A Guiding Light Read online

  I woke before Veronica, left her sleeping peacefully, and tried to locate my sense of normality. I began with checking the news, fearing the nightmare waiting for me. The first outlets I tried seemed quiet, reporting the crash had stabilized as much as they thought it would.

  The stock market hadn’t budged in either direction in any sector, and while the numbers remained low, it didn’t dive further, so I counted that as a victory. New York remained silent on the issue of their attack on North Dakota’s economy. North Dakota hadn’t announced Veronica’s disappearance, either.

  The rest of the news reminded me why I’d become a hermit. To the media, lives were cheap, and the sadder the story, the more likely it was to hit the front page, burying the real news away from the enticing headlines meant to attract gossips and conspiracy theorists.

  The conspiracy theorists were on the right track for a change, something I didn’t want to think about.

  To keep Veronica, I’d have to do the sort of takeover conspiracy theorists dreamed of—and whispered about on the back page on a slow news day. Defying the king might get me executed, but I’d rather face death than return to a half life.

  The news provided no answers or insights on how I was supposed to make miracles happen. The problem of taking over North Dakota in a non-violent fashion would haunt me until Veronica was declared the queen. She’d make me her king, something I doubted I’d ever get used to again.

  I was no longer a child easily deceived into believing everything would work out because I wanted it to.

  From the news, I switched gears and checked my email, wincing at the hundreds of messages I’d inevitably have to deal with, including three from Alfred Knoxwin. It was only a matter of time before I had to directly deal with him and his royal client.

  “That’s an unpleasant expression,” Veronica murmured, perching on the arm of my chair, wearing a t-shirt too large for her and a pair of sweatpants. “What’s bothering you? I can’t tell if you’re annoyed or disgusted.”

  The pair of suppressor bracelets wrapped around my wrist couldn’t smother her amusement, which took the edge off my irritation. “A bit of both, honestly. Alfred Knoxwin is determined.”

  “Ah. Him. As far as my father’s minions go, he isn’t a bad guy. He means well for North Dakota, but he has to work within the confines of my father’s rule. He does what he can, but it’s unwise to toe lines right now—it’s been unwise for a while. I get away with it because he hasn’t been willing to get rid of me yet. That may change, especially when he learns you intend to claim what is rightfully yours.”

  “Technically, I’m helping you reclaim what is rightfully yours. I’m just accepting responsibility for my actions. I’m probably going to annoy you.”

  “And since I refuse to rule without you at my side, you’re reclaiming what’s rightfully yours. You’re just going to have to accept this.”

  Some arguments weren’t worth having, especially when I amused Veronica. “Very well. Tell me more about Knoxwin.”

  “We’ll probably want to keep him as a staffer, but we’ll want to change his position. He’d rather have a more active role in managing kingdom stocks and finances rather than dancing to the tune of idiot royals.”

  “Idiot royals?”

  “He’s sometimes vocal when he thinks we can’t hear him. Unfortunately for him, my brother isn’t the only one good at hiding.”

  “That is going to be troublesome for me.”

  “That’s true. I likely have stalker tendencies.”

  I fought my grin, aware she could feel my amusement. “I’ve been told that you hide things in your lingerie drawer.”

  “I’m going to kill that brat!” While she sounded vicious, her affection warmed me. “It’s true.”

  Life had a way of throwing the unpleasant at me, but some things hadn’t changed. Veronica was still the blunt, honest girl I’d fallen in love with. The years had refined her, transforming her into a delicate beauty, except steel supported her near-perfect skin.

  I liked I could see the scar that had brought us together, and I reached over so I could stroke it, confirming by touch she was close and mine. I didn’t have a ring for her, and I wasn’t even sure how I could possibly propose in a way worthy of her and everything she’d add to my life, but I’d figure something out. I’d do things a little backwards, building a home and offering it to her, trying to give her a gift capable of making up for lost time, a promise of the family we’d build alongside the waterfall we both loved.

