Scandalous Prince (Mafia Royals 2)

I frowned. “One night seems very… little.”

Her smile was sad. “He took all the pieces, Valerian, I hope you know that. The one you had was stolen, the ones he had were gifts, and I can’t take those gifts back and give them to you. I’m afraid there’s nothing left because I’ll always belong to him in a way, even though I’m bound to you.” A tear slid down her cheek; I caught it with my thumb, swiping it away. “I’m sorry.”

“I can think of no better way to leave this earth than with the knowledge that he held something so special in his hands, and he didn’t have to steal it, to get it,” I finished.

She reached up and touched my hair. “Your accent, it’s stronger when you’re emotional.”

She really had no idea, the restraint. No idea. “I can’t seem to help it around you.”

“I like it.”

I don’t.

“What can I do for you right now? What does my princess need?”

She was stoic for a minute and then burst into tears and sobs. “A hug, I just need a hug.”

Without saying anything more, I grabbed a towel, then picked her up into my arms and carried her into the bedroom. I dried her off as carefully as I could. Then I moved to her semi-wet hair. I pulled it into a low ponytail, so it was out of her face, and then I drew her into my arms and whispered, “The prince was scared of so many things. Would his princess leave him? After all this time? Was she bored? Did she still love him despite his many sins? And then the day arrived, or the week that is.”

“What happened?” Her voice was rough from crying.

“The princess visited her mother and was given a magic candle that would allow her to see the king at night. She was so eager to see his face, to reveal his secrets that she took it. And later that week, a day before he was to be broken of the spell, he visited her, and she used the candle.”

Violet turned in my arms and clung to my shirt with her fingertips. “She betrayed him.”

“No.” I cupped her chin. “He failed her.”

Her brow furrowed. “How?”

“He should have been honest from the start. He should have found a way to tell her to let her see.” I slowly started to twist her hair between my fingertips. It was a bad habit, one I would never quit. “He should have fought, and now that she’d seen him, even though the curse was almost broken, he was summoned by the witch into her realm to serve.”

Violet scooted closer, laying her head on my arm. “So, what did she do?”

I smiled. “She fought for him even though some may say he didn’t deserve her loyalty, her love—and in the end, the brave princess, saved her prince, her soon to be king.”

She licked her lips. “You’re eyes…”

“What about them?” I held my breath.

“Against the black, they seem so bright, for a minute, I just…” Her own filled with tears. “Imagined a world where life was fair.”

“Life isn’t fair, and my eyes only look that bright because of the mask you choose for me to keep on.” I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her nose. “You can always take it off, Violet, when you’re ready.”

She sucked in her lower lip. “I’m afraid. Not of your scars, but I’m afraid…” Her eyes filled with tears again. “I’m afraid I’ll like you, and that feels like betrayal.”

My chest cracked. “It’s okay to like more than one person, Vi. I promise I won’t tell.”

“What?” Her eyes narrowed. “What did you just call me?”

“Vi.” I smiled. “It works, right? I mean, we are married…” I took her left hand in mine and kissed the back of it.

“Right.” She clutched my hand and then looked down at the small sickle tattoo on my left ring finger, the one given to me as a child—marking me. “Do you think you could kiss away some of the sadness?”

I thought back to all the times I was forced to hide that tattoo.

“Only if we play another game to distract you from your broken heart.”

She looked away. “I had a thing planned for us today, you know, I moved it to tomorrow, after everything… I don’t know if I could even play a game right now.”

“We’ll play it in bed,” I suggested.

She frowned. “What sort of game?”

“Sadly, not the kind I want,” I teased, hoping to earn a smile from her, and failing miserably as her eyes once again filled with tears. “How about a rematch?”

Violet shrugged. “I mean, if you think your pride can take another loss, then sure, we can have a rematch.”

I crossed my arms and grinned. “I think I can handle another blow. Besides, I never lose twice.”