Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,170

I’m greeted by a man holding a bottle of champagne and some glasses. “Courtesy of his royal highness,” the man tells me before handing them to me. I gladly take them and close the door behind me.

“Champagne. Yay.” Skylar claps.

“It’s from the prince for us,” I tell them.

Magnolia just smiles as I pop the bottle and pour each of us a glass.

“I want to raise a glass to Lila. For saving us from a fate not worth thinking about.” Magnolia holds up her glass, and we all do the same.

The night was fantastic catching up with my sisters, but the champagne went to our heads rather quickly. Skylar was the first to fall asleep, and my eyelids are fluttering, so I say, “I better go.”

Magnolia gives me another hug before giving me a serious look. “Do you think you will be happy here?” she asks. “With them?” I can see my older sister’s concern written on her face.

“It’s going to be an adjustment, I’m sure. But I actually think yes, I can build a wonderful life here. As long as you all come and visit me, that is.”

“Of course, we will. This palace is a little nicer than ours.” She smiles.

“You should have access to the money tomorrow, so pay Guido off straight away, and then use whatever is left over to start fixing the palace.”

She nods her head, and we say our goodbyes, then I walk back to my room. As I close the door behind me, I smile while taking in my opulent surroundings. I wonder what Augustine and Greyson are doing.

Oh my God, Lila. Settle down. You have been screwing those men all night. Give it a rest.

I could just go and say goodnight.

9

Greyson

“Well, tonight has been…” Letting the words fall away, I pour myself a scotch from Auggie’s minibar.

“Not at all the outcome I thought we would have.” Handing Auggie his glass, we both take a sip savoring the smoky taste. “But I do think we might need to talk about things, especially now that we’re outside the sexual fog we have been in all night.”

“That fog has felt pretty damn good, don’t you think?” I ask.

“You know what I think…” He grins over his glass as I walk over and take a seat on his bed like I do every night. Auggie joins me. He takes off his shirt, and my eyes roam over his body like they always do—the familiar dips and plains of his muscles that I know so well.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Auggie warns. “We need to have a serious chat.”

He’s right, but for some reason being around Lila, this fog-filled lust clouds me.

Auggie reaches and takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “You know I love you.”

“Of course.” Feeling the scratch of his five o’clock shadow against my skin, I close my eyes and enjoy the sensation.

“Do you think there is room for Lila in our hearts, too?” he asks.

“I think it’s inevitable, especially as you have chosen her to spend the rest of your life with,” I tell him.

Guilt falls across Auggie’s face.

“You know if I could have chosen you, I would have.” He kisses my knuckles again.

“Hey…” Grabbing his attention, “I know. I understand. I get it,” I reassure him. “I honestly believe that Lila coming into our life might have been a missing piece neither one of us knew we were missing,” I tell him.

“You feel that, too?” Those blue eyes widen, surprised that I had the same thought as him.

“It’s strange. Really this whole night has been strange. And everything has progressed so quickly, yet…” I let the words fall away.

“Yet, it feels so right,” Auggie answers for me.

I nod my head in agreement.

“I’m worried that further down the line, as we progress, you won’t feel the same way anymore.” Emotion falls across Auggie’s face. “I worry seeing Lila, and I get married, have kids, build a life together, and in doing so, I’ll break your heart.” The first tear falls down Auggie’s face.

“Hey, no.” Cupping his face, I say, “You will never lose me. I promise you.”

“Yes. But you should be able to get married, Grey. You should be able to have a family of your own, too.”

“I’m going to be the best goddamn uncle your kids will ever have, you hear me.” He nods his head. “So, I won’t be missing out at all.”

“I’m such a selfish prick, but I don’t ever want to let you go,” Auggie tells me.

“I’m a selfish prick,