Null & Void_a Royal States Novel

by RJ Blain

  “Ah! I’ll pay the bill and give you the invoice when we return. Would that be all right?”

  It wasn’t charity if I was paying it back immediately, so I forced myself to take a single, soothing breath and replied, “Yes, that would be perfect, if you’re all right with it.”

  “It’s my pleasure. Would you like to come to Colorado, too?”

  I rolled onto my back, closed my eyes, and did my best to remember my upcoming schedule. A frustrated sigh burst out of me. “I have a congressional session this afternoon. How long will you be there?”

  “The rest of the week.”

  No wonder the hotel cost so much. “I might be able to fly out tonight, but I’d have to leave again right away. They have me booked for daily congressional sessions until hell freezes over. If Mireya wants me there, I’ll make it work.”

  “I’ll discuss it with her and call you back at a more reasonable hour, Miss Little.”

  “Mackenzie, please.”

  “It’s been a pleasure talking to you, Mackenzie. Thank you for being so understanding about this. Mireya’s been worried you’d be upset.”

  Upset was an understatement. My world crumbled apart around me, and I let it happen for my child’s sake. “It’s really not a problem,” I lied. “Have a safe flight.”

  “Thank you.” Jessica hung up.

  A few moments after the call disconnected, I realized not only had I allowed my daughter to leave Texas with a woman I’d never met, I only knew her first name, and I’d done so without asking a single important question. Scrambling to my feet, I flipped on the lights and paced through my condo, cleaning anything unfortunate enough to cross my path.

  Who the hell was Jessica? Who were my daughter’s friends?

  What the hell had I done?

  While I knew Mireya had wanted to befriend the Texan royal children, I had trouble believing they’d spend so much time with my little girl. Why would they befriend her? Who had she made friends with instead?

  I knew my daughter would go places, especially when her father’s magic took root in her. Every last one of my hopes and dreams rode on his contribution to her existence.

  What she would become made no difference. I’d done something unforgivable. I’d sent my child away without any idea of who she was with, and I’d paid a mysterious woman named Jessica over ten thousand dollars to do it.

  I called my boss.

  “Mackenzie, it’s seven in the morning. What is it?”

  “I’m a horrible mother and I just sold my daughter to some woman named Jessica, and she might be a cannibal, and I’m probably going straight to hell.” I struggled to catch my breath. “And I paid this Jessica over ten thousand dollars to take my daughter!”

  My boss sighed. “Please calm down, Mackenzie.”

  I hiccupped. “I’m a horrible mother.”

  “Jessica isn’t a cannibal, and her husband flew from Houston to Dallas to cook you chicken and sneak it into your fridge. Your daughter is perfectly safe with her, I promise. What’s this about ten thousand dollars, though?”

  “She wanted to go to Colorado to take the Geschwann International Academy placement test. It’s ten thousand dollars.”

  “Ah. I take it you agreed?”

  “Yes. I’m a horrible mother.”

  “I think we need to have a long talk about the definition of the word horrible, Mackenzie. Go back to bed.”

  Why did everyone keep hanging up on me?

  I sniffled, and since there was no way I’d be going back to sleep, I got ready, took my medicine, and left for work.

  My office phone rang at noon, interrupting my meeting with Douglass and Senator Forester, both of whom wanted me to work miracles for them. I still wasn’t certain why Senator Forester kept insisting I check the news, and if my boss cracked up laughing one more time, I was going to smack them both with my brand-new stapler.

  He still hadn’t answered my questions to my satisfaction, dodging my concerns with a smug, knowing smile. If he thought his reassurances were acceptable, he’d be learning an important lesson in the near future.

  I glared at the display, and since I didn’t recognize the area code, I snatched the wretched device off the hook and answered, “Mackenzie speaking.”

  “Do you have a few minutes?” Jessica asked.

  I narrowed my eyes, wondering if a cannibal would contact her victim’s mother. Ignoring my boss and a senator would land me in hot water later, but I replied, “Of course, Jessica. Is everything okay?”

