“I don’t disagree with the plan. But I’m not certain you grasp the depth of her ruthlessness. I wouldn’t discount a coordinated drone attack planned to take out all of in this room while leaving Robert standing.” Juliana had their attention. Those moments in the queen’s presence had scared her. “She wants us to lose our heads. When she spoke, I could picture her. These young people have no respect for the ways of the world. They are rash and will act without thinking through their actions. We need a steady hand to see us through the greatest challenge to our union.”
“What do you suggest then?” Jamie asked with interest.
“I was in Nava. If they think the monarchy is in trouble, the vote will be for independence. Then, we will be fighting on two fronts. You have the evidence. I suggest we present it to her. And force the queen to proceed with her plan to abdicate. Now. We can add treason for my imprisonment to up the stakes. You do need a show of strength though, Jamie, because she won’t go quietly. But I think if she sees you have the resources to win, she won’t have a choice. Ultimately though, she has become an enemy, whatever we do, it has to leave her powerless.”
“I will. I promise all of you,” Jamie met each of their gazes, “I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I have the information and support to disable her. Now, I think we need to get some sleep and this house is as secure as any fortress.”
“I think I am going to owe Nico rent by the time this is all over,” Rowan pointed out.
Juliana snickered, and the left side of Rowan’s gorgeous lips lifted briefly.
Then, everyone dispersed, leaving Juliana and Rowan alone. They stared at each other across the room, but neither one of them made any effort to move.
She took him in and appreciated all of him with a single sweep. There hadn’t been a time today when she thought she wouldn’t see him again. She knew she would make her way back. So she’d banked the things she wanted to say to him. But faced with his intense gaze, she merely let herself drink him in. Even slightly diminished by his injury, he was still magnificent. The sickly pallor he’d exhibited when she first seen him weeks ago had faded, leaving his mahogany skin a perfect matte. Even with his spectacular physical characteristics, it was his big, doe-like eyes that were her favorite feature. Now, they were open and guileless instead of hard and guarded. He wanted to convey something without saying it, but she wasn’t going to let him get away with it. If he wanted something from her, he was going to have to speak it.
“It’s been a long day.”
“Aye.”
She waited for him to invite her closer, but he remained watchful instead. She stood as the energy needed for this game suddenly left her.
“Good night,” she murmured as she went to move past him.
He reached for her, halting her progress. He tugged until she turned and stared down at him.
“Yes?” she said with saccharine sweetness.
“Come here.”
“No.”
This man and that particular chair were dangerous to her resolve.
He grinned wickedly at her, like he knew what was up. “Are you thinking about the last time you sat in this library, in this chair, with me?” His voice was a low rumble, a shot of pure sex.
“Maybe.” She shrugged.
Chuckling, he tugged on her hand again. “Come sit with me.” It was spoken quietly, just a hint of mischief lacing the words.
She pulled her hand from his grasp. “How about I sit over here?” She bobbed her head in the direction of the chair farthest from him. Then took a step towards it.
“I want to tackle you to the floor and take you right here,” he said, as if he were telling her the sun was going to rise in the morning. “Thinking about you taking out your captor in two seconds is the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. I had to hide my erection from your brothers and your sister.” He pushed forward in his chair, still not reaching for her, but moving closer. “I didn’t think I could want you more until today. Now, I realize my desire for you might be infinite, as big as the galaxy.”
“Far, far away,” she murmured.
“Something like that,” he answered with a grin. “But after the day you’ve had, I am not going to come for you. You need to be in charge here.”
A weird burning began in the back of her throat, and her eyes dampened. Juliana was not a crier. But at this moment, she was about to crumble into a heap of girlie emotion. Since his injury, Rowan had experienced the loss of power over his livelihood, his home, his dogs, his future. Yet he knew what she needed when she couldn’t even figure it out. And he was willing to cede to her when control was the Rowan Beckwith brand.
Juliana moved to him with a clear head, a hopeful heart, and a willing body. And when Rowan pulled her onto his lap, his arms wrapped around her, and he held her. She sank into his embrace, awkwardly perched upon his good leg, safe and content for possibly the first time in her life. Not that her siblings didn’t love her—she knew they did. But she’d never quite been seen in the way Rowan saw her. He knew her insecurities, even those she hadn’t given up easily. He knew many of her strengths and was open to the ones he still had to learn. And his acceptance made her realize she didn’t have to sell little bits of her soul to gain the love of others.
Finally, after she gathered the strength he’d offered, she lifted her head. “It’s been a rough day. My grandmother—or whoever she is to me, the queen—wounded me today. The hate she leveled at me was overwhelming. Noah’s defection hurt in the worst way. He was my sparring partner and my six.”
Rowan didn’t interrupt, but she could tell when something bothered him because he would squeeze her hand a bit harder.
She met his eyes. “But getting back here, having Ele and Jamie”—she shrugged—“and even Robert concerned, it grounded me. Made me realize I am part of this odd family.” She smiled a little and rolled her eyes. She was nervous about saying the next part, but she knew she needed to be honest and real with him. “But mostly, I wanted to get back to you. Whatever we have going between us, it means something to me. I know it was fake in the beginning, but it hasn’t been pretend for me for a while.”
There, she’d said it.
Glancing away, she waited for … something.
But Rowan remained silent.
And she got antsy. Shifting on his lap, she attempted to stand up, but Rowan’s arm banded around her waist.
“Give me a second,” he growled.
Juliana couldn’t help it when hysterical laughter bubbled out of her mouth. It was beyond the nervous titter. It was the range of emotions she’d experienced today. It was Rowan being Rowan. And it went on until Rowan snickered against her neck.
“You’re making me sweat it out after the day I’ve had?” she teased.
“Aye. I fucking suck at this shit.”
“You really do.”