Tangled Games (Dating Games #5) - T.K. Leigh Page 0,94

having to drive through a city entrenched in protests, people holding signs calling her a murderer, gold digger, and baby killer, destroyed her last remnant of life.

The last thing I want is to leave her in such a fragile state, but I don’t have a choice, not after being summoned to the palace.

“I’ll be fine,” she says, her voice defeated. She lowers her head as she turns from me, her steps sluggish.

I pull my lips between my teeth, rubbing the back of my neck. I hate this. Hate watching her break down. Hate I can’t stay to comfort her. What good would it do, though? I fear our fate has already been decided.

“O’Kelly,” I bark out at Nora’s chief protection officer as he starts to follow her into the house.

He pauses, glancing at me.

I walk toward him and lean in, dropping my voice to barely a whisper. “Do not let her out of your sight. Got it?”

He nods. “Yes, sir.”

“I mean it, Kylian. Not for so much as a heartbeat.” I hold his gaze, hoping he picks up on the importance of my request. When he nods once more in understanding, I turn, sliding back into the SUV.

Creed doesn’t utter a single word during the drive to the palace, simply studies me every so often through the rearview mirror. I’m grateful for it. I’m not sure what I’d say to him even if he asked how I’m holding up. I have no fucking clue. This interview came out of left field, leaving all of us unprepared.

Although I shouldn’t have been.

Should have known this woman wouldn’t sit back and allow Nora to be happy. She’s now succeeded in doing what she’s tried to do for years.

Breaking Nora to the point where I barely recognize her.

As we approach the front gates of the palace, I keep my eyes trained forward in an attempt to ignore all the protestors assembled outside. I’d give anything to admonish each and every one of them, remind them how, mere hours ago, they adored Nora.

How quickly the tides turn.

They have fresh meat for the slaughter, and they’re more than happy to roast Nora on a spit.

During my schooling, I was often fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials. How it was possible for mass hysteria to spread so quickly, a sham of a trial being the only thing standing between the accused and a date with the gallows. Now I understand. It has nothing to do with who’s right. All that matters is who has the loudest voice.

And the mob outside the palace gates is deafening.

When Creed pulls the SUV to a stop in front of the entrance, I glance up at the building, my stomach roiling. My hand twitches, head throbs. I squeeze my eyes closed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“You okay?” Creed asks.

“Fucking peachy,” I snip out as one of the palace valets opens my door. I slide out and button my suit jacket, about to walk up the steps when I pause, popping my head back into the car. “Listen, mate. I’m sorry. I’m—”

“It’s fine. It’s been a trying day. Just don’t forget what’s important to you. What you fought so hard for.”

It’s like he can read my mind. Like he knows the war I’ve been waging these past few days.

“I haven’t,” I tell him.

“Good.”

I turn and follow my father’s private secretary toward the executive wing of the palace. This is all distressingly similar to when Nora and I first landed in Belmont a few weeks ago.

But I have a feeling the outcome this time won’t be as positive.

When we reach the same conference room, Colonel Winters knocks once, then opens the door, stepping inside. “His Royal Highness Prince Gabriel,” he announces, then moves to the side.

I’d expected to be greeted by my father, the head of household, Dalton Peel, and my grandmother, as is typically the case whenever something like this happens.

I didn’t expect to walk in to see all the members of the Privy Council assembled around the conference table, my father at the head.

“Your Highness,” they all murmur as they stand and bow.

I nod in acknowledgment, then look back at my father, bowing. “Your Majesty.”

“Gabriel.” My father bows toward me, then gestures at the chair at the opposite end of the table. “Have a seat.”

I make my way through the room. With every step I take, the knot in my stomach grows tighter. Things must be bad if the entire Privy Council is here. I have no doubt I’m not going