  “Mostly. The testing center wants your signature in person, as they have requirements for talent testing in low-talent or null children. Nothing dangerous,” she hurried to add, but then she sighed. “They just refuse to administer the basic talent tests without parental permission. They don’t even allow secondary guardians to sign off on them, so it has to be you. Can you come?”

  For a chance to interrogate the person watching over my daughter in person, I’d walk to Colorado if I needed to. I suspected I’d be caught, pinned down, and ordered to take a parental chill pill, but I’d had my fill of unwanted surprises involving my daughter to last me a lifetime.

  “Hold on a second.” I tapped the mute button and leveled my meanest glare on my boss and his accomplice. “I need to reschedule today’s hearing. I have to catch a flight to Colorado.”

  Senator Forester checked his phone. “Tomorrow at four?”

  “Done.” If I had anything at tomorrow at four, it’d get rescheduled, and whoever got overwritten would have to deal with it. I hit the mute button again. “I’ll be there as soon as I can book a flight. Where in Colorado?”

  “Denver. Is Douglass in the office today?”

  “Douglass is sitting across from my desk praying I won’t throw my stapler at him again for stealing my child.”

  My boss grinned. “I ordered a few extras just in case.”

  Jessica laughed. “I’ll buy you an extra to throw at him, too. Tell Douglass he will arrange your flight, and that he’ll handle all costs because he stole your child and caused you undue duress.”

  Cannibal or not, I decided I liked Jessica, and as I was about to sell my soul to the devil for a chance to send Mireya to one of the best schools in the world, I’d accept a free flight without complaint. “All right, I’ll tell him.”

  “Good. I’ll make certain you’re back in time for work tomorrow. See you soon, Mackenzie.”

  I appreciated how Jessica hung up without wasting any time on pointless pleasantries. Puzzled by how quickly she’d made arrangements—and pawned the costs off on my boss—I returned the phone to its cradle. “Douglass? Jessica told me that you’re arranging a flight for me to Denver, Colorado, and that you’re paying for it because you stole my child and caused me distress.”

  “You look so confused, Mackenzie.” My boss chuckled, hopped to his feet, and dug his phone out of his pocket. “Go home and pack yourself a bag. I’ll pick you up in forty minutes. Lane, notify congress Mackenzie will be out of town at Jessica’s request.”

  Senator Forester saluted. “You got it. Have a fun trip, Mackenzie. Tell Jessica and her herd I said hello.”

  Who the hell was Jessica? At least I had a little faith she wasn’t actually a cannibal; no sane cannibal would summon her dinner’s mother from halfway across the continent.

  I was an awful mother for giggling at the thought, and judging from my boss’s expression, he was worried I’d lost my mind.

  Maybe I had, all things considered.

  The private jet emblazoned with the Texas Royal Seal of a rearing horse shattered my denial, and even as Douglass parked on the tarmac, I wanted to run home and hide.

  “The queen’s name is Jessica, isn’t it?” I whimpered.

  I’d made a severe miscalculation, and I understood the meaning behind my boss’s smug, knowing smiles—and why he’d been so damned confident my daughter was safely supervised. If the queen of Texas couldn’t keep her safe, no one could.

  How had my l
ife become such a Royal mess?

  “How is it you have lived in Texas for ten years without knowing the queen’s name? You work with the congress. You should know this.”

  “I do my best to ignore anything that deals with royals.” I used the correct Texan intonation to ensure Douglass knew I meant the lowercase r. “I go out of my way to avoid any issues with Royals.”

  I spat the capital R and poked the dashboard of his luxury car so he knew I meant business.

  “You’ll be fine. Think about it this way. Mireya’s been with the king or queen since Friday. If anyone wants to get to her, they’d have to go through them first. Since Mireya’s attached herself to His Royal Highness, I’m pretty sure anyone after Mireya would need an army.”

  I groaned and hung my head. “She has a crush on Prince Adam. And you’re encouraging her.”

  “Mackenzie, every single young woman in the kingdom has a crush on Prince Adam. An unfortunate number of older women have a crush on him, too. He’s a nice kid. It’s no wonder Mireya likes him.”

