#trr liam x mc

[ao719]

What's Already Mine

A/N: This is a part of my Us Again series. Submission for @choicesflashfics using prompt #2. Not beta’d. Please excuse any errors.

Title Inspiration: Already Mine - Us The Duo

Book/Pairing: TRR; Liam x MC (Katherine)

Rating: G • Warnings: None.

Word count: 2500

Catch up here

Both my suit jacket and arm are draped over Katherine’s shoulders as we walk back towards the hotel from her old bar where I found her. 

We’ve walked in silence for a few blocks and it’s deafening despite the bustling city around us. We’ve seemed to have only a silent understanding of the situation; neither of us has said a word. 

My mind is too muddled to speak. I don’t know what to say because there’s so much to be said but nothing all at once. I don’t want to ask if she’s alright because obviously she isn’t. I don’t need to ask what’s wrong because I know. I know why she was there. I know why she broke down when she saw me. 

Despite knowing, I don’t know what to say … and I hate myself for it. 

I glance down at her when I hear a sniffle; she’s staring at the ground as she walks holding my jacket securely around herself. I watch her hand poke up from beneath the lapels to wipe a tear from her cheek and I feel my heart break a little more. 

I want to tell her it’s ok, that it’ll be ok, that we’ll be ok. I want her to tell me the same. But I know that neither of us can say that right now with certainty. 

So we continue to walk … in silence. 

****

Once back at the hotel, Katherine and I step inside our suite. I shut the door behind me and start to follow her as she walks into the bedroom; now that my arm isn’t around her, I notice that she’s a little wobbly on her feet thanks to her slightly tipsy state. She didn’t have much to drink, only a couple of glasses of wine at the gala, and based on the tab I paid at the bar before leading her out, I’d surmise no more than two drinks there, but I know she’s barely eaten anything today which is doing her no favors and she’s always been a bit of a lightweight as it is. 

When I enter the bedroom steps after Katherine, I see her draping my suit jacket on a chair. She then reaches back, attempting to grab the zipper of her gown, but she can’t quite reach it. When she becomes frustrated, evident by the small huffs of breath she keeps releasing, I step up behind her and gently cover my hand with hers. She goes completely still. After a moment, she glances over her shoulder; her eyes are rimmed red and still misty when she meets my gaze. I give a soft nod, and she slowly lowers her hand as she looks straight ahead again. 

As I lower the zipper of her gown, I let my thumb graze her spine, and I swallow thickly. When was the last time I touched my wife like this? The last time that my fingers brushed against her bare skin? I think back … it’s been a year. We were in Ramsford for the Beaumont Bash and we both had a lot to drink that night. I vaguely remember stumbling into our room, my hands tugging at the fabric of her dress and her arms wrapping around my neck as I kicked the door shut. Before that night, it had been months since we’d last been intimate, and before that, even more months. When we woke the next morning, we showered and dressed without a word, and when we arrived back at the palace, she went to the east wing while I headed to my study. It was awkward in a way and treated like it never happened. I think that’s when the deteriorating state of our marriage started to slowly consume my thoughts. 

Once her zipper is lowered enough, Katherine takes a step away and turns to face me, holding the front of her gown against her chest so it doesn’t fall. I slip my hands into my pockets to stop myself from reaching for her because I don’t know if that’s something I’m allowed to do anymore. We stare at one another, and my eyes are silently pleading with her. Talk to me. Please. Talk. To. Me. I can swear I see a similar plea in her own eyes. I open my mouth to speak but quickly snap it shut because I still have no idea what to say. 

“Thank you,” she whispers. 

“Of course,” I nod in reply. After staring at me almost expectantly, she lets out a soft breath and turns. “Katherine, I …” 

She stops and looks back at me; I see a flicker of something … of what I think is hope mixed with desperation and worry. “Yeah …?”

I hold my breath and her gaze for a moment before shaking my head. “Nothing …” 

Her breath subtly hitches in her throat as she drops my gaze and nods. When she disappears into the bathroom, I hang my head, squeezing my eyes shut in disappointment. 

Disappointment with myself, where we are, and my inability to grasp how to fix it. 

I begin to loosen my tie, but I freeze as my eyes shift to the bathroom door when I swear I hear a muffled cry from behind it. 

Where did it go? The love I once knew? It’s lost in the dark The light can’t shine through Where did we go? I can’t see it now I’m fighting the night To find you somehow…

*******

My fingers are steepled over my lips as I stare out the window of my study. My mind is in the same place as it has been for the past week since returning home: my marriage. Hell, my mind was here before our trip, but now, it’s all I can think about morning, noon, and night.

Katherine and I have yet to speak about what happened in New York. The morning after finding her in the bar, we sat through a silent breakfast followed by a few appearances that were scheduled before heading to the airport for our flight home. On the jet, I almost said something but decided against trying to have that conversation 35,000 feet in the air with no escape if we needed one. 

In hindsight … maybe that wouldn’t have been the worst idea. 

Since we’ve returned home, things have gone back to exactly how they’ve been. I work through the day and go to the east wing for our nighttime routine with the children. But instead of leaving the moment they go to sleep to go back to my study or the west wing … I’ve lingered. I think she believes I’m just waiting to be sure the children are asleep before slipping out, not realizing I’m there for her. I’m trying to give myself the courage to bring it up, but I find an excuse every damn time. It’s not good timing. It’s late. The kids are there. Whatever my mind can conjure up, it does. My fight or flight has turned to strictly flight; I flee every time. And either she’s having the same thoughts and coming up with the same excuses to not bring it up herself … or she’s completely given up, which after what happened in New York, it’s plausible. 

The bottom line is this: I know we’ve reached our limit. I know, one way or another, a very difficult conversation is eventually coming. 

At this point, it’s inevitable … and it fucking terrifies me. 

I’m so lost in thought that I don’t even register the knock on my study door. It’s not until I feel a shove against my arm and hear my name that I finally snap out of it and glance up to see Drake staring at me questioningly. 

“I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head as I straighten in my chair. “I didn’t hear you come in.” 

“No shit,” Drake playfully scoffs. “I knocked a few times … called your name when I came inside, but you were zoned out.” 

I release a breath and nod, rubbing my eyes with the pads of my fingers. “Yeah … sorry. It’s been a long week.” I blink a few times to focus my vision and when I do, I see Drake now sitting across from me. His arms are folded across his chest and his brow is arched. “What?”

“Seriously, Li … what’s been going on with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve caught you like this over the last few months. You seem like you have a lot more than just the stress of running a kingdom on your mind.”

I look away, unable to hold his gaze. Neither Katherine nor I have ever mentioned anything to our friends pertaining to the state of our marriage. We’ve put on the same show in front of them that we have in front of everyone else. 

“Liam … talk to me.” 

I look at my best friend again, trying to rein in the sadness I feel. If I can’t talk to Katherine, maybe talking to someone will help. I clasp my hands together and lean forward against my desk as I let out a heavy sigh.

And I end up breaking down as I tell him everything. 

Drake listens without interruption, but he doesn’t hide the surprise in his expression. When I finish, I can see him still trying to process everything I’ve just told him. 

“I never would have guessed … any of that,” Drake finally says. 

“We’re good at hiding it,” I say. Too good. “It’s just … it’s become our norm. It’s like second nature now … putting on the front.” 

“Why haven’t you guys ever said anything?”

I can hear the hint of hurt in his tone. “I don’t … I don’t know,” I reply truthfully. “I can’t speak for her, but for me … I guess it’s … I feel like I’ve already let her down … and the kids. I didn’t want to let my friends down, too.” 

“Liam, you’re not letting any of us down.” 

“I’m supposed to maintain this image of my life. Acknowledging that my marriage had completely fallen apart to myself was hard enough. Saying it out loud to someone else …” I shake my head. 

“So what the hell are you going to do?” Drake asks. “I mean, you’re going to fix it, right?”

“I don’t know,” I scoff with a shrug. “I don’t know if it can be fixed.” 

Drake’s brow furrows. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that …” I trail off, chewing the inside of my cheek, not wanting to say my next words, but they come anyway. “I’m saying that perhaps this is the end of our story.”

“What the fuck, Li?” Drake barks as he abruptly stands from his chair. The reaction startles me, and I look at him, unable to hide my surprise. “How could you even say that?”

“Do you think that’s what I want?” I snap. “Because it’s not! But I can’t force us to get back to where we once were!”

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” Drake chides, and when I open my mouth to retort, he leans forward, getting right in my face. “It’s bullshit. And. You. Know. It.” He stands upright. “To just accept defeat is not only the easy, coward’s way out, it’s not you!”

“Drake—”

“No, I don’t want to hear it,” Drake interrupts. “What you and Katherine have … it’s the fucking dream, Li. And I’m not talking about the literal fairytale crap,” he says, waving his hands dismissively. “I’m talking about the real shit. I watched you two; I had a front-row fucking seat. I watched your story unfold. I watched you both fight like hell to be together. And here you are now, a decade later, and you’re ready to wave the white flag because you two hit a rough patch that you won’t acknowledge to each other? Fuck. That.”

As I stare up at him, I feel a tear slip down my cheek … because I know he’s right. I clear my throat and snap my gaze toward the window, trying to fight back my emotions.

“I know you both, Li, and neither of you would keep putting yourself through this if you truly wanted to walk away. That’s gotta stand for something.” 

My gaze shifts up to his again. “I don’t want to walk away,” I say through a cracked whisper.

“Then you fight.”

Where did it go? The passionate fire? We can’t find the flame And now we’re both tired What do we do When all we have left Is dying for life But on its last breath?

****

That evening, as I’m finishing up my work for the day and finalizing some plans I’ve set into motion, I hear a knock on my study door and call for them to enter. When I look up, Katherine steps inside. “Hi,” I greet her as I rise from my chair.

“Hello,” Katherine responds. She quietly closes the door behind her. “I’m sorry to bother—”

“You’re not bothering me,” I interrupt as I walk around my desk. 

Katherine swallows, holding my gaze as she subtly nods. “I, uh … I was just trying to get things in order with my schedule for next week, but it’s … did you have it cleared?”

“I did,” I answer, and my heart is pounding in my chest as I watch the confusion fill her expression while I try to keep mine impassive. 

“Why?”

“Because we’re going on a trip.”

Katherine’s brows raise. “We?”

“Yes,” I nod. “We … as in you and me.” 

“A trip for what?”

“That’s still to be determined,” I say cryptically. 

Katherine furrows her brow. “Is it a work-related thing?” 

Even though I expected her to think that, it still hurts when she asks. “No,” I shake my head. “It’s not.”

“I’m confused …” 

“About?”

“We … we haven’t gone on a trip that wasn’t duty-related in a long time,” Katherine says. “At least … not together.”

“I think it’s safe to say we’re a bit overdue,” I quip. 

“But what about—”

“Eleanor and Lucas are going to have some quality time with their Uncle Drake,” I interrupt again, knowing what she’s wondering. “I spoke with him and made all of the arrangements already.” 

Katherine lets out a sigh as she continues to stare at me. “I …” She trails off, shaking her head. “I don’t understand …”

My impassive wall drops and I sigh as I let the emotion I’ve been trying to conceal fill my features. “Katherine …” I speak just above a whisper. “You and I … we’re lost.” 

I see her eyes slightly widen as she lets out a breath before she drops my gaze, but not before I see the pain fill her expression. It’s as if hearing me finally acknowledge the truth we’ve both known but have remained silent about out loud has gravely wounded her. 

“We’re lost and we both know it. And we can’t keep running from it. We need to face it. We need to … to talk about it and figure out if we’re going to find ourselves again — find us again — or …” I trail off, struggling to say the next words out loud. “Or if we’re going to walk away from this … from each other … because we can’t keep living this way.” 

When Katherine looks back up at me, tears trickle down her cheeks. She parts her lips to speak but stops as she lifts a hand and rests it against her throat to where I assume the lump is that’s stolen her voice. More tears fall and more confusion crosses her expression as she continues to hold my gaze. 

“I cleared both of our schedules for the next two weeks,” I continue to explain, “and made arrangements for this trip … just for us.” 

Katherine’s breath hitches. “Where … where are we going?”

“To the private island …” 

I hear the soft breath of acknowledgment Katherine releases. 

We can’t run there; we can’t hide or avoid each other. And she knows it. We’ll be left with no other choice but to face this … to face one another. 

We stare at each other, and I’m certain the worry and fear of the unknown of what this trip will bring that I’m feeling is the same thing she’s feeling. 

We both know we’re going into this completely broken. And we both know that we’re either going to come out pieced back together and on the mend to being whole again … or we’re going to come out irreparably shattered.

I can’t control you Or what your heart will decide But I’ll never stop Trying to fall back in love with what’s already mine…

***************************************

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[tessa-liam]

Turning the Page 

-6- Right Here Waiting 

Choices, The Royal Romance, AU 

Series Premise: As Riley Brooks journeys through life as a single parent in New York City, an epiphany strikes as she contemplates the future for herself and her two-year-old son. 

Turning the Page Masterlist 

Main Pairing: Liam Rys x F!MC Riley Brooks  

All characters belong to Pixelberry, except William Brooks (Rys) and Matteo Magro, who belong to this series.  

Category: On-going series, contains angst/fluff/depression.  

Rating: M🔞Warnings - Series will contain crude language, NSFW material – not Beta’d - please excuse all errors. 

Right Here Waiting - 6 

Chapter Summary: After spending time with his son, Liam begins his journey to repair his relationship with Riley. 

Music & Title Inspiration:  Right Here Waiting, Richard Marx  

A/N1: In this alternate universe, after King Constantine orchestrates two individual scandals to humiliate and entrap Riley Brooks and Olivia Nevrakis in shame, Madeleine Amaranth secures her position as the Queen of Cordonia. Riley, as the King’s mistress and Olivia, in self-imposed exile. Tariq is never found.  

A/N2: My submission for @choicesflashfics, Week#59, prompt #3 - “That was then. This is now. Things change.” 

A/N3: My submission for @choicesnovchallenge, prompt #28, Holidays and Events – French Toast Day  

Words: 2500

Brooklyn Heights, New York

Straightening his back, Liam rubbed his eyes, as the jet lag took its toll. After checking the time on his cell, Liam stood up and took another look at his sleeping son. His heart was full, and he felt a sense of peace that he had not known in a long time. He knew it would take time, but he was determined to earn Riley's trust again, and that he would never give up on his son. 

Riley waited for him in the kitchen and offered a warm smile as he entered its rustic décor. “I know it's late, but I'm starving. Do you want something to eat?” 

Liam was grateful for the offer. “Yes, thank you. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch. That would be great.” 

“Have a seat, and I’ll make us some dinner.” Riley smiled coquettishly, pulling a chair for him from under the table. 

Liam sat down at the kitchen table and watched as Riley busied herself with preparing their meal. It was a surreal moment, and he had a hard time believing that this was actually happening, but the aroma of the food and the sight of Riley moving about the kitchen with ease, made it all too real. 

As they ate, Liam could sense the tension between them. He knew there was so much left unsaid, but he was hesitant to push Riley too far, too fast. He decided to try a different tactic, one that was more familiar to them both. 

“How have you been, Riley?” 

Riley was startled by his question, and her eyes darted up to meet his. “I’ve been … okay. Busy with work, and William keeps me on my toes,” she replied. 

“Tell me about him,” Liam encouraged. 

Riley’s eyes lit up, and a smile tugged at her lips. “Well … he’s amazing, Liam.” Riley’s eyes sparkled with genuine love. “He’s smart, funny, and so full of energy. He loves animals, and his favorite food is chicken nuggets. He’s just …” she trailed off, tears filling her eyes. 

“He’s your whole world,” Liam finished for her. 

“Yes,” Riley said softly, her voice choked with emotion. 

“I am so, sorry I was not there for you, Riley. For both of you.” Liam’s expression was wistful. 

“Liam, how could you have known?” she replied, looking down; not able to return his gaze.   

Liam reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand. 

“Riley... look at me, please.” Slowly lifting her head, she met his gaze. “I will never stop regretting that I was not there for you. That you felt that you could not confide in me.” 

She gave him a tearful smile, her lips trembling. “We both know, had I told you, you would have given up the throne.  And the country could not afford that. And Madeleine …” Riley lost her battle with her tears and looked down to her hands. “Madeleine would have taken advantage of the situation, and …"  

Liam sighed, his thumb brushing the back of her hand. “Riley, I would have found a way. But you are right. My duty is to my people, first and foremost. Duty is important, especially when its most difficult to carry out.” 

“That is what I admire most about you, Liam.”  Riley’s breath hitched, “that is why I agreed to be your mistress when Tariq couldn’t be found.” 

“Riley, you were never my mistress, you are the love of my life,” he replied, his voice firm. 

“Liam, please.” Riley wiped the fresh tears away. 

“No, Riley, please let me finish... 

When I was crowned King, I vowed to always put the needs of my people before my own. I went through the motions of an engagement and then the marriage. But the day you left, love, I realized that without you, I could never be the King my people deserved. I was miserable, and I knew that if I lost you forever, I would never be happy again. Riley, you are my home.” 

“Liam, I …" 

“No, my love. You do not have to say anything. I just need you to know how I feel. I love you, and I will do whatever it takes to prove that to you.” Liam watched as Riley broke down and he at once moved to her side, taking her into his arms. 

"You don't have to say anything," he assured her. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you, and I'm not going anywhere. If you feel the same about me.” 

"What about Madeleine?" Riley asked, her eyes searching his. 

"As of this afternoon, Madeleine was served with dissolution papers. My lawyers have already let me know that, in exchange for clemency, that Madeleine will leave Cordonia. Riley, that marriage and along with it, the Cordonian arrangement, has been absolved.” 

Riley was speechless, clearly overwhelmed by his revelations. 

Liam lifted his hand to cup her cheek; he could see the exhaustion on her face, and he knew they both needed some rest. "Let's get some sleep, and we can talk more tomorrow." 

Riley nodded and stood, and he followed her down the hallway to her bedroom. They walked in silence as Riley's nerves were very aware of Liam’s proximity.  He looked so good, and it had been so long since she had felt his touch. She demurely smiled up at him and started to pull him through the door. 

"Riley," Liam began, slowing his walk, pausing beside the guest room. 

"But..." Riley protested. 

"Please, Riley, let's not rush this. I want to do things right this time. Let us begin to re-write our story.” 

Liam kissed her cheek. "Good night, my love. Sleep well." 

"You too, Liam," she responded. 

As Liam turned to leave, Riley impulsively reached out again to pull him close. Their lips met in a tender kiss, and Liam was lost in the sensation of her soft lips on his. It had been so long, and his body reacted instantly, the fire within him threatening to consume him. He forced himself to pull away, his breath ragged. 

"Riley..." he warned, unhooking her arms from his neck. 

"I know, Liam, I just had to have one last taste." 

Liam laughed, his heart soaring. "One last taste? Who said this will be the last time?" 

Riley giggled, her face flushing. "Good night, Liam." 

"Good night, Riley." 

They stood there for a moment, each taking in the sight of the other. Finally, Liam reluctantly turned and headed into the guest room. Riley closed her door and leaned against it, her heart pounding. She could not believe what had just happened, but she was elated and hopeful for the future. 

The Four Seasons Hotel, Manhattan 

Stumbling into the penthouse suite, Leo chortled, guiding the blond to his room with his hands firmly locked on her waist. The young woman giggled and pushed the door open, and he followed, closing the door behind them with a kick. 

"Now where were we?" Leo suggestively said, pulling the woman close and kissing her soundly. 

"Leo, stop," the woman giggled, pushing him away. 

"Come on, baby, don't be like that," he purred, pulling her close again. 

"Leo, no ... you're drunk," she protested, but he could tell she was enjoying the attention. 

"So are you," he countered, his lips scaling down her neck. 

“I know,” she snickered. “Do you remember my name?” Leo pulled away and looked at her. She was gorgeous, and he couldn’t help but smile. 

"Of course, I do," he lied, "but maybe you can refresh my memory?" 

She laughed and shook her head. "It's Ashley." 

"Ashley," Leo repeated, tasting the name on his lips. "I like that." 

"I bet you say that to all the girls," she teased. 

"No, no ... only the beautiful ones," he replied, his words slurring slightly. 

Ashley laughed, "hey, stop .... your phone is vibrating!"

Leo grabbed the phone from his pocket and squinted at the screen. 

"It's a text from my brother. It says, 'we need to talk.’” 

Concerned, Leo called Liam back at once, disentangling Ashley's arms from his neck. 

"What is it, Li? Are you alright?" Leo's voice was laced with worry. 

"I'm fine, but I have news." Liam's tone was calm, which confused and intrigued Leo. 

"What's going on, Liam?" Leo asked, his concern growing. 

"Riley and I... well, I just met my son."

After a moment of silence ... 

"You...you have a son?" Leo repeated, his eyes widening in shock. 

"Yes. William. Riley's son. Our son." 

Leo ran his hand through his hair and looked around the room, his mind racing. 

"Are you there, Leo?" Liam asked, breaking the silence. 

"Yeah, sorry. This is just a lot to take in." 

"I know. I'll explain everything later. I will be staying here with Riley, for now. I need you to take care of a few things for me." 

"Sure, Liam. Anything," Leo agreed. “But I need all the deets, asap.” 

"Thank you. And Leo, keep this quiet. We don't need the press finding out about this." 

"Li.... what should I tell Olivia? The council? They are expecting you to attend the Five Kingdoms Festival opening ceremony next weekend." 

"That was scheduled months ago. That was then. This is now. Things change." 

"You got it, Liam. Talk to you soon." 

Leo ended the call and stared at his phone, still trying to wrap his head around his brother's news. He looked up to find Ashley slipping out the door. Sighing, Leo poured scotch into a crystal tumbler and switched on the television. 

 Brooklyn Heights, New York City 

The sun's rays were streaming through the patio doors of the kitchen as Daniel scooped three teaspoons of sugar into his black coffee. Matteo quickly kissed him goodbye before heading out the door as William climbed up on his toddler chair with his train car. 

"So, buddy, what would you like for breakfast?" 

"I'm hungery, Dan Dan."  

Grinning, Daniel poured apple juice into a sippy cup, "you are? Hmmm. I'm thinking french toast with berries and syrup.” 

William's face lit up, and he clapped his hands excitedly. "Yummy!" 

"You got it, kid," Daniel chuckled, pulling out a pan and the ingredients. 

Liam walked into the kitchen as Daniel's eyes widened in surprise. "Your Majesty, good morning." 

"Good morning, Daniel. I think it's time you started calling me Liam. No need for formalities." 

"And good morning to you William." Liam smiled affectionately, turning his attention to his son. 

William looked up to the tall man, shyly, "Hi". 

"Okay, Liam. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" 

"Just a cup of coffee, please." 

Daniel poured the King a cup as Liam sat down at the table; already knowing that Liam had come to reunite with Riley yesterday evening. 

William was watching Liam closely and offered to share his toy train.

"For me? Thank you." William smiled and pointed at his breakfast. 

"Dan Dan made me it."  

"Is that so? It looks delicious. Do you mind if I have some too?" 

William giggled, "okay." 

"Dan, could you please make me a plate as well?" 

Daniel nodded, "absolutely. Coming right up." 

"Thank you.”  

“So, William, I see you like trains?" 

"Yes! And puppies.” 

"Wow, you really do like a lot of things." 

William grinned, taking a sip of his juice. 

"You and I have a lot in common. I love trains, too. And... puppies.” Liam smiled. 

William grinned, "you're funny, Mr. Liam." 

"You think so? I'm glad you think so, William. You know, I've always loved trains, even when I was a little boy. Would you like to hear a story about a train I rode on once?" 

