Kean nodded as they buttered the toast. “I’m sorry I fell asleep. I meant to leave you in peace after the second movie. Guess I was more tired than I thought.”

  “It’s okay. I don’t mind. Besides, you’ve stayed with me before. It’s not like I don’t know you.” Kendal smiled over their shoulder. “Coffee?”

  “Please.” Kean placed a plate beside Kendal. “I made this for you when I heard you start moving around.”

  Kendal’s chest warmed at the thought. “Thank you.” They took a bite of the toast and hummed. “Just the right amount of butter. I have you trained well.” They glanced at Kean, a telltale blush darkening his cheeks, though he was smiling. Kendal finished the drinks and set Kean’s beside him.

  “It’s the least I can do.”

  “You don’t have to do anything. I’ve told you that before. You’re welcome to stay whenever you need to. In fact…” They set their mug down and rummaged through the one drawer in their kitchen that held potentially anything a person could hope to find—all those weird items they found around the house that they couldn’t figure out where they belonged got thrown into this drawer along with random tools and stuff. They grabbed a key and put it on the counter next to Kean. “Take this. You already know the security code. If you ever need to come by, whether I’m here or not, please come.” They paused. “Just send me a text before you enter so I don’t freak out.”

  Kean shook his head and pushed the key back in Kendal’s direction. “I can’t take this. You deserve your haven to be your haven. I refuse to ruin that. Thank you for the offer, though.”

  Kendal pushed it back towards him. “I insist. Everyone should have a haven, and this can be yours, too.” They stepped closer to him. “I can share.”

  Kean’s eyes widened, and something akin to heat flared in those orbs. Kendal wasn’t sure what had caused it, but they couldn’t look away. They weren’t sure how long they stayed locked in his eyes, but eventually, Kean cleared his throat and blinked, breaking the haze that had fallen over Kendal. Kendal turned back to their mug and toast and picked them up, heading for the dining table.

  “Thank you,” Kean said. “I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Kean settled on a chair nearby and sipped his coffee. “Some of us are heading to the club tonight to celebrate Mav’s birthday. Would you like to come with us?”

  For a second, they were thrown back to the moment they’d met Talon at the club, unsure of his intentions but enjoying the attention, then to the time when he started raining down lashes on them in their old house. They closed their eyes and exhaled before smiling across at Kean.

  “That would be nice. I’m getting more comfortable being there now, even though I haven’t made it into the club proper yet.”

  “You don’t need to do anything or go anywhere if you don’t want to, Kendal. Don’t force yourself.”

  Kendal gave a small smile. “But that’s what I need to do, remember? Part of my therapy. Facing old demons and whatever.” They huffed a laugh. “It seems to be working, so I can’t complain.”

  Kean nodded slowly. “It does work. Therapy, I mean. I’ve spoken to Timothy a few times, but having someone outside of them is helping, too.”

  Kendal leaned forward and rested a hand over Kean’s. “And you know I’m here if you need anything at all.”

  Kean rolled his hand until they were holding hands, and Kendal’s heart picked up its rhythm. They tried to ignore the heat transferring from Kean to themselves, but it was such a pleasant feeling to be holding someone’s hand. Someone they knew they could trust. Someone they knew wouldn’t hurt them.

  “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

  Kendal didn’t want to let go—either the hand holding or Kean’s gaze—but they needed to. There was no use hoping for more when they could see Kean wanted Andrew. Slowly, they removed their hand, pretending they were reaching for their breakfast.

  “Who’s going to the club?” they asked.

  “All the Thirsty Thirteen, me, you, and maybe Quinn, though I’ve not asked yet. The entire inner circle, as I call it.” Kean grinned.

  Kendal chuckled. “I don’t know if I’m glad or saddened that George doesn’t need to think up any more names.”

  Kean threw his head back and laughed, the sound lifting Kendal’s spirits as it always did. “I know what you mean.”