  “He’s a prince,” I reminded him.

  “And?”

  “She’s a null.”

  “With a platinum pentagram father. She’s not going to be a null forever, and we both know it. She’s so smart and sweet she’s single-handedly guilted the entire royal family into stepping up their game. That takes a very special child.”

  “I will kill her if she tries to steal my child.”

  Douglass rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Get out of the car, Mackenzie. Get on the damned plane, go to Colorado, and keep your overprotective parental instincts under control. Jessica isn’t going to steal your child. She might coerce you into sending her to boarding school to continue her education, but there will be no theft involved.”

  “Am I the only one who realizes I can’t afford this school? If she doesn’t fail, I’m fucked, Douglass.”

  Douglass’s brows shot up. “It’s called financial aid, and I assure you, Mireya will meet the eligibility limits. You won’t have to sell your soul or your body to pay for her schooling, nor will you have to bankrupt yourself. I expect you’ll be better off than you were when sending her to Huntington.”

  “That’s a royal plane, Douglass.”

  “Get out of my car, Mackenzie. You were whining about not seeing Mireya, moping around the office like the sky was falling. Get on the plane, and you can see her for a while. You’ll have to sell your soul to the devil, but I’m sure you’ll manage.”

  “You’re being mean.”

  “And you’re whining. Jessica isn’t the type to give false hopes and crush them because of something like money. If their financial aid department gives you any pushback, Jessica pushes harder than they do. Just trust me, okay?”

  “I guess she’s not a cannibal, then.”

  “You need a nap. Do us all a favor and get some sleep on the flight. I know you haven’t been sleeping well, and you’re fighting the medication for your allergies, but really. No one is going to get mad at you if you nap on the flight.”

  As he was right and I was whining, I sighed, nodded, and unbuckled my seatbelt, watching the plane with wary regard. “It would’ve been cheaper to take a commercial flight.”

  My boss laughed. “You’re probably right. I’m sure you’ll survive the indignity of costing Jessica extra money. And yes, she’s the one actually footing the bill. Just think about it this way. Maybe you can’t attack her directly, but you can get some revenge on her purse for stealing Mireya for a few extra days.”

  When I thought about it that way, it wasn’t unreasonable charity. It was payback for the past few days. I smiled, got out of his car, and retrieved my bag from the trunk. “You know, I think you’re right. Fiscal revenge has never been so sweet.”

  “Should I be worried?”

  My smile grew to a grin. “Probably. Wish me luck, Douglass. I’ll need it.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  The first flight I’d ever taken had been torture, and to my dismay, I made it to the leather seat, sat down, put on my seatbelt, and passed out before takeoff.

  My medications hated me.

  To make matters worse, I woke up with a lap full of excited child, and I groaned when I realized I’d slept through the landing, too. Mireya wrapped her arms around my neck and planted several kisses on my cheek. “Wake up, Mom. You can’t sleep the day away on the plane.”

  “Like hell I can’t,” I mumbled.

  As always when I cursed, my daughter giggled. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t know you’d have to come sign papers. Where’s your coat? You didn’t bring your coat?”

  I yawned, hugged my daughter, and contemplated going back to my nap. “It seems you’re right. I got blindsided, spawnling. One minute, I’m at work, doing responsible adult things, and then the next, I’m being kidnapped and stuffed on a royal airplane and carted off to a different kingdom. I’m pretty sure I’m here illegally, too. Does Colorado even have open borders for New Yorkers?”

  “Mom!” Mireya wailed.

  The steward, a young man in a suit wearing the pin of a member of the RPS, smiled at me. “There are no problems with your paperwork, Miss Little. It’s one of the fringe benefits of flying on Her Majesty’s whim. It was trivial to get the documents for your trip. Also, we have a coat for you, as your daughter is right. It is a bit nippy today.”

  “All right. Off, spawnling. If you’re expecting coherency, you’ll have to wait until I’ve had some coffee and give me at least an hour.”

  In reality, she’d probably have to wait a few more days until the medications finished having their way with me, but I wasn’t going to remind her about how close I’d come to death again. I had a hard enough time accepting it myself.

