by MarieMedina
“Wow,” Sebastian said when he saw the enormous marble fireplace. “This must’ve been the sitting room back in the day. The detail is amazing.” He stared up at the molding, which had an intricate flower pattern. “So beautiful.”
Alexander stood there holding his box, looking at Sebastian instead of the molding.
Sebastian set his box down and laughed. “Sorry. History major. I love old buildings and furniture.”
“I enjoy history, too. No need to apologize.” He set his box on the floor. “The look on your face … I could tell you appreciate fine craftsmanship.”
“I get a bit carried away. My parents don’t get it. They were both accountants.”
They descended the steps in silence, but once on the street behind the truck, Alexander asked, “Do your parents live close?”
“About two hundred and fifty miles away. They’ve both been retired for a few years. They’re in their seventies now and don’t travel too much.”
“Really? Their seventies? But you look too young for your parents to be that age.”
He cleared his throat as he hefted another box. “I’m adopted, actually.”
“Oh?” Alexander said, seeming very interested.
“Yeah. Never knew my birth parents. Or maybe it’s better to say I don’t remember them. I was kind of a John Doe, but not really.”
Alexander’s brows came together. “Kind of? I don’t understand.”
Sebastian explained as they mounted the steps once more. “No memories from before I was found. Literally washed up on a beach. I knew my name, my birthday of all things, and that was it. I had blood on the back of my head but only a superficial cut. They found no head trauma at the hospital—or no evidence anyway—but figured I had to have smacked my head pretty hard. It’s been ten years, and I still remember nothing. I’ve been to specialists of every kind, but no luck. My adoptive mom was the one who found me, and her firm worked for a local adoption agency. She got attached to me and apparently moved heaven and earth to keep me, even though they’d usually be considered too old to be candidates.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Sebastian wished he could look back without risking either of them losing their balance. Alexander sounded almost upset, and he wanted to reassure the older man. “Thanks, but I’ve come to terms with it. I like to tell people right off since my parents are so much older. Plus, it’s probably the most interesting thing about me.”
“I doubt that’s the most interesting thing about you.”
Sebastian turned as they reached the porch, smiling and kind of shrugging in response. Alexander looked very serious, and concerned, as their gazes met. Was that his personality, or had Sebastian completely brought the mood down? The story was pretty sad. Perhaps he’d gotten too used to telling it over the years.
“I’m glad you had people to love and care for you. It sounds as if you were quite lucky. My sympathy was mostly for your memory loss.”
Sebastian sighed as he entered the apartment again. “Yeah, but maybe it would be worse if I did remember the accident that took my family. God knows what happened. And who knows what my parents were like, you know? Maybe my parents were like me. Loved art and literature and history. Or they were nothing like me. They could’ve been wonderful people. Or the exact opposite.”
Alexander stood motionless with a box still in his hands. He blinked and set it on top of the first one he’d brought up. “Yes, you never know. My father,” he said, pausing a very long time, “my father … is a terrible person.” He said the last few words very quickly.
Sebastian hesitated. He heard genuine, raw pain and anger in Alexander’s voice. “I’m sorry.”
Alexander blinked a couple more times. “No. I’m sorry. Very sorry. We had a fight recently. A big one. Nothing I should be unloading on a stranger.”
Trying to cheer Alexander up and make him feel more comfortable, Sebastian said, “Hey, we aren’t strangers. This is our second meeting. We’re friends now. And neighbors.”
Sebastian watched Alexander take a deep breath. So many emotions seemed to cross the man’s face. But then Alexander smiled. “I’m glad to have a friend. I don’t know anyone here.” He took a step closer. “And I hope you’ll have that drink with me one night.”
“Sure. I have classes Monday through Thursday, but I’m usually free on weekends.” Then he laughed. “Always free, actually, unless my old roommate drags me to a party and tries to get me laid.”
Alexander didn’t say anything, but his eyes shifted a bit.
“He usually isn’t successful,” Sebastian said quickly.
One corner of Alexander’s mouth turned up. “Trust me, I wasn’t judging. I was feeling disappointed. You have turned me down once already, and I’m sure the boys at the university are much more attractive than an old man like me.”
Sebastian could only gape at him. “Depends on your type, I guess, but you aren’t old. Older, yeah, but what are you, like thirty?”
“Thirty-two.”
“You’re tall and handsome and hell yeah I’m gonna have that drink with you.”
Alexander smiled and laughed, suddenly looking so happy. His entire countenance changed in that moment and took Sebastian completely by surprise. “Good. I’ll look forward to it all week.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” Wanna forget the blowup mattress and sleep with me tonight? I’d love to make you keep smiling like that. Sebastian tried to push the thought away. It was a bad idea, especially since it would probably ruin any real chance they might have. And then they’d be stuck seeing each other all the time and dealing with constant awkwardness.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Alexander said, his smile gone and his eyes a little wide.
Holy fuck, did I say that out loud? Sebastian swallowed. “I said, Yeah. Me, too.”
“Oh.” Alexander shook his head. “Sorry. I’m not sure what I heard.” He turned quickly and headed back outside.