  ****

  Chapter 4

  Andrew

  Andrew dropped his head into his hands, his elbows resting on his desk. He exhaled, trying to remove all the tension and anger he held inside him. It wasn’t easy. Even after the events of the past two years or more, he couldn’t believe his own family would do this to him—to them. Trying to kill them off, one by one, to gain access to the supposed power the crown would give them. The grass was definitely not greener, as Kean had told him.

  The king smiled and leaned back, the thought of Kean doing what his meditation attempts hadn’t been able to. He closed his eyes and thought back to how much comfort Kean had given him on the anniversary. Just by being there, Andrew had calmed and felt a little less grief-stricken. And that was something he knew Louisa would’ve been happy about, even if it hurt Andrew’s heart a little.

  A knock sounded. “Come in!” he called.

  Randall entered and bowed his head. “Good morning, Your Majesty. I have your calendar updates for today if you’re ready for them.”

  Andrew waved him to a seat. “Of course.”

  Randall was the extra limb Andrew needed to ensure he didn’t miss things and kept on top of everything he needed to. The man was exceptional at his job, though he refused to drop the title whenever he spoke to or about Andrew. If Randall ever left his service, Andrew didn’t think he’d find anyone as competent.

  While Randall ran down Andrew’s appointments and phone calls, Andrew found himself drifting back to Kean and everything he’d done to help them. It had come at a price Andrew had never expected Kean to pay. The young man had been kidnapped along with Damon when Charles, Andrew’s nephew, had taken it upon himself to remove them from the equation because they were getting too close to finding out what Charlotte’s plans were. In the end, they’d rescued both Damon and Kean, and Charles and Elizabeth, Andrew’s niece, had been arrested and sent to prison without the chance of bail until the Commissioner had investigated. Elizabeth hadn’t survived the experience because an inmate had stabbed her not long after her incarceration. Andrew had been heartbroken despite everything she had done or been privy to. No matter what anyone else thought, he loved his family, even if their choices weren’t the best thought out.

  “Your Majesty?”

  Randall’s voice brought him back. “I’m sorry, Randall.” He rubbed a hand over his mouth.

  “It’s fine. Are you okay?”

  Andrew sighed. “I’ve just been trying to make sense of all the information we have. What are they going to do next because every piece of the puzzle we had pointed towards the anniversary being the last event? But I don’t believe it’s over, even if they are being extremely quiet now.”

  “Would you like me to call Prince Christian or Prince Frederick? I know they don’t have any official events today.”

  Andrew contemplated the question, then decided he might as well see if they could figure it out, even though they’d tried many times over the passing weeks. “Yes, please.”

  Randall stood. “I’ll rearrange your morning appointments. Let me know if you need me to do the same for this afternoon.”

  “I will. Thanks, Randall.”

  “You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”

  Randall disappeared, and Andrew once again felt bad for making more work for his personal assistant. It was Randall’s job, but it didn’t stop Andrew from not wanting to overtax him.

  Half an hour later, Freddie, Christian and Damon arrived, and after their greetings, Freddie got right to the point. “What did you want to talk about?”

  Andrew settled on the uncomfortable sofa. “To be honest, I don’t know. I want to go through everything we know and see if we’re missing anything. I know we’ve done it a thousand times already, but something’s niggling at me.”

  Christian scooted forward in his seat and opened the folder he’d brought with him. “We can go through it a thousand times more if it’ll help.” He dragged a wad of paper onto the small coffee table between them.

  “Thanks for not thinking I’m crazy.”

  “He wasn’t saying that, Father,” Freddie said with a grin.

  Andrew chuckled. He was so glad Louisa had made him see what he’d been turning into when Douglas had found Mav because, otherwise, he didn’t think he’d have the same relationship with his children and extended family as he had now.

  “So, we have three companies that have been proven to be funnelling money into Charlotte’s plans, which we’re in the process of shutting down. Kletti Pazo has been closed down completely. The company can no longer do business with anyone, and we have access to their accounts, so we can see who they worked with.”

