Loving War : The Eighth Son, page 25
He nodded and looked around, then ran his hands over his face, letting out a deep breath, “I am lost here, baby.”
Charlotte swallowed, his tender words catching her off guard.
“So am I,” she admitted.
Tavian closed his eyes and nodded.
“Perhaps we just take it one day at a time and not try to rush or push anything,” Charlotte suggested.
Tavian looked at her and smiled; he walked to her, touching her cheek. “You really are doing so much better, aren’t you?”
“I like to think so,” Charlotte whispered, gazing up at him.
“Maybe I should go to Malan.”
Charlotte smiled, “It is wonderful there.”
“Really?” Tavian asked.
“You sound surprised.”
He shrugged, “I guess I am a little.”
They stood gazing at one another, neither speaking, simply being together and taking each other in.
Charlotte took a step forward, placed her hands on his chest, and said, “Maybe when all this tournament stuff is over and life has settled, we can go there,” she paused and then whispered, “Together.”
Tavian inhaled and shook his head, “Oh, Charlotte.” He placed his forehead to hers and whispered, “I wish it were all that easy.”
“Me too,” she murmured.
The feel of his hands on her and the closeness of his body made her feel safe. It was as it always was; the attraction between their bodies would never change if only they could get their hearts to heal.
Tavian straightened and grazed her bottom lip with his thumb, “Charlotte.”
“Yes, Your Grace?”
Tavian moved closer to her and whispered, “I miss you and us.”
“Me too,” Charlotte murmured just before he swept his lips over hers.
She closed her eyes, melting into his kiss. He was gentle and slow, and her body reacted, her hands moving up his arm and around his neck.
Tavian pulled her into him, closer, his kiss deepening, and he groaned into her mouth as his body ignited with desire. He moved his hands down her back, cupping her ass; his other hand went around to the front and tugged at her nipple, which was already erect from her reaction to his kiss.
A severe sweeping of panic moved over Charlotte, and her gut revolted. She pulled away and screamed, “No.”
Tavian looked at her, his eyes wide. “Charlotte?”
Charlotte stared at him, her breath uneven and her eyes wide with panic.
“No. I’m sorry, I can’t.”
The door flew open, and Cillian stared at them, “Queen?”
Tavian glared at the man and then looked back at his wife.
“I had hoped I was wrong, but clearly I am not,” he snapped and walked from the room, shoulder-checking the guard.
Cillian rolled his eyes at the man and walked to Charlotte.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.” She shook her head, “No.”
Charlotte fell against him and cried, “I am more messed up than I thought from-” She stopped speaking and sobbed into Cillian’s chest.
“Shhh. It will be alright,” he soothed, holding her.
Tavian flew down the stairs, his anger mixed with hurt, two emotions that he often had horrible reactions to. He shouted at Judd as he walked into his study.
“Yes, Your Grace?” Judd stood at the door.
“Get Sir Daniel here at once.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Tavian inhaled and blew his breath out. He stared out the window, watching the waves glide onto the shore. The sun was shining, and the kingdom looked serene. The horrid rain and damp weather were long gone, which Tavian thought was a good omen. Standing here and contemplating drinking for breakfast, he realized he could not have been more wrong.
“Your Grace,” Daniel said, entering the study interrupting the King’s thoughts.
Tavian turned and motioned for him to enter, “You arrived fast.”
“I was told it was urgent.”
Tavian turned from the window and said, “Find out everything you can about this Cillian O’Donnell.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Do you want me to inquire about all the men on the lists?”
“No, just him,” Tavian replied.
“Alright.” Daniel paused, “Can I ask why?”
Tavian raised his brows as he turned to look at Daniel, “He is fucking my wife.”
So this is Hell
Charlotte walked along the beach with Octavia. Helen, Analese, and Juliette yards ahead of them. The day was warm, and the children wanted to swim. Charlie and Alexander were in the water roughhousing as boys do while the little ones ran around with Eloise and Gwen chasing after them.
“I am happy Alexander and Charlie are getting along again,” Octavia said as she watched her brothers push one another in play.
“Again?” Charlotte questioned.
“Yes, Father told us the truth about Alexander when we first arrived home. Well, afterward, he and Charlie fought a lot.”
“Oh,” Charlotte turned her head to watch her son swimming in the ocean, “Perhaps Alexander is upset over his status.”
“Oh no, Mother, it was Charlie who was being awful. He sees the error of his ways now.”
Charlotte sighed, “So much has happened in our lives this last year.”
“Yes.” Octavia sighed.
“Do you like Juliette?” she asked her mother, eyeing the seventeen-year-old walking ahead.
Charlotte smiled at her daughter, “She needs some schooling, but I think she will be okay.”
“What do you mean?”
“I remember feeling the way she does. My father had just died, and I was being forced to marry a man I did not know.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes.”
“But you and daddy always seemed so happy until-”
“Until?”
“Well, until you weren’t.”
“A lot of that is my fault,” Charlotte sighed.
“How can that be? He is the one who has Ursula here, something I don’t understand at all.”