William's eyes widened in delight. "I like stories.” 

"Okay, here goes," Liam said, taking a bite of his food. "One day, when I was about your age, my father and I were traveling across the country, and we decided to take the train instead of our usual car. It was a very big train, with many cars, and we had to ride in a special car just for us." 

"Wow!" William exclaimed; his eyes wide with wonder. 

"We rode that train for hours and hours, and we stopped in many different towns and cities. Each one was more beautiful than the last. But then, something strange happened." 

"Oh," William asked, his face a mixture of fear and curiosity. 

"We got stuck. The train stopped working, and we were stranded. It was a very scary situation. We were all alone, with no one to help us. We had no idea what to do. But then, something amazing happened." 

"What? What happened?" 

Liam leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "a magic train came along and rescued us. It was like something out of a fairy tale." 

"Wow," William breathed, eyes wide.

"Yes, it was quite incredible. We were all safe, and the train took us the rest of the way. But it was an adventure I will never forget." 

"Wow," William breathed in awe. 

Leaning against the doorframe, Riley looked at the two, smiling as she took in the scene before her. 

"Good morning, everyone," she announced brightly. 

"Good morning, Riley," Liam replied, standing up to greet her, kissing her cheek. 

William's eyes widened, "Mama, look, Mr. Liam told me a story." 

Riley grinned, ruffling her son's hair, taking the seat next to William. 

"LiLi, this man …” Riley reached across the table and squeezed Liam’s hand. 

“... is your Daddy."  

"Daddy? My daddy?" William turned and looked up at his father, eyes wide, filled with wonder. 

"Yes, I am," Liam softly replied; overcome with emotion. 

Liam stood and knelt, meeting his son's eyes. "I've been away for a while, but I'm here now, and I want to be part of your life, if you'll have me."

William smiled, wrapping his arms around Liam's neck. “My Daddy.” 

Liam's heart swelled as he embraced his son.

"And Mama, too?" William asked.

"Of course, and Mama too." Liam looked at Riley lovingly.

Thanks for reading!

📌All fics & edits: @ao719 @txemrn @queenmiarys @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @alj4890 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @harleybeaumont @busywoman @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @imjusthereforliam @lovingchoices14 @kyra75 @tinkie1973 @emkay512 @malblk21 @kristinamae093 @charlotteg234

📌TRR/TRF Liam & Riley: @irisk12 , @walkerdrakewalker @thesvnsins @jared2612

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📌Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @choicesflashfics @choicesnovemberchallenge

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[sfb123]

I love how you iron out the creases in PB's narrative of TRR. Can you rewrite the first chapter of book 2? I remember Liam sent a message to meet him. When I was playing that chapter I was so angry, I (MC) refused to meet him and then finally he comes down to meet the MC.

How do you think their first meeting should be? After all MC has been through or may be even Liam has been through.

I am making it my personal writing resolution, to try to clear out some of the asks in my inbox this year. I have some really great ones that I'm excited about. This one from @twinkleallnight is a great example of that. Thank you for sending it!

My inbox is always open! I can't promise a particularly timely response, but I promise, anything that has been sent is still there, and I've got them all in the back of my mind.

Never Really Over

Book: The Royal Romance Book 2

Pairing: Liam x Riley (past) Liam x Madeleine

All characters, and some of the dialogue, belong to Pixelberry.

Summary: It's the first night of Liam and Madeleine's engagement tour, and Riley receives a late night visitor.

Rating: PG

Word Count: 2,335

A/N: I am participating in @choicesflashfics, using the prompt “Nothing about any moment I’ve spent with you will ever be a regret.” it will be in bold below.

A/N 2: Thank you always to @txemrn for pre-reading, and all your super sweet and supportive feedback.

As soon as Riley crossed the threshold to her room, she kicked off her shoes, leaving them where they landed. She had used up all of her energy at dinner, pretending she didn’t notice everyone staring and whispering as she passed by. Acting as if she was happy for the newly engaged king as he paraded around with Madeleine on his arm, even though she could feel her heart crumbling every time her eyes traveled in their direction. 

She fell back on the bed, trying to convince herself to take her makeup off before she started crying. Despite her intentions, she remained rooted in place. Her self-loathing was interrupted by a knock at the door. She groaned before begrudgingly standing from the bed and answering it. 

Maxwell greeted her with a wide smile and a bouquet of two dozen roses. “Special delivery! Housekeeping sent over a new centerpiece for your end table.”

Riley took the flowers from him, leaning in to smell them. When she got closer, she noticed a piece of paper wrapped around one of the stems. She brought the flowers over to the table, setting them down and unwrapping the paper. 

I wouldn’t blame you if you’re furious with me, but please meet me so I can at least explain. I’ll be on the balcony outside my room in twenty minutes.

“That’s Liam’s handwriting!” Maxwell exclaimed as he read over her shoulder. 

Riley’s heart began to speed up. “He wants me to meet him? But why?” 

Maxwell wrapped his arm around Riley’s shoulder, pulling her close. “Because he loves you. He probably wants to explain why he picked Madeleine, and how he’s made a terrible, horrible mistake.” 

“Or he wants to tell me off for hurting him and making him look like a fool on the biggest night of his life.” She went to her dresser, pulling out a pair of pajamas and stepping into the bathroom. 

“Riley, you have to go!” Maxwell called through the door. “You don’t really believe that he thinks that, do you?” 

Riley opened the bathroom door and walked back to the sink. “What other reason could there be?” She began wiping the makeup off of her face. “He told me he loved me, we… you know. And then twenty minutes later, he was engaged to Madeleine, and I was being dragged out of the palace.” 

“All I’m saying,” Maxwell approached her, meeting her gaze through the mirror as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Is that you should at least hear him out.”

“He had three weeks, Max.” 

“But Riley -”

“I’m not doing it. It’s going to be hard enough seeing him at all these events. I’m not about to start looking for an extracurricular heartbreak.” She exited the bathroom going to her bed and turning it down. “I’ll see you in the morning, Maxwell.”

Maxwell’s expression fell as he came to terms with the fact that he wasn’t going to win this fight. He said goodnight to Riley and headed to his room.

Riley sank between the sheets, trying to calm her mind so that she could get some sleep. Her thoughts were racing, replaying the events of the evening, and now wondering what Liam wanted to see her about. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t curious about what he had wanted to say to her. She pictured him standing on the balcony waiting for her. Would he be hurt that she didn’t come? 

She lost track of how long it took, but eventually she did drift off to sleep. Which was cut short with a firm, yet soft knock on her door. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she slowly rolled out of bed. Reaching for her robe, she slipped it on and tied it as she approached the door. 

Her breath caught in her throat when she locked onto the blue eyes that were waiting for her on the other side. She quickly fixed her face, hiding her surprise, and her sadness. “Your majesty.” She dipped into a formal curtsy unsure of how she should address him, as this was the first time she had been alone with him since he became king. 

Liam examined Riley for a moment. She looked so beautiful, but he could see the pain in her eyes, despite her attempts to hide it. It broke his heart to see her like this. “Lady Riley,” he nodded, “may I?” 

Riley stepped aside, allowing Liam to enter, closing the door behind him. They stood in silence for a moment, looking in each other's eyes, trying to figure out what the other was thinking.

“Did you get my note?” Liam broke the silence. He was hoping she simply didn’t notice it when she received the flowers. Riley nodded, and his heart sank. 

“Forgive me, your majesty,” Liam winced slightly, this was the second time she had used his title. He missed the way his name sounded when it fell from her lips. “Dinner was more tiring than I anticipated. I decided to stay in this evening.” 

“Riley, you know there is no need for formalities when we’re alone.” He stepped forward, reaching out for her hand, but she stepped out of his grasp.

“You’re engaged now, I’d assume it’s frowned upon for you to be alone with the court whore.” 

“Riley…” 

“What? That’s why you’re here, right? To tell me off, to tell me how much I hurt you? How you regret everything you said to me that night?” She turned her back to Liam, wiping away the tears that had escaped. 

His eyes went wide at her outburst. This whole time, he thought she was avoiding him because she was angry with him for the Coronation, he never expected her to think that he believed the pictures. “Riley, I know you didn’t do anything. You were set up.” 

“You… you do?” Her head slowly turned, and Liam saw the tears streaming down her face. 

“Of course,” he stepped up to her as she turned fully. He tentatively lifted a hand to wipe her tears. “Riley, I meant every single thing I said to you at my Coronation. I still mean them. Nothing about any moment I’ve spent with you will ever be a regret. The only regret I have is choosing Madeleine over you.”

“Then why did you?” Her pain was quickly replaced with anger and confusion as she backed away from him again.

“Can we sit?” He asked, tilting his head toward the bench at the foot of her bed. 

She nodded, and they sat down next to each other. Riley kept as much distance as possible between her and Liam. 

“Riley, someone is determined to prevent you from becoming queen. They were willing to go to great lengths to set you up. To put you in a compromising position, to invade your privacy. I know about the lock on your door. Whoever this was was willing to put your safety at risk, and they have considerable resources and access to court.” He took a deep breath, reaching over and resting a hand on her knee. “If I had stood up there and chosen you, from then on, you’d be in danger.” 

“But I would have had you to protect me. I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to me. And you have guards and all that,” Riley said, still not understanding how he could pick someone else, after everything they had shared. 

“Yes, but I’ve already failed to protect you once.” Liam’s gaze dropped to his feet, internally chastising himself again for not being there for her that night. “And after what happened at Applewood, the guards can’t be trusted either. The only way to truly keep you safe was to act as if I believed the pictures.”

There was a brief silence in the room, both of them letting the gravity of their current situation sink in.

“Do you remember the night of the masquerade? When I told you about my mother?” Liam finally spoke up. 

Riley looked at him curiously. “Yeah, you said you lost her when you were a kid.”

“Yes, but I didn’t tell you how.” His eyes locked on hers, and she could see the tears trying to break free. “She was poisoned.” 

“Oh my god, Liam. I’m so sorry.” She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. 

Liam cleared his throat and stood from his seat. “Yes, well that’s exactly why I couldn’t choose you. She was the queen, yet there was someone that wanted her out of the way, and they had the means to make it happen.” He walked back over to her, kneeling in front of her and taking her hands. “If I had lost you, Riley…”

Riley studied Liam’s expression. She saw the pain and fear in his eyes and understood that he truly believed this to be the right decision, even if she didn’t agree with it. “So what does this mean for us?” 

“Madeleine and I have… an understanding,” he sighed, “she knows that I’m not in love with her.” 

“Okay, but you’re engaged to her.” 

“Because I needed to make a choice. On paper, she was the best option.” Riley’s gaze dropped, but Liam placed his finger under her chin lifting it to look her in the eyes. “But she offered me an arrangement the night before the Coronation.” 

“What kind of arrangement?” RIley asked with a slight sniffle. 

Liam wiped another stray tear from Riley’s cheek before taking her hands in his. “She told me it was obvious that I was in love with you. But regardless of my feelings, she would be the best Queen for Cordonia. If I were to choose her, she would allow us to continue our relationship.” 

Riley stood abruptly, pulling her hands from his and rolling her eyes. “How incredibly generous of her.” She started moving towards the door. 

“Riley,” Liam rushed after her, placing his hand on top of hers when she reached for the doorknob. “All I could think about in that moment was finding a way to keep you in my life.” 

“So your solution to all of this is to be the good little king, marry Madeleine, and make me your mistress?” She backed away, placing her hands on her hips. “What kind of life is that?” 

“A temporary one,” he assured her. “I have no intentions of marrying her. It was simply a play to buy us time. Her hope is that nothing changes, and I simply end up marrying her.” He took a step closer to Riley, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. “But my hope is that we’re able to uncover the traitor plotting against you, and then…” He lifts her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. 

“Happily ever after?” Riley sighed, getting lost in the feel of her hand in his, the brush of his lips against her skin. 

Liam smiled as he used their still joined hands to tug her closer, wrapping his free arm around her waist. “Precisely.” He paused for a moment, relishing in the closeness he had been so desperate for over the last few weeks. “But we need to be careful… very careful.” 

Riley kept her eyes locked on his as his expression shifted to concern. “For your safety, it must still appear that we’re no longer involved.” 

His words snapped her out of her daze, and reminded her of their current situation. She instantly pulled away, stepping out of his embrace. “That shouldn't be a problem. We aren’t involved anymore, Liam.” 

“But Riley, I -”

“No,” she cut him off. “I understand that you and Madeleine have an arrangement. But it’s an arrangement that I have not agreed to.” Liam looked at her in confusion as she, again, moved toward the door. “I am here to clear my name. If I’m successful in that, then we can have a conversation about what that means for us. But for now, you’re engaged. It may be political, and there may not be feelings involved, but I’m not getting in the middle of it. I’m trying to stop the rumors, not give them more things to use against me.” 

Liam dropped his gaze to the ground as tears began to well in his eyes. “I understand,” he replied quietly. 

“Hey,” she said, her voice softening, his glistening eyes lifted to meet hers. “I still mean everything I said that night too. But I sat alone for three weeks without so much as a word from you. I spent all that time in my head, playing out scenarios, worrying about seeing you again, wondering if I would see you again. A lot has happened since the garden maze; I can’t just act like it didn’t.” 

“You’re right.” Liam nodded as he stepped toward the door, clearing his throat to try to compose himself. “My availability will be limited during the tour, but if there is anything I can do to help you clear your name, I will.” He lifted her hand one more time, his lips lingering on the back of it, not wanting to break contact. 

“Thank you,” Riley replied. 

Liam reluctantly let go of her hand and opened the door, turning once more to look at her over his shoulder. “Goodnight, Lady Riley.” 

“Goodnight, your majesty,” she curtsied. As she stood, her eyes stayed trained on the floor, not wanting to watch him leave. 

He exited her room, closing the door behind him. Riley quickly locked it, and returned to her bed, collapsing onto the plush mattress.  As difficult as this evening was, things had been so much easier when she thought Liam hated her. Now he wanted to continue their relationship, secretly, while he was engaged to Madeleine. Sure, she had held her ground tonight, but it was going to be a long engagement tour. Would her resolve be strong enough to stick to her principals? More importantly, would any of this even be worth it in the end?

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[angelasscribbles]

Savage Love Chapter 12: Stall

 Series: Savage Love

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Liam, Riley x Drake

Rating: R         

Warnings: Mature themes

Word Count: 1,654

A/N: My other stuff: Master List.

I woke slowly to the sensation of someone nibbling on the side of my neck. I groaned and smiled at the same time. It was too early, even for something that felt that good. I rolled over to wrap my arms around him, but my good morning came out more like, “mmmmfff.” Because it was too fucking early.

“Good morning to you too, Brooks. We have to get up, you’re really not a morning person, are you?”

“No. You could wake me up nicely.” I groaned with my eyes still shut, “Like you did last time.”

“As much as I would love to, Leo wants everyone back in the sit room like five minutes ago.”

Well fuck.

“Ugh, fine!” I grumbled as I kicked out of the covers and headed to the bathroom. I quickly relieved myself and brushed my teeth and hair then pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt. Might as well be comfortable.

“At least there will be breakfast.” He said cheerfully.

“First of all, it’s too early to eat, Walker. Second of all, why are so goddamn chipper right now?”

He grinned at me, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Right. You’re a morning person. Remind me to kill you later.”

We were standing by the secret panel; he stopped to turn and pull me into his arms. “If you kill me, I won’t be able to do this anymore.” His head dipped down and his teeth scraped along the side of my neck. I shivered as goosebumps broke out up and down my arms and back.

“Ok, fine.” I conceded, “You have your uses.”

“You know you’re welcome to use me anytime.”

I giggled and shook my head, “Stop it. We have to go, remember?”

“Sadly, yes.” He said as he pushed the button to open the panel.

The situation room was already full of people: Leo, Jason, Maxwell, Jared and surprisingly, Liam. Liam’s head turned when we came through the door, he saw me and his face lit up, then his eyes went behind me to Drake and his smile faltered, but only for a second before his eyes met mine and he stood to stride across the room and take my hand, “Good morning, Riley. I hope you slept well last night.”

Drake made a sound that could have been a laugh covered by a cough. I ignored that and responded, “Yes, very well. I’m happy to see you Liam, but what are you doing here?” I asked, confusion evident in my voice.

“I asked him here.” Leo responded.

“Why?” Yes, he was a member of the royal family, and he knew why I was here. But he hadn’t been included in any of the briefings before.

“Leo’s been having me sit in on meetings with him a lot lately.” Liam explained.

My eyes went to Leo, but he wasn’t making eye contact with me. Again, I asked, “Why?”

Leo shrugged and shifted nervously, still not looking at me, “Just in case. Never hurts to have someone that can step in if I’m ever indisposed.”

My eyes narrowed. Okay. Leo was acting cagey as fuck. It wasn’t unreasonable to have Liam in the loop. Leo was right, it would be good to have someone that could step in if he were ill or needed a vacation or if two pressing things came up at the same time. Still. If that were all there was to it, he’d be looking at me.

“Right.” Was all I said. Via Imperii first, weird Rys family shit later. “Where the hell is the coffee?”

Leo pointed, Liam started to offer to get it for me and I started to turn in the general direction Leo had pointed, but before either Liam or I could make a move toward it, there was a cup in my hand.

“Just the way you like it.” Drake said with a wink.

“Mmm.” I responded as I pulled in that first heavenly sip. I had to admit that the royal kitchen did coffee right. I also had to admit that Drake nailed my preferences. Black with just a hint of sugar. How the hell did he already know exactly how much sugar to put in my coffee? “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I know you’re worthless without it.”

“…thanks? At least I don’t eat half a hog worth of bacon every morning.” I gave him a look.

He smirked back at me, “Don’t be hating on the bacon. It’s my only vice.”

“Whiskey.”

“It’s one of my few vices.”

Liam’s eyes darted back and forth between us, a look of consternation on his face at the familiar ease of our banter. Which made me wonder if the coffee was really just about bringing me coffee or a flex to show Liam that he knew me better.  

“As entertaining as this is,” Leo drew our attention back to the task at hand, “We received a response from the Via Imperii about sending Drake in my place.”

My head snapped up, “What did they say?”

“They refused. They seemed insulted that I would send a commoner in my place. Sorry, Drake.”

Relief flooded through me. Thank God.

Drake shrugged, “Like I care what the fucking Via Imperii think.”

“Now what?” Jared asked.

“Any luck breaking the encryption?” I asked.

“They are bouncing their messages around towers all over the globe, but it looks like the origin is coming from somewhere inside the kingdom of Hidar.” Maxwell informed us.

“Can you pinpoint it more than that?” I asked.

“Working on it.”

“Ok.” I sighed. “But that doesn’t help us root out members inside Cordonia, which is our mission.”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Jared said, “Can we see if any of our suspects have connections with Hidar?”

“Good idea.” I told him.

“On it!” Jason said, then he and Maxwell put their heads together and went to work.

“Sorry, double oh seven.” Leo said, “I guess this was a dead end.”

“No, it’s ok. I’m pretty sure I have an in.” I told him.

“Who?”

“Neville VanCouer.”

“Neville?”

“You sound surprised.”

“He’s so….not bright enough to…you know what? Never mind, he’s haughty, self-absorbed, entitled, it tracks.” Leo responded.

“Yeah, I got all of that at the masquerade ball. He’s my in, I know it. I just have to get an invitation out of him.”                           

“How are you going to do that?” Liam asked.

Jared laughed and I shot him a go to hell look as he responded, “The way she always does.”

“What Jared is trying to say is that I have my methods of charming my way into what I need.” I gave Liam a reassuring smile.

He looked concerned, “Won’t that be dangerous?”

“Not really. One, I’m really good at pretending to be what I need to be. He’ll believe I’m one of them. And two, even if it is, this is what I’m trained for, and I am always armed.” I pulled the hem of my shirt up to show him my gun and holster.

He still looked worried, but he nodded. Thank God he wasn’t going to try and talk me out of doing my damn job. I really liked him, and I would hate to have to downgrade my opinion of his character.

“I have an idea.” Drake volunteered.

“What is it?” I asked.

“The derby is tomorrow. The royal family has a private box. The king and queen won’t be attending, but Leo and Liam will. They can invite Neville to join them, then you can pretend to get lost, stumble into the wrong box and one of them will suggest that Neville escort you to the proper seating. Voila! Alone time with your suspect.”

“Drake, you might be a genius!”

“I thought this was common knowledge.”

We finalized some details before Leo had to hurry off to his next meeting. Liam followed Leo out, but stopped to take my hand and whisper in my ear, “Meet me after dinner tonight? On the roof?”

I murmured my agreement as he brushed a kiss across my cheek then hurried out the door after Leo.

Drake sidled over to me as he watched Liam walk out of the room. “What are your plans today, Brooks?”

“Well, there’s a luncheon on the south lawn for all the suitors that I’ll be attending, both for appearances and to try and get closer to some of the ladies on my suspect list.” I told him.

“Maybe tonight after dinner-“

“Sorry, can’t.”

“But I didn’t even-“

I shrugged, “Already have other plans.”

His head tipped up toward the ceiling and he let out a frustrated grunt. When he looked back at me, he asked, “Let me guess….”

I gave him a grin as I backed out of the room, “Be faster next time, Walker. My schedule fills up quickly.”

The luncheon was about as dull as you would expect. By the end of it I was even more sure that Madeleine was Via Imperii and that Penelope wasn’t.

I was also pretty sure that Kiara had a thing for Drake, she kept bringing him up. I could have destroyed her with the truth, but I kept it to myself. No point in blowing my cover, no matter how satisfying it would have been.

I learned nothing of any value at dinner either. I was starting to get frustrated. I know patience is a virtue, but unlike most of my jobs, this one had an expiration date. I didn’t have two years to slowly infiltrated the Via Imperii. I had four months and part of that was already gone. I had no reason for staying in Cordonia once the social season was over. I needed to speed this investigation up.

I determined that I was going to wrangle my way into Neville’s life starting at the derby, come hell or highwater.

But tonight? Tonight, Liam was waiting for me on the palace roof.

#savage love #angelasscribbles #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week #choices #trr #drake walker #the royal romance fanfic #the royal romance #liam rys #choices stories you play #agent riley brooks #drake x mc #trr liam x mc #via imperii

[secretaryunpaid]

Eyes Wide Shut... The Argument

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Flared temper, Argument

Word Count: 2,700 approximately

#Eyes Wide Shut AU, @secretaryunpaid

Liam sat in his study, reviewing the renovation plans for a new property that he planned to give as a surprise to Riley. It was possible that all that was needed was a new start in a home that had no connection to the memories of loss. He tried on numerous occasions to change the atmosphere, even shifting living quarters to an unused wing in their Valtorian Estate and the Royal Palace. But somehow she always managed to end up on autopilot, walking through the rooms renovated to accommodate their growing family. 

He had felt at one point that his wife had come out of her darkness, but now it seemed as if it was claiming her again although something was definitely different than before. She didn’t avoid interacting with him altogether as she had before, but intimacy was off the table. They had reconnected after the death of Anton Severus and things looked to be reaching a new normal, then she withdrew suddenly… refusing to seek counsel for her withdrawal… stating that it wasn’t what he thought it to be, only that she just needed time. He completely understood her trepidation and would never push Riley into unwanted intimacy. 

