Vindicate (Insight #5)(88)

“The others? I found Winston in the string a second ago.”

“The others,” Felicity said as she moved the si lverware around. “Well, I think …I think they need a h ome. Some love. I can’t get Monroe to talk, but I could swear I heard her talking to Libby and Preston. Grayson has been with August a lot – giving him family history, I think.”

“Do you know who that little girl called daddy?”

“I do. And well who can pi ck their family. Right?” she said, smiling at me.

“You’re crazy, you know that?”

“Me? I would say I’m mild compared to the crazy in this family.”

“You ’re crazy for acting like it’s normal.”

Felicity looked past me into the field, and her smile grew. Her cheeks slightly blushed. “Now that is not normal.”

I looked over my shoulder to see Drake a few feet away from me. Marc, Stella, and Beth walking into the house.

“No, but he’s here. He listened to me,” I mumbled.

Felicity walked up behind me and leaned into my ear and whisper ed, “Don’t abuse that privilege. Let it be, and it will find its way.”

I nodded as my eyes met Drake’s. He had changed into o ne of his classic black suits. Every part o f him was perfectly addicting. I didn’t understand what Madison was waiting on, but I knew it was her loss.

Felicity walked over to the steps and bowed. “Your majesty. Welcome to Willow’s home. I am Felicity. I believe you know my soul mate, Brady.”

Drake smiled at her and reached for her hand and kissed it gently, then looked into her eyes. “The pleasure is mine. I see now why Brady fights so hard to come home to you.”

Felicity blushed, bowed again then went into the house. Drake’s eyes found mine. He climbed the stairs and slowly walked to my side.

I reached for the lapels on his jacket. “You clean up nice,” I said quietly.

He let his hands rest on mine, and his hypnotic touch eased through me. I sighed, pulling my hands away as he leaned against the rail.

“I talked to Beth,” I said, nodding to the door she’d just walked in.

“I assumed,” he said, looking through the window at everyone who was gathering and talking.

“She has a condition.”

“Do I want to know?” he asked as his eyes met mine.

“First tell me if you want to be king. Tell me how bad you want to be king?”

“I want to be in a position to help all of our dreams for Esterious come true.”

“You are going to have to want this for Drake, not me.”

He nodded as he smiled. “I want it for the both of us. For our dreams.”

I held in any argument that would take me off this topic and into a heartbreaking one. “You have to get your father’s blessing,” I whispered.

He froze, and for the first time I saw fear in his eyes.

“Just think about it. You won’t have to say anything; words are for the living. I’ll go with if you want to, but I’m not going to ask you to do this. Your mother put that condition there for a reason. She knows Livingston will say yes, and she knows it will free your conscious, and you need to have a clear conscious if you are going to rule any kingdom.”

He smiled sardonically as he gazed into my eyes. “And that’s why I love you, ” he whispered. “You’re so pure. So wise.”

At that moment, Landen stepped outside, and he took my breath away. His eyes were reflected in the dark blue shirt he was wearing, and his smile was perfect – enhancing his handsome dimples. He walked over to Drake and held out his hand. “Mr. Blakeshire, welcome to my home.”

Drake grinned and stood up straighter to shake Landen’s hand. “Mr. Chambers, it’s beautiful.” His eyes met mine. “Every part of it.”

Aubrey came out next, followed by Marc, Chrispin, Preston, and Beth.

She smiled at Drake as she moved her head from side to side. “I want a picture of all of you.” Landen and I stood back as Aubrey captured the moment I was sure Livingston always knew would come.

Everyone else came out one by one, carrying plates of food. My father said a blessing filled with love and gratitude. I had trouble focusing on eating. I was seated between Drake and Landen, and on purpose, I’m sure, Felicity sat Madi son across from us. I swear I could feel her anxiety, even though she did a very good job of hiding it as she talked to Felicity at her side. I thought about using her uneasiness as an excuse for me and Landen to take a walk or something, get away alone, but this was my house, and I couldn’t find the courage to be rude.

I felt Landen’s eagerness to talk to Aug ust, but August kept the conversation on topics that had nothin g to do with realms or kingdoms. I nstead, he provoked Draven and Aden to talk about their music, for Charlie t o talk about who her father was. A very talented man, from what I could gather – who left this world all too soon. Oddly, the topic seemed to make both her and Draven uncomfortable. I assumed it was because she had chosen to live here now, but I made a mental note to talk to her about that emotion the first chance I had. I could only imagine how hard it would be to come this far at such a young age without your family. I doubt I could have done that.

I kept staring at Winston. He was s eated between Ashten and Aubrey. If there was any couple that could raise a reckless boy – bring him back from whatever darkness that he belonged to – it was them. Ashten and Aubrey were forcing him to talk, not about serio us matters, but what he liked. He seemed to mirror the others in his love for music, and the more he talked, the more approachable he became, but I still didn’t trust him. I wished I’d focused on him more when I first met him, because right now I could swear he felt different. Yet, coldly familiar.