Charlotte sighed, “It is very complicated. Ursula was here to help Daddy, especially while I was away. She took care of the things I normally would be doing.”
Octavia scowled, “Even having sex with Daddy?”
Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat; she was unprepared to answer her daughter’s question.
“Well, no, but-”
“I hate him for it,” Octavia blurted.
“Tavia, don’t say that.” Charlotte scolded her, “I would give anything to see my father again.”
“They told me that Grandpa Daniel killed your father.”
Charlotte stopped walking and looked at her daughter, “Who told you that?”
“People.”
“Octavia?”
“Just other kids. They said that Daddy is King because they killed your father and brother and that Daddy should have killed Uncle Henry.”
Charlotte looked away. She saw Tavian standing on his balcony, looking down at all of them.
“Daddy did what he had to do. He always does what he must do. He lives for the crown; when you do that, your life is not your own.”
“Well, I don’t want to marry Philip then,” Tavia snapped.
“Your life will be different.”
“How? Why would it be different?”
“It just will,” Charlotte said, looking up at Tavian.
“Do you still love Daddy?”
Charlotte returned to look at Octavia, “Of course I do.”
The Princess scowled, “The people say you and Cillian are having an affair.”
Charlotte chuckled, “My goodness, the gossips are out in full force right now, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Mostly about you, though; everyone still seems to love Daddy.”
They walked silently for a moment, then Octavia stopped and turned to Charlotte, “Mother, I am afraid.”
Charlotte frowned, “Afraid? Of what, my sweet girl?”
“Being a wife. What if Philip is mean? Or doesn’t like me? What if he just uses me to have children?”
Charlotte watched as her daughter spoke, the teenager’s lip trembling as the words came from her mouth.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Charlotte hugged her, “I know what you are feeling. I went through the same thing. I promise you, though, Philip will be kind. He has to be; he is Millie’s son.”
Charlotte wiped the tears from Tavia’s face and smiled at her, “Millie is the sweetest person we know, is she not?”
Tavia nodded as she sniffled.
Charlotte looked at the water at Philip, who had just joined Alexander and Charlie.
“Why don’t you and Philip start spending time together? If you get to know him, you will feel better.”
“Maybe,” Tavia replied, then she looked over at the water, watching her brothers and her betrothed.
Tavian stood in the parlor that evening after dinner. The children played games on one side while the adults conversed across the way.
Ursula sat with her mother, and Mary was engrossed in conversation, allowing Charlotte to speak to her husband.
Charlotte walked over and stood beside the King; she smiled at Helen as she passed by with Juliette and Analese.
“She is quite a character,” Charlotte said.
Tavian looked down at her, “Juliette?”
“Yes.”
“That she is.”
“It is kind of you to take them in,” Charlotte said, looking up at him.
Tavian sucked in his breath as he gazed back at her; he reached for her but then withdrew.
Charlotte noticed his hesitation, and her heart sank. She could not be the one to cave; he had to apologize this time. This time, he was the wrong one. This time, she would not budge.
“We leave for Benediction in the morning,” he said.
“Yes.”
Ursula stood and joined them, noticing the intensity between the King and Queen.
“Your Graces,” she smiled at Charlotte, then placed her hand on Octavian’s shoulder.
Charlotte stifled a smile behind her glass of whiskey as her eyes scanned the room. She stopped on Cillian, who stood in the doorway, his eyes intense as he gazed back at her.
Sula noticed the eye contact between the two and knew this was a golden opportunity for her to stick a thorn in the side of the King’s thoughts of getting back with his wife.
“So that bodyguard,” she said, staring at Cillian.
Charlotte looked at her, “What about him?”
Sula raised her brows, “Well, he is easy on the eyes.”
Charlotte frowned at her, as did the King.
“Am I not allowed to have an opinion; after all, I am a free woman?”
“Are you though?” Charlotte countered, “From what I have observed, you make sure that you touch the King any chance you get, especially if I, his wife, am in the room.
Tavian shot a look at Charlotte, but it did not silence her.
“So I would say you are not free. Unfortunately, you fell under Octavian’s spell, just like all the others.”
Sula smiled, and her hand traveled down Tavian’s arm. She tried intertwining her fingers with his, but he did not reciprocate.
Sula shifted and took a long drink, then she looked at Charlotte, “Others, you say?”
Charlotte nodded, “Oh yes. Let’s see, there was Evette.”
Sula looked at Tavian in shock.
“Charlotte, knock it off,” he said.
“Then there was, oh, what was her name?” Charlotte said, slapping the King across the chest.
He looked at her, amused; he knew she was taunting Ursula and knew it was harmless banter.
“The star of the sea,” he replied, smiling at his Queen.
“Yes!” Charlotte exclaimed in excitement.
Tavian looked at her, and they both began to laugh.
“Marie,” Charlotte giggled, remembering how angry she had been over nothing.
“You did forget one, my dear,” Tavian said.
“Did I?”
“Beth.”
Charlotte stiffened, looked down, and then forced her smile to return.
“How silly of me. How could I have forgotten Beth?”