Aimlessly eyeing the corner lounge chair situated just adjacent to the fireplace, memories filter in of Riley teasing him as he held a video conference which required his absolute focus. Clearing his throat, attempting to gather the response that the others were so patiently awaiting, his eyes involuntarily trailed behind her nails as they grazed up her thigh. The sheer camisole intimate lacing her body, allowing her nipples to peer through, falling open just at the apex of her thighs entices him away from all voices attempting to reach him. Fixed upon the sight of the playful teasing of her center, his eyes widen and then suddenly flit to catch the backward fall of her head as the lilt of his name falls from her lips. She finally lowers her eyes to meet his, as her tongue traces her lips seductively, ending with a quick bite. It isn't until he sees the sinister smirk on her face that he realizes how distracted he has become, finally hearing his title being addressed discreetly, "King Liam? Is something the matter?" 

Quickly taking a sip of his mint julep, he readdresses the waiting counsel. Offering his sincerest regrets for having to conclude the meeting prior to its scheduled time as he loosens his tie, he explains that something has arisen unexpectedly that he must immediately attend to and after a quick reschedule to address the finalization of contracts, he ends the video call, rushing to satisfy his wife's need for him. The taste of her lips, her whimpers, and breaths meeting his as they passionately kiss begin to stir him, but the growing need is stifled immediately.

Riley burst into his office, throwing down yet another Cordonian newspaper discussing the amount of time the Queen has been in mourning since the loss of Cordonia’s only potential heir, blatantly calling for an heir by other means. She couldn’t believe that someone would rip open old wounds so callously. She had come so far in her recovery that she actually had become open to the idea of someone potentially carrying the heir for them. After all, it was her womb that was failing her, not her ovaries. Liam had no issues, so why should she allow further torment to their family. But it was never as easily done as spoken… 

She began spouting off the quotes of very fertile women saying how they would love to bear the heir to the throne. She could feel them salivating over her husband by the mere writing on the page. “Thirsty bitches!” She spun around and headed for the balcony doors.

“Liam, do you know how tormenting it has been to be your barren Queen?

To see all of these un-noble noblewomen throwing themselves at you… Begging for a Cordonian arrangement? Hearing them whisper about how I failed you as a woman??? Like I’m some commoner whore who came to her fate for reaching so high above her status … “This is her just desserts…” Being in this sometimes godforsaken role, I have to hold MY emotion in when I would love nothing more than to drive those bitches faces through the very mirrors they glare at me through !!!”

 “I love you Liam, but you can be so oblivious to the SHIT that I have gone through right in front of your eyes… not to mention the things you have no idea about… Your pressuring me isn’t helping any! Knowing the minute we lay together intimately, you’ll have the false hope and pretense that we’ve conceived an heir… that breaks me even more! Of course I crave your touch… your kiss… the feel of you consuming every inch of me passionately or ravenously… But I just CAN'T Liam !!!” He never gets a word in edgewise, standing flabbergasted at her temperament… 

 He tries pulling her into an embrace so that he can reassure her that not being able to bring their beloved Crown Princess Eleanor into the world hasn’t changed his love for her… and no matter if she could never physically produce an heir, he would love her just as he always has. Liam never gets a word in edgewise before she runs from his study, fuming and broken. Yes, she had decreed that anytime they found themselves in his study, he was to make her disappear … fogged by the emotions his lovemaking always flooded her mind and body with, but he had to see that she was not up for this… How is she supposed to be the co-ruler of this country when she can’t even be a partner to her husband?

 Doubts ingest every positive and loving memory she’s formed in her union with Liam, almost making him her enemy instead of the man tormenting her life… fueling the confusion that has become her existence… All she can do is distance herself from her one true love in order not to tear him down as she’s being torn… After all, she would sacrifice any and everything for his well-being…

Searching for a solution

Frustrated over not being able to reach a place with Riley that had them at least communicating better with each other, he phones down to the staff to have the mail and packages brought up to him, also requesting that Riley’s mail be sorted out and delivered to her private study. Reaching out to Madeleine next, Liam advises her that he will need her to begin a search for a personal assistant to cover things for the Queen that do not include decision-making… only appearances or follow-up correspondence and the like. All legal or political issues would be routed directly to him, and she and he needed to meet weekly to discuss the people’s outlook on the current state of their Queen and the affairs of the provinces.

As he ends the call, he notices that the mail has been placed before him, and the door is already being eased closed. Needing this as a distraction, he begins rifling through the mail,,, choosing anything that looks unofficial for his primary attention.

He accidentally receives the pre opened invitation to an exclusive masked party held by Dr. Ethan Ramsey. It included the list of invitees, along with the location and dress requirements for the event. Realizing that the Queen’s mail has been included with his inadvertently, he sits, working his jaw as his temple pulses… How dare someone send such a request to Riley? She hadn’t been intimate with him in the months following the loss of their first conceived heir… The mitigated gall of someone thinking that they deserved this special privilege!  

Liam spins around in total anger, knocking books from the bookcase after reading the open invitation, really wanting to take his fury out on Ethan Ramsey instead. Instantly calming at the thought of staff possibly entering again witnessing his uncharacteristically destructive mannerism, he bends to clean his mess. As his eyes become focused on the book next to the one he is replacing, having gathered the fallen books from the floor… “Dream Story” by Arthur Schnitzler, he begins flipping through the pages to help buffer his mood further. 

Unfamiliar with the book or how it even ended up on the shelf in his private study, he sits and begins reading through the preface. This rhapsody tells the story of a physician whose wife confesses having sexual fantasies about another man... “Is this what Riley needs? Should I pass this on to her?” Thinking of his own experiences during the Nobility Shuffle that he held with Riley’s approval, a selfless offer out of her love for him, the question arises. Surely if she chose to attend, he could swallow his pride and allow this. Opening the box the invitation was affixed to, he finds a Venetian mask inside, with details of the Eyes Wide Shut event underneath.

Although he had second guessed his decision many times before reaching their bedroom, Liam brings the mask, placing it on his pillow as Riley sleeps. When she awakens, she is under the belief that another Masquerade Ball is being planned. Her first thought is to immediately refuse to have such an event, not feeling ready to host a bunch of pretentious nobles, local and foreign, who truly did not respect her in the way they once had… but she knows that she cannot hide away forever, and that this would only make the Rhys monarchy look weaker in the eyes of its enemies.

He exits the shower wrapped in a towel only, beads of water still adorning his body, and makes his way into the wardrobe. Seeing her sit up and take the Venetian mask to examine it, Liam approaches a disgruntled Riley . “Is this for another Masquerade Ball, because Liam… I am so not- …” He takes her hand between his, “No baby… I wouldn’t push you into such large events without discussing your comfort beforehand. This is something that was sent as a personal invitation to an … Eyes Wide Shut event… hosted by … Dr. Ethan Ramsey…”

Riley shakes her head in confusion… “Why would he send you an invite… and what type of event is this?” Liam is surprised by the familiarity in her question, and inquires about Ethan and what capacity their relationship reached. For a man to have sent this type of invitation, in Liam’s eyes, meant that they were beyond simple camaraderie. The tone of his question immediately sets Riley on alert… This was someone from her past, why would it matter now, especially with the dedication she has shown to not only Liam, but Cordonia.

Not appreciating the inquisition, she immediately replies that she has never questioned his past relationships or intimacies with attendees of royal or private functions, nor his connections to any persons he may have chosen to be intimate with. Knowing this would only have prevented her from violently reacting should anyone make a point of discussing their attraction for her husband in her presence. Although she felt the need to give Liam these permitted dalliances, she was fiercely protective of her marriage and husband. There could be no benefit of her indulging his curiosity, although she would not leave his question unanswered.

“Liam… Ethan and I were in a relationship when I thought being a Pediatric Neurologist was my chosen path. I left, ending things abruptly, and have had no contact since. Just because the invite came from him that didn’t mean I would accept or that I would have guaranteed interaction with Ethan… It is a masquerade type of event! If you were going to be all jealous and possessive, why even show this to me? I understand that it wasn’t properly marked as confidential, pre opened, and “accidentally” placed in YOUR mail… Not accusing you at all… but I am highly suspicious of the person who made sure this would be conveniently given to my husband… as if I wouldn’t discuss it with you myself !!!”

“I was giving you a chance to have this experience with another man, my love, as DIFFICULT as it is for me to imagine!... “You can have these times whenever you need them, my love... I'd give you anything if it brings you back to me…” You have been generous with me in this area without invitation or request, how could I not allow this for you as well?” Taken aback by his proposal, “This whole thing has just become too much to entertain. How could you just be fine with me being with another man? If that’s how you feel, I might as well sleep with Drake or Leo!!!” (Liam stands with his mouth agape, unable to fully process the words coming from his wife’s mouth … Knowing goddamn well she didn’t just mention the two names that he clearly just heard. 

“Yeah! That’s the exact feeling you gave me just now !!! You do realize the number of men and women I could have “been with” if I so chose to, right? It didn’t and doesn’t have to be Dr. Ethan RAM-sey!!! … I’m going to take a shower.  You can discard THAT however you see fit my overly generous KING!” Liam cringes at the word, knowing that she is beyond heated when she calls him by his “persona of perfection”… being a flawed husband, but ever dutiful monarch. “Riley! Don’t be like this! I was trying not to be a hypocrite !!!,” pleading for her to calm as her back is already disappearing from view. “Your Queen has spoken… END of discussion,” she relays back to him, words not as harsh in tone as before.

He decides to give her space. Drake wouldn’t be the person to discuss this with, especially not after her comment… Just his luck, Drake attending in a guard capacity could land those two together, and Hell would freeze over before he allowed that union to ever take place. He loved him as a brother, and Riley was not someone he’d ever willingly share with Drake… secretly knowing that he has his own love for Riley. 

It wouldn’t be a matter of trust… because when it came to Drake’s feelings for Riley, he could damn well trust that Drake would lay down his life trying to please her… and Liam would damn sure feel like taking the life he just laid down… So, instead he seeks out his trusted sister, Olivia Nevrakis. (Although Constantine would never stop turning in his grave, Liam had officially declared her his legal sister and Drake as his legal brother with consent from Leo.)

He’d discussed everything with Liv, and she quickly agreed to secure herself into the event, along with Bastien and Mara as masked waitstaff under aliases. Liam would also be included on the invitation roster under the pseudonym Alexander Cabot, a trillionaire that never revealed his identity and was mostly known to be agoraphobic, but enjoyed these masked events of the BDSM communities. Once Liam gave the word of Riley’s acceptance, all changes would be uploaded through professional hacking by the illustrious Queen Amalas, a close and highly trusted ally.

{prior, continue}

#Eyes Wide Shut au #EWS The Argument #@becoming mrs. dalton #@secretaryunpaid #becoming mrs. dalton #secretaryunpaid #choices fandom #aesthetic #Youtube #Spotify #SoundCloud #trr liam x mc #trr fanfic

[gaiuskamilah]

for @choicesfandomappreciation's secret pal event, i got @tessa-liam! here's a liam and riley (and chance the corgi) for you, i hope you like it and happy holidays!! ❤️

bg & silver medal from pb official art bc i was too tired to draw it by hand lol

#playchoices #choicessecretpal23 #the royal romance #trr #liam rys #liam x mc #riley brooks #my art

[cordonianroyalairlines]

Staking a Claim

Series: Cordonian Royal Airlines

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings for series: Various

Pairing for this chapter: Riley x Drake

Word Count: 2,340

Rating: MA

Warnings for this chapter: Language mostly

A/N: This is for the @choicesholidays Valentine's Day prompts: "Be my fake date for a wedding."

The hair color is wrong for my Riley, but this image was perfect!

The copilot twisted around in his seat one too many times, craning his neck as if searching the cabin for something, jostling the pilot in the process.

Liam grunted in consternation. “Drake!”

Drake spun back around, “What?”

“What is your malfunction?”

“What do you mean?” Drake blinked at him in confusion.

“What do you mean what do I mean?” Liam grunted, “We haven’t made it through the preflight checklist because you keep turning around to stare into the cabin! What the hell is so interesting out there?”

“Nothing!” Drake rolled his shoulders, stared blankly out the cockpit window for a moment then turned back to Liam, “Can you see the guy in 12B?”

“What?” Liam’s head swiveled around and then back. “No. Why?”

Drake’s bottom lip protruded as he shook his head. “No reason.”

Liam watched him skeptically. Drake had been visibly agitated since he’d reported for duty. “There has to be a reason.”

“I…he just….he looks a little squirrely. You know what I mean? Untrustworthy.”

Liam’s eyes widened in alarm. “Is he a threat? Do we need to alert security? Did you see a weapon?” He whipped his head around quickly to try and get a good view of the man in 12B. “I can’t see anything. Riley’s blocking my view.”

“Is she talking to him?” Drake’s entire body moved just as Liam turned back around. Their heads collided with a resounding thwack.

“Ow! Fuck!” Liam grabbed his forehead.

“Sorry, sorry!”

“Seriously man, tell me what’s going on right now. I’m calling security!” Liam reached for the microphone but just as he got it to his mouth, Drake slapped it out of his hands.

“No!”

Liam watched in astonishment as the microphone flew out of his grip and hit the window then bounced off the dash. “Are you on drugs right now? Do I need to get another copilot?”

Drake gaped at him. “Seriously? When have I ever done drugs?”

“I don’t know man, but you’re acting really fucking weird.”

Hana ducked her head in to ask, “Are we almost ready? A couple of the passengers are getting antsy.”

“Which ones?” Drake asked.

Hana’s brows pulled together for a moment then smoothed out as she chuckled. “Oh. You know Riley’s ex is out there, don’t you?”

“What?” Drake’s eyes shot to Liam then back to Hana as he denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

A relieved breath whooshed out of Liam. At least he now knew Drake wasn’t on drugs and there wasn’t a terrorist on board. He stifled a laugh. “Sure you don’t.”

“I don’t!” Drake glared at them both.

Hana giggled as she backed out of the cockpit.

They finished the checklist and got airborne, but Drake’s agitation quickly returned. “Do you think he’s better looking than me?”

“Who?”

“The guy! In 12B.”

“How would I know?”

“You’re bisexual, right? You can judge that kind of thing.”

Liam scoffed. “First of all, I haven’t laid eyes on the guy. Second of all, I thought you didn’t care.”

“No, I don’t! I mean….just objectively speaking, out of curiosity….I overheard Hana call him eye candy. He can’t be that good-looking, can he?”

“I dunno Drake, Riley is a ten, so I imagine her ex is no slouch in the looks department either.”

“Great.” Drake huffed as he spun around in his seat again.

“Oh, for the love of God, just go look!”

“I can’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“Because then she’ll know I care!”

Liam cocked an eyebrow at him, “So you do care?”

“I mean she’ll think I care!”

“You’re really an idiot sometimes, you know that?”

“I don’t follow.”

“Of course you don’t.” Liam shook his head. “The only person you’re fooling is yourself. Put the rest of us out of our misery and just tell the girl that you like her already!”

“I’m not going out there.”

“Okay.”

Drake tapped his fingers on his knees for several seconds before jumping out of his seat. “I need to use the bathroom.”

“Sure you do.”

“I had a lot of coffee before we boarded.”

“Sure you did.”

“Fuck you. I’m going to take a piss.”

“Great. Tell Riley I said hi.”

Drake ignored him as he exited the cockpit and headed for the back of the plane where the restrooms were located. He slid his eyes sideways as he passed aisle 12 and scoffed to himself. The guy wasn’t that good-looking.

He was clean-shaven with a strong jawline, and raven hair swept back and gelled to perfection. Was that an Armani suit? How were his eyes that blue?

He slammed into the lavatory and locked the door to glare at himself in the highly polished silver surface of the mirror as he regarded his deep copper-colored eyes and messy, fly-away hair that barely saw a brush, much less hair gel. He ran a hand across the stubble dotting his jaw. It was a strong jawline, wasn’t it? Should he shave?

The guy in seat 12B looked like a CEO or something. Did she like that type? Drake was far more likely to be found in a tent than a boardroom. Did he even own a suit? He owned uniforms. Didn’t women like men in uniforms?

He made pretty good money as a first officer for Cordonian Royal Airlines.

Not CEO money.

“Fuck!” He spun and lashed out at the toilet. His foot connected to the stainless steel sending a sharp jolt of pain shooting up his leg.

There was a knock at the door. “Everything okay in there?”

Shit! It was Riley! “I’m fine. Dropped my…. Wallet…” Fuck, Walker! What the shit is wrong with you, man? Your wallet really?

“Are you sure because that didn’t sound like—”

“I said I’m fine!”

“Okay. Just let me know if—oh, excuse me what?”

From the other side of the door, a man’s voice murmured something he couldn’t make out then both people moved away.

Was that the ex talking to her? He forced himself to count to twenty so he didn’t just barrel out of the bathroom after them. He took several deep calming breaths like Max had tried to show him last time he had been upset about something. At least he thought it was what Max had done. At the time, he had mostly ignored him.

With an air of calm he most certainly did not feel, he exited the lavatory. His eyes went straight to seat 12B. Empty. He backtracked and ducked into the crew area.

Sure enough, there was Riley standing in the middle of the empty inflight catering kitchen talking to Mr. CEO.

All his jealousy evaporated in an instant as he took in her demeanor. Her arms were folded defensively across her chest and her face was furrowed into a frown. She was shaking her head as she leaned forward, her voice lowered but her entire body radiating her discomfort with the conversation.

The guy reached out and grabbed her arm.

She flinched away.

Oh hell no.

Drake didn’t remember moving but he was suddenly next to them, his hand wrapped firmly around the man's wrist. He flung the other man’s arm away from Riley and through gritted teeth asked, “Is there a problem here?”

The man gave him a startled look then annoyance flashed across his face. “We were just having a discussion.”

“Doesn’t look like the lady’s enjoying the conversation.”

“Mind your own business,” he shook his head dismissively and reached for her again, “Riley, if we could just talk privately—”

Drake intercepted the motion before he could touch her. “If you’re attached to that hand and wish to keep it, then I would strongly advise you against touching her again.”

He jerked his hand out of Drake’s grasp and rubbed his wrist. “Was that really necessary?”

Drake never took his eyes off the man as he leaned his body toward Riley, “Do you want to talk to this guy?”

“No.”

“But, Riley—”

“We have nothing to talk about, Nick!”

Drake angled his body so that he was blocking Riley from Nick’s view. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You heard her.”

Nick looked like he wanted to press the issue, but after taking in Drake’s stormy expression, thought better of it. He straightened his suit jacket with a sharp tug. “Fine. I’ll see you at the wedding. We’ll talk then.”

“You’re not coming to my sister’s wedding!”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’ll be there as Clarissa’s plus one.”

Riley shook her head back and forth. “Seriously? When we were dating, you couldn’t stand her!”

A gloating smile crept across his face. “Jealous?”

“Why would I be jealous?”

“Because you’re not over me, Riley. If you were, you’d have bothered to line up a date for the wedding.”

“I—”

“She has a date for the wedding.” Drake cut in as he casually slung his arm around her shoulders.

Nick turned his gaze to Drake for a long, evaluating moment. “Are you the new boyfriend then?”

“Yep. And I’m only going to ask you once to return to your seat. If you don’t stop harassing the flight crew, I will land this plane and have security escort you off of it.”

Nick’s eyes widened slightly as he huffed out, “You wouldn’t dare!”

Riley ran her hand down Drake’s arm as she smirked at Nick, “He would. He’s very protective when it comes to me. I wouldn’t test him if I were you.”

“Whatever,” Nick bumped Drake’s shoulder as he shoved past them and exited the kitchen.

Drake’s arm was still around Riley as he turned his head to watch Nick leave. “Let me know if he bothers you again and I’ll—”

Riley spun on him in fury, her fists raining blows on his chest. “What the fuck did you just do, Drake?”

His hand flew to his chest. “Ow! What the hell, Riley? I just rescued you from that guy!”

“I didn’t need rescuing, Drake. I can handle Nick. He’s an asshole, but he’s not a serial killer or something!”

Drake scoffed with a shake of his head, “I think the phrase you’re looking for is thank you.”

“Oh yeah? Really?”

“Yeah, really!”

“Do you know what you just did? Do you?”

“Um…got the asshole ex-boyfriend to leave you alone?”

“No, you fucking jackass.” She slapped his arm. “You just told him that you’re my boyfriend and my date to my sister’s wedding!”

“So?”

“So?” She threw her arms up in the air. “So when I show up at the wedding with no date and no boyfriend he’ll know that was a lie and I’ll be humiliated!”

“Oh.”

“Yeah…oh!”

They stood in silence for a long moment, Drake rubbing his chest and Riley fuming. Then Drake quietly said, “I’ll go to the wedding with you.”

“What?”

“I mean….if you want me to.”

“I…”

“I did get you into this situation. Let me make it up to you by getting you out of it. One fake boyfriend slash date for sister’s wedding coming right up!”

All the fight went out of her as she took in the hopeful smile on his face. “I can’t ask you to do that, Drake.”

“Why not?”

“Because the wedding is on Valentine’s Day and I’m sure you already have plans. I can’t ask you to cancel—”

“Pfffftttt.” He waved a hand dismissively in the air. “I do not have plans for Valentine’s Day!”

“You don’t?”

Did she sound hopeful?

“No, I do not. No girlfriend, no friend with benefits, no romantic entanglements at all.”

Except with you.

A delighted smile broke out across her face. “Okay, then.”

“So, we’re good?”

She gave him a flirtatious smile as she flipped her hair and turned to leave. “We’re good.”

“Okay, good.”

He watched her walk away with a contented smile on his lips then followed her out of the kitchen and back to the front of the plane. He glowered at Nick as he passed aisle 12.

Nick returned the glare as he adjusted his headphones and slid down in the seat.

When he stepped onto the flight deck Liam greeted him with smug satisfaction. “That was the longest piss in the world.”

“Shut up.” He slid into the copilot seat without looking at his best friend.

“So how’d it go? Did you get a good look at her ex?”

“Um….yeah… he’s a pushy bastard. I had to tell him to keep his hands to himself and….”

“And?”

Drake released a long-suffering sigh knowing Liam was going to find out sooner or later. Riley would tell Max and Max would tell everyone else. “I’m going as her date to her sister’s wedding.”

“Wow! That’s quite a jump from ‘I don’t like her like that’.” Liam chortled gleefully.

Drake kept quiet but his foot started tapping nervously.

“Oh, shit, there’s more! What is it?” Liam prodded.

“Ah…”

“Don’t make me call Max and find out.”

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath.

“Come on, what else?”

“It’s on Valentine’s Day,” he answered with a resigned sigh.

Liam practically danced out of his seat. “This is amazing! This is epic! Mr. I will never take a woman out on Valentine’s Day because that’s far too much pressure and it’s all about commercialization anyway is taking a woman out on Valentine’s Day. To her sister’s wedding!”

“Why does this make you so happy?”

“Because I get to say I told you so forever!”

“It’s not even a real date.”

“Sure it’s not.”

“It’s not!”

“Does she know that?”

“Yes! I just said I was her boyfriend so that Nick guy would stop—”

“Wait! Wait! You played the pretend boyfriend card to back off her ex?”

“Yeah…so?”

Liam threw his head back and belly laughed. “You are such a goner!”

Drake pressed his lips into a tight line and returned his attention to the control panel. He wanted to argue, he really did. But he couldn’t.

He was absolutely a goner.

And he was going to have to buy a suit.

Shit.

#cordonianroyalairlines #trr au #the royal romance #drake walker #drake x mc #cfwc fics of the week #choices fic writers creations #choicesholidays #liam rys

[kristinamae093]

Ghosted

Ghosted - Two Steps Back (Chapter Ten)

Series Summary - Prince Liam fell for Riley Brooks hard and fast. A marriage filled with love and devotion was within his reach. But everything changed when she vanished just before the end of the social season. As everyone voices their concerns regarding her scandalous departure, a confession from an unlikely source turns Liam's world upside down and makes him question everything around him.

