Malachi's smile grew. "Without a doubt."

Nick carried the empty dishes to the trolley and piled them up neatly. When Malachi joined him with their cups, the reporter chuckled.

"Siblings?" he asked.

Nick snorted. "How did you know?"

"I think many people know how to tidy up after themselves, but only those with siblings understand the pain of not piling things properly and having the entire pile of plates and cutlery come crashing down when there are more than a couple to deal with." Malachi bit his lip. "I have four."

Nick couldn't stop his grin that time. "Three. All younger pains in my butt. Wouldn't be without them, though."

"The joys and pitfalls of siblinghood."

Nick frowned. "Siblinghood? Is that even a word?"

"Don't care if it is or not. It should be."

"Says the writer."

Malachi held up his hands. "Hey, if fantasy writers can make up their own words for items, so can I."

Nick chuckled and checked everything was in place before tilting his head towards the door. "Ready?"

"Yes—no! Let me grab my notebook. I don't know if this is on the record or not—either is fine. I just want to be prepared." Malachi rushed around, gathering things into a small satchel-style bag, and then stopped in front of him. "Ready."

Nick placed his hands on Malachi's shoulders, immediately realising it was the first time he'd touched him outside of needing to help him, and tried to ignore the need to drag him into his body. "Malachi? Breathe. He's just a man."

"Yeah, a man who runs a country! Do you know how much work that must be? Of course, you do. You see him work every day. He never takes a day off, I'm told. And I could believe it, too, with how much he's done for us all. He's—"

"Breathe, Malachi," Nick said again more forcefully, moving his hand to cup his neck, and this time, Malachi stuttered to a stop and took a shaky inhale. "And again."

He could feel the reporter's pulse fluttering beneath his palm and the heat of his skin seeping into him. A wave of protectiveness washed over him, and he wanted to pull Malachi into his body and shield him from everything. It was that thought that made him step back. Surely, he couldn't change his tune that quickly. He never had before.

"Okay. Let's go."

He held the door open, locking it behind them, mainly to keep Malachi's items safe from nosey staff members. No one was above wanting to know more about those people coming into their orbit, and he'd hate for something to come out about Malachi that had nothing to do with reporting.

He almost stumbled his steps. What the hell was he thinking? This man beside him had been saying hateful things about the royal family for the past two years or more. Why was he defending him? He deserved every ounce of hatred and mistrust anyone wanted to throw at him.

But something inside Nick told him to stop thinking that way. To listen to what Malachi was and wasn't saying. To do some deeper research he should've done in the beginning rather than relying on the surface stuff he could find easily. Was that what Brett and Freddie had been getting at? That there was something he'd missed? If there was, he'd have to wait to find out because he wasn't leaving the king alone with the reporter unless he had no choice in the matter.

"Afternoon, Colt," he said, receiving a nod in return from the bodyguard stationed outside the offices. They each took a turn either in the hallway or outside the office door, especially after what happened to Randall a while ago. Having secret entrances was not always the best idea.

They entered the offices. "Hey, Randall." He smiled at the man who rushed around the table to hug him—something he'd not long started doing since he began a relationship with Dominic.

"Nick! Malachi! Are you well after last night?"

Nick let Malachi take the lead on the conversation, knowing Randall could be a force of nature when he wanted or needed to be, especially when someone was hurt. He nodded at Landon, who was on duty outside Andrew's office that day.

"I'm good, thanks. Plenty of sleep and a lovely breakfast was just what I needed."

Nick ignored the surge of pleasure that flowed through him when Malachi glanced at him when he said, "breakfast." He wasn't at all happy that Malachi enjoyed what he'd ordered him. Truly he wasn't.

"King Andrew is ready when you are," Randall ended the conversation politely, and Malachi smiled.

"I won't take up much of his time. I promise."

Randall waved him away. "You'll take as much of his time as he'll let you. But yes, maybe less is more today. He'll want to get back to Kean."

"We can reschedule," Malachi said.

Randall shook his head, smiling. "He won't hear of it. I tried already. To be honest, it'll be good for him. It'll give Kean and Kendal some time together."

Nick did not want those images in his head, so he headed for the office door. "Do you want to announce us, Randall?"

"Yes, of course."

He knocked and popped his head through the door, mumbling something Nick couldn't decipher, and then he came back out and nodded. "Go on in."

Malachi hesitated and looked at Nick, so he smiled and nodded. "He won't bite."

"I know. I just…" Malachi shook his head and sent a small smile back. "Never mind."

He knocked as he pushed on the door, and Nick followed, thanking Randall before he closed them inside.

"Mr Sanders! How are you feeling today?"

King Andrew rose from his chair and headed towards them, hand outstretched. Malachi took it and shook.

"I'm all good, thank you. Nothing more than a reaction. It's inevitable at some point."

"Still. Are you well? There are no adverse side effects from what happened?"

Malachi shook his head. "Everything is fine. I've been through it before, and it's why I have my pen. I just get really tired afterwards."

"I can imagine it takes a toll on your body. Would you like something to drink or eat?"

"I'm good, thanks. We've just had breakfast." Malachi glanced at him again, a small smile curving his lips.

"Nick?" Andrew asked.

"You know me. I would never say no to coffee, but I can get it, Your Majesty. Would you like anything?"

"Tea, please." Andrew returned his attention to Malachi and gestured to the uncomfortable sofas he purposefully had in his office. He said they made people leave quicker than they would if they were comfortable, so Nick couldn't begrudge him.

