Disclaimer: all characters are owned by Pixelberry. I don’t claim ownership of them. Enjoy!
Riley and Drake woke up the next morning and showered, enjoying finally being able to be together without stipulation. They were walking to the elevator to get breakfast, sharing flirtatious glances, when they ran into Bertrand.
“Lady Riley, I didn’t hear from you last night,” he eyed Drake up and down, “now I see why.”
“Sorry Bertrand. I got a little sidetracked.” She smiled coyly.
“I see.” Bertrand squared his shoulders. “Things with Liam…”
“Didn’t go according to plan.” She confirmed his suspicions. An apologetic smile flashed at Bertrand.
“Yes, well, I’m not surprised.”
“You’re not?” Drake’s head reeled back.
“No. I could see the way you looked at each other. I might not be an expert on love, but your body language certainly gave you away. I knew there was more than either of you were leading on.”
“You must be furious with me.”
“No, I’m not, Lady Riley. I had a sneaking suspicion would end up this way.” Bertrand ran a hand through his hair.
“Oh.”
“It’s alright.” He drew his lips in a thin line. “You have my support. Drake has done a lot for us. It’s only fitting he deserves you as much as…” He stopped short of Liam’s name.
“Thanks, Bertrand.” She smiled.
“Right. Well I’m off to get Maxwell to plan for our trip home. Plane leaves at 7am tomorrow. Be prompt.” Bertrand nodded at them and walked away. Drake turned to Riley, relief on his face.
“Well that went better than I’d expected.”
“It did.” She kissed him quickly before starting towards the elevator once again.
They walked into the hotel restaurant, Drake’s hand gently resting on the small of her back. The simplest gesture made his heartbeat quicken, if only slightly. Being out with her in the open was almost as exciting to him as sneaking around. The feeling quickly faded when he saw Liam sitting in a booth, Olivia across from him with a pained look on her face. Olivia looked up and locked eyes with Riley, anger flashing across her striking features. Liam turned his head to follow her gaze and his face fell at the sight of Riley and Drake together. Drake rested a hand on her arm.
“Maybe we should get out of here.”
She nodded in agreeance and broke from Liam’s sights. Drake put his hand on her shoulder, leading her out as he stared Liam down. He’d never say the words out loud, but part of him was glad to see Liam like that: pining over the woman Drake had instead of him. For once, Drake had come out on top. It wasn’t a feeling he was used to, and he basked in it. His dedication to his lifelong friend quickly combated the feeling. Liam is his best friend. His brother. Part of him wanted to run to him. Apologize. Try and make things right. But he knew it was too soon. The wounds were too fresh. He’d talk to him later and try to salvage their friendship.
They left for Cordonia the next morning. The plane ride home was silent until Maxwell chimed in.
“Why does it feel so tense in here?” His eyes darted around the cabin nervously. It didn’t take long for Maxwell Beaumont to get restless in a small area. He would start chattering, completely bypassing what little filter his mouth had.
Bertrand shot him a glare.
“What?” Maxwell asked.
“Lady Riley has rejected my proposal.” Liam straightened in his seat, his eyes not quite meeting Maxwell’s.
“Well, I know that but it seems overly glum in this cabin.” Maxwell tugged at the collar of his black button-up shirt.
“Yes, well, Lady Riley did so because she’s chosen to be with…” Liam’s eyes fell on Drake and Riley sitting next to each other across the plane, “Drake.”
Maxwell popped his head above his seat and stared at the two of them in awe.
“Oh!” He exclaimed.
Riley gave a small wave and curled her lips inward while Drake nodded next to her, his palms resting on his thighs. He absentmindedly drummed his fingers on his legs, silently pleading Maxwell to redirect his attention elsewhere. He’d never wanted Maxwell to ramble on about literally anything more than he did in that moment.
“Well…” Maxwell trailed off.
“How are we going to deal with this with the press?” Bertrand broke in.
“Leave that to me.” Liam stared out the window, his tone warning Bertrand to watch his words.
“Certainly, Your Majesty.”
