by Grady, D. R.
“He is. He’s just had a few nasty blows lately.”
“I can understand that. But I want you to know that Bryan, Josh, Mom and Dad, the kids, Macy and I all believe you’d make an excellent princess. Although Josh was sure you’d wimp out.” Nick’s eyes crinkled at the corners and Tia saw how attractive her older brother was.
She had to notice that or she’d cry. “You all support my attraction to Aleksi?”
“We all support you loving and marrying him, yes. We all think you’d make a gorgeous princess, if that’s what you want.”
“It’s not what I want, but I want the man,” she whispered. It was then, thinking about Aleksi that she realized there as a huge possibility she had fallen totally in love with the man. Where did that leave her?
“That’s why you’d make an excellent princess.” Nick nodded to himself as though coming to a firm decision. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better go call home and report in. Macy should be awake by now.”
“You’re totally in love with her, aren’t you?”
Nick’s face was solemn when he turned back to her. “Yeah. And I was so stupid I nearly messed up with her. Don’t let fear or pride hold you back from the greatest experience you could have with another person. I don’t know what I’d do without Macy. She really does complete me. She’s my other half. Love is a privilege, Tia.”
“Nick, that was beautiful.” Tia actually had to brush away a tear.
“So are you, Tia. Don’t ever forget that.”
Chapter 24
“I think I preferred you when you slept,” Tia stated and glared at him.
Aleksi glared back at her, thinking she was beyond beautiful. “I’m sick. You’re supposed to be nice to me.”
“Not when you’re such a grouch.” She growled at him, and heaven help him, she was so sexy he had to squeeze his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her.
“Most women would feel sorry for a sick man.” He tried playing on her feminine senses.
She snorted. That apparently hadn’t worked. “The most women you’re talking about have already wisely headed for the hills. Only the stupid ones like me have hung around.” She crossed her arms over her chest. The gesture only made her cuter.
“Why didn’t you head for the hills?” He infused suspicion into his voice.
“That’s an excellent question.” She sounded disgruntled. It made him hide a grin.
“You like me,” he taunted.
She sneered at him. “I could poison you.”
“You really like me.” He wiggled his brows at her, and her eyes glazed over. “Come here and show me.”
“I’m not kissing you and getting your germs.” She sounded upset. Aleksi realized again how much he liked this woman.
Liked, some little voice in the back of his mind repeated. You love this woman. He already knew that. That’s why he was so adamant about making her the mother of his heirs.
She had somehow wiggled into his soul and he couldn’t separate her from the rest of himself. He needed her.
But did she need him?
Would she care he might not be the prince?
She hadn’t run for the hills like most of the other women in the palace. Only his mother still showed up to help with his care.
“Did I hear that even Karis and Sara have left me?”
“You’re a horrible patient.”
“Have they actually sworn not to help?” He pressed her for more information. His mother was used to how surly he grew when he didn’t feel well.
But then Karis and Sara knew that as well.
“They have kids, so I told them they didn’t have to deal with you as well. I’m sure Sara mentioned you’re worse than Hubert when he’s sick. And he’s five.” She cocked a brow at him.
She was so beautiful, it nearly hurt to look at her.
“You’re beautiful,” he croaked. Nice, de Leos. That was smooth. Yes, you are the epitome of a prince, that little voice mocked.
But her eyes went soft and she shook her head at him. “No, I’m not, but I’m glad your fever befuddled mind thinks so.”
“I am no longer feverish, love,” he reminded her.
“Yes, you are.”
He shook his head. “No, it broke in the night. I have a normal temperature again.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “What do you want then?”
He grinned. “How about you?” He kept his tone hopeful. It made her laugh, just as he intended.
“You’re crazy.”
“No. I am perfectly sane.”
“You need glasses.”
“I need you.”
She sighed. “Aleksi, you have so much going on right now, and I’m in total disfavor because the wells still aren’t clean. The last thing you need right now is me.”
“Who will support me? Who will help me? Who will kiss me?”
Her eyes softened further and he couldn’t stop himself. He leaned across the bed and captured her head, drawing her close enough to kiss. She didn’t even fight him. Instead, her lips went soft and her eyelids fluttered shut.
“All the other women ran for the hills...” he coaxed.
At which point her eyes snapped opened and she glared at him again. “Oh, so any woman will do?”
“No, I didn’t say that.” Better backpedal fast here, his smarter side prompted. Yes and you better hurry.
“Yes, you did.” She leaned out of the kissing zone and then re-crossed her arms. Tia looked like a woman who was prepared to battle with him. Not that he feared battling with her, but not until he was certain of her.
Of course, he wasn’t certain of himself. He might not be his father’s son, which meant it was likely he wasn’t the true prince of Rurikstan.
But if not him, then who?
He frowned and Tia copied his gesture. “What’s that for?” she asked.
“What?”
“Why are you frowning at me?”
“Well, it occurred to me that if I am not the Prince of Rurikstan, who is?”
Confusion slipped across her face. “Where did that come from?”
“I was thinking about being sure of... things, and it occurred to me that I’m not even sure of my place here.”
