Broken Road (Fate's Intent Book 7) (22 page)

Chapter 43

Jaylyn

Morning came slowly and I woke from my completely unplanned night. I stretched in bed and felt the empty place next to me. My eyes shot over and I saw that Troy had yet to come home. Tears came to my eyes in an instant to think of why he didn’t and I had to sit up to calm myself down from my gaping breaths.

The door opened without a knock and I quickly scurried around to make it look like I didn’t just wake up and wiped my eyes with haste. I was hoping it was Troy coming back with our breakfast. Maybe he woke up before me but it wasn’t him. Izin stood just a few feet in with his hand still on the door knob. “Morning. You both must be up. Good. Where’s Troy?”

I tried keeping in my emotions but it was clear on my voice when I spoke. “I don’t know.”

Izin’s brow creased and he stepped in the room farther. “Are you okay? What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“He never came home last night.” A tear rolled down, soaking my already damp face.

“Last night?” Izin got to the end of the bed and sat himself on it.

“Yeah. We all went out after the dinner because they wanted to have some real fun and—”

Izin sighed deeply before I could have finished. “I should have seen that coming. It’s all right, Jaylyn. It’s sort of a habit of theirs. You don’t need to get upset about it.”

“You don’t know the half of it. I remember Ruby leaving first. She seemed upset about something but didn’t say. Then I left not long after because I was being completely ignored and I don’t know about Adele but she’s alone right now in their room.”

Izin sighed again and lowered his head, bringing up his hand to rub across his brow. “All right. Don’t worry. They just need a talking to. I can fix this. Not the first time.” He got up off the bed and started heading for the door.

“Izin?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

I hesitated for just a second but my words soon came out quick and harsh. “I don’t want to see him.”

“What?” He asked it like he was just trying to understand it.

“Troy. I don’t want to see him.”

“That bad?”

“He forgot about me to be with another woman and I think he stayed with her last night.”

Izin nodded through a heavy breath. “Okay. That’s completely understandable as to why but I have to bring them back here. We still have guests that they know they need to show respect for and thank them for their visit before they leave.”

“Okay. I can see that.”

“I’ll make sure he’s kept busy for a while but you’ll have to speak with him at some point. Things may not be as bad as you think.”

I nodded to his assurance and let him walk out of the room. I hoped he was right but just thinking of Troy with Marina made me angry and sad all at the same time. Had we been a lie from the beginning? Troy clearly felt something for her from seeing their meeting and even though I wanted to, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Chapter 44

Izin

I made my way back downstairs to my room where Kathryn was still asleep in our bed. I smiled to seeing her and walked over to her side, carefully sitting down next to her. She had yet to wake up until I gently grazed the side of her face with the back of my fingers.

She started to smile and reached for my hand while she opened her eyes. “Up early, my love?”

“It would seem so. There’s something I need you to do for me.”

Kathryn became more awake when my voice became more serious and she started to sit up. “What is it?”

“Go to Aleks and alert him about what’s happening. The boys have made another night-out mistake that I need to go take care of. I’d like the two of you to stay here and be sure that our guests don’t catch ear of this. This is a family matter that doesn’t involve them.”

“Okay. Are they okay?”

“They may be now but that may not be the case when they see their wives. The girls are the only ones who made it back last night.”

“Oh, Izin. No.”

“It’s all right. They’ll fix it their own way but not without consequence. We’ll need to make sure our guest remain unaware while they gather to return home.”

She nodded again and started getting out of bed. “Okay. I’ll get Aleks up.”

“Good. I’m going to get the boys. I know exactly where they are. I don’t know what’s going to happen when they get back but whatever it is, I’d like it to be done quietly. I’m not sure what state they’re in right now but I hope they wish to fix what they’ve done.”

“They will. Go. I’ll take care of things here.”

“I know you will.” I got up off the bed and kissed her lips gently. “Hurry and get ready.”

Kathryn nodded as I left the room and got a horse prepared to leave. Three soldiers were seen as my personal escorts through the city while I made my way to the tavern but I already knew what I would be using them for, knowing my boys.

The walk was quiet but we approached the sleeping tavern and I let myself in. I had my eyes fixed on the bar ahead where the barkeep was cleaning to prepare for the next evening’s activities.

When he saw me, he immediately stopped what he was doing and bowed. “Your majesty!”

“Where are they?”

My voice even made the nerves of a man my age quiver and he pointed up to the second level to the left of the bar with his eyes. “There.”

