Page 217 of Vexatious Queen

N: I don’t think she’s here to hurt you or your father.

Princess: No, I mean, I’m scared she is going to disappear again. She stormed in yesterday to kill Vadin. What if she takes off to complete her mission, and I never see her again? Will she go back into hiding, or will she die trying to kill him once he has time to regroup and protect himself? And I don’t know if I want her to kill him until we find out why he’s here.

N: I think the reason he is here is obvious. He knew your mother was coming after him. Vadin is here to use you as a shield. And as far as I’m concerned…the fact that he knew and didn’t say anything makes him shady as fuck.

Ren looked up from her phone, her eyes locking with mine.

N: I could be wrong, but the timing is too coincidental. Buttering you up with one of your mother’s paintings, humanizing himself with a sob story. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe there is more to it, but I really don’t think so. Then again, I was born skeptical. Ask Liam when he wakes up. He’s better with that sort of thing.

Princess: I hate to think that is the only reason he’s here, but I’ve always been the type to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

N: That’s because you’re a good person and want to see the good in others, but sometimes there’s simply no good to be found.

N: Okay, enough of this deep, emotional talk. Time to go to sleep or come over here.

I held back the smile as she scowled at me from across the room.

N: You did say whenever and wherever, but I wasn’t going to bug you since your mother resurrected herself tonight. I thought that warranted a pass. But…if you insist on remaining awake, we may as well make better use of our time.

She shook her head at me, and the annoyance in her eyes was sexy as fuck. I ran my lip through my teeth, and she cocked her eyebrow in an elegant arch.

Princess: You’re the worst. I swear.

I smiled wide.

N: But you love it.

Princess: Do I?

N: Sure do. It’s why you chose to stay married to me.

Princess: Pretty sure your sexual stamina was not the reason.

N: Really? Huh. I could’ve sworn you were just hot for my cock.

She grabbed the pillow behind her and whipped it at me, but it landed six feet short. I laughed as I looked at it, where it had harmlessly fallen, and then up to her. Ren had her arms crossed and was muttering to herself, but I was pretty sure she was plotting my death.

N: Looks like you dropped something.

Princess: ASSHOLE!

N: Maybe, but I bet you feel better.

She rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it.

Getting up, I grabbed the pillow and walked to the end of the bed. I was tempted to crawl up there and push Blake and Myles out of the way. The idea of them hitting the floor, all confused, held a certain appeal, but I decided to behave myself—just this once.

“It’s going to be okay, Princess. No matter what happens, you have us, your dad, and friends who love you. You’ve built an entire life here. Whatever your mother tells you won’t change that,” I whispered.

Ren dropped her eyes to her hands.

“Hey?”

When she looked up again, I tossed the pillow at her. She caught it and held it to her chest.

“I’m serious. There is nothing she can say that will derail you.”

“How can you be so sure?”