The Marquis and the Magician's Assistant (The Rebel Royals 4)

That brought Alex's attention up. "Esme loves Jan's pies, in particular, Jan's Poison Apple Pie."

"But Jan's not baking the pies," said Leo.

"Because she's the Maid of Honor and she's already planned the entire menu, is cooking for the rehearsal dinner, and is having to put up with you changing things every other second. I won't have you run my fiancée into the ground and have her consider running away from this crazy family before I can get a ring on her finger."

"Fair point." Leo sighed as though he were entirely inconvenienced. "I wouldn't want to upset Jan. Esme would have my head if her best friend were unhappy."

The three men in the room looked at the king of the realm. At every turn, Leo had asked each of them to go above, beyond, and then an inch further in the preparations for his second wedding. As the day drew nearer, his demands tested the bounds of diva-ness.

"Daniel ..." Leo turned to the quiet man of the bunch.

As usual, the earl's head was buried behind the covers of a thick, hardback book. At the sound of his name, Daniel did not put the book down. He calmly turned the page, the only acknowledgment that the man was still breathing.

"Daniel, I need you to take another look at my vows," said Leo.

"What's wrong with the new draft?" Came the muffled voice from behind the covers.

"It's not …” Leo waved his hands in the air, searching for the right words, "romantic enough."

The pages rustled as Daniel's fingers stiffened. The gold embossed title of the book read The Complete, Unabridged Works of Jane Austen. The cover of the book slid down to reveal bright green eyes that darkened a few shades as Daniel regarded his king.

"Not romantic enough?" Each of the three words was clipped and enunciated with disbelief.

"No," said Leo. He was looking up at the ceiling for his words now and not at the murderous gaze of the bibliophile. Since the very real possibility of regicide wasn't on Leo's mind, the monarch kept going. "Can't you find a quote or something in one of your books? But not Austen, she's far too rigid and unrealistic. Something from a fairytale like Grimm or Seuss."

Omar was still on the platform with the tailor poking needles and thread through his clothing, so he would not have gotten to the earl in time. Luckily, Alex was quick on his feet. He got to Daniel before the man could take a step to Leo with that twenty-pound hardback weapon raised to strike. Omar wasn't sure if Alex saved his brother's life out of fraternal devotion or because the prince had no desire to rule.

In Leo's defense, the man was over the moon in love and eager to marry his bride. He had had no hand in his first wedding plans. He hadn't even chosen the bride.

In truth, Esme hadn't even been Leo's first choice as a second wife. But she'd wound up being his only choice. It was no wonder he wanted everything perfect for her.

"Omar." Leo turned back to him.

Omar took another slow, deep breath as the king's attention turned back to him. Omar had eagerly accepted the role of Best Man at Leo's wedding. The first time had been a breeze as everything was planned for the man who would be king. Today, it was a different story as the man who was king took a hands-on approach in running his country and his personal life.

Omar braced himself for the next missive. What would it be this time? Would Leo want Omar to drive down to the florist growing the wedding flowers to check on their progress? Again?

"You still haven't RSVP'd your plus one," said Leo.

"You'll be a handful enough on the big day." With the jacket measurements done, Omar slipped off the garment and handed it back to the tailor. "I'm not bringing anyone."

"You can't do that," protested Leo. "You have to bring someone, or the seating arrangements will be unbalanced."

Omar's lungs protested the excess air he tried to force past his throat. Instead, he walked to the door.

"Oy," called Daniel. "Where are you going?"

"Do not leave us alone with him," said Alex.

Leo looked between the three of them with surprise, as though he had no clue what the three closest men in his life could possibly be referring to.

"I just need to ask Jan something," said Omar.

"I probably know the answer," said Alex.

"It's a Maid of Honor-Best Man thing," Omar called out over his shoulder as he walked out the door.

He could hear Alex grumble as the door shut. Omar felt no remorse. It was survival of the fittest in this animal kingdom. And besides, his dating life was not up for deba