“Aleksi, your father, the prince, raised you to be his son. That means you are his son. Does it truly matter if you’re Graham’s son? Would that change things so much?”
He thought about that. “Of course it does.” His frown deepened.
“Didn’t I hear somewhere that Graham and your father were first cousins?”
“Yes. But what does that signify?”
“So you still would have the proper royal genes, no matter what, right? And you’re still Graham’s first son if you’re his. That makes you the rightful prince no matter what.”
He paused to further examine that statement. Yes, technically, that was true. Whether his genes came from his father the prince, or Graham, he’d still have the House of de Leos genes. Graham’s mother and Aleksandr’s father were brother and sister. That lineage meant that Graham and his father were first cousins.
“Technically that means I have the same genes regardless.”
“Correct.” She sounded satisfied. At least she wasn’t glaring at him now. “Your father raised you to be his son. That makes you his son. Regardless of whether you’re his biologically or not.”
“I am not certain the people of Rurikstan would agree.”
“Why not? They’ve thought of you as his son since the day you were born. Actually, you’ve likely been his since before you were born. What I don’t understand is how your mother didn’t have a thorough physical examination?”
“We could ask her that.”
“Let’s then.”
***
“A thorough physical examination? No, I did not have one before I married Aleksandr.”
“Isn’t that proper procedure?” Tia asked. She glanced at Aleksi who looked surprised.
“I have always assum
ed so,” he said.
“Perhaps in other places, but not here, as far as we’re aware. I never submitted to an examination.”
“Mother, Tia says since Father thought of me as his son and raised me, that I am therefore his son regardless of my biological...” He glanced at her.
“Supplier,” she offered.
“Yes, biological supplier.”
Gracia frowned but then she nodded. “Yes, that is true. Even though Aleksandr might not be your father biologically, he did raise you.”
“Aleksi is the only one who has been trained to run Rurikstan. And wouldn’t Aleksandr and Graham’s genes be from the same line anyway?” Life was simpler in America where your genealogy didn’t matter.
“Yes, I have thought of that as well. I hoped that Aleksi would resemble one or the other, but in reality, both men were quite similar in appearance.”
“Wouldn’t the women have been a factor there, such as your genes and Maria’s?”
At the mention of Maria’s name, Gracia’s mouth pulled down.
“She’s completely innocent of all this, you know, Gracia. Yes, she’s an American, but I’ll bet she has no idea of that night you and Graham spent together.”
Aleksi stirred. “We are not even certain you did spend a night together.”
“I woke up next to him,” Gracia said dryly.
“But you might have both passed out.”
Tia had to admit, Aleksi’s logic was, well, logical. “In college, most of the guys who’d had too much to drink generally couldn’t perform sexual acts after a certain number of drinks. If Graham doesn’t remember that night, then it’s likely you did nothing more than sleep.”
“Maybe you should ask him, Mother.” Aleksi’s tone was intense as he stared at his parent. It was the least she could do to alleviate all these worries.
She went pale. “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.”
“You might not have ‘slept’ with him, you know. Then there would be no question as to Aleksi’s parentage.” Tia allowed a little steel to creep into her voice. What was the big deal anyway?
“If you do not ask him, I will.” Aleksi stared Gracia down.
“Ask what?” Maks said as he entered the room. Followed by his father, Graham.
“We wanted to ask your father a question,” Tia said.
“Okay. I’ll go find more fluids for you,” Maks offered and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
“You had a question for me?” Graham asked her. Tia pointed to Gracia and Aleksi.
“They do.” She used her chin to indicate the other two room occupants.
Graham sat in the chair beside her and looked expectantly at Gracia and Aleksi. Both of whom looked uneasy and a little worried. Her heart went out to both of them.
“There is some confusion as to whose son I am. Your’s or Aleksandr’s.” Aleksi finally just said and Tia watched as Graham’s face turned as pale as Gracia’s.
“You and me?” He stared askance at her. “We never...” He tried to use his hand but it fell weakly at his side.
Graham stared at Gracia like he’d never seen her before.
She, a princess through and through, raised her chin. “I’m afraid I woke up beside you shortly before Aleksandr and I were married. I, unfortunately, do not remember most of what went on that night.”
“Maria and I married around that same time,” Graham said, staring at the ceiling.
“Yes. You were feeling glum because she had refused your first proposal of marriage.” Gracia’s voice was sympathetic, and soft. But she didn’t quite look at him.
“Aleksandr had noticed you, and I knew he was interested, so I can’t imagine I’d have turned to you,” Graham said, now staring at something on Aleksi’s duvet.
“I woke up beside you in the early hours of the next morning,” she repeated.
“Are you certain it was me?”
She started and finally turned to stare at him. “What do you mean?”
“I have absolutely no memory of waking up beside you, or going to sleep with you for that matter. And I rarely drink, so I have retained all my memories. I’m finally remembering that night. Aleksandr was upset because his parents were giving him a hard time about something or other, but he wasn’t drinking recklessly either.”
“You mean she went to bed with Aleksandr?” Tia stared between the two of them, amazed at what a simple conversation could do for clearing up confusion.