  If I didn’t think about something else, I wouldn’t get any work done at all. “I don’t get along very well with Knoxwin,” I announced.

  “He wants you to sell? Don’t blame him; my father’s the one pulling his strings right now. He doesn’t have a choice in the matter.”

  “Well, I’m not selling. Your father would take them and find some way to make the situation even worse.”

  “Would you sell to me?”

  “I’d give them to you. You’re already named my beneficiary and the executor in my will. It’s recently filed, so if something does happen to me, you’re going to have a bit of a legal battle ahead of you, which is a good thing. It’ll mean the stocks will be locked for longer, which will keep them out of the wrong hands. Your share will be five percent of every bank—the maximum I’ll allow after I file my requests as the majority stockholder. I’ll have you distribute the rest to charities and families living beneath the poverty line. You’ll want to add a provision for donated stocks to be managed under someone you find trustworthy, but I have faith you can handle it.”

  “You’re not dying,” she snapped.

  Her annoyance and fear made me smile. After so long of doubting my own value and worth, hearing it in her voice and feeling it despite the suppressors reassured me more than anything else, including knowledge of my talent and what it could do. “It’s just a precaution. Your little brother is the secondary executor, just in case anything were to happen to both of us. After him, everything goes to charity. There’s a clause for an equal share split should we have children.”

  She stilled, and her eyes narrowed. “We should go back to bed. I’m not sure we made sufficient effort in that department last night.”

  I didn’t have to think about that for long. Closing my laptop, I set it on the laptop and hopped to my feet.

  The front door opened. Ian strode in, grinning ear to ear. “Good morning, love birds!”

  I contemplated murder, and Veronica sighed. “You’re back already?”

  “I detect a certain amount of resentment at my presence in my rental lodge. I come bearing news.”

  News could be good or bad, and with a sigh of my own, I sank back down onto the armchair. “What news?”

  “I’ve been accused of kidnapping.”

  “Good luck dodging those charges,” I muttered.

  “I thoroughly enjoyed telling His Royal Majesty I had no intention of marrying any of his daughters. I also made it perfectly clear that the Kingdom of New York doesn’t condone the interference in a bonded pair for political gain. My parents might kill me when I get home. Sorry, Adam. I stole your medical file and used it as a weapon.”

  I went cold at the thought of my medical file being presented to the king’s court, although I realized it would happen eventually. If I did become king, my medical records would be scrutinized from top to bottom.

  There’d be no hiding anything from anyone.

  Veronica sat beside me and massaged my shoulder. “Is that it, Ian?”

  “If only. I may have offered political asylum for both of you if North Dakota can’t handle an elite-level leech like Adam. I even put out a feeler to Montana, threatening a mediation request on the matter. His Royal Majesty frothed. It gets better.”

  Veronica groaned and hung her head, and her dismay was strong enough I tensed. “It was an open court, so there were reporters in the hall.”

  “It’s like you’ve been to North Dakota before. Thanks for the warni
ng about those busybody truth seers; both were verifying. It made for an uncomfortable room, especially when I got to the part about Adam having a heart attack during his preliminary talent testing. I may have suggested your disappearance was directly related to Adam’s traumatic evaluation. Sorry, Veronica.”

  “You didn’t!”

  Ian giggled, and I arched a brow at the overly eager sounds the prince made. “I so did. Also, fair warning for you, Adam. Your mother was in the room. She flipped during the medical report portion of my speech. Your father was quieter, but he did ask if anyone was actually surprised, and he did so with a masterful use or sarcasm. I lost ten minutes to your mother, who has a very extensive vocabulary. I was impressed. She could teach the average New Yorker a thing or two about cursing. I have a much better understanding of why you cut ties with your family like you did. She’s absolutely opinionated.”

  Veronica grunted and relocated to my lap, which I enjoyed a great deal. “They faced exile if they didn’t go along with the revocation of the betrothal.”