The rest of the ride was quiet, much to Drake’s delight.
When they landed in Cordonia, Liam quickly got off the plane, avoiding eye contact with both his best friend and his ex-lover, and Bertrand quickly followed. As Riley and Drake stood up, Maxwell walked over to them.
“So, you guys are together now, huh?” He smiled at them.
“Yep.” Drake took Riley’s hand in his.
“Well I think it’s great.” Maxwell hugged Riley.
“Thanks, Maxwell.” She beamed up at him.
“I just want you to be happy. I mean, obviously this wasn’t the ideal outcome, but I’m still happy for you. Both of you.” Maxwell looked at him and affectionately clapped Drake on the shoulder before heading towards the door of the plane. He stopped a few feet from it and turned back to the couple. “Brace yourselves, we’ve got company.”
Drake and Riley walked off the plane to a flurry of flashbulbs from the press.
“Lady Riley is it true you declined King Liam’s proposal?” A reporter shouted.
“Hey, back off.” Drake sneered. Riley put her hand on his forearm.
“It’s okay, Drake.” She turned to the throng of people waiting on her expectantly. “King Liam and I are not betrothed. The reasons were…” She looked at Drake, who was standing a few steps behind her shifting uncomfortably. She turned back to the cameras and continued, “personal.”
More questions started being thrown at her as she and Drake continued towards the waiting limo with him falling a few paces back from her. She climbed in and saw only Bertrand and Maxwell. Liam had ordered a separate car to avoid any awkwardness, sparing Maxwell and Bertrand another plane situation.
“This is a goddamn PR disaster.” Bertrand rubbed his temples.
“I’m sorry, Bertrand.” Riley said sympathetically. Her lip started to quiver and Bertrand sighed.
“Don’t be. We’ve made it through worse.”
“He’s right. It’ll be okay.” Maxwell smiled. “Beaumont’s are experts at damage control.”
“Yes, given my brothers excessive hobbies, I’ve become somewhat of a media connoisseur.”
Riley nodded and fell back into her seat. Drake gave her arm a reassuring rub and settled in next to her.
An hour later, they pulled up to the palace where Bastien greeted them at the door.
“Good afternoon, Lady Riley. Drake.” Drake nodded at Bastien. “King Liam has scheduled a meeting with the two of you. Please allow me to escort you.”
Bastien lead Riley and Drake through a series of hallways to a room filled with chairs around a large table that Riley had never seen before. Liam sat at the head of it, reclining back in a chair with his arms placed across his chest. Riley wasn’t used to seeing him so laxed. Rather, she wasn’t used to seeing him show so much emotion. His body language easily gave away how clearly unhappy he was. He turned to them both as they walked in. Bastien bowed and shut the door behind him. As they walked towards him, Liam stood, all his muscles tensing under his suit.
“Listen, Li, I just want to say-“
Drake doesn’t get the next word out when Liam’s fist connected with his jaw. Drake reeled back before quickly regaining his footing.
“You son of a bitch.” Liam bellowed at him.
“This what we came here for? What are you gonna do, Your Majesty? Beat my ass?” He laughed, slightly sizing Liam up.
“I know this probably wasn’t easy for you. To confess your love. But did it have to be her? Did it?” Liam took a step towards Drake, his fist balled tightly at his side.
Liam shoved him, and Drake shoved him back. Riley could see Drake’s fist twitching, ready to strike out when the time was right. Before she could say anything, the two men were rolling around on the floor in a blur of arms and legs. They weren’t just king and commoner, they were best friends. Brothers. This is what brothers did, she thought. She’d seen it a million times between her own. Liam rolled Drake on to his back and punched him in the ribs. Drake leaned forward and grabbed Liam in a headlock, kneeing him in his tailbone. She stood frozen and watched as neither men were giving in. Liam had been formally trained, but Drake not so much. Despite the difference, they were both simultaneously winning and losing. Finally, Riley went over and tried to pull them apart to no avail. She did the only thing she could do.
“Stop!” Riley roared.
