Royal Line by Carrie Ryan (lightweight ebook reader .txt) 📗

his head. “I’ve got a plan. Just don’t fuck this up between the two of you.”

“Roman,” London began, but he shook his head.

“Don’t. I’ve got it handled, just like I said I would. Live your life, London. Live it the way you’ve always wanted but have never been able to. I’m your big brother. I’ll always protect you.” He paused and looked at me. “You just do the same thing, or I’ll end you.”

“Understood.” I said, at the same time London shouted, “Roman!”

I laughed and pulled London close. “Let him protect you. And let me do the same.”

“My God, it’s like you guys don’t understand I can walk on two feet.”

“Oh, we do, but we still get to be the big growly men,” the king said before he walked away with a purposeful stride.

I had no idea what he was about to do, but I had a feeling it might rock the country of Alden for years to come.

I turned to London and let out a breath.

“So now what?” I asked.

“I don’t know. But I guess we’d better figure it out.”

As I leaned into her and took her mouth with mine, I knew we were far from figuring out our futures, far from finding our paths.

But we had taken a step, and we had found our way to each other.

And that, I supposed, was the point of a future. Even if it scared the hell out of me.

Chapter 21 London

Always expect the unexpected.

1 Month Later

I let out a long breath.

“Okay. Here goes nothing.”

“I feel like I’m going to throw up,” Kannon said from behind me, and I glared over my shoulder.

“You just held my hair back after I threw up. Am I going to have to do the same for you?”

“You’re welcome to try, princess.”

I smiled at that, even though I was still slightly nauseated. The idea of him calling me princess wasn’t so bad anymore.

It just gave me hope, made me feel loved and warm. I must be losing my mind.

“I can’t believe we’re bonding over vomit,” I said. “Not very romantic.”

Kannon shrugged. “You agreed to be mine. That means you don’t get the romance.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure, whatever you say. You’re totally not romantic.”

“I’m not. I will not rely on social norms where I have to suddenly be a romantic duke or any of that shit.”

“You are not a duke, Kannon. Far from it.”

“Well I don’t know now; Duke Kannon sounds pretty good. Or maybe another title. Knight? Oh nice, Knight Kannon.”

“You turned down my brother when he offered to knight you, so don’t get sad that you’re not one now. Though it does have a ring to it.”

Kannon just shook his head. “Are we really going to not look down at this moment and just keep talking about trivial things that mean nothing? Because I can continue to do that. I can also bring Sparrow in, and she can talk your ear off while we forget what we’re supposed to be thinking about.”

“Maybe you should do that. Maybe we should forget any of this is happening and just go out to the family dinner and not know.”

Kannon turned me around so that I was facing him, and he cupped my cheek, brushing his lips along mine.

“Darling, princess of mine, I love you. Whatever happens, I’m here. We started this journey a little off, and we both know it. But we’re here. We’re finding our way. I love you. And if what we think is about to happen happens, then we’ll deal with it together.”

“I just don’t know if I’m ready.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready either. But I think whoever says that they’re ready is just full of themselves.”

“Oh that’s so sweet.” I moaned, getting a little lightheaded.

Kannon sat me down on the lid of the toilet and brushed my hair back from my face.

“You need me to hold your hair back again?” he asked, worry in his tone. He was always worried when I got lightheaded these days. I had a feeling he was going to get a whole lot worse if what happened next truly changed everything.

“Look at it, Kannon. You tell me.” I kept my eyes closed, afraid I was going to throw up.

Again.

Keeping my eyes tightly shut, I handed over the stick and was grateful when Kannon took it from me.

“Okay, here we go in three, two, one.”

My eyes were shut, so I didn’t know if he reacted. He was just so damn silent. He was far too good at that.

“Kannon? Talk to me.”

“Open your eyes, babe.”

I shook my head. “Nope. Not going to do it.”

“Really? This is the line you’re going to draw in the sand right now?” he asked, deadpan.

“Just tell me.”

“Okay, how about I tell you this. It turns out that little law of your country isn’t going to matter, because you are about to provide an heir.”

My eyes shot open, and I nearly fell off the toilet seat. Kannon dropped the pregnancy stick, and it clattered, echoing in the large bathroom as he dropped to his knees in front of me, leaning in closer.

He kissed me, and I leaned into him, needing him.

“I love you so much,” he whispered.

“Always,” I gasped.

Then he tugged me into the shower, and I fell for him all over again.

Afterward, both of us somewhat sated, I watched the man I loved stand behind me in the mirror as he fixed his tie and I put in my earrings.

“We’re going to be parents.”

“The phrase holy shit comes to mind,” he said.

“I guess so.”

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes on mine in the mirror.

“I don’t know. We always knew it was a possibility, especially when I started getting sick recently.”

“True, but it did happen out of nowhere. And it is early.”

“I know. But I love you, and we’re going to figure this out. Even if we did things a little bit out of order.”

“Out of order works. We don’t want to be conventional, do we, princess?” he asked, then