The walk down was a bit awkward, at least for Sebastian. He hadn’t said those words out loud. He knew he hadn’t. Luckily, Alexander turned back and broke the silence. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.” Sebastian studied Alexander’s face, feeling relieved. Maybe he’d mumbled a bit or been talking too low. It was just a coincidence.
As they headed back up, he let himself check out Alexander’s body. As his gaze settled on the man’s ass, he almost tripped. He bit his lip and told himself to watch his thoughts and words the rest of the afternoon. Rushing into bed had never ended well, no matter how good the sex had been. And something about Alexander—he wasn’t quite sure what—made him think sleeping together would be so much more than sex. There was a quiet intensity about him that intrigued Sebastian.
And told him to tread carefully, for both their sakes.
* * * *
Alexander sat on the floor of his apartment as the sun set, nursing a glass of wine and thinking about how his afternoon had gone. Sebastian had spent an hour and a half helping him move his boxes in, then another half an hour just chatting out on the porch swing. Alexander had learned so much about him, more than enough to ache for all the time they’d lost. He drained the glass and stood up, telling himself he wasn’t going to give in to despair or angst. He knew he’d struggled to control his facial expressions and reactions a few times this afternoon, but he thanked the stars he hadn’t done anything to scare Sebastian off. His cariad had smiled shyly as they’d said goodbye, and he’d even looked back once before going into his own apartment across the hall.
Walking over to a blank space in the wall, Alexander concentrated. He drew the outline of a door, and then he flicked his wrist to make the connection to his own world. He stepped through into his bedroom and then closed the passage. Part of him had wanted to stick around, especially as he thought of the words Sebastian had unknowingly projected at him. Wanna forget the blowup mattress and sleep with me tonight? I’d love to make you keep smiling like that. Alexander ha
d dug his nails into his palms to keep from pulling Sebastian against him. He wanted his cariad to know the truth before they went too far physically.
That is, if he could manage to control himself around the handsome young man. Alexander had kept waiting for Sebastian’s flaws to emerge, but Sebastian didn’t seem to have any, except maybe a slight lack of confidence. He was smart and funny and sweet, so kind and thoughtful and utterly perfect. His brown hair curled a bit at his nape and looked so soft, and it had golden highlights in the sun. He had bright, clear blue eyes that lit up when he smiled and constantly gave away his attraction to Alexander, which had been wonderful yet slightly maddening.
Alexander changed out of his clothes and into a silk robe. He knew he’d sleep better in his own bed, away from Sebastian, plus he didn’t want to have anything in the apartment that Sebastian hadn’t helped him move in, at least for the next few days. He made his way down to the kitchens, hoping word of what he was doing hadn’t spread. Everyone knew what his father had done by now, for better or worse, but he didn’t really want anyone to know he was pretending to be human and basically trick his cariad. Most wouldn’t blame him, yet some would see problems with it. But he couldn’t help that. His only other option was forgetting about Sebastian, and he couldn’t do that.
As he sat by one of the kitchen fires eating some bread and a bit of roasted lamb, someone walked up behind him and stopped. Alexander didn’t turn around, and the person remained silent, which meant it was a servant, probably a very young one. Though he didn’t want to be bothered, he turned around. “Yes?”
The young man bowed. “Pardon me, Your Highness, but your father wished to see you upon your return.”
“I’ll go to him when I’ve finished eating.”
The young man bowed again and moved away quickly.
Alexander took his time and had another glass of wine before slowly making his way to his father’s chambers. He entered without knocking and sat in the chair he’d occupied the night he’d learned what his father had done. It had been about two and a half weeks now, but it felt like years in a way. He didn’t bother to announce himself, and it was about five minutes later when his father came out of his bedroom.
“There you are. We need to talk,” Grayden said.
“We do, but why bother? Gets worse every time.”
Grayden scowled at him. “I need you to tell everyone that you forgive me.”
Alexander stopped breathing for a moment as he fought the urge to grab his father and shake him. Finally taking a deep breath, he whispered, “Forgive you?”
“Yes, I’m being censured right and left. You have to explain that you’ve heard my reasons and my apology and that you see my side of things. That you realize how hard some decisions are for kings. That you see that you will be in the same position yourself one day. My people are losing respect for me.”
“They lost respect for you a long time ago! What you’ve done to me has only given them something to rally around. Most of the things your people could criticize you for are things they could be arrested for speaking out about.” He rose and advanced on his father. “And you never apologized.”
Seeming to not care about anything Alexander had just said, Grayden asked, “Where were you today?”
“I was busy. With Sebastian. You need to get used to that. I will only be here when my duties require it.”
“So he’s accepted you? What are you angry about then?”
Alexander turned away briefly and rubbed his forehead before looking at his father again. “Do you even hear the things that other people say or are you simply waiting for your turn to talk?”
“You were gone all day, and you say you were with him. Surely you weren’t sitting in a damned tree watching him with binoculars.”
“I’m not telling you one fucking thing. Sebastian told me about his life, and it took every ounce of strength I had to act normal instead of coming back here to throttle you.”