  Mireya scrambled off my lap, beelined for the door, and dove down the metal staircase to the tarmac, where a herd of children waited. I stretched, and the steward offered me a leather coat a lot like mine except nicer and new. It fit well enough I suspected someone had cheated and taken advantage of my hospital stay to find out what size jacket I wore.

  Stifling yawns, I staggered off the plane, navigated the staircase to the tarmac, and observed the herd of royal children congregated around my daughter. Five of the six were boys, and three of the boys and the blond-haired girl seemed to be around my daughter’s age. The eldest of the lot hovered nearby, and he looked ready to snag any wayward brats so they wouldn’t escape.

  I approached, looking over the gangly teenager, who was likely Prince Adam, the fifteen-year-old heir to the Texan throne. I could understand why my daughter had an unhealthy interest in him. In the lottery of life, Prince Adam had gotten a good roll of the dice in the looks department for someone with golden chestnut hair. His sky-blue eyes alone probably stole hearts around the world.

  I’d have to coach him on how to avoid my daughter’s attention, else I’d worry she’d be a lot like me, chasing after impossible dreams. Jessica wouldn’t appreciate if my daughter stole one of her sons.

  No matter what nonsense Dylan told me in my dreams, my daughter hunting a Texan prince would end only in disaster.

  “All right, Mireya. You lured me to Colorado. Why don’t you introduce me to your friends?”

  As I feared, the gangly teenager was the future king of Texas, Samiel was the youngest at eight, the twins, Milo and Felix, were ten, while Laurette was eleven, and Carl was thirteen. I marveled how Jessica could keep track of them all, especially the twins. “Where’s number seven? I thought there were two girls?”

  Mireya giggled. “Deidre doesn’t go to school with us anymore, and Branden is with Mr. Pat!”

  Great. There were actually eight royal children—maybe nine. I was pretty sure there was at least one more I wasn’t accounting for.

  I marveled Jessica survived caring for so many miniature humans.

  “Are there any more of them hiding around?” I made a show of looking around. “It could be an ambush.”

  “Mom!”

  Prin
ce Adam chuckled. “The rest of my siblings are either abroad or in Dallas. You’re safe for now, Miss Little.”

  Uh oh. The prince had a sense of humor. I feared it would take extra work to deter my daughter, as she appreciated anyone with a viable sense of humor, an unfortunate trait she’d picked up from me. “I’m pretty sure I deserve hazard pay for this. There’s seven of you and one of me. Where are you taking me, and should I resist now?”

  “Mom!” Mireya covered her face with her hands. “You’re embarrassing me.”

  “It’s about time I actually managed to do something embarrassing.”

  My daughter wailed, and I smiled. Prince Adam grinned and gestured to two black SUVs parked nearby. “Our drivers will take us to the testing center, Miss Little.”

  “I’m not responsible if I grab a nap on the way.”

  “Mireya told us you’d been having some trouble with your allergies,” he admitted, strolling towards one of the cars while his brothers and sisters scattered. Mireya bolted for the first vehicle in the line, diving into the backseat without any evidence of her usual restraint and dignity.

  While I wanted to go with her, I followed Prince Adam to the second SUV. The rest of the children crammed into the other car with Mireya, and I wondered if they’d all fit. I must’ve stared too long, because Prince Adam snickered.

  “If there aren’t enough belts, an RPS agents will scruff one of my brothers and relocate him. That’s the bigger one, so they should all fit. Laurette gets away with murder, as she’ll cry if anyone tries to relocate her, and she’s a dramatic crier, so they avoid her tantrums. If we’re unlucky, we’ll get the twins.”

  I climbed into the back, and sure enough, one of the RPS agents dragged Carl over with a firm grip on the back of the prince’s neck, stuffing him into the back of the vehicle.

  “You never learn,” Prince Adam informed his brother.

  Prince Carl grinned. “I don’t. Hello, Miss Little. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

  “I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to be apologizing to the lot of you for messing up your testing schedule.”