Book/Pairing - TRR - Liam x MC (Riley Brooks)

A/N 1 - This AU starts right before the beginning of the engagement tour. There is a two-month lapse between the coronation and where we pick up, but we will stray from canon. Please excuse any errors found.

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

After the Regatta

Penelope hobbled to her room on a sore foot and a painfully bruised ego. This wasn’t going as expected; advisors told her toward the beginning of the season she might stand a chance, but after only the first few events, they hastily changed their tone. Between Madeleine, Riley, and Olivia, they knew Penelope would not be the new king’s choice.  

Regardless, Penelope was enjoying her time away. The friends she’d made were irreplaceable; she and Kiara formed an everlasting bond. Even Riley was incredibly friendly, despite her commoner status. Penelope was rooting for Riley to win it all because she was genuinely a nice person, and Penelope was looking forward to what Cordonia could look like with her as queen. 

Penelope approached her door whilst humming to herself. The day was long, and she was relieved to be in the comfortable solace of her own space. She planned on calling her parents for their daily video chat, and to get some doggy face time to tide her over while away. Her anxiety was through the roof without having them close, but the friendships she’d made were a momentary distraction. She was glad the ladies were nice enough; otherwise, this experience would’ve been a nightmare. 

Penelope entered and made a bee-line for the bathroom. She did her business, washed her hands, and bounced her way over to the dresser to get more comfortable for the evening. Just as she opened the drawer, a stern knock sounded on her door. Penelope scrunched her face; she was expecting no visitors but thought perhaps Kiara wanted to hang out. 

As Penelope opened the structure, a thunderous force shoved through her and entered, slamming the door shut. Penelope stumbled backward but caught her footing. She could only stare at the person in front of her as panic flourished through her body. She didn't recognize them, but the death glare plastered on their face told her that notion was not applied on both ends. Her instinct told her to scream for help, but the visitor addressed her before she was given the chance.

They spoke in a low, raspy voice. “Have a seat, Lady Penelope. We have a lot to discuss.” 

“W–who are you?” 

“You need not worry about who I am, only what I know.” 

“What do you mean?” 

The person clasped their hands behind their back and stalked around Penelope; like a vulture circles its prey. “Everyone around you thinks you're the sweet, poodle-obsessed Penny, but I see otherwise. I know all about you… The things you’ve done… What your daddy tries his damndest to hide…” 

Penelope’s already increasing heart rate spiked. “I don’t understand.” 

“Of course you don’t. It’s alright, I wouldn’t want anyone to know, either.” They dismissively shrugged.

“Know what?” 

The person snickered at her attempts to deflect, but they could see the panic rising in her eyes. “It’s quite a common expression — young and dumb. But, when you’re in the nobility, there are no secrets unless you know the right people.” 

Penelope thickly swallowed. “I don’t – I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“Really? So, then you’ve never been — joined in holy matrimony, right?”

Penelope’s eyes widened. “I–” 

“Enough with your attempts to feign confusion; that will only prolong this process and I am not in the mood to play games. I know of your estranged marriage; how your father pays plenty of hush money per month to keep his mouth shut. I imagine it would be fairly difficult to talk yourself out of that situation if the press were to catch wind; considering Portavira continuously requests the Crown’s compensation. And I do believe the monarch would not be happy to learn your family has developed a slush fund, either.” 

The intruder gave Penelope a wicked smile and added, “Not to mention the — fatality that was caught amid your poor life choices…”

Penelope visibly tensed. “That’s not – I didn’t–” she stammered before snapping her mouth closed; her flustered state prohibited her from forming an argument.

“It’s a matter of opinion, I suppose. Regardless, I attained the records from your procedure.” They waved a piece of paper in Penelope’s face, and recognition swept over her instantly. She released a shuddered breath as the document came to a stop, her tearful eyes centering on the text. 

Despite Penelope’s panicked state, the aggressor continued, “Tell me, do your parents know of your aborted fetus? I mean, I saw you on security cameras entering the clinic alone. It was smart of you to use a fake name, but unfortunately, that was not enough to cover up your mistakes.” 

Penelope never answered, but the assailant watched her swallow thickly with shame etched in her features. She couldn’t fathom how this stranger had found her deepest secrets that she was certain would never see the light of day. 

Penelope found out she was pregnant the day after her annulment was discreetly settled. Terrified wasn’t a strong enough word to describe how she felt, as she stared down at the positive test; she went to the clinic in disguise to find out about her options and decided abortion would be the best solution. Being only nineteen years old, Penelope was practically a child herself and didn’t believe she was at a point to care for a baby like they deserved. And she was alone; when she dreamt of this moment, it happened completely differently in her head. She longed for the fairytale love, where they would start a family together; not single and inevitably disgraced.

Her parents didn’t know, she was too afraid to tell them — especially after her father agreed to pay a continuous hefty fee for Guy’s silence. Penelope was always well-behaved; the perfect trophy daughter. The look of pure disappointment held in their eyes when they found out about her marriage haunted her; she never wanted to do anything out of line again. All Penelope desired was to move on from her mistake, but life had other plans.

Panicked and ashamed, Penelope made the impossible decision alone, not wanting anyone to know of the stupid decisions that led her there. Her fear and guilt only increased after the procedure, but she grieved what could have been and pushed it into the deepest pit of her mind.

She never told a soul – nobody knew – or so she thought.

“All it would take is a small whisper to the press and it would destroy not only you, but your fraudulent parents as well…” 

Penelope gasped as her tears freely flowed. “No! P–please, don’t!” 

The person laughed; the sound sending an involuntary chill down Penelope’s spine. They stalked forward until her back hit the wall and they breathed over her. Penelope squeezed her eyes closed, but felt them draw nearer. The tangy scent of alcohol mixed with cigar smoke filled her nostrils, as they whispered in her ear, “If you want my silence, you’re going to have to earn it.” 

Penelope’s eyes shot open as she frantically nodded her head. “Okay, j–just tell me what you need, and I’ll do it.” 

“I knew you’d see reason,” the unknown presence spoke while taking a small step away. They produced an envelope from their jacket and handed it to her. 

Penelope opened it and started skimming over the information; it was an email address with a set of instructions and a few other notes. She didn’t understand what it all meant; the main thing that stuck out was the location of where they wanted the photographer to be. 

“Why are they going to be outside Riley’s room?” 

“The less you know, the better.” They once again reached into their jacket, this time pulling out a small vial and handing it to her. “You need to give this to her beforehand. I do not care how it happens, just make sure it gets in her system; the earlier, the better.” 

“W–what is this? Is this a drug?” Penelope stammered as she stared down at the bottle in her trembling hands. 

The person smiled; a dark, wicked smile. “You don’t need to worry about that; just make sure she ingests it at an early enough hour.”

Tears once again streamed down Penelope’s cheeks as she frantically shook her head and tried to hand the items back. “N–no. I can’t do that, and I won’t. I would rather disgrace myself than–”

“You’re going to do it.”  

Penelope stood a little taller and yelled, “No, I won’t! I–”

Penelope received a sudden, sharp backhand to her cheek. She fell to the floor cradling her face but was soon flipped over onto her back, her aggressor pinning her to the ground. She opened her mouth to scream, but quickly closed it as she saw the gleam of a blade in the light right in front of her face. 

“Make a sound and I’ll kill you right here, right now.” The attacker moved the knife to hover over Penelope’s throat, applying just enough pressure to keep her subdued. “You have two options — you either comply and do as you’re told, or this is where your life will end. If you refuse to cooperate, you already know too much, and I will ensure you don’t live to tell the tale personally. But I won’t stop there, no – I’ll ruin your parents as well; the entire world will know what a fraud you and your family are.” 

“No… P–please. I – I can’t – I –” Penelope frantically stammered, trying to develop a coherent sentence. 

“You can, and you will. Otherwise,” they leaned forward, close enough to touch noses with Penelope. “I’ll dig your grave myself and throw those mangy mutts in with you after. Perhaps we can make it a family affair and shove your parents inside, too. After all, being exposed to the world and losing their only disappointment of a child would leave them with nothing left to live for; especially once they know of your treacherous sins.” They sat back with a vile chortle, letting the words linger.

Penelope cried harder, her breathing rapid and erratic as her panic boiled over. She opened her mouth to shout for help despite the blade at her throat, but a firm hand abruptly pressed against her lips. “I think I’m being very understanding, actually. I could just end you and move on to the next useless suitor, but I’m allowing you to make the correct choice; to answer the call of service for your country. That commoner has no business being here; you know it, I know it, everyone knows it! We have to deal with her!” 

After a tense moment of silence, her intruder grew restless. They rolled their eyes and huffed, “You’re running out of time. I’ll gift you ten seconds; agree, or...” The blade on Penelope’s throat suddenly held more force; hard enough she could feel her skin being lightly pierced. “I don’t think I really need to finish that sentence, do I?”

Penelope subtly nodded her head, afraid to move too much. Although she didn’t want to betray Riley in that way, she saw no other way out. Not only was her own life being threatened, but her parents as well; she was not willing to let them die because of her secrets they knew nothing about.

Her attacker soon chortled and sat up. “I had a feeling you would see it my way.” They patted her cheek, hard, before they stood and adjusted their clothing.

The intruder walked to the door and turned back around to address a whimpering Penelope. “As a reward for your service, I will make you a lady-in-waiting for the soon-to-be queen. I’d suggest you take the position and use discretion whenever necessary from here on out. If you do anything to compromise this operation, you will be sorry. Am I clear?“

The following afternoon, Olivia met with Liam, Leo, and Ray as they discussed the events of the night prior. The court just arrived in Portavira, although there was a break in events until the polo match in a few days. They gathered in Olivia’s room, as that’s where Ray set up his equipment and continuously ensured the area remained free of compromises. 

Olivia told them about Penelope’s involvement, and Liam was certain Olivia was lying or playing some kind of sick joke. However, after seeing the proof himself, he knew it had to be true. He wasn’t close with Penelope by any means, but still felt betrayed. Riley was kind and warm to those around her, not a malicious bone in her body; what made Penelope want to get rid of her?

“We have to question her. I can’t be sure, but she might know we’re onto her. The look in her eyes –” Olivia shook her head with a heavy sigh. ”– I can’t explain it, but I don’t like it.”  

“I agree,” Leo interjected. “We need to know why she did it, man, because this makes absolutely no sense. I mean, Penelope – of all people? Did she accidentally eat some dog food or something, and it made her go kookoo?” 

Despite his overflowing anxiety, Liam laughed. “I really don't know. But we’re not all going to question her. I think it’s best if myself and Leo did this, so we don’t overwhelm her.” He spoke to the entire group. 

“Are you… okay to do that?” Leo tentatively asked. “I can take Olivia — or hell, even Maxwell or Drake, if you don’t think you can keep your cool. We can’t really risk her shutting down and withholding anything important...” 

Liam remained silent for a long moment. Honestly, he didn’t know if he could control himself. The selfish side of him wanted to confront Penelope face-to-face and demand answers. However, he knew he was teetering on a dangerous ledge, and her confession could provoke several different reactions. 

He didn’t remember the last time he’d slept or ate a full meal. Days were molding together, and he had no sense of time unless it pertained to the tour. Liam was simply muttering through, doing the dutiful checklist a monarch should on the daily and trying his hardest to stay afloat; even though in all reality, he felt like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. No amount of training could prepare him for something like this; he was simply in limbo until one of the many open ends finally led them to something of importance. As the King he held mighty authority; yet, he’d never felt so powerless. Every second of not knowing something was torture; he just wanted to see Riley with his own two eyes. 

“I… don’t think I can, actually. If you wouldn’t mind questioning her, I would very much appreciate it, Leo.” 

Leo patted Liam on the back with a reassuring smile. “No problem. Care to accompany me, Livvie?” 

“I suppose if we want some kind of answer, I’ll have to, won’t I?” Olivia smirked. 

“Are we doing this now, or?” 

“Yes. The sooner, the better.” 

“And we’re certain she’s here?” Liam asked. 

“She was out earlier with her dogs,” Olivia answered with an eye roll. 

Liam nodded as he rubbed his palms together. “This is a decent plan. I have a good feeling about this, guys.” 

For the first time since he opened his eyes to the truth about the narrative against Riley, Liam felt like this could take them somewhere relevant. This was a solid lead and although he knew it probably wouldn’t provide him with all the answers he was seeking, it was a damn good start. 

Liam spoke again, “Any other updates?” 

“I received the diagnostic report on Lady Riley’s dress on the way here." Ray explained. "The blood was mostly Riley’s, but traces from Tariq were present as well. There were a few hairs and skin cells noted, but the DNA only registers those two.”

“Oh… okay…” Liam quietly responded. He hoped deep down the mess was from someone else, but immediately felt foolish to let himself believe such a thing. Hearing it confirmed out loud made his stomach burn with anxiety; this is what he blinded himself to, this is what he ignored. The overwhelming guilt Liam was fighting momentarily took his breath away. 

“Otherwise, there are no new leads.” Ray briefly met eyes with Olivia, the both of them having a silent conversation; unbeknownst to Liam. It wasn’t technically a lie, but not the entire truth. Ray found something — interesting, but Olivia decided now was not the time to bring it up to Liam, at least until after they learned what exactly Penelope knew. “Where Tariq is concerned, I’ve hit a complete brick wall; there’s absolutely nothing.” 

“Nothing?” 

Ray shook his head. “Not a trace. His accounts show no transactions, and his family has not heard from him in months. I’ve checked every mode of transportation available to leave the country and he wasn’t on any of their databases.” 

“How is that even possible? There has to be something, somewhere. Seriously – Tariq has the IQ of a fucking peanut.” Leo interjected. 

“It could be a collection of reasons,” Ray answered. He suddenly stopped typing on his keyboard and took in everyone’s curious expressions. “Either he’s just incredibly clever and has an immaculate ability to cover his tracks, has hired someone to do that for him, or…” 

“He’s dead…” Liam quietly inserted, just above a whisper. His palms started trembling in his lap, and the only thing he could feel was his heart erratically thumping.

The deeper this web went, the further Liam felt himself slipping from reality. All he wanted was a sign, a concrete clue, anything to put him one step closer to finding Riley. The longer that time passed, the more he believed there was a grim reason they couldn’t find them. Just when the light at the end shined brighter, Liam was suddenly drug further down into the abyss of questions, making him doubt everything. 

“We can’t confirm that right now, Your Majesty. I’ve searched hospital records and there are no reports of him checking in at any of them and nothing solid to point to that conclusion. There are a lot of open ends regarding his whereabouts, but I have a couple more places to look before we should start truly discussing that possibility.” 

“Right…” Liam quietly responded as his mind raced. If Tariq’s DNA was on her dress, does that mean he’s the one who injured her? They already knew he was close to Riley; the pictures obviously showcased them together, but was Tariq responsible for attacking her, too? Those thoughts created a storm of rage he’d never felt before; just when he thought the fire had sizzled out, another splash of gasoline was poured onto the diminishing coals. Liam may not have felt a lot of hope, but he sure as hell felt the rage consuming his entire being. 

Leo noticed Liam's forelorn expression and reassuringly gripped his shoulder. “Don’t worry, man. We’re going to get an answer — soon.”

A short while later, Olivia, Leo, and ‘Harold’ walked the halls of the Portavirian estate, searching for Penelope’s room. Liam opted to have a drink with Drake instead of being alone, as his already overflowing anxiety seemed to increase with every passing second. 

They rounded the corner and Olivia tapped on Penelope’s door, but received near silence; muffled barks rang out beyond the structure, although seemingly at a distance. After a few moments, she stepped forward and repeated the process, but again, no answer. Leo knocked a few times a little louder, but heard nothing — aside from the dogs. He reached for the handle and tried to turn it, just to see, only to find it locked.

“What should we do?” Leo asked Olivia. 

Olivia tapped her index finger against her chin. “I don’t know…” She furrowed her brow and stared at the door in front of her. “The poodles are inside, so she shouldn’t be far… Maybe we search around and see if we spot her anywhere? It’s still relatively early; she could have stepped out for a moment.” 

Leo and Ray both agreed, and the trio began their trek. They started outside by the pool and checked the lounge area, but Penelope wasn't located anywhere. They searched nearly every floor, even the roof, but found no signs of her. Everyone else was already in their room for the night, the estate nearly deserted as they scoured the abandoned hallways. After a while, everyone agreed to take their chances and return to Penelope’s door, as a good hour passed since they last attempted. 

A voice called out to them as they made their way up the grand staircase. They turned around to see Landon making his way to them with a grin on his face. “Good evening, Your Majesty, Duchess, a pleasure to see you both. Are the two of you just strolling, or have you been out on the town?” He chuckled with a playful side eye directed at Leo. 

“You know me,” Leo smirked, “but actually, we’ve been looking for your daughter.” 

Landon’s smile faded, instead replaced with a perplexed expression. “What do you need from Penelope?”

Leo and Olivia shared a hesitant look. “Actually, it’s confidential… Do you know where she is?” 

“She said she was retiring to her room earlier.” 

Olivia spoke next. “We checked there. We checked everywhere and we have no clue where she’s at.” 

“Perhaps she’s already in slumber; she is quite the heavy sleeper. How about I come with you? I was headed there anyway, as she was acting fairly strange earlier.” 

“Strange how?” Leo asked. 

“She kept hugging her mother and me, and told us how much she loved us. She just seemed — sad, as if she would burst into tears at any moment. And she asked me to ensure Merlin and Morgana get plenty of treats.” Landon furrowed his brows and shook his head. “I asked her what she meant, and she just gave me another hug. Emmaline thinks she’s getting ready for her time of the month, which is why I came prepared.” He held up a wad of chocolate bars and laughed.

“I take it Merlin and Morgana are the poodles?”

“Oh, yes. They’re practically her children. It’s been hard on her to leave them at home, but she’s done fairly well. The unexpected route changes actually ended up being very beneficial to her, since she gets to be with them for a few days. I’m certain she’s going to have a hard time leaving again, but I know she appreciates getting to see them. When it was time to leave for the engagement tour, she was practically inconsolable; she didn’t want to leave, to the point we weren’t sure she would attend at all.” 

“So, she didn’t want to return, then?” Olivia inquired, hanging on his every word. 

Landon sighed and looked away. “I don’t believe so, no. But we made sure she knew how much of a tremendous opportunity this was for her. She was incredibly reluctant, but finally agreed. In all honesty, I think most of her reservations were regarding the fact that she was going so far away. Penelope is a very timid girl; she doesn’t particularly enjoy the crowds or being away from home. I’m confident staying in Cordonia where things are a little more familiar will turn things around for her; perhaps she will enjoy herself a bit.” 

“Right…” Olivia trailed off, as her mind swirled around these new little bits of information. She questioned if Penelope's reluctance to come back had to do with Riley's disappearance. The haunting look in Penelope’s eyes as that cab drove away told Olivia she could be correct. 

“Lead the way, then,” Leo inserted with a forced smile, as uneasiness crept into the pit of his stomach. The hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood at attention, an involuntary shudder traveling through his body; he shook it off and politely smiled at Landon, who returned the gesture before starting the journey.

Everyone strolled through the halls together and within a short time, they were nearing Penelope’s room once again. Leo and Landon made small talk along the way, but Olivia didn’t listen most of the time. A bad feeling rapidly grew as they walked; why, she wasn’t sure, but it was becoming impossible to ignore. As they got closer, the air suddenly felt cold, raising goosebumps on her skin and sending a shiver down her spine. The hallway had an eerie aura to it that was beyond explanation; judging from the cautious expressions of everyone around, Olivia knew her feelings were not in her head. Landon appeared to be the only one who didn’t notice the atmosphere shift, although he hadn’t stopped talking long enough to take in the environment. 

Just as they were about to arrive, they heard muffled voices speaking not far away. Olivia furrowed her brows and started walking faster, practically running, with Ray and Leo not far behind. 

She came to an abrupt stop as she saw a litter of guards standing outside of Penelope’s room; dressed in full riot gear with what she assumed to be loaded assault rifles, all appearing to be awaiting instructions. Standing toward the back of the mass of people was Liam, who was speaking with Bastien in hushed tones. She could tell even from afar he was talking sternly; his angry demeanor instantly drew Olivia to him. Drake lingered close-by, wearing an expression of pure confusion.

Olivia approached them and inquired, “What’s going on?” 

“There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you,” Liam replied. “Did you question Penelope?”

“We were looking for her, that’s why we’re here, now.”

“But you didn’t find her?” Liam snapped, not even trying to hide the annoyance in his tone. 

“Not yet…” Leo answered as he took in Liam’s tense shoulders and ticking jaw. “Liam, what is going on?” 

Before Liam could respond, Landon interjected himself. “What is the meaning of this?!” 

Liam took a deep breath to calm himself and spoke in a calm, yet authoritative voice. “Duke Landon, I understand this may be hard for you to hear, but we have to take Penelope into custody.”

“Custody?! On what grounds?!” Landon hollered. 

Liam swallowed down the ball of anger and agitation lodged in his throat and spoke in a flat voice. “She is the prime suspect in the murder of Rhonda Floros.” Everyone’s eyes widened as their jaws hit the floor. “We will investigate further, but she has to be detained until we can–” 

“I – what?! You have no proof! This – this is an injustice!” Landon yelled as he frantically paced in front of Penelope’s door. 

Leo hesitantly spoke in a hushed manner. “Li, all we knew about was the photographer. How can you jump to that conclusion?” 

“The forensics came back and Penelope’s prints were all over the murder weapon. Her DNA was on everything else as well, but I’m focused on that knife.”

“Impossible! There has to be some kind of mistake!” Landon pleaded. 

“I’m sorry Landon, but the forensics does not lie,” Liam replied with a sad smile. “Trust me, I don’t want to believe she could have done something like this and I intend to figure it out, but we have to locate her first!"

Landon quickly stepped toward Penelope’s room and pulled a set of keys from his pocket. “She is in here — I know she is; she’s sleeping. I’ll wake her up and we can figure out this mess together, because I know for certain she is innocent.” He spoke as he unlocked the door and turned the handle. He entered and flipped the switch on the wall, the area becoming illuminated. 

Liam motioned for the guards to stay outside and followed closely behind. Olivia entered next, followed by Ray. However, a stern hand on Ray’s chest halted him in the doorway. 

“You are unauthorized personnel,” Bastien snapped.  

Liam quickly intervened. “No, he’s not.” 

“Your Majesty, with all due respect, I entered his credentials myself. I know for a fact what clearances he has and doesn’t.” 

Liam stepped up to Bastien with narrowed eyes. “Poof.” He snapped his fingers. “I just gave him access. Now, step aside.” He growled through clenched teeth, the vein in his neck profusely popping out.  

To be honest, Liam was stalling until he found Ray and Olivia; the three of them were going to question Penelope together. His earlier worries about keeping his cool were well out the window; now he was simply confused. Why did she hire the photographer? Did she really kill that maid? Did Penelope know they had spoken to her? Every piece of random evidence found had Penelope’s DNA – and only hers – on it in some fashion. Although the legitimacy of the scene was still in question, her fingerprints on the murder weapon were more than enough to detain her for questioning. 

Bastien never once took his eyes off Ray during the entire interaction. Ray observed Bastien's face crack slightly and saw him swallow and clench his jaw when Liam commanded him to stop. He finally moved his hand to allow Ray entrance, but held his intent gaze for just a moment too long. Olivia watched and noted how she wasn’t stopped, nor Drake or Leo — only Ray. She couldn’t help but wonder why Bastien didn’t want him specifically there. 