  “I’m currently auditing those businesses to see if they knew what was happening or if they were oblivious,” Damon added. “So far, it looks like most of them didn’t.”

  “I’ve not had any luck in finding more information about Ernest yet,” Andrew said.

  Freddie shook his head. “I don’t understand what Ernest would get from being a part of this. With Charlotte, he would become Prince Consort, but siding with John? I don’t get it.”

  “Me either,” Andrew said. “There has to be another connection we’re missing.”

  “Neil has been working with Gia and Daniel, but they’re coming up blank on everything they’ve tried so far,” Christian said. “The properties that Damon had been refused access to when he’d been visiting are still impenetrable by us. I’m wondering if it’s a ruse to get you to go to them.” Christian stared at Andrew. “Which obviously you won’t be.”

  Andrew’s mouth lifted at the corners at the thinly veiled threat from his adopted son. The man had been through too much, but Andrew had decided he was now his son instead of belonging to John. Andrew’s brother didn’t deserve someone so kind and caring.

  “So I’ve been told,” Andrew retorted.

  “What about the club?” Freddie asked Andrew.

  Andrew crossed his legs, linking his fingers together in his lap. “The club has…issues. We have cameras in certain places, and I have the go-ahead to have someone review them for any security breaches, but some of the board members are stonewalling us.”

  “Are they in on it?” Damon asked.

  Andrew shrugged. “They could be. I wanted to ask who you think would be the best person or people to review the videos. We have to be careful, naturally.”

  They were quiet for a moment until Freddie said, “I think Kieren would be ideal, and maybe Patrick could help. He might know the people that were flagged up.”

  “I’d prefer it if they were people who didn’t know who was who. It would be easier to have them look at it through a veil of separation.” Andrew didn’t want anyone to be dissuaded because of who they saw.

  “I agree,” Christian said. “What about Kean?”

  Andrew raised his eyebrows, about to deny his involvement, when he realised he was a good choice. “He might know some of them, but he hasn’t spent as much time at the club as others have. Good idea.”

  “Maybe we can add a bodyguard into the mix. What about one of the newer ones?” Christian said. “They will have been researched deeply when they first came on board, but they won’t have been here long enough to get too comfortable with others.”

  “Agreed,” Andrew said. “Christian, can you arrange it with Brett? I’ll speak with Kean about it.”

  Andrew caught Freddie’s and Damon’s shared smirk, but he ignored it. Freddie had voiced his opinion of him and Kean being together, but it wasn’t going to happen. Andrew enjoyed Kean’s company—more than he probably should—but he couldn’t let him shoulder the burdens of the crown.

  “We’ll see how they go with the videos, then add more people to it if it needs to go faster,” Andrew said.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Freddie said. “We’re going to the club tonight unless you need us for anything?”

  Andrew shook his head and waved his hand before standing. “Go. Have fun.”

  “You should come.” Andrew glanced at Freddie, eyebrows raised. “Kean and Kendal are going to be there.”

  “I’m too old to be going there now, Freddie.” Andrew turned his back, but a knot of churning mess began in his stomach at Kendal being exposed to the club, even two years after what had happened to them.

  “You’re not too old,” Christian said.

  Andrew chuckled. “I notice you said too old. Does that mean you think I’m old?” he teased.

  Christian laughed and gathered his paperwork. “On that note…” He stood and hugged Andrew. “You’re not old. You need company. See to it,” he whispered in Andrew’s ear.

  Andrew squeezed him closer for a long second and let go. He didn’t answer him, but the knowledge in Christian’s eyes was plain to see. The man knew he wouldn’t do anything about it.

  “Have a good day and evening, boys.”

  Andrew waved them off. As he settled behind his desk again, he couldn’t help but focus on that niggle of something he couldn’t catch hold of, but it was being overshadowed by the concern for Kendal. He picked up the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Kendal, it’s Andrew. How are you?”