Tavian noticed the change in her body and tone, and he knew that one hit it in the heart because she wasn’t a jest; Beth had been real. Beth had been the first time they both realized there was something between them, something tangible.
Sula watched them and felt the palpable attraction between them growing. It was different from anything she and the King shared.
Tavian raised his hand and placed it on Charlotte’s cheek, “You, always running around in nothing but your nightgown. Drove me mad,” he whispered, looking down at her.
Charlotte swallowed. “I didn’t stand a chance with you,” she whispered, gazing up at him, allowing him to pull her in.
This time, she didn’t fight it; this time, she welcomed it. She missed it; she missed him, feeling his gaze on her again, his touch, and the way he spoke to her. His voice took on a tone he used only for her. Charlotte could no longer fight against it, not when she loved him so much.
Walking up to the King, Helen said, “Your Grace,” which broke the bubble that had encapsulated the King and Queen, bringing them back to reality.
“Yes,” Tavian said, his eyes were still on Charlotte.
“I can’t thank you enough for taking my family in.”
“It is the least I can do. Daniel is, after all, my father.”
“Yes, but all the same.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sula stared at Helen as she moved her hand back onto Tavian’s shoulder.
“So, Sula, will you be returning home soon?” Helen asked as Daniel walked up beside her.
“Well, no, why would I?” Sula replied as if the question was absurd.
“Well, there is no war,” Helen said, her gaze traveling to the King.
“She is staying for an extended visit. Alexander will be getting tutored here, so she wants to be sure he is comfortable before leaving,” Octavian explained.
He honestly had no explanation for why she was still here beyond the reason he just gave.
Sula looked at him, and he met her gaze.
“Speaking of, here comes the young man,” Daniel said as Alexander approached them.
“Your Grace,” he bowed and looked at his mother, “I am heading to my room for the night, Mother.”
“Do you feel alright, my sweet boy?”
“I am alright; I may have gotten too much sun.”
“Well, let us know if you need anything,” Tavian said, “I was similar as a child.”
“Yes, you were. " Daniel confirmed, “Skin burnt to a crisp the first few times you went bare-chested,”
Alexander looked at the King, “Good night, Your Grace.” Alexander smiled and then said, “I mean, Father.”
Tavian looked down at him, a smile spread across his face, “Good night, Alexander.”
Alexander stared up at him a moment. Tavian ruffled the boy’s hair and smiled at him.
Charlotte turned her head to hide her trembling lip and the tears pooling in her eyes. All her nightmares were coming true right in front of her, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. Not unless she wanted to leave, but that would mean leaving her children.
“Your Grace, are you ready to return to your room?” Cillian asked her.
She turned and looked at him.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“What?” he asked.
“Excuse me,” Charlotte said, avoiding the King’s gaze.
“What on earth was that?” she asked Cillian once they were in the entryway.
“You looked upset. I thought I was helping you.”
Charlotte nodded, “I appreciate that. I do, but we cannot add to the circulating rumors.”
“Rumors?” Cillian scowled.
Charlotte smiled and nodded as Helen and Daniel walked by. Then her gaze landed on Tavian, and the look on his face broke Charlotte.
“I have to get back. Please just..” Charlotte stopped talking when she looked back at Cillian. “Just walk me to my room,” she whispered in defeat.
She knew from the look on Tavian’s face that the serene feelings they had with one another moments ago were not returning, not tonight anyway.
Tavian walked to the entry hall and saw Charlotte climbing the stairs with Cillian behind her.
“Octavian, come back in here,” Ursula requested.
He looked at her, “Go back inside. I will return in a moment.” He walked away with Ursula chasing after him, and she grabbed his arm.
“Leave it be,” she said.
He looked at her, his eyes wide with fury.
“Just leave her be, Octavian.”
“How can I just let her be? She is dangling him around in front of everyone and our children.”
Ursula shook her head, “What has happened to you?”
Tavian looked up and sighed; he tugged his arm away from her grip and climbed the stairs two at a time. He turned down the hall, ready to barge in on Charlotte and Cillian. He slowed his pace when he saw Cillian standing outside the Queen’s bedroom door.
“Is the Queen expecting you?” Cillian asked, his stoic face intact.
Tavian walked up to him, his face inches away. “Listen to me. I am digging around about you, and I know there is something off about you, and when I find out, I will bury you with it.”
“Is that right?” Cillian asked, his face a statue.
“I suggest you back off the Queen,” he hissed.
He turned and grabbed the doorknob.
“I have no intention of backing off Charlotte anytime soon. Just so we are clear.” Cillian stated.
Tavian stood still but did not turn to look at the man. Instead, he turned the knob and walked into Charlotte’s room, closing the door.
Charlotte stood in her nightgown outside on her balcony, her arms wrapped around her chest. She turned at the sound of her door closing and met Tavian’s furious gaze.
“Since when were you okay with parading your lovers around?” he hissed, charging at her.
“What?” As he approached her, Charlotte gasped, standing her ground, “I am not the one parading a lover around.”
