I pulled his heavy hands into mine. “Hey, you’re not responsible for your brother’s choices. You know that, right?”
“But I should have helped him sooner. I’m his older brother, damn it. I let it go too long. I put it on Kenley. I pawned his problems off to her. What kind of man does that to his own family?”
I tried to ease some of his burden. “What’s important is that you’re getting help for him now. Focus on that. When does he leave? Where is this place?”
“Kenley is going with him. It’s in Spain. It’s best if he’s away from Galona press. He leaves tonight.”
“Spain?”
He nodded. “He doesn’t want to go. He’s fighting the entire thing. But he’s still drunk. Of course he’s going to fucking fight.”
I twisted my lips together. “Isabel stopped by today.”
“She did? Was it about Dominic?”
“No. Actually, she really wants to take a trip to Spain. That’s why I was reminded.”
His eyebrows arched. “And she came to you.”
“Yes. She needs a break from Galona. And even though it’s not exactly what she wanted, why don’t you send her with Dominic?”
“Fuck. My family is falling apart. A princess who doesn’t want to be in her own country. A prince in rehab.”
I turned his face to focus on me. “You’re doing everything you can to keep them together. Grant this request for Isabel. Give her some time to recharge her batteries. She’ll be in Spain if Dominic needs anything. And he will get better.”
He grazed my cheeks gently with his fingers and looked deep into my eyes. It felt like he was searching for the answer to some unspoken question.
“You are what I’ve always needed.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “Swear to me you’ll always be here like this when I need you.”
I swallowed hard. “I promise.” I closed my eyes as Damon’s lips pressed to mine.
“Now, let’s go christen the rest of this apartment.”
He pulled me from the couch, lifting me with one quick scoop of his strong arms. I flung my hands around his neck and kicked my legs wildly. He would always be hungry for me. He needed me. I wasn’t about to burden the king with more problems. The email could wait.
Thirty-Nine
Damon
The lodestar clicked open. I sipped my coffee and read the agenda. I smiled when I saw Dominic’s name on my list of appointments. I had a video call with him at three. It had been two weeks since he left the palace, and his progress had been steady. The doctors were pleased.
Isabel was still in Spain, supposedly working on state matters. Outside of my briefing reports, I hadn’t heard from my sister. I had to fight the instinct to call her back to Galona. Molly assured me she’d return when she was ready. I trusted her advice.
I pulled open the top drawer of the royal desk. The ring box sat where it had since the day I brought it home from Vitania’s. I lifted it from the drawer and cracked the lid. The sapphire sparkled in the morning sun.
I plucked the beautiful jewel from its box and carried it to the balcony. The waves crashed in the distance. The staff had brought a full cart of breakfast this morning. There were pastries, bowls of fresh fruit, and a basket of Galona’s most exotic tropical flowers. Everything was exactly how I instructed it to be presented. All of her favorites, down to the color of the china.
I inhaled deeply, my lungs expanding with the sea air.
I quickly snaked my hand around my back when Molly appeared in the doorway. My T-shirt grazed the tops of her thighs. Damn she was sexy, especially wearing my clothes.
Her hair tumbled over her shoulders in amber waves.
“Bonjour, love.” I smiled.
“Bonjour.” She looked at the gilded cart. “Wow, you must be hungry this morning.
And mimosas? Are we celebrating something?” She smiled sweetly and reached for the coffee carafe first.