Liam glanced around as he entered and saw no signs of Penelope and nothing raising any kind of alarm. He’d never been inside this room before, but to the naked eye, not a thing was out of place. However, Liam couldn’t deny the sudden chill he felt as he stepped over the threshold. His skin instantly clammed up, and his heart rate increased substantially with every tense second that passed. 

Everyone else followed behind and did the same, but Landon circled the room while frantically calling Penelope’s name, only to get no response. He ducked into the bathroom to check there, but saw no traces of his daughter. Everything appeared just as it was earlier that morning when he personally prepared everything for Penelope’s arrival.

“This doesn’t make sense,” Landon huffed as he reemerged. “She said she was coming to bed. Where else would she go? Should we contact Lady Kiara? They had grown quite close.”

Liam sighed and ran a hand down his face. “Bastien, send someone to Lady Kiara’s room to check.” His patience with this situation was dissipating. An answer was right there dangling in front of his face; he could practically taste it. Even if he had to turn the entire continent upside down, Liam was going to find Penelope and make her answer for her part in this mess — whatever that could have been. 

“Yes, sir.”

Olivia glanced at the dresser and saw a jewelry box. Something on top of it quickly caught her attention; it was a piece of paper neatly folded with the words read me written on it in red ink. Her breaths immediately stopped as she stared at it for a long moment. Goosebumps raised on her skin as she realized the penmanship was strikingly familiar.  

She slowly reached out and brought it closer; Ray noticed and came to stand beside her to see what she had found. Liam and Landon continued to speak on the other side of the room, completely unaware of their discovery. Olivia carefully unfolded the sheet and quickly scanned over the contents. As she started reading, the color suddenly drained from her face, her hands trembling, and even tears were forming in the corners of her eyes. Her mind instantly started spiraling, trying to decipher what this meant.

Olivia and Ray stood gawking at the paper in a trance for an unidentified amount of time. The sound of Landon’s thunderous voice suddenly brought both out of their dazes. “This is absurd! She did nothing wrong!” 

“I understand your frustrations but as I said before, the forensics does not lie,” Liam answered in the calmest tone he could muster. “I have questions about all of this, Landon! But one way or another her DNA was littered–”

“Bullshit! Run the tests again! Something is going on here!” 

Liam winced at Landon’s volume, but shook it off and stood to his full height. “Duke Ebrim, you’d do well to remember who you’re speaking to and watch your tone. While I understand why you’re upset, I’m only here to figure this out. If you want to clear her name, help us find her so we can speak to her!” 

Landon frantically looked throughout the room, desperately trying to make sense of what was happening. At that moment, they heard a bark, followed by another softer cry; everyone suddenly stilled and an eerie silence took over, as they glanced at one another with furrowed brows. It sounded undeniably close, but there were obviously no dogs in the area. The silence in the air was deafening, but then it happened again and Landon finally pinpointed the location — the closet. It would make sense; Penelope heard the commotion and retreated in there with her poodles to hide because she was afraid. 

Landon made a bee-line for the door and wildly swung it open. He took a step back and two fluffy dogs slowly came out with their heads down, causing Landon to take a few steps back; they laid at Landon’s feet and whimpered. 

“What is it, Merlie?” Landon asked as he rubbed one of the dogs’ heads, their howls intensifying. 

The room’s air suddenly felt incredibly thick at the interaction. Liam felt physically sick to his stomach as recognition swept over him from head to toe — something was waiting for them in that closet. His hands shook at his sides, his breathing shaky and uneven as he stared into the dark, open doorway. 

Landon stepped over the poodles, who went and lay on the bed, but continued whining. As he entered, he ran a hand along the wall until he found the switch. The small area came to light, and his worst nightmare suddenly became reality right in front of his face. 

“NO!” Landon wailed at an ear-piercing volume as he dropped to his knees near the doorway. 

“What’s wrong?” Liam sought, but Landon broke into a fit of sobs and crumpled to the floor. 

Liam swallowed thickly and took a couple of cautious steps forward. Olivia suddenly appeared and tried to redirect him, but Liam was steadfast; whatever it was, he needed to see it for himself. As he got closer, he could see a chair lying on its side. His eyesight started on the floor and slowly traveled upward. He hadn’t made it very far before the color drained from his face with sweat immediately beading his brow at seeing a pair of dainty feet dangling in the air; one heel on, the other nowhere to be seen. 

Liam looked away but with a shuddered breath followed the body back up to the face, and sure enough, it was Penelope.

Landon suddenly shoved Liam out of the way. “MOVE!” He rushed over and held Penelope’s lifeless form, lifting her easily with one hand; the other quickly moving to remove the belt from around her severely bruised neck. Her limp body dropped into his arms and he cradled her to his chest as he rocked back and forth, making cries that would haunt Liam until the day he died. 

Liam regained his footing but remained cemented in place. This was it; this was their big break, but they only received more unanswered questions. Hopelessness flourished, as he saw no other solutions in sight. He felt like a mouse, mindlessly running through a maze just trying to reach the end for the reward. Penelope's testimony was that reward, but instead of finding the end of the maze, he encountered a sudden, abrupt wall.

Regardless of their actions, they faced a grim reality where a devastating setback countered every advance they made; one step forward, only to be met with two deadly steps back.

Liam suddenly couldn’t breathe; his lungs felt like fire with every rapid, hollow breath. The room started spinning, his vision hazing at a rapid rate. His heart pounded mercilessly, the sound overpowering Landon’s continuous wails filling the room. His hands flew to his chest and he stumbled backward, Leo and Drake quickly moving to catch him before he hit the floor. 

They lowered him to the ground and sat over him as Liam’s vision slowly faded out, their faces disintegrating into a pixelated, blurry image. He blinked his eyes a few times to regain himself, but found the rapidly spinning room made him nauseous. He felt Leo lightly tapping his cheeks, but when he tried to open his mouth, only an anguished cry escaped. 

Liam stared at the ceiling until the bright lights suddenly dimmed. His eyelids grew incredibly heavy until he succumbed to the weight of the world forcing them down. Darkness consumed him as he slipped into unconsciousness, a still silence overcoming his being. 

"Goddamn it," Leo grumbled to himself, as he watched Liam’s body relax. "Get a fucking ambulance! Now!" He hollered over his shoulder before his teary vision centered on his brother again. "Cummon, Li..."

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[mysticalfangirl]

Second chance love

Part 1

Series summary- Liam stopped entertaining the idea of love and marriage after the death of his first love but everything began changing after a certain New York trip.

Book- TRR AU

Pairing - Liam x F!MC (Riley) ; Liam x F!OC(Nicole)

A/n- Using Prompt 2 — “It wasn’t supposed to end like this/that.” from Week #76 Prompts from @choicesflashfics

Rated M for mature audience

This series will contain NSFW .Not suitable for people below 18 years of age.

Warning- Gunshot;Death of character mentioned

No. of words - 1400+

No matter how much Liam wanted, he couldn't stop the constant ringing in his ears, everything around him was falling apart, people were running around trying to save themselves, as he kicked the last assassin in front of him, the adrenaline left his body and he fell down with a thud looking at his trembling hands which was covered in blood. He then looked around and when he didn't see Nicole or any of his friends he sighed in relief.

He was glad that they all managed to escape, he knew he should go but it was as if all his strength was gone and he couldn't get up. He then heard someone calling his name, he lifted his head to see Bastien in front of him.

Bastien sat on his knees in front of him, he put his hand on Liam's shoulder, his gaze filled with sympathy "Liam we have to go to the hospital."

"Hospital?" Liam asked confused.

"Yes, if we don't go now, we would be very late." Saying this, Bastien practically dragged him out of the ballroom.

"Bastien, what happened, who is hurt?"

"You'll know when we reach there, please we don't have much time left."

On the way to the hospital Liam kept asking him who was hurt but he refused to answer.

They reached the hospital around 20 minutes later, Liam was escorted to the VIP section, where he found Drake, Maxwell, Olivia and his father who was supposed to be staying somewhere safe after the assassin attempt.

They looked at him, Constantine pulled him in a hug and patted his back "You have to be strong Liam, everything will be fine"

Liam was not sure how to react, he couldn't remember when was the last time his father hugged him, looking around him he saw Maxwell trying to supress his sobs, Drake was completely expressionless, last time he was like this was years ago when Jackson died, even Olivia who would have berated Maxwell for behaving like a child was consoling him, her own eyes were red and filled with tears.

"You guys are scaring me. Please tell me what is wrong, who is hurt."

"I-I am sorry Liam it was my fault." Maxwell said as he hiccuped a bit. "I should have been careful, I should have stopped her."

"Stopped who Max? What are you saying?" When no one answered him Liam lost his patience "WILL SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT IS HAPPENING. Drake? Olivia? Please, you guys are scaring me."

"It's Nicole. She's shot" Drake whispered

"W-what?" Liam was stunned unable to comprehend what he heard"It's not funny Drake. Please tell me you're joking.

"I'm not. She is in the OT, she had lost too much blood Li, doctors asked us to be prepared for the worst."

Before Liam could react, the doctor came out of the OT, Liam left Drake's side and ran to the doctor.

"She's okay right? Please tell me they are joking?"

"I'm sorry your highness, we tried our best but it was already too late." Doctor told him with a downcast expression.

"Can we see her?" Maxwell asked the doctor as he wiped his tears.

After doctor's permission all went to see Nicole but Liam stayed behind in the corridor, he slumped down on the chair in the corridor , he had lost all hope at that moment, thinking of a future without her in it made him so miserable that he couldn't breathe, his leg felt heavy, he didn't even have the courage to go and see her.

As he sat there, Liam felt someone tapping his shoulder. He turned to see his father standing there along with everyone. "You should go see her my boy"

"I can't father." Liam said looking at engagement ring in his hand . "I was going to propose today, I wanted to get married to her, have children, to grow old together."

When Liam looked back up his eyes were red filled with unshed tears. Constantine knew how his son felt, he was in the same place almost 20 years ago he knew what he sat there beside him giving his silent support

Later Liam took a deep breath and moved towards the OT. Nicole was laying on the small hospital bed, her black ballgown was exchanged with the loose fitted hospital gown, her hair which immaculately set by the stylist had fell open and was sticking to her forehead. Even then Liam thought she was most beautiful woman ever. He went to her held her palms in his own.

Nicole felt her life slipping away, tears streaked her cheeks, her breathing was turning shallow and even when Liam held her hands in his firm grip she couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel, all she saw was darkness, darkness that was slowly but surely consuming her.

"It wasn’t supposed to end like this. " Nicole sobbed lightly. "I... I don't want to die. Please...." Before she could finish her sentence, the electrocardiogram flatlined. Liam's head snapped to the machine, he frantically pressed the call button. He was pushed away from Nicole, after a while the doctor spoke up"Time of death 00:37"

For few days Liam worked on autopilot, he spent most of his days in either his room or roaming around the wishing well. A week later, during Nicole's funeral, everyone was dressed up in black, her mother was sobbing sitting there, while her father held his wife. They had lost their only child and the feeling was killing them from inside.

Liam arrived later than everyone else, somewhere in his heart he was wishing for everything to be a horrific dream, one that he'll suddenly wake up from and laugh his heart out for having such a ridiculous dream.

He knew nothing like that would happen, Nicole was dead and he had to accept it but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't accept the fact that the love of his life was gone.

At end of the funeral he went to Milton and Genesis Nicole's parents and gave them his condolences, not showing any emotion.

That night when he was wide awake in his room, he felt tears streaming down his cheeks, drenching his pillow, he let out a sob which he muffled through the pillows on his bed, he cried his heart out, slowly his cries turned into sniffle, crying with so much anguish left him exhausted, his eyelids got heavy and sleep consumed him for first time in days.

*******************

3 years later

Liam was standing near Nicole's grave with a bouquet of white lilies in his hand, he put the bouquet on her grave and sat down there. Her death took away a part of him. He was not happy, not after what happened three years ago but tried his best to live the life to the fullest, even with all the responsibilities, he might be dead inside but he wanted to live for her.

"Hey love l am sorry I wasn't here since past few days, being a king is not easy. You were my anchor and I feel that without you everything is falling apart. I don't want this life but Leo's abdication few years ago compelled me to take the role which was never meant for me. Anyways not to delve into boring stuff, I came bearing good news, Maxwell is getting married next month. Can you believe it, I couldn't." He chuckled lightly "Hana is a lovely woman and you would have loved her. Maxwell wants to have his bachelor party in New York and I'll be gone for 4-5 days. See you soon darling." Liam got up and pressed a light kiss to his fingertip before pressing it on her grave.

Late night after packing everything he needed for the trip to New York, Liam took out his sleeping pills, as soon as the medicine took effect dreamless sleep consumed him as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Thank you

*******************

Tags: @kingliam2019 @kristinamae0093 @kristinamae093 @busywoman @tessa-liam @twinkleallnight @malblk21 @ao719 @jerzwriter @choicesficwriterscreations @choicesflashfics @emersyn-in-cordonia @angelasscribbles @liamrysandme @busywoman @belencha77 @marietrinmimi @bebepac

#choices trr #king liam #liam rys x mc #liam x mc #liam x riley #choices liam x mc #liam x oc #trr au

[ao719]

…Sometimes Not (Part 2)

Left To Chance

This is a submission for @choicesflashfics, using prompt #1, “I don’t have a date, so would you … maybe want to be my plus one?”

Song inspo: Chasing All The Stars - Fleurie

A/N: This is an au mini series to my Always You series. This part is a flashback to the first half of the three years apart from Reyna’s POV. Not beta’d. Please excuse any errors.  

Book/Pairing: TRR; Liam x OC (Reyna)

Rating: T • Warnings: None but some mild language.

Word count: 2500

Catch up here

Staring out the window of her high-rise office, Reyna tapped her pen against the desk in rhythm with the ticking clock on the wall. The law firm had been unusually quiet the past few days with everyone but her, a couple of interns, and the office secretary gone for the week.

The firm’s lawyers and paralegals were attending an international conference in Paris. It was a work trip that Reyna’s boss, Luca, had invited her to join them on, but she politely declined. Her presence as the office’s financial manager was not required or needed, but that wasn’t the only reason she had turned down the free trip to the City of Light.

Their kiss.

Although Reyna enjoyed the brief moment between them, she declined Luca’s invitation to Paris because she didn’t want to send the wrong message. She still wasn’t in a place where she was ready to explore anything new with anyone because despite knowing she needed to let go, Liam was still very heavy on her mind and heart.

It had been over a month since Reyna last saw Liam the night of his coronation, the night she watched him choose the woman he’d soon be marrying. She hadn’t spoken to him since; she’d sent him a message on his birthday, a message he read but never responded to. She hadn’t tried reaching out again.

Liam was currently somewhere in Europe on his Engagement Tour and planning his upcoming nuptials.

Reyna was trying to go through the motions and deal with everything in her own way. She had been trying to move on even though most days it felt futile. She was working full-time. She was finally starting her master’s program next month after missing her first chance during her spiral. She was doing everything she could to keep herself occupied … to keep herself from falling apart like she wanted to most days.

No matter how hard she tried, though, Reyna couldn’t seem to fill that void left inside her. A piece of her was missing and it hurt like hell to try and force herself to come to terms with the reality of losing Liam, both as a friend and more.

For over a decade, Liam had been a monumental part of Reyna’s life; he was her best friend, her person, the one she told everything to, and eventually, the man she deemed to be the love of her life. Going from what they shared to absolutely nothing … it destroyed a part of her, a part of her that was just for him and no one else … a part of her that would never be the same again.

*******

•Two Months Later•

On an early Friday morning, before the sun had risen, Reyna lay awake in bed.

It was near afternoon in Cordonia … and Liam’s wedding day.

Reyna had managed to avoid any news of Liam since her return from his coronation three months ago; she refrained from doing any internet searches, and even though he spoke to Constantine a few times or more a month, her father respected her request for no updates. She didn’t want to hear about Liam and the life he was living without her. And while she still struggled every day to truly grasp the reality that he was no longer a part of her life, today was especially difficult.

It was the worst Reyna had felt in months, and that chasm in her heart left by their fallout and Liam’s absence in her life felt as though it was being ripped wide open, knowing what he would be doing that day.

As Reyna continued to toss and turn, her gaze kept shifting from the clock on her nightstand to her desk. Despite knowing it was a terrible idea, she couldn’t help but eye her laptop; she knew one little search would bring her to extended coverage of the royal wedding.

Eventually, Reyna flung the covers off herself and stood from the bed. She moved to her desk and lowered herself into the chair; she opened her laptop and pulled up the internet search bar, typing the words, ‘Cordonian royal wedding.’

Instant results popped up from multiple media sources. The first result, however, had Reyna’s stomach twisting in knots. Live coverage. She could see it happening in real time.  

Reyna closed her eyes, pressing the tips of her fingers to her forehead as she let out a breath. She knew she shouldn’t because of what it would do to her. She couldn’t seem to help herself, though.

It was like she had to see it to believe it.

When she opened her eyes, Reyna clicked the link. A video popped up, buffering for a moment before footage of inside the Bossina Cathedral filled her screen. Her eyes instantly welled with tears.

There, at the front of the aisle, was Liam. Dressed in his royal regalia, he stood across from Riley, who was clad in a flowing gown of white lace … and in the middle of her vows.

Reyna listened as her tears started to fall; as painful as it was, she couldn’t look away. When Riley finished, the bishop turned to Liam as the camera panned to him. Reyna swore her heart stopped as she stared at his face on the screen, and she held her breath when she recognized the look of hesitation in his eyes … along with a glimmer of affliction.

A few silent moments later, Liam started to speak.

While Riley’s vows were straight from the book, Liam’s were slightly altered; where she’d spoken the words, “to love and to cherish,” Liam changed his. “To be a companion in life and duty.”

A companion. A friend.

It didn’t matter to Reyna what words were altered, it fucking hurt. More so when she watched him slip that ring onto her finger.

Reyna pressed her palm to her aching chest with a quiet sob. Twice now she thought she’d felt the worst of it, of her heartbreak. The first time was when Liam told her he needed to have a Social Season … that they couldn’t be together. The second was when she watched him choose someone at his coronation. But this … hearing him recite vows to someone else, watching him slip a promise in the form of a ring on another’s finger … It was at that exact moment her heart ruptured in her chest.

Reyna could physically feel it, the splintering and cracking and shattering. The death of something vital inside her.

Despite what Liam told her at his coronation, that he saw Riley as nothing more than a friend, Reyna knew what those vows and that promise would mean to him.

Liam would try to love Riley in some form. He would keep those vows and that promise because that’s just who he was. He would try and build something out of scraps in an attempt to assuage the guilt Reyna knew he would feel over not giving himself entirely.

And there was a chance in Liam’s willingness to try that he could grow to see her beyond a friend … that he could grow to truly love her. And that meant Reyna had really lost him.

A man of his word, those vows solidified it.

****

That night, Reyna sat in her room with heavy eyes and an even heavier heart. She’d spent most of the day in a daze. Her parents were with her; they let her cry as much as she wanted and tried their best to comfort her.

Constantine and Regina understood when Gideon and Catherine declined their invitation to the royal wedding. It wasn’t because they held a grudge but because they didn’t want to leave Reyna alone; when she walked out of her bedroom that morning, one look at her was precisely why.

That was a day Reyna found herself wanting to talk to Liam more than most. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, so much she wanted to tell him and vent to him about. She couldn’t and wouldn’t, but she wished she could.

Reaching for her bottle of water on her nightstand, Reyna’s eyes fell on a brown leather cover of a journal. She’d gotten it a month ago while out shopping with her Aunt Elsie. She hadn’t written in it … yet.

An idea then struck. Perhaps Reyna could tell Liam everything she wanted to. She could pour her heart and soul out to him onto blank pages, and though he’d never know or respond, maybe this could help her heal, even if only a little.

Reyna grabbed the journal and a pen from the nightstand drawer; she opened it to the first page, staring down at the blank sheet of paper for a moment as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Dear Liam …”

*******

•Two Months Later•

Reyna stood in her office as she slipped on her coat. It was Friday and, ahead of her assignments, she was looking forward to a weekend of … nothing. Isolating herself had become her norm.

It had been five months since Reyna last spoke to Liam and while better, she was still working on trying to let go and come to terms with everything.

Writing in the journal seemed to help somewhat.

Reyna wrote to Liam almost every day. She wrote about her days. She wrote every time something reminded her of him. She wrote to reminisce and added photos to some pages. She wrote every happy and lonely thought. Some entries were long and deep and vulnerable, and she cried over the pages and words he’d never read; others were short, a mere sentence, a simple, “I really missed you today.”

It wasn’t what Reyna wanted, but it was all she could have.

As she grabbed her purse off the back of her chair, a knock on her office door pulled Reyna’s attention; she glanced up to see Luca. “Hey,” she smiled.

“Hi,” Luca grinned. “I know you’re getting ready to head out, but, uh …” He trailed off, letting out a breath. “You know the gala my father is hosting for his firm tomorrow night?”

“Yeah,” Reyna smiled. “My parents are going.”

Luca nodded. “I know this is last minute, but I wanted to ask … I don’t have a date, so would you … maybe want to be my plus one?”

Reyna stared at Luca for a moment. She’d turned him down for a date months ago because she wasn’t ready; he’d told her that if and when she was, he’d be there. They had shared that kiss a month or so later, but nothing since.

Although Reyna was still healing, would it be so bad to put herself back out there? To take that first step in really moving forward? He was only asking for one date.

“I know you said a while back that you weren’t in a headspace for dating, and if that’s still the case, I completely under—”

“I’d love to,” Reyna interrupted.

Luca beamed. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Reyna softly smiled. “Really.”

*******

•Four Months Later•

Luca slipped an arm around Reyna’s waist as they walked out of the restaurant after dinner one night. She glanced up at him, and he smiled as he leaned in, pulling her closer as he placed a lingering kiss on her lips.

After that first date to the gala, Reyna explained to Luca that while she enjoyed his company, she needed patience; she told him about Liam — who he had been to her, their history and relationship, her heartache, and what she went through when things ended.

Luca had been understanding, and was more than happy to give Reyna the time she needed, but four months in, he found himself falling hard for her and was ready to make things more … official.

As they walked along the pier, Luca slowed their pace to a stop; Reyna leaned against the railing, looking out at the harbor. “Can I ask you something?” Luca said, and she looked at him, nodding with a smile. “What is this?” he questioned. “With you and I, I mean …”

“I —” Reyna paused for a moment. “We … we’re dating.”

“Yes,” Luca nodded with a halfhearted smile. “What I mean is … is there a point when this will … I don’t know,” he shrugged, “take that next step into something more … serious?”

“Serious as in …?”

“As in … when we go out, I can introduce you as my girlfriend instead of just my date.”

Luca knew that what was holding Reyna back from him was the piece of her that was holding onto her past. Perhaps he was a fool for holding onto his own hope that she would eventually see what was standing right in front of her — someone willing to love her the way Liam chose not to. He was tired of the chokehold this Prince still had on her.

Luca wanted to be all in with Reyna, and he would be if she could just get out of her own damn way.

“Look,” Luca began. “I know that there’s some small part of you that’s holding onto something for him …” At his words, Reyna let out a breath, feeling that dull ache start to roil in her chest mixed with a pang of heavy guilt. “I understand what he meant to you. But regardless of choice or circumstance, you were hurt because of him. And he’s the reason that you keep putting your life on hold while he’s out there living his. Have you ever thought that maybe if you just let him go … you’d finally be able to breathe again?” She dropped his gaze, blinking back the sting in her eyes and the strike his words had hit her with. “I don’t want to upset you, Reyna. All I’m saying is that you deserve to be happy, too.”

