But doing all of that without Elias seemed…empty. Insurmountable.
Because he couldn’t see past her being a princess as a problem.
And her problem was being a princess without him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Elias wanted a mint, a nap, and to go on a four-day bender.
Instead, he straightened his tie—and his spine—as he entered Christian’s office.
Was this what other people felt like before an audience with the prince? Jumpy? Nervous? Because the coffee he’d been mainlining for almost three days straight since the attack had his gut in spasms.
Or it was because he and his best friend hadn’t cleared the air yet? They’d had their worst fight of all time and not resolved anything. And then he’d gone and let the prince’s sister-by-proxy get shot. Not to mention how he’d hurt Kelsey by pushing her away. How much he’d hurt himself with that action, no matter how necessary.
Worst. Week. Ever.
“You summoned me, Your Highness?” That was new, too. The prince never sent for Elias. He just texted him to get his ass up here.
Until now.
“Yes.” Christian stood and buttoned his suit jacket. “Thank you for coming so promptly.”
Was this what they’d come to? Polite prattle? “Well, your wish is literally my command, Your Highness.”
“Do take a seat.” Christian gestured to the chair across the desk. The chair used for other people who hadn’t laughed and drank and trained and sailed and stood by the man through thick and thin.
Damn it, Elias wasn’t giving up on their decades of friendship that easily. He knew he’d fucked up. Knew Christian was furious that he’d moved in on Kelsey. But that was over now. And, as a result, he needed his friend more than ever.
So he remained standing. “Since when do you send a minion for me? Can’t text anymore? Did your phone self-destruct after that heiress from Luxembourg sent the topless photos?”
Christian looked over his head to the painting of a sea storm above the sofa and said coolly, “I wasn’t sure you’d respond.”
Elias knew Christian felt he’d failed in his duties on that date with Kelsey. The thought that he doubted his loyalty, though? That was a donkey kick to the stomach. “You are my sworn liege. My sworn brother-in-arms. I would never ignore you.”
“Is that what—” Christian broke off and shook his head. “I assumed you were furious with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I blatantly and unforgivably insulted you when I accused you of being a lax bodyguard. Of betraying your duty. Dishonoring your office. And then you risked your life to save my sister. You threw your body between her and a bullet.” Christian came around the desk swiftly to stand right in front of Elias. “I’m ashamed that I said those things to you. All I can do is offer my most sincere apology.”
And then he started to drop to one knee.
It was the most surreal moment of Elias’s life, aside from the one three days ago, when he’d kept his ex-girlfriend from being assassinated.
He caught his friend beneath the forearm and didn’t let him sink any lower. “Stop. I won’t let you apologize.”
“Too late, but I’d be grateful if you’d accept it.”
He dropped his hand, shaking his head. “I can’t, because I did let you down. You were right. I led with my heart instead of my head, and it was dangerous. The events of Sunday prove it. If I’d been a molecule less focused, I wouldn’t have saved the princess. You telling me to break it off with her made all the difference.”
“You did?”
What was with the surprise? “Of course. You told me to.”
“You’ve a mind of your own, Elias.” A hint of their usual teasing surfaced in the sting in the prince’s tone. “The past two weeks have proven that.”
“I’m sorry. I meant to tell you that I’d followed through, but then…well, the world turned upside down.”
“No kidding. I meant to apologize sooner but couldn’t make it happen. Papa’s not well.”
Guilt flashed through Elias, remembering the very personal request he’d sent to the king just yesterday. “I thought he was uninjured?”
Christian jerked his head to indicate the sofa, and they both sat. “Physically, yes. Emotionally? He’s a wreck. He’s been in a state of shock since Kelsey reappeared, blowing off appointments. Almost like he can’t accept this new reality where he actually gets to be with his daughter. And then to almost lose her again on Sunday? It broke him.”
“Kelsey’s fine. Her wrist will heal. Her sister’s being moved as we speak from the hospital to convalesce here at the palace.”
“He hasn’t left his suite.”
That was shocking. King Julian never missed appointments, rarely took sick days. He said he didn’t want to disappoint anyone when half of his job was just showing up. “He didn’t go to the hospital to visit Kelsey and Mallory?”
“No. He Skyped them. And he’s kept a few appointments that way, or via phone. But he won’t come out. I’ve been running myself ragged, not just picking up the slack, but covering for him.”
What a clusterfuck on top of all the other life-and-death drama. Christian must be tearing his hair out. “Does he need a doctor?”
“Hell, yes. There have been daily visits. Pills to calm him down, I guess. I’m not getting the whole story. I’ll respect his privacy for a few more days. Then I’ll throw the doctor onto the rack until he tells me everything.”
“If you need a hand with that…”
“Always.” They clasped forearms and squeezed. Hard.
Just like that, they were fine.
Thank God.
The prince violently jerked at the knot of his blue tie to loosen it. “Shit. I wish you hadn’t broken up with her.”
That made two of them. “Kind of sending mixed messages, Christian.”
“I hate the thought of Kelsey being upset about losing you on top of worrying about Miss Wishner. Can you fix it? You want to, right?”
Yes, desperately. Every cell in his body ached to be close to Kelsey again. “My wanting her is not, and never was, the issue.”
“But you do care for her? I mean, you did save her life.”
Care for her? Sure. That was the watered-down version of it, anyway. Since breaking up with Kelsey and then being confronted with her almost being killed pierced Elias with the surety that he was falling in love with her.