2021, February 15th
(Capital City, Caspira)
NATHAN
"Why are you dressed already? Too early," Elena mumbled, still half asleep as she reached out for Aiden.
She draped herself all over my body and snuggled up to me, thinking I was him.
"Hey, I'll take everything right off. You just have to say the word. From the looks of it though, you're naked enough for the both of us," I mused, unable to keep myself from mouthing off.
The warmth of her soft body. The sound of her voice. Being in her presence tugged at my stone cold heart strings.
Elena raised her groggy eyes to my face. It took her a second to realize who was holding her. Once she did, she shoved me off the bed and pulled the covers around her, dragging them along as she got out of bed.
The rejection would have stung, if this wasn't our version of foreplay.
"Morning sunshine," I said with a grin, jumping right up onto my feet, completely unfazed. "So he passed, huh? On you in that? On you? The man has some self restraint. What is this, like a long game, foreplay thing?"
"What are you doing here? Was Sadie not enough for you?" she grumbled.
I chuckled as she hunted for her dress. I lifted the pillow my head was just on, picked up her dress and handed it to her.
"Interesting how those are the first questions out of your mouth. Not 'where's my prince?' or anything."
I got back onto the bed, shoes and all, walked across it and jumped back down in front of her.
"Get out." She pulled the covers around her tighter.
"Why so shy? There's nothing under those that I haven't seen before," I said, smirking as I dragged a finger up her neck.
Elena gave a frustrated grunt and turned away, struggling to hold onto the covers as she pulled her dress back on underneath it. I gave the covers a little tug, sending them tumbling down to the floor. She spun back around and glared at me furiously.
No time to take her in. Far too caught up in having her in my arms again. I missed her so damn much.
I pulled her towards me, amusement bubbling up inside me as I watched her squirm.
"I know he left you unsatisfied, but get your mind out of the gutter, El. You're a taken woman. Or at least you were. I don't know anymore," I said, pulling her zipper up with one hand, the other on her waist. "I just thought you might want to congratulate the royal family together."
She pushed me away again and started hunting for her shoes, which of course, I'd already located and was now handing to her one at a time.
"Congratulate them about what?" she asked, taking the bait.
Elena hated giving me what I wanted, but her brain just woke up and she knew the fastest way to get information from me was by playing along.
"Let's go downstairs and find out."
I went towards her, gave her a quick once over and reached out for her hair. She batted my hand away. I couldn't help the rush her response gave me. Indifference meant she didn't give two fucks that I existed anymore. But bitterness and resentment? That was something else altogether. I ate it up.
"Might want to put a brush through that before we go," I said, shrugging as I walked out the door. Had to remember not to seem too eager. She hated that shit. My feet halted in the doorway. One more moment with her. "To answer your question, Sadie was incredible."
By the time we made it downstairs, the royal family was already seated at the table and breakfast was being served.
"This is quite the spread," I said, rubbing my hands together before sitting down next to the crown prince, John.
On the other side of John sat his wife, Princess Jane. At the head of the table to her left, sat King Henry. To his right sat Queen Cassandra, Princess Caroline and her husband, Prince Bartholomew.
I patted the chair next to mine, indicating for Elena to sit down next to me. The royals stared, first at me and then at Elena.
"Just spit it out Nathan. Where's Aiden?"
She folded her arms and chose to remain standing.
"I thought he was with you," said Caroline, giving Elena a confused look. "Didn't you guys spend the night together?"
"Nope," I answered for her, taking a bite of a croissant I had just lathered in butter. "My sister, you know Keira, the one who tried to kill him last time, not this time. She saved him this time. Kate tried to kill him this time, not Keira. Let's all remember that part, okay? Wow, that's confusing. Anyway! She's not as… progressive as I am. These are really good. What's in this? It's like crack, "I mouthed off while chewing on a piece of my croissant.
Elena was growing increasingly frustrated along with the rest of the room.
"Somebody better tell me where my son is," said King Henry.
"Hey smartass, what is it now?" an already irritated John asked.
Jane put a hand on John's arm and gave him a quick smile before redirecting her attention to me.
"My husband and brother had a long night, Duke Dormer," she said to me calmly. "If there's a problem concerning Aiden, I suggest you come out with it."
"It's been an exhausting night. This isn't the best time to push John's buttons, Nathan," Bart warned.
I looked John in the eye, saw the impatience bordering on fury surpass the tiredness, then let my eyes sweep over the rest of the table. They were all looking at me expectantly.
"Tough crowd," I said, grimacing. "Tell your people to chill, number six. He's fine. He's great, in fact. He's engaged. Again. Tada! Many congratulations to us all."
I watched them all to gauge reactions in an attempt to prepare for difficult customers. The king looked exasperated. Queen Cassandra and Prince John were the big red flags. John looked ready to rip me a new one. Cassie didn't like the news either. Everyone else was surprised, like Aiden didn't get engaged every five seconds. Surprise was okay though. Anger was the problem.
"To whom?!" the table chorused.
Elena dropped into the nearest seat she could find. All eyes went to her.
"Don't look at me. I'm as shocked as you are," she let them know.
"Aah, here it is," I said, still playing up the jovial, unencumbered bit.
A TV was being brought into the breakfast room, as per my request.
If I kept my cool, I could still save this.
"Let's have them tell you themselves."
***Disclaimer: now switching back to timeline 1.