“And what is so horrible about his life?”
“He doesn’t remember his real parents. He washed up on a beach, bleeding and with no memories except his name and the day he was born. You orphaned him and just tossed him into the human world, not giving a damn what happened to him.”
“He had no memory of his parents in the first place. His grandmother raised him. They died when he was four months old. Drowned when a boat capsized.”
Alexander stared at his father. “You think telling me that will make it better? He’d been orphaned once and you just did it to him a second time! I’m even angrier now, if that’s possible.”
“Was he adopted? Does he seem happy?”
“Yes, he was adopted, and yes, he seems happy. I can’t tell from one afternoon. But that is not the point. I do not forgive you. I will never forgive you. He was lucky. Very lucky.”
“And he’s going to marry a prince, so I think he’s going to be fine.”
Alexander could hardly see straight. How could this cold, cruel man be his father? “I’m leaving. I will not do as you ask. And I do not wish to speak to you ever again.”
“I’m your king. And your father.”
Alexander met his gaze. “I will serve my king, but I no longer have a father.” He made his way toward the door, and his father grabbed his arm. Alexander held his breath and closed his eyes. Simply apologize to me. Show some remorse. Just take one step for me. For Henri and Nathaniel and Rory.
“I could have you banished for this.”
Alexander opened his eyes, almost unable to stop himself from laughing. It had been foolish to even hope for anything good from this man. He somehow held the harsh laughter in and looked at Grayden. “Try it and see how quickly you’re overthrown. The people love me, and they’ve already rallied around me in sympathy. I’ve not heard a kind word said of you since I was eleven years old.” He jerked his arm from his father’s grasp. “For my cariad, I am cutting you out of my life. But for my people? And my brothers? I will rise against you.”
Grayden kept calling his name as he stalked away, but he ignored it. He went to his room and changed quickly, packing only things he could not replace. There was a book his mother had given him when he came of age and took on the official duties of a crown prince, a piece of amber Nathaniel and Rory had given him one year for his birthday, and a marble carving Henri had made for him when they were fourteen.
Alexander went down the backstairs to the stables and ordered a horse. Luckily, some guards had been preparing for patrol and offered one of theirs. Alexander thanked them and mounted hurriedly.
“Alexander, wait!”
Alexander turned to see Edmund running toward him, much faster than he’d imagined the older man would be able to run. “I can’t stay here,” Alexander said. “I’m sorry.”
“Your mother will panic and worry. Where are you going?”
“To Henri’s home in the mountains. I’ve never been so happy that my twin has such a love for all things military that he lives in an impenetrable fortress.”
Edmund beckoned Alexander closer, and Alexander bent down, waving the guards away. They all exchanged curious looks yet bowed and moved off. Once they were out of earshot, Edmund said, “If your mother wishes to leave … to come to Henri’s as well … I wish to come with her. If you’ll allow it.”
Alexander felt his throat tighten. “I told the king just the other day that you’re more of a father to us than he’s ever been. Yes, I’ll welcome you. And I think Henri will, too, despite some things he may have said in the past. Gossip be damned. We’ll need you if father makes a real stand against me.”
“He said he threatened to banish you,” Edmund said, looking both sad and angry.
“Yes. He did.” Alexander straightened and looked around, half expecting guards to surround him. “I’ll spend most of my free time with Sebastian. Perhaps some nights if things go well. But summon me if I’m needed. I will do what my people need me to do.” He placed a hand on Edmund’s shoulder. “Take care of
the queen. She’s going to need you as much as I do.”
Edmund seemed a bit stunned, perhaps not having realized Alexander held him in such affection. But he soon nodded. “Yes. I’ll be watchful.” He backed up. “Go. Explain things to Henri. Work on winning Sebastian. Once his memories are restored, he’ll be proud to stand at your side.”
“I certainly hope so,” Alexander said before spurring the horse on and riding out of the back gates. It began to rain, but he didn’t care. He thought of Sebastian and all he was fighting for and rode on.
* * * *
Sebastian opened his window Saturday morning to let some fresh air move through his apartment, and he smiled when he saw Alexander sitting on the porch swing. He stuck his head out and waved. “Morning,” he said.
Alexander snapped out of whatever reverie he’d been in and looked up. “Good morning,” he said, sounding tired. “How are you?”
“I’m great. I was going to pour myself some coffee and walk around the garden next door. The one attached to the Women’s Club tea house. They let Wayne’s tenants use it whenever.” He pointed over his shoulder. “Can I bring you some coffee, too? You look like you could use some.”
“I’d love some. Thank you.” Alexander stood up and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Sugar? Cream? Milk?”
“Black is fine.”
“Okay. Be right out.” Sebastian crossed the front room and opened another window to get a cross breeze going and then went into the kitchen. He pulled down two travel mugs and fixed their coffees. Alexander had been keeping odd hours all week and seemed exhausted and stressed.
Once outside, Sebastian handed Alexander his coffee. “Here you go.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to see you. I wasn’t sure if you’d be busy studying today.”
“You can always knock on my door.” He nodded to the parking spaces. “The blue car is mine.”