  “With their talents? Your father’s insane. I’ll drop word to my parents. They’d pay a great deal for access to their talents. Hell, I bet we could secure a betrothal for your brother with one of my sisters, Adam.”

  “None of my business.”

  “I see you’re the type to hold a long-term grudge.”

  “I have more important things to worry about.”

  Veronica stroked my cheek, drawing my full attention to her. “You have problems with rejection. Therapy might help.” Her attention turned to Ian, which I disliked enough I grunted. “Don’t mind him, Ian. I expect to be spending a lot of time convincing him I have no intention of ever leaving him. I’d abdicate first.”

  “I believe that’s what everyone is worried about. Your siblings are staging a protest. They all filed their refusals to rule today; they timed it for right after I finished my speech. If you don’t take the throne, North Dakota will be taken over by a new royal family—and it might spell the death of your family’s talent. I expect it’ll hit the news by noon your siblings are revolting. Also, your sister called me an asshole, but she told me if Brant was looking for a wife, she might consider jumping ship to New York. He’s cute enough to be worth the trouble, apparently.”

  Veronica groaned. “Abby?”

  “Yep.”

  I snickered at the thought of Abigail taking over New York. “She’d be a queen within a month. Poor Brant. Is he still a snooty bookworm?”

  “He’s a snooty bisexual bookworm with zero interest in marriage. I suggested Abby consider Francis instead. He wants a wife and likes a challenge. Abby was brilliant. She said she’d think about it, as it beat being set up and jerked around, and her reference of you two was vicious.”

  I had the sinking feeling Ian hadn’t told us everything. “Anything else we should know?”

  “Be careful, Adam. His Royal Majesty is obviously off his rocker, and he blames you. At the rate this is going, there really will be a revolution, and as far as he’s concerned, you’re the leader of the other side, as is Veronica. Things get tense in New York sometimes, but I truly believe everyone except the king is ready for the heir to take the throne.”

  As Ian had predicted, news hit at noon about the disastrous open session, and it was worse than I’d feared. One outlet had decided to run with a conspiracy theory accusing the king of attempting to get rid of me at fifteen to protect his claim to the throne. Worse, the outlet backed the conspiracy theory with fact.

  At least twenty percent of all elite children didn’t develop their talents until eighteen. Five percent held out until twenty, with one percent developing their abilities later in life.

  To break the betrothal between an obviously bonded pair meant one thing: the king had felt threatened.

  I looked up from my laptop. “Veronica?”

  She peeked over my shoulder to read the article. “I could believe it. Dad hasn’t been the nicest person since my mother moved to the other side of the castle to get away with him. He’s been an ass for years. My mother’s considering divorce.”

  My mouth dropped open. Divorce was taboo for ruling monarchs, and it was frowned upon for those with royal talents. Even the elite were scrutinized if they filed for divorce. It was especially taboo in kingdoms where the monarchs shared an equal responsibility ruling. “You’re serious.”

  “Very. She hasn’t told anyone yet. She hasn’t started the paperwork because she’s afraid of what my father will do, but it’s coming. She’s going to seek asylum in another kingdom when she files.”

  Ian grunted. “Be aware New York has harsh rules regarding divorcing monarchs, but in this case, when it’s obvious His Royal Majesty is abusive and dangerous, she might be able to get asylum with my parents. I’ll ask.”

  “She’s thinking she’ll go to Europe.”

  Veronica’s family was falling apart, and it hurt knowing she understood what it was like to walk around in my shoes. “I’m sorry.”

  Sorry was so inadequate, but I had nothing else I could say.

  “It’s not your fault. My father loves power more than anything else. He judges you, but the only reason he’s a royal is because he’s a gene carrier. Everyone believes he has the amplification talent only because he was born first. He’s a fucking hypocrite.”

  “North Dakota isn’t exactly a talent powerhouse,” I muttered.