Reyna snapped her eyes back to him. You deserve to be happy, too. It wasn’t him telling her that she deserved to be happy that had stolen the air from her lungs.

It was the ‘too.’

Liam was happy … without her. It was a truth she had yet to allow herself to accept the possibility of.

And here was Luca … forcing her to face it.

Reyna couldn’t say Luca was wrong; she was holding onto Liam. And she felt guilty because she knew Luca cared about her; he’d gone out of his way to show her since that first date. And she cared for him.

“Reyna—”

“You’re right,” Reyna interrupted as she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I …” She trailed off, letting out a breath.

Luca stepped forward; he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her gaze to his. He searched her eyes for a moment before capturing her lips in a deep kiss.

****

Later that night, Reyna sat on her bed, staring down at her journal; she’d still been writing in it almost every day.

The pen hovered over the page for a long while before Reyna finally put ink to paper.

“Dear Liam …

I have a boyfriend …”

*******

•Nine Months Later•

“This is amazing,” Reyna said as she took in the sunset at Castello di Amorosa.

Luca had planned a trip for them to Napa Valley, and one of their stops was the medieval-style Tuscan castle.

“I knew you’d love it here,” Luca said behind her.

“It’s gorgeous.”

As she stared at the castle, Reyna couldn’t help but be reminded of a certain someone. He always loved places like this, she thought to herself. And he loved good wine.

It had been a year and a half since Reyna had last seen or spoken to Liam. If someone told her just a couple of years ago where they would be now, she would have laughed in their face. Not them. Never. Yet, here they were, living two separate lives, no longer a part of each other’s. Devastated didn’t begin to describe how she still felt about it, even after all this time.

While Reyna missed everything she shared with Liam, more than anything, she missed her best friend. Not a day went by where he didn’t cross her mind at least a dozen times. She hadn’t reached out, however, and neither had he.

All she could do was hope that he was ok … and happy.

When Reyna turned back toward the vineyards, her gaze dropped to Luca; he was on one knee in front of her wearing a brilliant smile. She let out a breath, feeling her heart imperceptibly drop when he opened the box in his hands, revealing a glittering diamond ring.

“Reyna … will you marry me?”

The man kneeling before Reyna was holding his heart in his hands and asking her to take it, and the first thing that crossed her mind was not an answer … or perhaps it was.

Liam.

***************************************

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#the royal romance #trr #choices trr #choices the royal romance #liam rys #king liam rys #trr liam #king liam #liam x oc #trr liam x oc #former liam x oc #choices liam x oc #king liam x oc #liam x mc #choices liam x mc #trr liam x mc #king liam x mc #trr fanfic #trr fanfiction #trr fan fic #trr au fanfic #trr au #choices trr au #cfwc fics of the week

[tessa-liam]

Turning the Page

Against All Odds –5- 

Choices, The Royal Romance, AU 

Series Premise: As Riley Brooks journeys through life as a single parent in New York City, an epiphany strikes as she contemplates the future for herself and her two-year-old son. 

Turning the Page Masterlist 

Main Pairing: Liam Rys x F!MC Riley Brooks 

All characters belong to Pixelberry, except William Brooks (Rys) and Matteo Magro, who belong to this series. 

Category: On-going series, contains angst/fluff/depression. 

Rating: M🔞Warnings - Series will contain crude language, NSFW material – not Beta’d - please excuse all errors. 

 Against All Odds – 5 

Chapter Summary: Liam and Leo arrive in New York City. As Leo represents Cordonia and attends the U. N. conference, Liam, with the assistance of security intelligence, finds and reunites with Riley, uncovering her secret. 

Music Inspiration: To Love Somebody, Beyries; More Than Words, Extreme 

A/N1: In this alternate universe, after King Constantine orchestrates two individual scandals to humiliate and entrap Riley Brooks and Olivia Nevrakis in shame, Madeleine Amaranth secures her position as the Queen of Cordonia. Riley, as the King’s mistress and Olivia, in self-imposed exile. Tariq is never found. 

A/N2: My submission for @choicesflashfics, Week#58, prompt #3 - “I just wanted to make sure you were ok.”  

Brooklyn Heights, New York City 

As the season's first snowflakes fell softly on the ground, Riley sat curled up on her couch, a soft blanket tucked around her legs, her laptop balanced on her knees. William, who had spent the afternoon playing with his toy train and building blocks, was now napping peacefully beside her. 

Riley was lost in thought, the events of the past few days weighed heavily on her mind. She had read the news about Madeleine's pregnancy and had read the press statements on the internet. She was more than surprised by the announcement and curious about Liam's reaction to Madeleine’s revelations. Of all the questions she had, what bothered her most was the question of what would happen next. She couldn't imagine the stress Liam was under, but she also couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that the marriage was finally over. 

Riley was drawn from her thoughts by the sound of her cell phone ringing. She reached over and picked it up, glancing at the caller ID. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw that it was Maxwell. She took a deep breath and answered the call. "Maxwell, hello!" she said, trying to sound casual. 

"Riley! I am so glad I got a hold of you! Are you doing alright? “I just wanted to make sure you were ok.” Maxwell's voice was filled with concern. Riley could hear the background noise of the city through the phone, and she could picture him rushing down the busy streets of the Capital, his phone tucked between his ear and his shoulder. "Did you see the news? How are you holding up?" 

"I'm okay, Maxwell. A little shocked, but okay." Riley paused, her mind racing. She wasn't sure how much she should reveal, but she knew that she could trust Maxwell. "To be honest, I've been thinking a lot about Liam and wondering how he's doing. Do you know if he is alright?" 

Maxwell hesitated for a moment before responding. "I'm not sure, Riley. He was not taking questions after the press conference. When Drake and I tried to get his attention, he was called away by his advisors, but he did smile back at us. I think he'll be okay." He paused again, and Riley could tell that he was carefully choosing his words. "Look, Riley...I don't want to keep secrets from you, and there's something you should know." 

Riley's heart started to race. "What is it, Maxwell?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to be blunt. Liam is coming to New York, Riley. He's coming to find you." 

Riley was speechless. Her mind was reeling, and her heart was pounding. She had so many questions, but all she could manage to say was, "He's coming here?"  

"Yes, he's arriving tonight. Look, Riley, I know you're probably not ready to see him yet, and that is completely understandable. But I wanted you to hear it from me and not from someone else. And... I just want you to be prepared." 

Riley's head was spinning, and she could feel tears starting to well up in her eyes. "Maxwell...I don't know what to say … are you sure about this?"  

“Little blossom, yes,” Maxwell responded, somberly. 

"You don't have to say anything, Riley. Just promise me that you'll give him a chance. He needs you now, more than you know.” 

*** 

As the snow continued to fall, Riley sat quietly on the couch, staring out the window, lost in thought. Her heart was conflicted. On the one hand, she knew that Liam’s arrival would bring a torrent of emotions and feelings that she was not yet ready to face. But on the other hand, she could not deny that part of her was excited to see him again. 

… and William! Riley’s swallowed hard; her hands trembling, as she felt him stir beside her. 

The Four Seasons Hotel, Manhattan 

Liam stared out of the floor to ceiling window of the penthouse suite, the lights of the Manhattan skyline spread out before him. He was filled with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. He knew that finding Riley was the first step, but he had no idea how she would react to his arrival. He sighed and turned away from the window, walking over to the bar cart. 

“Well, Li, how do I look?” Leo asked, walking out of his room, slipping gold cufflinks into his sleeves. 

Liam chuckled and lifted a bottle of Macallen and poured the amber liquid into two crystal tumblers. “Very dapper, brother. I’m sure the ladies will love it.” 

“Oh, please. Like I need help getting their attention.” Leo flashed a wicked grin, accepting a tumbler of scotch. 

“Right. Just make sure you stay focused, Leo. I am counting on you to stand for and represent the crown.” 

Leo raised an eyebrow. “I know, I know. You have nothing to worry about. I will handle the press and keep them off your back.” 

Liam nodded, grateful for his brother’s support. “I appreciate it, Leo. What would I do without you.” 

“You would be a royal mess, that’s for sure,” Leo quipped. 

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Bastien opened the door, allowing for a stream of Liam’s royal guards into the suite. 

“Your Majesty, we have a report that the American media has caught wind of your arrival and are converging on the hotel.” 

“It’s showtime,” Leo said with a smirk, downing the last of his drink. 

Clapping Liam’s shoulder, Leo left with two of the guards to attend the U.N. conference opening ceremonies. Liam had no doubt that his brother would be the center of attention and charm of the press and dignitaries. As Liam finished his scotch, he turned his attention to Bastien. 

“Bastien, is the car ready?” 

“Yes, Your Majesty, it is waiting downstairs. There is press coverage outside the front entrance; I suggest we exit via the service entrance, Sir.” 

“Very well, lead the way.” 

The limo ride to Brooklyn was a blur, as Liam’s thoughts were consumed with seeing Riley again. He knew he was taking a significant risk by arriving unannounced, but he could not let another moment go by without reaching out to her. 

When the limo finally pulled up in front of her brownstone, he took a shuddered breath as he watched Bastien get out and perform a quick perimeter sweep. Once completed, Bastien returned to open the limo door, and Liam stepped out. As he walked toward the steps and up to her door, the air felt electric, and he could feel his heart racing. 

What would she say when she saw him? 

Would she even speak to him? 

Liam had so many questions, but the only way to find the answers was to take a leap of faith and knock on her door. He hesitated for a moment, then lifted his hand and rapped on the wooden door. After a few moments, the door opened, and Liam’s heart stopped. There she was, the love of his life, the one who had captured his heart and never let go. 

“Riley...”- he managed; his voice choked with emotion. 

“Liam,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. 

Their eyes locked, and Liam felt as if the rest of the world had melted away. They stood there, staring at each other, both lost for words. Liam’s mind raced, and his heart pounded. He had imagined this moment so many times, but now that he was standing here in front of her, he was paralyzed with fear and uncertainty. 

...and, wow, she looked incredible! 

Her chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her chocolate brown eyes sparkled with emotion. She was dressed simply; a soft, silver grey sweater and jeans. But there was no mistaking the elegance and grace that radiated from her. Liam’s breath caught in his throat, and his heart ached with longing. 

She was his sun and stars, his everything. 

He knew he was in for a battle, but for Riley, it would be worth it. 

Riley lost her struggle, her eyes welling with tears. 

“Liam...” she managed, before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his neck. 

He held her close, inhaling her scent, savoring the feel of her body against his. It felt like a dream, a moment too good to be true. 

“I missed you,” he whispered. 

“I missed you, too.” Her voice was a soft murmur, muffled by his shoulder. 

Liam felt her trembling, and he pulled away to look into her eyes. “Are you alright?” he asked, concerned. 

“I’m fine. I’m just...” she trailed off, unsure how to continue. 

He smiled tenderly and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “It’s all right. I am not going anywhere.” 

His heart was pounding as he looked down into her beautiful eyes, and he knew in that moment that he would do anything for her. 

Riley grasped his hand. "Please, please, come in." She turned and pulled him toward the living area and motioned for him to sit on the sofa. 

"Would you like something to drink? Wine, scotch, whiskey?" Riley asked. 

"Scotch sounds great." 

As she busied herself with pouring his drink, Liam took the opportunity to look around her home. It was filled with warmth and love, and it was clear that a family lived there. Toys were neatly gathered beside the fireplace, alongside a bookshelf of children's books. 

Riley returned with his scotch and settled onto the couch next to him with bottled water for herself. 

“You have a beautiful home, Riley,” Liam commented. 

She smiled shyly. “Thank you. It's not quite a palace, but we’re happy here.” 

Liam noticed all the pictures, framed and positioned throughout the room. Taking note of the two men and small boy standing beside Riley next to a Christmas tree. 

“So, you’ve got a family now. Are you married?” 

Riley’s expression grew serious. “No. No, I’m not.” 

Liam breathed a sigh of relief. Riley noticed the framed picture Liam referenced. 

“Remember, Daniel?” Riley paused, breathing deeply. 

“Yes, he worked at the bar...”, Liam’s words trailed off. 

“That’s right. Daniel, along with his husband, offered me a place to live, here, when I returned from Cordonia. They didn’t want me to be alone in the city.”  

Liam noticed that her hands were trembling as she set her water bottle down on the coffee table. 

“Liam...” Riley began, her voice trailing off. 

“What is it, Riley? Please tell me.” Liam encouraged, as her eyes filled with tears. 

“This is really hard for me.” Riley choked out the words. 

“Riley?” Liam questioned softly, placing his hand on hers. The worry now etched on his face. 

“There is something I need to tell you, Liam,” her voice wavering. Riley closed her eyes, unable to continue looking at him. 

“We have a son. His name is William. He is two years old.” Riley blurted out quickly. 

Liam was stunned. Rendered speechless. His head was spinning as he looked into her eyes. He swallowed thickly, not sure what to say. 

“Liam, say something,” Riley pleaded. 

“We have a son,” Liam said, his voice barely a whisper. 

“Yes,” Riley said softly. “I am so, so sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to, but it was never the right time.” 

Liam took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. 

“I know it’s a lot to take in, and I don’t expect you to be okay with it. But I wanted you to know the truth. It was wrong for me to keep it from you.” 

“...but I was scared. So scared of what would happen if I stayed in Cordonia. Of what Madeleine would do. Of what that would do to your reputation.” 

Liam sat back on the sofa, his gaze not leaving Riley's face.

"I understand why you would feel like you had to do that, Riley. I'm not mad at you," Liam said, his heart heavy. 

"How are you feeling?" she asked, concerned. 

"Honestly? Confused, hurt, a little angry," Liam admitted. 

"I'm so sorry, Liam," Riley said, her voice breaking. 

"Riley, I just need some time to process this." 

"I understand," Riley said softly. 

"Do you want to meet him? William, I mean," she asked. 

"Yes," Liam said, his voice choked with emotion. “Very much." 

Riley stood up and walked down the hall. Liam followed her and stopped when they reached a door covered in brightly colored stickers.  

Sleeping on his side, wrapped in a blue blanket, William slept hugging his Scooby-doo plushie. 

Liam's heart swelled with emotion. He knelt beside his bed; eye-level with the little boy.  

“This is your son, Liam. William.” 

“My son.” He slowly repeated.  

Riley's lip trembled, watching his emotions starting to overtake him. “I'm going to leave you alone with him... if that is OK. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."

"Thank you, Riley."

She squeezed his hand and then quietly left the room.

As Liam looked at the child sleeping before him, a whirlwind of emotions washed over him. Pride, love, regret, sadness, all vied for a place in his heart. But most of all, he felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness and responsibility. This boy, his son, was a gift. Liam would do everything in his power to make sure he was safe and loved. 

Liam leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the boy's forehead.

"I love you, William," he whispered. "I will always be there for you."

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Liam made a silent vow:

No matter what, he would do right by his son.

Thanks for reading 🫶

📌All fics & edits: @ao719 @txemrn @queenmiarys @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @alj4890 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @harleybeaumont @busywoman @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @imjusthereforliam @lovingchoices14 @kyra75 @tinkie1973 @emkay512 @malblk21 @kristinamae093 @charlotteg234

📌TRR/TRF Liam & Riley @irisk12 @thesvnsins @walkerdrakewalker @jared2612

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[sfb123]

Christmas in Cordonia - Part 2

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Liam x Riley

Catch up here.

All characters belong to Pixelberry.

Summary: Liam and Riley celebrate Eleanor's first Christmas.

Rating: G

Word Count: 1,192

I am participating in @choicesflashfics holiday prompts. The prompt What's wrong? Do you not like your gift? will appear in bold below.

A/N: Thank you @txemrn, as always, for pre-reading!

“His majesty King Liam, her majesty Queen Riley, and her highness Princess Eleanor,” the herald announced as the ballroom doors opened. 

Liam and Riley entered the room arm-in-arm with Riley carrying Eleanor on her opposite hip. The young princess took in the crowd that was clapping for her, and she began giggling and clapping back much to the delight of the attendees. 

The royal family walked across the dancefloor to the stage. Liam stepped up first, extending his hand to guide Riley up the steps. They stood for a few moments posing for photos before Liam stepped up to the microphone. 

“Good evening, everyone,” he began, “I would like to thank you for celebrating with us tonight.” Liam paused, turning to Riley and smiling when he saw Eleanor nestled into the crook of her neck. “This is certainly a milestone holiday for Cordonia, but most importantly, for my queen and myself as we celebrate Princess Eleanor’s first Christmas. 

“It has been a difficult year, faced with many challenges. But we have come together as a country, and now we are stronger than ever.” The crowd applauded, and Liam stepped away from the microphone, signaling for Riley to step up. 

“Tonight is not about treaties, or policies, or politics,” the queen began. “There will be plenty of time for all of that in the new year. Tonight we invite you to eat, drink, dance, and be merry. With that being said,” She continued. “I would like to invite my husband to join me in opening the dance floor for the evening.” 

Riley stepped to the side of the stage where Regina was standing and handed Eleanor off to her. She then turned to her husband, taking his hand. The two stepped off the stage and into the center of the dancefloor. Once they had taken their positions, the band started playing “White Christmas”, and they began moving across the floor as the members of court looked on. 

“You were perfect up there,” Liam beamed. 

“I learn from the best,” she smirked at him, and he chuckled, pulling her closer. 

As the evening progressed, everyone seemed to be having a great time. The atmosphere was much more laid back than a typical royal function, which is exactly what Liam and Riley had hoped for. When Riley first came to Cordonia, events like this were very rigid and formal. They still were, for the most part, but for Christmas, she wanted everyone to just relax and enjoy each other's company. 

Riley used to spend Christmas Eve at her aunt’s house. It would be packed full of friends and family, and it was her favorite night of the year. They would all sit around laughing, eating, and telling stories. She knew that it wasn’t going to be exactly the same here, but she wanted to bring a little of that at-home Christmas spirit to the Cordonian court. 

After making their rounds and sharing a few more dances, Liam and Riley invited their guests to sit down for dinner. As the first course was served, the ballroom doors flew open, grabbing everyone’s attention. 

“Merry Christmas, Cordonia!” The former crown prince announced as he entered the room. He was clad in his full royal regalia, and donned a headband that dangled a sprig of mistletoe over his head.

“Leo?” Liam said in disbelief, as he stood from his seat. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s wrong? Do you not like your gift?” Leo jested as he approached his brother, extending his arms out for a hug. 

Liam stepped forward, embracing his brother. “No, it’s perfect. I just didn’t expect to see you. I thought you were traveling.” 

“I was,” he clapped Liam on his back before pulling away. “But I decided to surprise you. Besides, I couldn’t miss my niece’s first Christmas.” 

Leo leaned down to Eleanor’s high chair, lifting her out and kissing her cheek. “First rule of Christmas, El, this is mistletoe.” He pointed to the small plant suspended over his head. “If you’re under it, you’re getting kissed.” He peppered kisses all over her face as she giggled in delight. 

Once Leo had said the rest of his greetings, he settled into the newly set place beside his brother, and everyone tucked into their meals. 

As the last of the plates were cleared, the guests began pairing up and making their way to the dance floor. 

“Whelp,” Leo began as he stood from his seat. “I think it’s time to work off that meal by dancing with my favorite sister.” He bowed to Riley, who was still seated beside Liam. 

Riley rolled her eyes as she took his hand. “Leo, I’m your only sister.” 

“Semantics.” He shrugged before leading her out to the dance floor. 

Riley and Leo glided effortlessly across the floor. “Look at that, you’ve still got it.” 

“Pfft… it’s like riding a bike,” Leo said as he led her into a spin. “So, how are you holding up?” 

“I’m fine. This royal function stuff is all old hat at this point.” 

“Ri, that’s not what I meant,” Leo responded, dipping Riley with a flourish. “Liam mentioned you’ve been missing your family. I know you’re close with them.”

“Yeah,” Riley sighed. “I mean, I have to be okay, right? Besides, I’ve got my Cordonian family. It’s my daughter’s first Christmas. I’m not going to ruin that by being all Grinchey.” 

Leo laughed, and twirled his sister-in-law once more. “That’s too bad; you look good in green.” 

The pair turned their attention when they heard a throat clearing behind them. 

“May I cut in?” Liam asked, smiling at his wife. 

“Aww… little brother, I thought you’d never ask!” He stepped away from Riley and took Liam’s hand. “I’ll lead.” 

Riley burst out laughing as Liam slapped his brother’s hands away. “Would you get off of me! I want to dance with my wife.” 

Leo sighed playfully. “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.” He said as he wiped away a fake tear. “Excuse me while I go drink my pain.” 

Liam chuckled as he pulled Riley close. “I’m glad Leo was able to make it for Christmas.” 

“Me too.” She smiled up at her husband. 

He could see the sadness in her eyes. “Riley…”

She blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over, and shook her head quickly. “It’s fine, I’m good.” She looked around the room before looking back to Liam. “Hey, did you lose our kid?” 

Liam leaned down, kissing her on the nose. “Nope.” His lips moved to hers, kissing her again. “Savannah was bringing Bartie up to the sitter, so I asked her to bring Eleanor as well.” 

He smirked when Riley’s brow lifted in curiosity. “I thought we might be able to slip out for a bit,” he said, as his hand traced her curves, landing on the small of her back. “Perhaps take an evening stroll through the maze?” 

“Would it be a true royal function if we didn’t?” She smiled.

Liam leaned down, kissing her softly on her lips once more. “True.” He leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. “Follow my lead.”

“Yes, my king.”

*****

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[txemrn]

Pour Two Glasses

Chapter 2: "... the fear that I can't control this."

Need to catch up? Click Here!

Book: The Royal Romance (post series)

Word Count: 5385 (+/-)

Series Synopsis: In the midst of a violent political war, Queen Riley Rys’s life is dismantled overnight, forcing her to flee Cordonia to live in hiding as a commoner with a loyal, best friend

Series Song Inspo: “Pour Two Glasses” by the Movielife

Chapter Song Inspo: "A Place to Start" by Mike Shinoda

Series Warnings: angst; profanity; major character death; grief and mental health discussion; discussion of violence & war; alcohol use; NSFW material

AN: It's back! It's back! And this girl could not be any more excited! I love this story, and I hope you will join me in this adventure as Riley learns to live and love again after tragedy. HUGE Thanks to everyone that helped over the past year to help bring this story to life! To my beautiful writing sister-in-crime @kat-tia801: thank you for all of your encouragement in keeping me focused and for pre-reading! These characters and some plot points belong to our friend at Pixelberry.

AN2: Block quotes are not working for me. When there is a change of scenery, it will be indicated by a separation with (----------); if the scenery deals with a change in time, it will be labeled as such at the top of the scene (ex "present", "past", etc). If it is a flashback, that entire section will be italicized. I hope this helps.

~🖤~

Present

It has been almost two days since King Liam's aircraft was savagely shot down off the coast of Tunisia, approximately two-hundred twenty kilometers southwest of Malta.  Rescue efforts were made by both Tunisian and Italian officials, Cordonia joining them the next morning, but gravely, only remnants remained of the plane. The hope for peace appointed by the UNM now lays desolate, set adrift in the darkness of the sea.

Two days.

A mere forty-eight hours is literally all that stands between Drake Walker and seeing his childhood friend alive. 

Two fucking days. The heat from Liam’s body hasn't even had the chance to leave the silk lining of his overcoat; the echo of his laughter hasn't even had the chance to dissipate into the empty corridors of the palace. Their lifelong brotherhood hadn’t even had the chance to grow into their childhood dreams.

It never will.