“Is anyone else here?”

“No, your majesty. Just them and their guests.”

“Good. Leave us.”

He bowed his head and hurried to get around the bar and scurried towards the door.

My eyes turned up at the second level and I walked stiffly towards the stairs, going up them slowly with the three soldiers following quietly and obedient behind me.

There they were; passed out asleep on the couches they’ve spent their night on, each with a woman cuddled close to their side. Zayden had a young blonde under his arm, Darius had a waitress laying against him and Troy was leaned comfortably against the woman I would assume Jaylyn saw him with. Both her arms were on him, resting on his chest.

I stood at the foot of the table with scorn on my face to see what my sons have done. The family had been dishonored by this and I couldn’t let it last another second. I flipped the table in front of me to its face and all the glasses fell to the floor, shattering.

The women jumped awake from their sleeping state first and saw me standing with my soldiers. Fear took them and they all bowed their heads at the same time and spoke as one. “Your majesty.”

“Please have these ladies escorted home before I’m forced to charge them with adultery.” I said, speaking to the soldiers while my eyes were still fiercely on the women.

“What?” One was confused and tired. The soldiers walked around me and one started pulling her away from Troy. Still lost from reason, she resisted. “No. Troy!”

He was next to wake from being moved by the commotion. “Huh?” His eyesight cleared and he saw the girl being taken away first. “Marina! Stop!”

“No! Get her out of here!” I said in a louder voice, making the soldier continue to get her to her feet.

Troy saw me and sucked in a breath. “Father.”

“Is this what you traded your wife for?”

Troy just stared at me. Someone had to say it and I think he finally remembered. “Oh, no.”

“Your wife?” The woman was being pulled towards the stairs and had her moistened eyes on Troy. “You’re married? But I came back for you.”

“I’m sorry.” Troy muttered. “Just go. It’s okay.”

A tear came out of her eye as she was led out of sight last behind the other two women.

Silence filled the tavern once the doors were closed and Troy leaned himself back on the couch with a heavy breath, shifting his eyes towards me. “Father, I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure you are but I’m not the one you’re in trouble with this time. Get them up.”

Troy looked to his right at Zayden and Darius and threw a couple of pillows at their faces. “Hey. Wake up.”

They started to wake and Darius moved around, wondering what hit him but opened his eyes first to see me. “Father? What are you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you the same question along with how your night was away from your wives?”

Zayden felt next to him and the spot where the young blonde laid was still warm from her presence. His eyes widened and moved towards Darius and Troy.

“I’m afraid so.” Troy nodded.

“Don’t worry. They’re being taken care of.” I said. “If you wanted to know.”

“Where’s Ruby?” Darius asked, looking around.

“She didn’t stay. You spent your night with someone else.”

“What? No I didn’t.”

“But it’s sadly true. You did. I’m not filled in with all of the details but you’re all in a serious amount of trouble. Out of all the stupid, reckless things you’ve done over the years that brought dishonor to the family, this has got to be the worst! You have wives now with sons on the way. If you feel you were never ready to take on that much responsibility and grow up then just say so and I’m sure at this point they’ll happily leave.”

They perked right up and spoke at the same time. “They’re leaving?”

“Have you not been listening? You can still fix this but you’ll have to want to.”

“Of course we want to, father.” Zayden said. “Last night is just a blur. We didn’t know—”

“You never do! What in your right mind made you think bringing them to a place like this was okay? You should have known of the consequences!”

“But we didn’t even know that they left.” Troy said. “They weren’t supposed to.”

“You should have expected it when you reached a certain level of drunken stupidity and they had to stay sober through it. For instance, like when you abandoned your wife to be with that other woman. How long did you think she’d wait around?”

“Oh, shit.” Darius muttered. “You didn’t.”

“If you haven’t noticed, Jaylyn’s not the only one that left.” Troy said to him with narrowing eyes.

“True.” I agreed. “I have no idea what you did, Darius but Jaylyn’s the one I talked to this morning and she said Ruby was first to leave and seemed upset in doing so.”

Darius shook his head in confusion. “I—I don’t remember her ever going. When did that happen?”

“How would we know?” Zayden wondered. “We were just as drunk as you. I don’t even remember Adele leaving.”

“She left last. Couldn’t tell you why. Jaylyn just confirmed she was alone in your room this morning.”