  Ian sucked in a breath. “He wants a puppet he can rule behind, doesn’t he? One with a destructive talent. Adam’s not a good puppet, but he might have two potentially destructive talents.”

  Veronica shrugged. “I can’t say either way. Adam’s Adam. He’s quiet, but…”

  I’d always been quiet; I couldn’t deny it. “There are far more destructive talents.”

  Veronica laughed at me, leaned close, and kissed my cheek. “Your mother can remote detonate explosives from several miles away without the benefit of a blasting cap. Your father is a one-man demolition crew if the building is made of steel. Together? They could walk through downtown New York and flatten the place. Just because they don’t use their talent that way doesn’t mean they can’t.”

  As I couldn’t argue with her, I conceded with a nod. “Maybe they can, but they won’t.”

  “I wouldn’t be so certain about that, Adam.” Ian flopped onto the couch and stretched out. “His Royal Majesty tore your family apart. Everyone has a line, and your case is now worldwide news. They’ll be put in the line of fire—or used against the royal family. It’s going to get ugly.”

  “That’s just fucking spectacular.”

  Veronica moved my laptop and took over my lap. “You’re going to snap at Ian if you don’t cool your temper, then you’ll be upset. Then I’ll get upset, and I’m not sure Ian would appreciate both of us being upset at the same time. I’m sure your parents will be somewhat reasonable. No one is asking you to go into the same room with them and kiss and make up right now. Give them a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised. They’re not as bad as you think they are.”

  “Could’ve fooled me.”

  “They’re victims, too. They had no choice.”

  Logically, I understood she spoke the truth, but I couldn’t erase eighteen years of doubt, not that easily. Acknowledging the truth would help—eventually. “I know that.”

  “You may not believe this right now but give them—and yourself—a chance. Good things will happen. We just have to get my father out of the picture first.”

  Chapter Ten

  When Veronica and Ian weren’t conspiring to force vegetables down my throat, I worked. A storm brewed on the financial front, and not all of it was tied to New York’s attack on North Dakota’s economy.

  The more the media speculated about the king, the further stock values plummeted. Bailing the banks out wouldn’t be enough, not anymore. North Dakota fought a new war, one even worse than the New York sellout. When trust in the government faltered, investors refused to spend.

  Som
e sold. No, many tried to sell.

  No one was buying.

  I could deal with New York’s sellout. I couldn’t restore the lost confidence in the market. Whispers of discontent hit the internet first. The television media said nothing, which worried me most of all.

  Many rulers waited for news to hit the mainstream media before acting, and that the media worked to control the flow of information meant trouble. The reporters took to wearing red ribbons around their left ring fingers, although the significance was lost to me. I expected there were rumors on the street that weren’t being spoken of by the media—and wouldn’t be.

  I assumed it was a symbol of rebellion.

  Royal families had waged war against each other since the rise of magic, but after the second civil war had ended but before the Royal States had officially formed, there hadn’t been a single serious revolt in any of the kingdoms. Too many feared the magic of the royals.

  North Dakota’s royal family stood apart from most, with the exception of Alaska’s reclusive king. His new queen’s talent disrupted the ranks, leaving North Dakota in absolute last place in terms of magical firepower.

  “Adam?” Veronica asked, and a hint of her amusement made it through the suppressors.

  I lifted my head, tearing my gaze from the latest reports I read on my laptop. “What is it?”

  “Ian’s been trying to ask you a question for ten minutes.”

  I arched a brow. “He’s still here?”

  “Funny, Adam,” the New Yorker muttered. “We have several problems.”

  I didn’t need any more problems. I already had more than I knew what to do with. The problems came with benefits, the most important of which sat beside me on the arm of my chair. “What now?”

  “I give it a day or two before the rioting starts. While you were absorbed with your work, I called my parents.”

  I considered running away, accepting my inevitable doom with a heavy sigh. “What happened?”