Damnit, Drake grumbles to himself, kicking the wall in frustration with his steel-toe boot. I could’ve been there. I should’ve been there! I could’ve…Maybe I could’ve stopped it.

Or so Drake believes. 

After spending time serving as a make-shift protector and defender during Liam’s social season, Drake discovered his calling in law enforcement. He was accepted into The Academy, Cordonia’s prestigious training center, and quickly stood out as a candidate for the most elite honor: a capital guard.  Clearly bred for the role, he was the spitting image of his father, finding favor with his commanders and fellow officers.

As the conflict in Mali began to brew, Liam appointed his best friend to be his personal guard, the royal guard. He served on the front lines, protecting his king from imminent danger as they traveled stealthily across enemy lines.

But then tragedy struck back home in Texas for Drake when his mother suffered a massive heart attack. With a poor prognosis, Liam ordered for Drake to become Riley’s personal guard; it was safer, and he could get away quickly if Bianca took a turn for the worse.

But without his most skilled, most tactically prepared guard, was Liam safe? Sure, Bastien had been with the royal family for years; but, was he the best fit for this job, being by the king’s side in the midst of a war with an unreliably savage enemy?

He should’ve challenged Liam on his decision.

He should’ve fought Liam on his decision.

He should’ve been with Liam…

Blowing his limp, shaggy fringe out of his face, Drake glances down at his watch, wrinkling his nose. Damnit, didn’t they say three? He hates traveling down into the bellows of the palace, an intricate labyrinth of off-the-grid holding rooms. No one comes down here–not even natural sunlight dares to make an appearance in the eerie stone-wall enclosure.  The silence reverberates down the long hallways, leaving the painful sting of stillness, serving as a reminder that the only thing that lives down here is death. 

Slipping a cigarette from behind his ear into his mouth, Drake pulls a lighter from his well-worn back pocket, anxiously flicking for the fuse to ignite.

But he abruptly stops fidgeting, unable to light his smoke. His eyes fixate on the closed, metal door before him, something pulling him from his somber reality. The sudden hint of carefree giggles dance in the air, playfully galloping down the hallway. Suspended particles of dust collect under the fluorescent lighting, capturing his attention, shape-shifting into effervescent familiar figures of yester years.

Drake leans his shoulder against the cement block wall, crossing his arms against his chest. Overwhelmed by the memory playing before his eyes, the corner of his mouth curls, forgetting about the prickle of tears gathering quickly.

It's him–well, a much younger version of himself: a scrawny string bean-of-a-kid that thought growing his hair out would cover up his monkey-ears. But as Drake soaks in this flash from the past, his breath suddenly hitches as another child steps out from behind his kid-self: an eight-year-old Liam.

That fucking haircut, Drake titters to himself. Liam always looked like he was ready to litigate in a court of law. But, damnit, he was a good-looking kid. Smart kid with a tender heart. A part of Drake always felt like Liam was too good for him, but the young prince never treated the commoner otherwise. After their initial meeting, the two were inseparable, going on countless adventures around the palace, even daring to explore the hidden maze that laid underneath it all.

---------

Past

The young blond holds out his pretend sword, pointing down the main corridor. "Cmon, Drake! The new world is this way!"

Racing down the hallway like mighty Spanish conquistadors, a large steel door looms forward. Drake slows down his pace, walking towards a placard for the door. “Mm--Mort-- um, Mor-tary?" He tries to sound-out the word, his index finger tracing over the embossed letters. "Mort--mor-two-tary--?”

“Mortuary,” innocently corrected Liam. 

Drake tossed his head to the side, allowing his shaggy hair to swoop to the side of his cherub-cheeks. He reached for the doorknob.  “What’s a--a–mortuary--?”

Pretending to dance in a sword fight, the kid-prince nonchalantly answered. “It’s a place where they store a bunch of dead bodies--”

Drake freezes in shock, staring at his unconcerned friend.. “Nuh-uh!” he counters. “Dead bodies go into the ground. I’ve seen it--”

“But they come here first,” Liam puts down his imaginary sword, shifting his attention to the commoner. “Leo said that the drain your blood and guts and-and-and stuff--”

“Take that back, Li!” shrieks a nervous Drake, “that’s not true--!” 

But suddenly the young commoner was all alone. He quickly swivels around in a circle, first to the left. "Liam?" And then to the right. He tearfully calls to the silence. "Liam?"

“Where are you?”

-----------

Present

Liam…

Drake finds himself mouthing his best friend’s name as the memory vanishes into his heart, heated tears pouring down his rugged face.

It's been two days. 

Is he really gone?

A world without his royal companion sounds ridiculous, like a sick prank that someone is trying to pull. For the better portion of twenty-two years, they have been closer than brothers, facing adventures together with a lifetime ahead of them.

But a lifetime will never be long enough; Liam’s lifetime wasn’t long enough. 

The memories, the countless inside jokes, the late night talks and words of wisdom: how does it just stop? Love. Sex. Heartbreak: they became men together–hell, Liam became a fucking king, the fucking leader of an entire country, a world-renown ruler and peacekeeper for the UNM. 

And yet, he was still Liam. Down-to-earth. Humble. Wise.. The thought of never camping with him again… the thought of never sharing a scotch with him again… the thought of never catching Cordonia U game with him again…

Just the thought of never hearing his voice again…

Suddenly, the large steel door opens with a disgruntled rumble as indiscernible pleasantries are being made on the other side. A swirl of chilled air dances lightly with the stagnant humidity of the underground space. The abrupt smell of pungent chemicals and preservation fluid greet Drake's nostrils with an unpleasant sting. But, his cognac eyes attend fervently to the petite frame stumbling out of the room, clueless of direction, barren of the queen she once was.

Her once silky waves pull tight in a dull knot on the top of her head; the radiant rosy glow of her velveteen skin hides behind stark shadows, stained by tears. She begins her third day of wearing the same shamble of lackluster clothes: a pair of black leggings and an oversized, overly-blemished polo team sweatshirt. 

Trying to appear strong for her sake, Drake wipes away the rivers from his face before clearing his throat.  “Riley,” Drake whispers, taking a cautious step towards her. As if experiencing sound for the first time, a flash of comfort crosses her face as she looks in his direction. 

But seeing her husband’s best friend is all it took.  Her glistening, crystal blue eyes fill with a bottomless sea of tears, instantly spilling onto the tapestry of her swollen cheeks.  She tries to fix the corners of her mouth, but they refuse to hide the misery of her heart. Like a little girl lost in the dark, she clamps the heels of her hands over her eyes as her body trembles in fear.

Before a whimper can leave her lips, Drake catches her.  Her knees begin to buckle, her tiny frame collapsing against his sturdier one. 

He cautiously wraps his arms around Riley’s tiny physique, but the warmth radiating off of her body ignites the prickly hairs on the back of his neck. He quickly shifts his eyes, but the feel of her touch being so vulnerable, so dependent on him naturally causes Drake to tighten his embrace around her. Feeling the wails empty from her chest, he tenderly rests his chin amongst her careless tangles.

He breathes her in, taking in the moment as his eyes flutter shut.

And his heart opens to a promise he made.

----------

The UNESCO Awards 

Sunday Night, the Night Before Liam’s Assassination

As the jubilant night winds down, Drake finds himself alone amongst a sea of affluent faces. He’s grateful for the invitation for such a prestigious event. Being granted the night off from his royal guard duties, he was able to watch the award ceremony dedicated to his best friend; but now that Drake’s other noble friends are mingling with other privileged dignitaries, the commoner decided to take advantage of the inhouse open bar. 

Leaning against the polished wood, he finishes another whiskey on the rocks.  He knocks on the counter before twirling the glass back to the unamused bartender. He clears his throat, exposing the deep bass growl to his voice. “One more please, Enzo--”

“There he is!”

A startling slap to Drake’s shoulder knocks the wind out of him. He instinctively spins on his heel, fist retracted to throw a whale of a punch--that is, until he comes face-to-face with the man of the hour.

“Shit, Li!” Drake exhales into a light-hearted chuckle. He relaxes his clenched fist, bringing his hand to his chest in relief. “You scared me--”

“Ahh, sorry, old friend!” Liam titters, extending his hand to his guard. After a brief cordial handshake, the King of Cordonia pulled Drake into a mutually tight embrace. “The enchantment of the evening has habituated an exuberance in me--”

“‘Enchantment’? 'Habituated'?” Drake snickers, “the fuck, Li?” Drake raises an eyebrow, taking notice of the aeration of the sweet malt on the tall blond’s lips. “I think we better, um, habituate that exuberance into a seat.” He guides the slightly inebriated royal to a stool at the bar.

“Partake in another round with my top royal guard? What a splendid invitation--”

“Yeah, yeah, park it, Your Majesty,” Drake sternly directs, shoving the king into a chair. “Enzo, can we have--”

Liam interrupts, raising his hand, “Yes, you there! Enzo! My good man! Another single malt--”

Drake shakes his head at the bartender, mouthing the word ‘coffee’ while he acts like he is pouring from a carafe. He slides into the spot next to Liam, taking a pull from his own amber drink. But, the two tumble into silence, resting their elbows on the bar.

A mug with a piping hot dark roast is placed in front of the king; he offers a curtly smile in appreciation, but his face becomes pensive. His glassy eyes stare mindlessly at his restless hands.

“So,” Drake interjects the stagnant conversation, awkwardly combing his lengthy chestnut locks out of his eyes, “that was quite the acceptance speech earlier.”

“Yeah, well--” Liam’s words shrink into a small chuckle. He fidgets with his gold wedding band as he thinks about his public address dedicated to his wife. “She’s just--” He looks over his shoulder, his gaze scanning the crowd for his Riley. Her contagious laughter soars above the crowd as she carelessly dances with Bartie underneath the colorful strobes on the dance floor. The sight of his bride naturally seizes the breath in his chest; the joy of his mouth coaxes his dimples to appear. “She’s pretty amazing, isn’t she?”

Drake slowly nods, a corner of his mouth fighting not to curl. “Yeah.” Mindlessly sipping on his whiskey, Drake sighs quietly to himself, but internally, he’s screaming to every fiber of his being to stay focused on that damn drink.

But he flirts with his own temptation. 

Subtly, he glances at her, the divinity that is his best friend’s wife.

Damnit, Walker…

The commoner shoots his attention back to his tumbler, pretending not to notice Riley; but, the vibrancy of her dark espresso curls command his attention, forcing him into a double-take. The softness of her skin that rivals the radiant pink sands of Crete beckon for his touch. The wicked slopes of her blossomed curves taunt him; he craves to bathe in the depths of her ocean eyes. 

If only she had noticed him first…

“She really is,” Drake mumbles, over a crooked smile. He shakes his head as he turns back to his drink, shooting the remains quickly. 

Liam curiously looks around the bar as if looking for someone before zeroing on his best friend. “Where’s the curvy brunette?”

"Who?" Drake feigns ignorance before breaking into a guilty smile. He bashfully chuckles, looking at his watch. “I’m guessing at home. At least by now.”

“Whoa, Drake--” Liam’s face contorts with disappointment, “this is an exclusive red carpet gala, laden with reputable influencers and celebrities… and your date still left you?” After a moment of stone-cold silence, Liam can’t stifle his laughter any longer, blowing a raspberry with his pursed lips, cracking into a hefty chuckle. Liam gently blows on his hot beverage, taking a sip to regain composure. “So, what'd you do this time?”

“Well," Drake skittishly snickers, "I wasn’t exactly honest with her.” He folds his hands, bowing his head to stare at his twisting thumbs. “I didn’t tell her I was leaving.”

“You didn’t--” a bewildered look crosses Liam’s face before covering his mouth with his fingers. He leans in closer, his voice growing quiet, “you didn’t tell her about Texas?” Liam clicks his tongue against his cheek, shaking his head. “Drake, you’re leaving the damn country Wednesday–”

“I know, I just…” Drake’s words fail him as he anxiously combs his fingers through his thick hair, a guilty grin growing on his mouth.

“I’m just curious as to when you were going to tell her,” Liam stifles his own teasing expression, taking another sip of his coffee.

Drake tosses a single hand carelessly into the air as Enzo shimmies another two fingers of whiskey in his direction. “It’s not like she and I were exclusive…"

Liam scoffs into a snicker. “You were just exclusive to your bed,” Liam jests, quickly taking an obnoxious slurp from his coffee. 

A sudden ruddy flush crawls from under Drake’s beard as he hides himself into his beverage. Liam sets his mug on the bar, and turns towards his friend. He paints a knowing smile across his face, resting his elbow on the polished-wood, holding his cheek in his hand. After a few seconds of silence, the lifetime friends stumble into hearty belly laughs, Drake slapping Liam on the back while Liam pounds the bar with his fist.

“Goodness, old friend,” Liam catches his breath, “I’m going to miss you--” Liam suddenly becomes more serious, more sentimental.

“It won’t be forever--you know that. A few months? A year?” He shrugs his shoulders. “I just need to get Moma’s affairs in order, figure out what to do with all of that land, and then I’m coming back home.” Drake playfully pops the back of his hand into Liam’s shoulder. “Besides, you won't have time to miss me; you’re never here! You’re out there, saving the world--”

Liam bashfully smiles, bowing his head to hide it. “Yeah, but at least I felt at ease, knowing that Riley was in the care of my best man--” The king places his hand on the shoulder of an unsuspecting Drake. “--which is why I need to talk to you.”

Drake’s dark eyes shift curiously to Liam at the mention of Riley’s name. He licks a wayward bead of liquor from his lips; setting his glass tumbler down on the bar, he leans in closely to hear.

“Listen,” Liam starts, ”I am proud that we have an elite crew of trained guards. Those men and women protect Riley, me, our home, the Council, our international advisors and guests. Any one of them would die for me out of duty,” Liam stops, his baby blues piercing into Drake’s eyes. “But, not you.”

Drake’s eyes widen with offended confusion. “Okay--” he sarcastically snickers, “--um--”

“Drake, with you, it's not about duty. You would die for me out of heart. You would die for my queen because you love her. You love me.”  Liam pulls another sip from his coffee. “You can’t teach that kind of loyalty.” He smacks his tongue as he swallows the warm drink. “Which is why I have a favor for your consideration.” 

Drake scratches the back of his neck before running his hand across his mouth to hide his smile. Lowering his eyes in humility, he nods his head slowly.

“I know your plan was to leave Wednesday, but Riley--” a worried-look chisels across his face, “well, I’d feel more comfortable if you stayed until I got back.”

Drake’s head pops up, etched with concern. “Is she okay? What’s wrong--?”

“Yes, yes,” Liam reassures, lowering his voice. “We’re trying again. For a baby.”

Drakes raises his eyebrows in shock. “Oh, that’s…that’s fantastic, Li--”

Liam smiles, nodding in agreement before his face sets back into worry. “She’s doing more hormone therapy, and I think--” he interrupts his thought process, carefully choosing respectful words about his wife, “I think it’s affecting her more than she is willing to admit. And with me being away--” he sighs, rubbing his forehead, “I need someone--no!” The king slams his hand down on the bar. “I don’t need someone. I need you, Drake. I need you to make sure she’s looked after. Keep her company.”

“Shit, Li, I don’t know--”

“I know, I know,” he raises his hands in defense, “this is last minute. But, you will no doubt be fully compensated for your time. I can get you new train tickets and flights back home.”

Drake scratches his short, scraggly beard. “I don’t know. My mom isn’t doing too well on her own. She’s been counting down the days, y’know?”

“And I can pay for in-home care until you can arrive.” Liam sights hopefully. “Please, Drake? I know I’m asking a lot here,” Liam turns back to look at Riley; the sight of her cradling the Beaumont’s newborn baby while coloring with little Jane and Bartie sends an emotional sting to his eyes. “For my family?”

“Well--” Drake inhales deeply, a grin growing on his face. “I guess what’s a few more days?”

Liam stands, pulling Drake into a tight embrace. “I can’t thank you enough,” he whispers in his ear before clapping his back.  “We leave for Tunisia bright and early, so–” he snickers, “I better go collect my bride.” Liam waggles an eyebrow, clicking his tongue as he adjusts his jacket. He turns to walk away, but stops himself, turning back to his good friend one last time. “Oh, and Drake? Thank you, again, for watching over my family while I’m away.” 

----------

Present

Drake abruptly tumbles back into reality as Riley stirs in his arms, her painful cries of agony quieting with time.

"What–" she gasps for a drink of air, "--what am I going to do?" There's a terrified honesty in her tone, an innocent cry of helplessness. 

Watch over my family while I'm away…

Liam's last words resound again and again like an eerily broken record. The king's simple request would become his final dying wish that he entrusted to his life-long best friend. It was a simple task, one that Drake did on a regular basis, being Riley’s personal guard. 

But, for the last two days since the king’s death, those haunting words have taken on a new meaning. Suddenly watching over Riley meant more than just inspecting her correspondences, securing rooms, and escorting her around potential snares. Holding her broken body close to his chest, Drake realizes he now has to protect something even more precious: her heart, a grieving heart that has already been attacked in the worst way possible.

Drake tenderly removes the wayward strands from her downcast face, her large, captivating eyes looking to him for answers.  “I–I don’t know, Brooks,” he shakes his head, nervously gnawing on the inside of his lip.

Seeing the sadness in Drake’s dark eyes, Riley quickly looks away, wiping her nose with the soft elastic cuff of her sweatshirt.  She knows she isn’t the only devastated heart in the room. Though tragically forced into the role of ‘young widow’, Riley didn’t want to add to Drake’s misery.

“So,” she clears her throat, “do you know what’s next?” She casually takes a seat on a wooden bench, pulling a knee to her chest.

Drake shoves a hand into his pocket, rubbing the back of his neck with his other palm. “Um, I’d imagine we’re going to do what they called us down here to do,” he swallows thickly, “to see him–um, to identify him.”

Staring blankly at the door, Riley purses her lips together, nodding in understanding. A silence falls between them, each second feeling longer than the last one as they wait.

Drake quietly leans against the cement wall, ticking his jaw back forth. His vision is fixed aimlessly on the gray wall across from him, his eyes slowly beginning to drift shut–that is until an abrupt giggle interrupts the stillness.  He curiously looks over to Riley.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. She clamps a hand over her mouth while a rosy flush crawls across the apples of her cheeks.

Drake waves her off, nodding in her direction–but the loud laughter breaks out again, only this time she can’t stop.

“I–I’m so sorry,” she falls into a fit, “I just–I just–” she squeals into her hands, her giggles growing louder as she turns herself away from Drake in embarrassment.

Remaining stunned at this new behavior, Drake cautiously takes a seat next to Riley as she continues her carefree snickers.  Watching her shoulders bounce naturally make him grin; however, he’s still not quite sure what the joke is.  But seeing her smile for just a moment was a nice reprieve from the past few days.

“It’s ridiculous, right?” She titters, trying to catch her breath.  She drops her voice into a deep tone, mimicking Drake. “What are we going to do next? Oh, just identify him.” She grips onto her aching abdomen, trying to control herself. “That’s just–that’s just so fucking ridiculous. Identifying his body?”  Her breath suddenly hitches in her chest, as her chin begins to tremble. 

“Brooks,” he reaches to place his hand on her shoulder, but she pulls away from him.

“No,” she closes her eyes, currents of tears dripping down her face.  She reaches into her sweatshirt pocket, and quickly pulls out a rolled-up biohazard bag. Wiping her nose again, she begins to open it up for her friend to see.  “When I was in there earlier to fill out paperwork, one of the specialists gave me a bag of his things–” her voice cracks, but she quickly recovers. “She said, ‘I thought you’d like to have this’.”  Riley empties out the bag, allowing the contents to fall into her delicate hand: Liam’s signet ring, his watch.

His wedding band.

Drake and Riley stare at the jewelry in reverence before Riley begins to chuckle.  “Why?” She shakes her head, “why the hell would I want these?” She forces out an unnatural, more sardonic giggle, her voice teetering on the edge of tears.  “They belong him–” her words fade into a gasp as she begins to cry.

Drake timidly puts his hand on her back to comfort her. “Riley, you’re going to want to have these things someday–”

“They belong to Liam, Drake!” She sobs, “And as long as they're here, as long as they’re in my hand, that means he isn’t wearing them, which means… which means…Oh God, I can’t…” 

Noticing her frantic breathing, Drake takes the jewelry from her fingers, quickly directing her trembling hands over her mouth. “Shhhh, breathe. Just breathe.” He endearingly rubs her back as she slowly inhales before gently exhaling, slowly gaining control of her breathing. 

Finally settled down, Riley gives a thankful look to her good friend. She reaches over to his hand, forcing his fist to open with Liam’s jewelry.  She grabs her husband’s gold wedding ring, mindlessly slipping the large band down her own ring finger, allowing the metals to clink.

“As long as they’re in my hand, Drake, that voice–that little voice of doubt in the back of my head that begs for me to believe that all of this isn’t true, that my husband… my Liam…” she shakes her head, dabbing her eyes dry. “That voice is silenced.  And this– all of this becomes real.” She sighs, a blush swirling up her neck. “You must think I’m crazy–”

“No,” Drake smiles kindly, “not at all. If there was a sliver of hope to be with the love of my life, I’d hold on to that chance as long as I could.”

Riley nods as she reopens the plastic bag. “Can you do me a favor, Drake? Can you hold onto his stuff? Just a little bit longer?”

“Of course.”

“I know,” her voice begins to quake. “I know the truth.  But, my heart…” she shrugs with an innocent smile, “my heart just isn’t ready yet.”  She hands Drake the bag. “This way, my heart still thinks there’s a chance.  I–I just want to dream a little bit longer.”

Drake nods, tucking the precious trinkets into the back pocket of his jeans.

“Your majesty? We’re ready for you.”

----------

Later that evening, Drake escorts an emotionally-drained Riley back to her living quarters.  Despite the place being more heavily monitored than usual by the royal guard, Drake and two other guards secure the area, ensuring that there are no breaches in her majesty’s safety. After hearing the boisterous ‘all clear’, the queen instantly retreats to her room for the night.

Drake slowly moseys alone down the long corridor to his temporarily-appointed queen’s guard room. Shrugging off his leather jacket and distressed denim, he hears a small clank against the floor. He stops for a moment, furrowing his brows to the strange sound. Slipping into his guard Academy sweats, he grabs the puddle of his jeans, and inspects the pockets one by one until finally he feels the rustle of plastic.

Shit, Liam’s watch and rings.

Drake pulls them out, and tenderly inspects the precious jewelry. Brushing his fingertips over the fine cuts of glass and metal, he thinks about the late king wearing these various charms–and it hits him; Riley was right. Having Liam’s possessions in the palm of his hand makes all of this painfully real.

Drake’s breath suddenly catches tightly in his chest. Shaking his head, he frantically places the pieces back in the bag, throwing the bag into an empty drawer. His eyes are stained crimson, his vision blurry. His lungs burn from his own incessant sobbing. He’s physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted from mourning his best friend, but Drake is no stranger to grief. He knows this is just the beginning of something that never ends.  

Drake changes into a snug white undershirt before heading to the game room which boasts a full bar for entertainment purposes.  Sifting through the liquor cabinet, he accidentally finds an unopened navy blue box with a large, silk bow on top accompanied with a small white card with wedding bells embossed on the front. 

‘Čestitamo, Liam i Riley!’ Drake reads the attached card out loud, the corner of his mouth curling.  He inspects the box further, suddenly realizing he was holding a Macallan Lalique 50 Year Old. He snickers, “Liam, you son of a bitch.”

Wasting no time, Drake finds himself slouched at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, nursing his third pour of the precious scotch. Suddenly, the grandfather clock in the grand foyer chimes midnight. Drake thoughtfully raises his glasses as if making a toast.