  “Oh! Your Majesty…um, Andrew. Hello.”

  Andrew smiled at the fumbled words, Kendal finding it troublesome, even with permission, to call Andrew by his given name. It was cute.

  “How are you, Kendal?” he asked.

  Kendal cleared their throat. “I’m good, thank you. How are you—?”

  He heard the bitten-off words as if they’d been spoken but held in his laughter. “Not too bad, thank you for asking. I hear you’re going to the club tonight.”

  “Yes, sir. Um, Andrew. Kean told me everyone was going and invited me. It’s nice to see everyone.”

  “It is. How are you managing being there, might I ask?” He didn’t want to step over any boundaries Kendal set.

  Kendal was quiet for a moment, then said, “It’s difficult in the beginning, but then I focus on my friends, and it’s a little easier.”

  “I’m glad.” Even though he had been the one to call them, Andrew wasn’t sure what else to talk about, but he didn’t want to end the call.

  “Do you have a busy day today?” Kendal asked.

  “Truthfully, every day is busy, but yes, I do have a few phone calls and one meeting, though if I could, I’d wipe my day clean.” He chuckled.

  Soft laughter sounded. “And what would you do with a free day?”

  That stumped him. “Um, I don’t know, to be honest.”

  “What do you do for fun?”

  “I read.”

  “Me, too. What do you read?” Andrew’s cheeks heated, not sure if he wanted to admit what he read. His pause must’ve told Kendal he didn’t want to say because they chuckled in his ear. “That good, huh? Let’s see… shifters? No. Hmm.” Andrew held his breath, not sure if he wanted Kendal to guess or not. “Romance?” Andrew closed his eyes, trying to keep his breathing steady so he didn’t give anything away. “Yes, romance, I think. Is that right?”

  Andrew let out a breath. “Yes, okay. I read romance. It’s Louisa’s fault for getting me into it. And then she gave me…” He stopped, his throat drying up.

  “Did she give you some gay romance, Your Majesty?” Kendal’s voice had lowered, and Andrew felt it deep inside him, but he refused to admit where.

  “Yes,” he murmured.

  “And what did you think, Andrew? Did you enjoy them?”

  “I did. More than I imagined I would.”

  “I’m glad. Reading should offer joy and solace in a turbulent world. It’s why I read as much as I do. To escape reality.”

  Andrew’s heart broke. “I hate that you need to do that.”

  “I don’t. I like living in a fictional world for hours on end. Think of all the different places I can go without having to move from my sofa.”

  Andrew chuckled, despite the emotional heaviness of the situation. “Plenty of worlds around for you to visit.”

  “Exactly.”

  Andrew leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and enjoying the moment. “I don’t read as much as I wish I could.”

  “You have to make time,” Kendal said. “It’s an excellent tool for relaxation. I’m sure you’re stressed enough.”

  Andrew swallowed past the lump in his throat, not denying it. He changed the subject. “How are you getting to the club tonight?”

  “Kean is swinging by to pick Quinn and me up. I told him we could drive, but he wouldn’t have it.”

  “That’s good. I wouldn’t want you to have to be there alone.”

  Kendal chuckled. “I am a grown person, you know.”

  Andrew winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for that to come out as it did. I know you are more than capable of taking care of yourself. I just like you having company.”

  “I knew what you meant. I’m teasing. I’m glad to have someone with me. In fact, I prefer it. I doubt I could go somewhere that busy without having a partner in crime.”

  “In crime? Oh my, Kendal, what are you planning?”

  Kendal laughed again, and Andrew smiled at the sound. “I plead innocence.”

  “Innocent until proven guilty. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Of course.” There was a noise on the other end of the phone, and Kendal said, “I’m sorry, Your…Andrew. I have to go. Work calls.”

  “I’m sorry for keeping you talking. I’ll speak to you soon, okay?”

  “You don’t need to be sorry. I’ve enjoyed talking with you. Maybe…we can discuss gay romance the next time we talk.”