“He was quite interested in you, Gracia. I seriously doubt he’d have left another male close to you. And I remember being depressed that night by Maria’s answer to my marriage proposal. I didn’t remain long at that gathering, and when I awoke in my bed, I was alone and had been alone all night, because I barely slept.”
The dawning joy on Gracia’s face was a sight to behold. There was an answering joy and utter relief on Aleksi’s. “I had been drinking that night, not enough to completely forget, but enough. And you and Aleksandr were built very similarly,” Gracia murmured.
“You said he took you to bed shortly after that,” Tia reminded her.
Graham nodded. “Aleksandr told me the same thing. He said he planned to end his parents deciding who he should marry.” Graham thrust his hand through his hair.
“He wanted me, but his parents did not?”
“No, they were old school. They wanted him to marry some eighteen-year-old debutante from European royalty. He couldn’t stand any of them. He’d noticed you, and thought he was too old for you, much less any of those... what did he call them? Twits.”
“How much older was he than you?” Tia asked Gracia, not to further the conversation but because she was nosy.
“Fourteen years. I was twenty-six, and he was forty when we married.”
Tia wrinkled her nose. “His parents wanted him to marry an eighteen-year-old?”
Graham snorted, then nodded. “Yes. His reaction was similar. Especially when he pointed out that he could be any of those girls’ father. He said Gracia was also too young, but if he was going to marry, it would be you.”
Gracia’s eyes had grown soft and distant as she stared at the ornate molding around the ceiling. Tia doubted she noticed the intricate woodwork. “He did pursue me like I’d never been before. I had every intention of moving to America and becoming a career woman.”
“That’s why you hate America so much,” Aleksi exclaimed, sitting up abruptly. He held his head a moment like the rocketing movement made him dizzy, which it probably had.
His mother grimaced. “Yes.”
“We thought it was because you were jealous of Maria,” Tia said before she thought.
Gracia smiled and shook her head. “I was jealous of the fact that she was well traveled and knew what she wanted. I had plans, but then Aleksandr came along and I couldn’t resist him.”
Silence ruled in the room for a few minutes before Tia shifted in her chair and looked at Graham. “Was Aleksandr’s goal to get Gracia pregnant, or potentially pregnant, so she’d have to marry him?”
He nodded. “Aleksandr also feared he had inherited our grandfather’s prostate problems, which meant he wouldn’t be able to father children.”
“He did complain about prostate problems,” Gracia said, staring at Graham. “But he never told me about them. I always feared...”
Graham nodded. “Of course you did. If he had talked to you, you would have been certain to find him help, but he hated to show any weakness in front of you, Gracia. He loved you so much.”
“Just like you love Maria. You two are a team,” Aleksi said. He sent Tia a look she couldn’t interpret.
“We are. I tried to tell Aleksandr that that’s what Gracia wanted with him, but he never wanted her to think poorly of him.”
“When his weaknesses would have made him more lovable to me,” Gracia said, and Tia noticed silent tears streaking down her face.
“You didn’t love Father?”
“Oh, no, Aleksi, I loved him so much it hurt sometimes
. Again, no other man could have talked me out of my plans like he did. I really didn’t want to be a princess.” Gracia’s mouth pulled down.
“Me, either,” Tia agreed wholeheartedly and then clapped a hand over her mouth.
“It might be too late for you, baby,” Graham said and glanced at Aleksi, whose eyes had gone dark. Her heart tripped a beat.
“It is definitely too late for her,” he growled. This time she had no trouble interpreting his gaze. It reeked of possession.
Tia’s cheeks and blood heated. “I’m not—”
“Be careful of what you say, love. The de Leos men have a way of talking you out of your plans,” Gracia warned her with a sweet smile. Her hand covered Tia’s. “I would advise waiting for your wedding night, though, before you consummate the relationship. It makes the matter of ensuring ones heirs much less worrisome.”
“You’ve carried this weight around all your married life,” Graham guessed.
“Yes. Like you said, Aleksandr and I didn’t have the type of relationship you and Maria enjoy. If I could have talked to him about my fears, I would have.”
“And he’d have told you it definitely wasn’t me that night, but him.”
“I wouldn’t have left had I known for certain it was him,” Gracia said with a sad smile.
“So, does this conclude that I am definitely my father’s son?”
“I’d say that with certainty Aleksandr was the man your mother snuck out with. Aleksandr was pretty possessive of her,” Graham answered Aleksi’s question.
“He was the only man I’ve ever responded to. It was hard to imagine my making such a huge mistake of sleeping with someone else, especially Aleksandr’s best friend.” Gracia’s smile was relieved and a bit poignant. “I’m relieved to know it wasn’t you that night. I haven’t been able to look Maria in the face, because I’ve been afraid all these years that I poached on her territory, and that seemed so wrong to me. I knew how much you loved each other, and knew I didn’t love you, so I’ve felt so guilty.”
Graham patted her hand. “The man you slept with that night was your husband.”
“Why didn’t Mother have a physical examination before they wed?”
“Because your father thought that was the epitome of an insult. He knew your mother, and her family, so I don’t think he was worried.”