Both men stopped and stared up at her surprised. It was like they almost forgot she was even there.
“Please, stop.” She cried. “I don’t want this. I don’t want you two to hate each other. Please.”
Liam and Drake looked at each other tensely. Liam stood up and offered Drake a hand. He hesitantly grabbed it and Liam pulled him to his feet.
“She’s right.” Liam straightened and dusted off his jacket.
“She usually is.” Drake rubbed his face, his eyes still narrowed at his best friend.
“My apologies. The last 24 hours have been a bit… intense… for me.” Liam sat down in his chair, defeated.
“I deserved that. Just didn’t think you had it in you.” Drake pulled out a chair and motioned Riley to sit. She took her place between them and Drake sat down beside her, putting his head in his hands before leaning back in his chair.
“I brought you both here to discuss where we go from here.” Liam started. “Given how much Cordonia has grown to love you, I was interested in knowing if you wanted to keep us as your home.” He said to Riley, his expression one of unreadable diplomacy.
“What do you mean?” Riley asked.
“There is a duchy that needs a duchess. Duchy Valtoria. If you wanted her, she’s yours. Since the assassin’s struck, I’ve been mulling over who I trusted to have as it’s duke or duchess. Not only for the people of Valtoria, but as someone I can delegate with and know they have the best interest for the country at heart. Had you accepted my proposal, Valtoria would have been offered to you all the same.”
“Really?” Riley’s eyes met Liam’s.
“Of course. You’ve done a lot for this country. I would be remiss to not thank you for your dedication to it.”
“I would love to.” She beamed at him.
“Good.” He smiled back at her, though his was much more hollow than hers.
“I’m just going to address the elephant in the room here. I technically live in the palace. Do you want me to leave?” Drake met Liam with a pained expression.
“Of course not, Drake. You’re always welcomed here. This is as much your home as it is mine. Despite our current situation, I’d never turn you away. You’ve always been there for me. I’d never let this get in the way of the last 20 plus years.”
“Right.” Drake sighed. 20 plus years. 23 to be exact.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a press conference to attend. They have questions about my broken engagement to Madeline. Best not to keep them waiting.” Liam stood and quickly walked out the door.
“Wow. I’m going to be a duchess!” Riley looked at Drake.
“I guess so.” He chewed on the inside of his bottom lip.
“If we get married, that’ll make you a duke.”
Drakes face falls pale.
“No.”
“Yes! Duke Drake Walker. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
“No!” Drake shakes his head.
“Come on, Drake. It’s not that bad.”
“Maybe not to you. All this courtly stuff comes so natural to you for some reason. Me? I’ve always been the lowly commoner.” He put up air quotes with his fingers as he said ‘lowly commoner’.
Riley paused for a moment, her expression turning to intrigue.
“Do you want to leave?”
“Yeah, let’s go get some food. I’m starving and there’s not enough whiskey in the world right now to make me feel better.” He rubbed his jaw where Liam has struck him.
“No. I mean, leave. Like, leave Cordonia.”
Drake stared at the table mulling over where they could escape to.
“Where would we go?”
“Your mom lives in Texas, right?”
“Yeah. On an amazing ranch. Acres of land.” He smiled fondly.
“Let’s go for a little while. Take a break.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know. We’ll get one-way tickets for now.” Riley rested her hand on his shoulder.
Drake looked at her, his face settling from uncertainty to excitement.
“Okay, Johnson. I’m game for your next adventure. Let’s get out of here.”
Drake grabbed her hand and lead her upstairs to their rooms, which sat side by side. He disappeared into his and she went into hers. She opened the suitcase that the staff had already brought up from the limo. She emptied out her more formal wear and put in jeans, shorts, and tank tops. It was June and Texas was going to be hot. Just as she was finishing up she heard a rap on her door.
“It’s open.” She called out. Drake stepped inside, a duffle bag thrown over his shoulder.
“You ready?” He smiled at her.
“Absolutely.”
They grabbed their things and went out to a waiting car to take them back to the airport, Bastien nodding at them as they pulled away.