to realize that Kris had no power to deny Tommy’s claim. His brother was the next in line. The crown was his to take.
Every one of Kris’s injuries seemed to intensify in protest.
“I’ll help you,” Ava said softly. “Facing crowds as royalty can be like wearing a mask. Perhaps hiding behind a persona could help your anxiety.”
Tommy nodded.
“Anything you need,” Frankie said, “and security has got your back.”
“We can attend events together,” Mark said, “so that you become less of a novelty in public. Cause less fuss.”
“Okay.” Tommy was starting to sound breathless.
Philip spoke next. “It would be sensible to approach this with the same arrangement we had with Kristof. While he is recovering, you can take on most of the king’s duties. Markus will still cover some so as not to raise suspicion. Markus, you’re going to need a haircut. We will not inform anyone outside of this room except for the inner circle of the royal guard. If you find the daily interactions and public appearances too overwhelming, we will proceed with our plan for Kristof to ascend as king.”
This time Tommy swallowed hard before saying, “Okay.”
Then everyone looked at Kris.
“Tom,” he said, and his brother’s name came out strangled. “I’ll be okay.”
“The problem is, Kris, if I don’t at least try to do this,” Tommy said, forehead gleaming in sweat, “I won’t be.”
And that was it.
Every possible argument faded, because all he wanted was for his brother to be okay.
“Alright,” he said in defeat.
Frankie laced her fingers through his on the covers and he clamped down tightly.
“In that case . . .” Philip looked dazed. “. . . your first appearance will be to launch the new mental health program the day after tomorrow.”
Tommy hesitated for a beat. “Okay.”
“Shall we go discuss the details?”
Tommy inclined his head and, with a backward glance at Kris, followed the advisor from the room.
“This isn’t happening.” Kris laid a hand over his eyes.
“We’ll be right here with him.” Mark crossed the room, and when Kris looked up again, his brother was standing by his bedside, withdrawing a rectangular object from the back waistband of his jeans, covered in navy-blue velvet. He winked as he tucked it into Kris’s hand. “Now take your mind off it.”
Frankie stared at the box in Kris’s hands.
It was too big for a ring—but something about Mark’s knowing smile and the look of adoration Kris slid her betrayed she wasn’t necessarily in the clear. Her suspicion spiked when Ava hustled Mark and Darius from the bedroom as if Frankie and Kris needed privacy.
When the door closed, Frankie tugged her hand from his and crossed her arms. “What’s that?”
“It’s for you.”
Her stomach bundled up into a nerve cluster. “Why does it look like a jewelry box?”
“Hey,” he said with a grin. “Give a man a minute.”
“Don’t,” she said, but hardly knew why. She wanted this—whatever it was. “Go on.”
“Frankie.” He paused, and the amusement faded from his wild blue eyes. “I’m sorry for hurting you the other night.”
She nodded, gaze darting to the box. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. Look at me.”
Complying, she found his expression serious, his gaze sincere.
“I don’t know how to be in love with you,” he said. “It’s so early. I’m blinded by it. I don’t know how to fight it yet. I’m like—” He broke off, eyes scanning the bed as if the right description was hiding in the sheets. “Like a werewolf turned for the first time. The full moon is so bright, my senses are flooded by it. My sense is flooded. I love you. I want to keep you safe and that’s such a big feeling, it overwhelms me. I don’t know how to temper it or control it. And so, I ended up saying something stupid and doing something even stupider.”
“No kidding.” But she uncrossed her arms.
“I never want to hurt you again,” he said. “Never want to speak to you like that, because I can’t forget the fear I put in your eyes when I threatened to order you to do something against your will.”
“That was a bit shit,” she admitted, lowering her head. “But it’s not just you.”
Neither of them knew how to navigate this bright, overwhelming world of fierce feelings.
“I don’t know how to accept feeling protected,” she said. Heat rushed to her face and she doubted she’d ever get used to speaking intimately, but she’d flush and shrivel and do it anyway—for him. “Before you, no one had ever wanted to protect me. Accepting it makes