Zayden leaned his head on the back of the couch with a heavy sigh but a quiet voice. “Shit.”

“Shit is right but to make matters worse, we have a whole palace of royal guests that will be preparing to leave that you must firstly give your most humble respects to before dealing with this matter.”

“What?! No! We want to fix this now!”

“You’re not in any position to be doing that now without a plan. For now, we’re going to head back and you three are going to get cleaned up and changed properly before approaching the guests.”

“But wouldn’t we see our wives if we have to go to our rooms to do that?” Troy asked.

“I can’t be completely positive about the other two but I know Jaylyn doesn’t want to see you.”

“What?”

“She’ll surely make herself scarce until it’s time and I’m sure she already told the others of your soon return. Come. Let’s get you focused on getting back first.” I turned from them and heard their slow movements to get up after me. I smiled and continued going, getting up on my horse once we were outside. “You’ll have to walk back, I’m afraid. Hopefully the fresh air will do you some good.”

Not a word was said as I turned my horse back up the street towards the palace and they followed weary behind, hopefully thinking of what they have done wrong. I know they hated themselves for it but it would be fixed—soon.

“Perhaps you three should use the servant’s entrance.”

“What?” Zayden asked, almost as if he was repulsed by the idea.

“We have guests, remember? I don’t want them seeing how obviously messed up you look right now like you just crawled out of the gutters. What kind of an image would that portray on us, hmm? We’re the strongest country in the world and I intend to keep your uncontrollable weakness out of it. Understand?”

“We’re sorry, father. We were just—”

“No.” I cut in, holding up my hand to silence him. “Save your excuses for the ones you’ll need to beg your forgiveness from and get inside. Make sure you’re not seen.”

I continued to walk forward and entered the palace through the main doors as a King would.

Kathryn and Aleks were just walking through the main hall and they both turned off course from the dining hall to approach.

“You’re back.” Kathryn said. “Where are they? Are they okay?”

“They’re fine.” I assured her almost panicked voice by gently touching her chin. “They’ll have some work to do but that will be coming later. Did you do what I’ve asked?”

Aleks nodded. “Most everyone has woken and gathered in the dining hall for breakfast.”

I nodded back and walked with them towards it. “Good. Did either of you see the girls?”

“They’re inside.” Kathryn answered.

“And definitely faking their smiles, might I add. I’ve seen it before.”

“I suppose it’s good that they’re away. I advised the boys not to try and fix this until all the guests have parted.”

“And they will.” Aleks nodded.

“You go.” Kathryn said. “I just want to check on a few things. Old habits.”

I smiled and turned to her before I would have entered the dining hall. “Nothing to be ashamed of, my Queen. We’re all aware you’re still adjusting to this life.”

“Even still. Aleks.”

“Till later, Kathryn.” Kathryn nodded to him and walked away. “I don’t think she’ll ever fully get used to not having to do a thing.”

“She won’t need to. As long as it keeps her happy.”

Aleksander nodded in agreement and we entered the dining hall together where the table was full of food and our guests were placed chatting around it.

“And our host finally joins us!” King Gerald of Ledia smiled, redirecting all conversations towards my presence in the room.

“Forgive my absence.” I said, taking my seat at the head of the table with Aleks on my right. “Just taking care of a few things.”

“Where are your boys this morning?” King Viktor asked while the young Princes remain quiet in their chairs, watching the Kalu Assassins eat in even a greater silence. “We have yet to see them.”

My eyes casually glanced down the table at the girls. “They will be down momentarily. Later night than any of us, I imagine.”

Adele got up from the table without a word and approached her father. She leaned down in his ear to whisper something and he nodded to her. She walked off and Aleks turned his eyes to Ruby and Jaylyn as they met his. He moved his head in Adele’s direction for them to follow and they too started to get up from the table without a word.

They walked out, trying to stay as casually as ever while they were being watched by all the men at the table.

“Your girls are exquisite, Aleksander.” Young King Sedrik said. “If only there were one as beautiful for every man in the world.”

“Thank you, Sedrik but don’t let their innocence fool you. They can be quite a handful.”

Prince Oren laughed quietly. “As one with their titles should be. Assassins; I’d love to see them in action.”

Prince Wyatt was sitting next to him and returned the laugh as they bumped fists together. “No doubt.”

They continued to laugh for another second about it until they noticed no one else was and their fathers had their stares on them. Oren cleared his throat and looked down as if he bowed his head. “Sorry, father.”