Another day down…

Drake downs the rest of the warming liquid. 

Only a lifetime to go…

"Can't sleep either?"

Drake abruptly spins on his stool towards the familiar, melodious voice. Dressed in leggings and one of Liam's pinstriped button-downs, she meanders to the refrigerator. "I'm sorry, Walker. I didn’t mean to scare you–”

"No, no–" Drake chuckles, jumping from his seat, joining Riley in the kitchen.  He casually leans over the cool granite island, resting on his crossed forearms. "Did you need something? Something to eat?" He nods to the liquor bottle. "A drink?"

Riley titters as she looks up from the opened refrigerator door. “I–I really…don’t know.” She smiles kindly at Drake, shrugging her shoulders innocently. “I guess I was hoping I’d figure it out… I don’t know, maybe I’d see something, or–or I’d find something…” she nervously snickers, fidgeting with the cuffs hanging past the length of her fingers. There's a brokenness in her stone-blue eyes that makes them shimmer like the sea before a storm. 

And it dawns on Drake. 

She needs Liam.

“C’mon,” he motions to Riley, pulling out a stool.

“Drake, I–”

“Trust me,” he smirks, patting his hand on the cushion of the seat.  

As Riley makes herself comfortable on the chair, Drake moseys around the kitchen, grabbing a few ingredients and spices from the pantry.  He collects the luxury whiskey along with a carton of milk from the refrigerator. With Riley curiously watching, he naturally begins combining all the ingredients into a sauce pan over a low heat. He adds a squeeze of raw honey and a generous pinch of cinnamon.  Before the milk has a chance to rise to a rolling boil, he pours the concoction into a mug, and then slides it over to Riley.

She peers into the cup, watching a beautiful, rustic star-shape spice flutter to the top.  “This is… a very beautiful-looking drink. But… what is it?”

Drake bashfully tosses a towel over his shoulder before leaning against the counter. “I really don’t know,” he chuckles, “it just made sense.”

“Wow,” Riley takes another sip, “this… this is delicious.”

Drake laughs, crossing his arms. “Don’t act so surprised–”

“--but I am!” She giggles along with him.  “Where did you learn this?”

“Moma,” Drake looks down at the cold tile beneath his feet, and offers a crooked smile. “Moma made it for us whenever we had trouble sleeping. Night before the first day of school… Before an exam…” he takes a deep breath, “...after Dad died.” Drake gives a thoughtful look to his already captivated audience. “It just, y'know? Made sense to me,” he shrugs, looking back to the ground.

Riley takes another long steady pull of the drink, the flavors bursting across her tongue while the aroma wraps her in an unexplainable comfort. “Walker?”

“Hrmm?” Drake glances through the layer of fallen wisps of hair, hanging in his face

“It does make sense,” Riley’s expression warms with appreciation. “Thank you…for sharing this–all of this with me.” Suddenly, a large yawn escapes as she quickly covers her mouth with the sleeve of Liam’s shirt, “Wow,” she chuckles, “this stuff really works.”

“Yeah, that would be your hoity-toity whiskey,” Drake snickers. “Moma would use whatever was on hand, often times using Dad’s old moonshine–”

“Moonshine?” Riley raises her eyebrows. “Wow. This explains so much,” she jests, sending them both into a much needed fit of laughter.

As Riley finishes her drink, Drake hastily cleans up his mess.  He tends to the stove before returning his ingredients to the pantry and refrigerator.  As he walks down the hallway to return the liquor, he stops and stares at his darkened room for a moment, remembering Liam’s hidden jewelry inside the drawer before looking back towards the area where Riley sat.

A mischievous grin creeps across his face as he hustles back to the kitchen.

“Y’know what? I’ve got an idea.”

~🖤~

TAGS: Please Please PLEASE let me know if I need to add/remove you!

PERMA

@alexabeta @ao719 @charlotteg234 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @foreverethereal123 @issabees @jerzwriter @kat-tia801 @khoicesbyk @lovelyladyk88 @lucy-268 @mainstreetreader @mom2000aggie @neotericthemis @nikirennie87 @peonierose @schnitzelbutterfingers @sfb123 @shannonwrote @shewillreadyou @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam  

ALL TRR/TRH

@21-wishes @angelasscribbles @burnsoslow @gkittylove99 @iaminlovewithtrr @lovingchoices14 @motorcitymademadame @princessleac1 @rubiwalker

ANYTHING LIAM

@amandablink @bbrandy2002

POUR TWO GLASSES

@alyssalauren @twinkleallnight

#pour two glasses #the royal romance #liam rys #king liam #liam rys x riley brooks #liam x mc #trr liam #trr liam x mc #choices trr #choices fanfic #choices fanfiction #choices trr fanfic #drake walker #trr drake

[angelasscribbles]

The De Facto Queen Chapter 5: Come Together

Series: The De Facto Queen

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Drake, Riley x Liam

Rating: MA

Warnings for this chapter: language, destruction of apple orchards

Word Count: 3,907 (approximately 30 minutes reading time)

Summary: Riley and Drake awake to devastating news about the orchards at Applewood.

A/N: I started this chapter thinking it would be the last chapter. Halfway through, I still thought that. Maybe three-fourths of the way through I was like...oh, no. This doesn't wrap up so neatly or so soon.

My other stuff: Master List.

The sun wasn’t even completely up when the shrillness of a phone cut through the early morning silence. Riley moaned in protest and scooted her body back, snuggling closer into the warmth of the man wrapped around her.

Drake’s arm tightened around her, and he drew her closer as his eyes blinked open, taking in the earliness of the hour. They weren’t scheduled to leave until after breakfast. There was no valid reason for anyone to be calling him at this hour unless something had gone wrong somewhere. “Sorry, babe.” He mumbled as he released her to roll over and grab his phone off the nightstand. One glance at the caller ID and he was wide awake. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed as he answered. “Bas. What’s wrong?”

Riley tried to go back to sleep, but the hard edge in Drake’s tone, despite his attempt to keep his voice low as he disappeared into the bathroom to keep from waking her, alerted her that something was amiss. She pushed out of the covers and reached for her robe. She had barely finished tying it when a knock sounded at the door.

Riley froze as her eyes tracked to the bathroom and back. Drake was still in there on the phone with Bastien. Whoever was at the door had to have gotten past her security detail, so she decided it was safe to open it.

She hesitated as her hand hovered over the knob. Something was clearly wrong, or the head of the Royal Guard wouldn’t be on the phone with her fiancé. The memory of being shot at engulfed her. The smell of gunpowder in her nose, the thunderous booming of the gun in her ears, the wet stickiness of Drake’s blood on her skin, and the crippling fear of loss all washed over her with incapacitating suddenness.

The knock sounded again. She jumped, jerking away from the door as if she’d been scalded. “Who is it?”

“Riley? It’s Liam.”

The brokenness in his voice obliterated her fear and spurred her into action. She flung the door open, her eyes widening in shock and concern as she took in his expression.

Liam stumbled into the room and, without warning or preamble, fell into her arms. His face pressed into her chest as a shuddering sob broke free.

Her arms wrapped instinctively around him. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

His arms tightened around her as he pressed his face harder into her body. Half-coherent words fell from his lips as his body shook with tears. “Terrorists…. the orchards…. burned….”

She understood instantly why he was in her room, in her arms. She might not understand yet what had transpired, but she understood that he could not, and would not, show weakness to the world.

Not that caring, tears or grief were weaknesses. No, she counted those things as strengths.

Nonetheless, his father had instilled in him a deep shame of those very qualities. But Constantine had never broken Liam, merely forced the better parts of him into hiding.

She was the safe place for him to show all of his vulnerability. She wouldn’t judge him; she wouldn’t question his fitness for the throne. She would support him; she would console him. That part of their relationship had never changed, and it never would.

Instead of questioning him, she did her best to soothe him. Her fingers ran through his hair, her hand patted his back as she murmured quiet words of comfort to him. Her eyes flicked to the door to ensure it was closed.

His emotions didn’t make him weak, but there was no point in having a servant or a guard witness their king’s most vulnerable moment. The people of Cordonia would need to see him strong and steadfast when he dealt with whatever had happened.

Crying was for private moments. Stoicism and strength were for the public. Unwavering surety in their next course of action.

They clung together, sympathetic tears streaming down her face. She didn’t need to know what had happened to feel his pain and that was enough to stir her own.

Terrorists…. burnt orchards…..it was enough for her to gather there had been another attack. Just days after Liam had confessed his insecurities about being a good enough ruler to her.

Liam, in tears in her arms, and Drake on the phone with Bastien before dawn, hinted at just how dire the situation was. Her jaw set with resolve. “Whatever happened, we will get through it together and we will fix it, okay?”

He nodded, his tears slacked, but he remained still and silent in her embrace.

Drake exited the bathroom with a grim expression. His eyes darted from the empty bed to the sight that greeted him at the doorway of the bedroom.

The king of Cordonian was wrapped in his fiancée’s arms.

Riley’s eyes met his over Liam’s shoulder. He nodded at her as he read everything he needed to know in her expression.

Drake made his way across the room and then cleared his throat to get Liam’s attention. “I just got off the phone with Bas…”

Liam’s head jerked up, and he stepped away from Riley guiltily. “I’m sorry…I just…”

“Hey,” Drake’s voice softened considerably as he clasped a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Don’t be sorry for being human, Li. That’s a good thing. Unfeeling rulers are the dangerous ones.”

Drake’s eyes flicked up to Riley’s again, acknowledging to himself that she brought out the softer, more in touch with his humanity side of his best friend and that it was a good thing.

Of course, Liam was upset. It wasn’t just an attack on his country. Applewood was the seat of House Rys, his ancestral home. It was a strike at his very heart. Nothing represented Cordonia more than the apple orchards at Applewood. It was a clear message that Liam could protect nothing and no one.

It could not be allowed to stand.

Liam stared back into his friend’s eyes for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you.”

Drake’s jaw clenched. “Don’t thank me until we catch the bastards that did this.”

“Would one of you like to fill me in on what’s going on?” Riley looked expectantly back and forth between them.

Drake pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

She watched the video in horror.

The extensive and ancient orchards at Applewood had been razed. The terror group Sons of the Earth was taking credit.

“Oh…” tears streaked down her face again.

Drake looped an arm around her as he retrieved his phone from her grasp. “It’s going to be okay, baby, I promise.”

Her grief steeled Liam’s resolve. He pulled himself completely upright as he decided, “We’re diverting the unity tour. We have to go to Applewood. Get Katarina looped in. She can meet us there with the PR team. We need to address this publicly as quickly as possible.”

“On it.” Drake was already dialing the palace press secretary, Katarina Trakas, as he released Riley and stepped away to make the arrangements.

Less than half an hour later, they were in the back of a bulletproof SUV on their way to Applewood, joined by Max and Hana.

Riley sat in the middle, Liam on one side of her, Drake on the other. Max and Hana were across from her. Liam’s face darkened as he recounted all the information he had on the situation at Applewood. She reached for his hand without thought, instinctively comforting him.

He looked over at her in surprise, then gave her a grateful smile as he squeezed her hand. His gaze went to Drake, then back to Riley, indecision creasing his brow briefly before coming to some sort of decision. He went back to the conversation without releasing her hand.

She watched his face for a moment. Stress shown in the grim lines of his face, but there was a subtle relaxing of his shoulders, a slight but noticeable easing of tension in his body at her touch.

Riley’s head swung around to find her fiancé, anxiety gripping her as she anticipated his response. Drake met her gaze with equanimity. He gave her a reassuring smile as he reached for her other hand. There was nothing but love and acceptance in his eyes as his thumb stroked the back of her hand.

A little thrill ran through her, despite the gravity of the situation. She was suddenly and intensely aware of the proximity of both men. Their body heat, the smoothness of Liam’s palm in hers, the roughness of Drake’s. Her heart beat a little faster.

Riley’s eyes lifted to meet Hana’s. Her best friend lifted an eyebrow in question. Riley widened her eyes a little to convey her uncertainty about what was going on.

While she struggled to put her focus back where it belonged, Liam and Drake coordinated over secured lines with the head of the King Guard and the Royal Press Secretary. Liam wanted to hit the ground running the moment they arrived. Drake was determined to have as much information as humanly possible before Liam set foot in front of a podium.

“I’m just saying it would be safer to just televise the press conference from a secure location to ensure that—”

“No,” Liam cut him off, “I won’t hide. That would send the exact wrong message.”

“It wouldn’t be hiding—”

“We’ll do the conference on the west lawn,” Liam said firmly, with finality.

“Fine,” Drake grunted with a shake of his head. His best friend was about to risk an assassination attempt and all he could do was quadruple security and search every person who stepped foot on Applewood grounds and hope it was enough.

Even worse, Riley would be on that stage with him. He clamped his mouth shut with a great deal of effort. What was he going to say? He had encouraged her to accept this role. Some degree of danger would always be present. It came with the territory. He squeezed her hand tighter as his mind whirled with ways to minimize the risk. An idea seized him.

He leaned forward in his seat and turned sideways so he had a clear view of both Riley and Liam. “You’ll both wear body armor.”

Liam tried to protest. “I don’t think—”

“The ultra-light stuff. Under your clothes. Trust me, no one will know it’s there.”

Liam hesitated as he considered it.

“Do it so I can focus on the security.” Drake pushed the one trump card he knew would sway Liam. Riley’s safety. “I won’t be able to think straight if she’s up there unprotected.”

It was the thought of Riley being shot at again that convinced him. With a curt nod, the king agreed. His eyes cut sideways at her as he gripped her hand a little firmer.

He couldn’t…he wouldn’t risk her life.

Drake let out an audible sigh of relief as he released her hand and typed furiously into his phone. “Everything will be ready when we arrive.”

Two hours later, Riley was fidgeting nervously as she read over the notes Madeleine had thrust into her hands while Drake was strapping her into the bulletproof vest.

“Would you stand still?” He grunted in annoyance as he tugged one of her side straps a little tighter.

“Sorry,” she murmured as her eyes flicked from the notecards in her hand to the blond who was giving her instructions as if she’d never done a press conference before.

“And remember,” Madeleine chided as she shuffled the notecards in her own hands, “You are representing Cordonia up there so for the love of God, remember to keep your back straight, make eye contact with a few of the reporters, and don’t forget your facial expressions! You want to convey—”

“That’s enough!” The usually restrained and controlled Drake spun on the countess, the fury dancing in his eyes enough to cause her to jerk back in startlement. He released Riley and took a step in her direction as he fumed. “Could you lay off her for one goddamn minute? We have five minutes before they have to be on stage and I’m trying to save her fucking life!”

“I—” Madeleine gulped as she took another step backward.

Drake swiped the cards from her hands as he fixed her with a death glare. “She’s done dozens of these. She knows how to fucking stand!”

Madeleine’s already anemic pallor went even paler. “I just—”

“Drake!” Riley touched his shoulder. “It’s okay! She’s just doing her job. The one I asked her to do!”

Drake’s eyes fluttered briefly shut as he beat his fear, anger, and anxiety back. He blew out a careful breath before turning back to face her. “I’m sorry, baby. I just need you to focus on the thing that’s going to keep you alive before worrying about the rest.”

Riley nodded vigorously. “I am. I will! Please finish helping me with the vest. I’ll read the cards after we’re done.”

His shoulders relaxed as some of the tension eased out of his body. He resumed fussing with the vest as he told Madeleine without looking back. “Sorry. This is just stressful.”

“For all of us.” The countess sniffed. She looked down at her shaking hands then back up at Riley, watching as Drake strapped her into a bulletproof vest, knowing she was about to step onto a public stage outside in broad daylight where she could be the potential target of another assignation attempt. “I didn’t mean any disrespect. This is just…all I can contribute.”

“It’s fine.” Drake finished, stepping back to inspect his handiwork with a critical eye. “Okay, you can get dressed now.”

Riley hurriedly dressed as she directed her next remark to Madeleine. “Could you please go let Liam know that I need two more minutes?”

“But the press—”

“Can wait.”

Madeleine hesitated a fraction of a second, then nodded in acquiescence and retreated from the room.

Riley stepped into Drake’s arms and took his face in her hands. “I love you. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“I’m holding you to that.” He whispered before pulling her into a long, lingering kiss. He poured all his love and fear for her into that kiss, wanting nothing more than to grab her, get back in the limo, and get her as far away from danger as possible. Instead, he released her and forced himself to step away. “Okay, it’s time.”

Applewood had been secured before they had arrived and swept again after they arrived. There were no buildings close enough to the manor for a sniper to hide in and, thanks to the orchard burning, no trees either. He was still a bundle of nerves as he watched her climb the steps to the stage.

Riley stood at the podium next to Liam, like she belonged there. It was becoming commonplace. Drake tried to remember the last press conference Liam held where Riley hadn’t been standing right beside him.

Perhaps when he’d announced the itinerary for the engagement tour. Madeleine had been beside him then and the stiffness in his posture had radiated his discomfort, at least to those who knew him well.

His body language when he was on stage next to Riley was different. More relaxed. More open. More at ease. Even in these exigent circumstances, a simple glance in her direction and his shoulders straightened almost imperceptibly. Confidence flooded back into his posture. Hope shone from his features.

Drake had to admit that Riley’s speech was well received by the public, perhaps even more so than Liam’s. They loved her. He didn’t blame them.

When the press conference was over, Riley joined Liam in the orchard to plant a new apple tree. A sapling. A symbol of Cordonia, of hope for the future. The area was cordoned off to keep the masses away from the royal couple.

Not that they were a couple, and only Liam was royal. Though the image they presented was very much one of a royal couple. A king and his beloved queen.

Drake shook his head to clear it of those thoughts as he circulated through the press of people, his eyes scanning the crowd for threats, his ears open for anything suspicious.

What he heard were hundreds of conversations about what Cordonia had lost by not having Riley as its queen.

“Would have been an amazing queen….”

“It’s a shame that scandal happened. I heard it was all a setup. She never…”

“They say that’s why the king ended his engagement with the countess….”

“The king still loves her…. “

“She’s so down to earth. Just want Cordonia needs…..”

“She should have been queen…”

The crowd cheered as Riley and Liam packed the dirt around the sapling. They stood and waved to the onlookers before the security team ushered them inside the manor.

Drake let out a long sigh of relief as the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.

There had been no assassination attempt. Riley and Liam were safe inside Applewood.

His relief was short-lived.

The moment the last of the public was cleared from the property, Liam stepped out the front door with Riley on his arm.

“What the actual fuck?” Drake growled, taking a step in their direction. A firm hand on his arm stopped him.

He turned to find Bastien giving him a sympathetic shake of his head. “Let them be. The grounds have been cleared. Liam wants to see the damage up close. It’s his prerogative.”

Drake shook off his godfather’s touch as a shadow crossed his face, but he stayed put. Bastien was right. The grounds had been cleared and there was no immediate danger. He watched from a distance as Riley and Liam walked through the remnants of the once-verdant landscape.

Mere hours before, a vibrant, lush thousand-acre orchard had stood there. Living hues had painted the grounds. Deep greens and vibrant reds had delighted the eye. The crisp, apple-scented air had pleased the nose. Now charred stumps rose toward the sky, blackened husks dotted the scorched earth. The acrid scent of carbonized trees wafted on the breeze.

They walked cautiously across the blistered ground, tendrils of gray smoke curling around their ankles and rising into the late afternoon air.

Drake stood on the sidelines watching as his fiancée and best friend stopped walking and held each other in the middle of the charred orchard. Not in a sexual way. It was clear she was comforting him. What was even clearer was that it was working. Much of the tension had drained out of the king’s body as he returned her embrace. There was a genuine smile on his face as they pulled apart.

Drake himself had tried to make Liam feel better, but nothing he said had made an impression. He’d watched as Liam’s friends and family members had tried to offer advice, condolences, and comfort. No one had succeeded in that endeavor. No one but Riley. Because Liam was still in love with her, and his love for her was deep and it was true, and it was real. Just like his own.

Liam entwined his fingers with hers as they made their way back toward the manor.

Drake couldn’t stand still a moment longer. He charged across the grounds, intercepting them at the front door. “I need to speak to you both. Privately.”

“Oh, I…” Liam dropped Riley’s hand and stepped away from her. He shoved his hands in his pockets with a flush. “I hope I haven’t overstepped any bound—”

“That’s what I want to talk about.” Drake ushered them both through the entryway and into a small sitting room just off the main hall. He shut the door behind him and then turned to face his best friend. “You still love her.”

“Drake, I’m sorry I’ve tried—”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Drake clasped, then released his shoulder quickly. “You love who you love.”

He would know. He had fought his feelings for her for months and failed abysmally. Turning to face his fiancée, he stated, “You still love him, too. It’s obvious.”

Riley’s lower lip started to tremble. This was exactly what she didn’t want. Her head shook back and forth. “We talked about this! I thought—”

He nodded impatiently. “We did talk about it, and I’ve realized something.”

“What?” she asked with trepidation.

“I don’t want to spend our lives together constantly worrying about you and Liam fighting these feelings.”

“Drake! I love—”

“I know.” He held a hand up to stop her. “I’m not questioning that one bit. I love you too, Riley, and I’m not breaking up with you. Would you just listen?”

Riley pressed her lips together with a fair amount of effort.

“There is a way for all three of us to be happy.”

Riley blinked. “What do you mean?”

Liam’s body froze as his head jerked up, his gaze suddenly penetrating and intense as he watched the exchange.

“I mean…” he took her hand in his and pulled her into his body, “What if you didn’t have to choose?”

Her brows pulled together in confusion. “I already chose—”

“You chose to marry me and to spend the rest of your life with me, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. But you also chose to close off a part of yourself and fight your feelings for Liam. Believe me, I have some experience with that. I’m telling you that you don’t have to.”

“Wait…” Riley’s mind spun. “Are you saying that you’re okay with me having…with Liam and I…. what are you saying, exactly?”

“I’m telling you that I would be okay with you continuing your relationship with Liam. I’m amenable to an open marriage. Well….” His eyes darted to Liam and then back to Riley. “Maybe not entirely open, but I’m willing to make room for Liam in a triad situation.”

Riley shot a sidelong glance at Liam before responding. “Drake. That’s incredibly generous of you…”

“But?”

“What would that even look like?”

He lifted his shoulders expansively. “We’ll figure that out together.”

Riley stared at him for a long moment as confusion turned into astonishment. “You’re serious!”

Drake nodded with equanimity. “Mm-hm.”

“May I speak?” Liam’s voice was quiet but filled with restrained hopefulness.

“Please do.” Drake gave a respectful nod as he stepped back and turned so that he was looking at Liam instead of Riley.

Liam moved closer to Riley, then hesitated, shooting a glance at Drake. When he found nothing but encouragement there, he reached for her hand. “Please give this proposal due consideration before you make a decision. I implore you not to dismiss it out of hand. This is something that I want…. you have no idea how much…. but I won’t pressure you and I won’t rush you. Take all the time you need.” His eyes flicked back to Drake. “Both of you. If we move forward with this, we must all be on the same page. I want no room for misunderstandings or resentment.”

Her resolve to reject Drake’s offer out of a sense of loyalty faltered in the face of Liam’s impassioned plea. Dropping her eyes from his, she nodded. Her voice was barely a whisper as she told the floor, “Okay, I’ll consider it.”

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The Royal Romance Retelling Masterlist

Series Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

The Royal Romance, Book 1 🏰 - Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (part 1/part 2/part 3/part 4/part 5/part 6/part 7) - Bk1 Ch2: Welcome to Cordonia - Bk1 Ch3: Reunited

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