He made two drinks while eavesdropping on the pleasantries most people started a conversation with. Nick carried a mug of tea over to the king and settled at his usual post against the wall, sipping the hot nectar of the gods. He wasn't sure how any of the bodyguards survived without coffee, but somehow they must.

"Nick, come and sit down," Andrew said.

"I'm okay, Your Majesty. Thank you." Those sofas were not to be trifled with.

"I insist. Come join us."

Nick inwardly sighed, knowing his butt was going to ache after that meeting, but he dutifully sat next to Malachi and crossed his ankle over his knee.

"So, Malachi," Andrew started. "What questions do you have for me?"

Malachi looked startled and fumbled with his notebook. "I, um…" He paused, inhaled and glanced at the king. "I have so many questions, but what I'd really like to hear about is your family. Whoever you're willing to talk about, if anyone. And it's completely fine if you don't want to. It's just…" He stared down at his notebook again. "Family is important to me, and I know it is to you, too. I have never seen such a…wonderful dynamic as yours. It's fascinating."

Nick gaped at him. Okay, he hadn't expected him to ask about family, but from his words, there were no snide remarks, no comments bordering on nasty. He wanted to talk family, which could be a minefield in itself when it came to what had happened a couple of years ago, but was fairly benign compared to other topics.

Andrew smiled, broad and loving. "I am always happy to talk about my family, Malachi. I can honestly say that it has taken me far too long to realise that my sons and my nieces and nephews are grown-ups. That they can deal with their own problems on their own without me needing to help them." His expression was pained, and Nick could guess his mind had gone to his late wife, and his next words confirmed it. "Before Louisa died, she was the one to set us straight. To show us the way. Now she's gone, I find I'm asking myself, ‘What would Louisa do?'" He smiled again. "Even Kean and Kendal ask me the same thing whenever I ask their opinion on something."

"In our family, we go to Grandma. She's the soul of the family," Malachi said. "Always helping us to see our own paths by working us in circles until we figure it out on our own."

"She sounds like a wise woman. Just like Louisa was."

They chatted a bit more, Malachi seemingly keeping to benign topics, almost as if he didn't want to push his luck. They covered a variety of information in those minutes, though. In Nick's opinion—and he wasn't a writer—Andrew gave Malachi something to talk about for each of the princes, but what he would do with that information, only time would tell.

"I don't want to keep you any longer because I know it's Kean's birthday, and you want to spend the day with him, but thank you so much for talking to me."

"I've enjoyed talking with you, Malachi. If we have time before you head out, we'll get together again and talk some more. I'd love to hear more about your family, too."

Colour stained Malachi's cheeks. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'd like that."

They rose, and Nick withheld the wince he wanted to give, along with a lengthy groan at the ache blossoming in his ass cheeks and tailbone. Andrew clapped him on the shoulder.

"You're a good sport, Nick. Now go rest your butt on some comfortable chairs."

Nick snorted. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I just might do that."

When they headed back down the corridor towards their suite, Nick said, "Why didn't you ask any other questions?"

Malachi sighed. "Because I'm not the monster I appear in writing. I'm truly not. And…" His cheeks darkened again. "I really am fascinated by the royal family. They're the epitome of everything, and they do it willingly, without fail, without complaint and without thanks. Many people would fail under those circumstances, but the Sutcliffes have bloomed. They are what the world should be."

Nick stared at him as they entered the suite, but he said nothing.

"I'm going for a quick nap if that's okay. I have time, right?"

Nick nodded. "As much as you need. Do you need me to get anything?"

Malachi shook his head. "No, I'm good, thanks. Wake me if I need to be somewhere."

"Will do."

He watched Malachi enter his room and close the door. The moment he did, Nick grabbed his laptop from his room and settled onto the comfier chairs in the living area. Booting up the computer, he set to re-reading the information he'd gathered on the reporter. An hour later, he still couldn't figure him out. What was he missing? He grabbed his phone.

"Felix, what have I missed?"

"Took you long enough," Felix replied, clicking away on his computer if the noise was any indication. "There. You should have the file you hadn't been able to find or were too lazy to look for."

"Hey!"

Felix chuckled in his ear. "You only saw what you wanted to see, Nick. You know what happens when you only dig so far."

"You're eaten by the wild bears," he muttered.

"Ain't that the truth? Happy reading."

He ended the call and pulled up the file Felix had emailed him. By the time he was done, Nick was stunned. He had no idea how anyone would guess that Malachi Sanders and Kai Ruffers were the same person. Why, if Malachi loved the royal family so much, was he writing such garbage about them? It made little sense to him. But then he remembered something Malachi had said about having less than a year left. Had the newspaper hooked him into a contract and made it impossible for him to disobey? Nick wouldn't put it past them because he saw it all the time. How had he kept Kai Ruffers a secret, though? And why was that knowledge sending sparks of heat through Nick?

Fuck. He knew why, but he didn't want to admit it. How could he admit that the reason he was so obsessed with the guy and whatever he wrote about the royal family was because he had a crush on him?

Nick dropped his head against the back of the sofa and groaned slightly. When Malachi spoke from behind him, he jumped, having not heard him at all during his pity party.

"How long have you known?"

Nick lifted his head, glanced at his laptop to see what exactly was on-screen, and met Malachi's gaze. "I knew you were a conundrum from the beginning, but I didn't know about Kai until just now. Why do you do it?"

Malachi rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair, giving Nick the chance to study his fresh-out-of-bed look. He exhaled and dropped into the seat beside him.

"If I leave now, I'll lose certain benefits I can't afford to lose."

****