Reign of a King (Kingdom Duet #1) by Rina Kent

“He’s not your daddy,” I murmur back, poking her side the hardest I can.

She winces but continues smiling as she peeks at Elsa. “And you are?”

“She’s my daughter.” Ethan’s voice drips with pride as he wraps an arm around her shoulders. “She wanted to join, if that’s okay.”

“Of course, the more the merrier.” Layla offers to take the basket from Elsa.

“Aunt and I made them. There are cupcakes and different lollipops for the children,” Elsa speaks to Layla but keeps stealing glances at me. The ring on her finger is blinding, and I pause as I recognise it. Alicia’s ring. I’d recognise it anywhere, considering she had a habit of touching it whenever she was absentminded.

The reminder of the time I spent with my sister comes rushing back in. The emotions. How much I miss her. It all hits me hard. I force myself to shut the door on those thoughts and steady my breaths.

“I’m sure they’ll love them.” Layla struggles to hold the basket. With her petite body, she’s like a toddler carrying a teddy bear twice her size.

Ethan steps in and takes the basket from her, helping her place it on the counter.

Layla pretends to faint behind his back so only I can see her, then mouths, “Daddy.” That dork. It takes everything in me not to burst out laughing.

“I must admit, I didn’t think you’d show up,” I tell Agnus.

“We do attend charities,” Agnus says in his eternal cool voice. He’s iceman. No kidding. He retrieves his phone, stares at the screen, and gives Ethan a knowing look. “I have to take this.”

He nods at us and disappears around the corner, making way for old ladies who come in carrying baskets similar to Elsa’s.

Once finished, Ethan motions at me. “Elsa, this is Aurora.”

“We’ve met before,” she whispers. “At the wedding.”

I fidget, struggling to maintain a smile. “Right. Sorry about back then.”

Elsa shakes her head. “I’m the one who’s sorry about what Aiden did afterwards.”

“He told you?”

“He doesn’t have to. I could feel he went searching for trouble as soon as we were back from the honeymoon.” She touches her ring finger. “I just want you to know that losing Alicia has changed Aiden drastically, and it’s not necessarily for the better. Seeing you and knowing you existed after such a long time didn’t sit well with him. It’s not that he hates you, it’s that…”

“He hates how much I look like her. I understand.”

Her electric blue eyes light up. “You do?”

“It’s not easy to see a ghost.” I know that more than anyone else. “Where is he?”

“He’s with my doctor.”

“Your doctor?” I throw a curious glance between her and Ethan.

“I have a heart condition, and Aiden basically possesses my attending physician. Whenever he doesn’t answer the phone, he barges into his workplace or house.” She rolls her eyes. “Like today.”

Ethan squeezes her shoulder. “He only wants to make sure you’re fine, Princess.”

“I know that, Dad, but he can be so extra. Dr Albert hates me because of it.”

It strikes me then. The difference between Jonathan’s behaviour and Ethan’s. My tyrant disapproves of Elsa and doesn’t shy away from expressing his opinion. On the other hand, Ethan doesn’t seem to disapprove of Aiden — despite his menacing feelings towards Jonathan.

One is definitely more parental than the other.

“Tell you what, Aurora.” Ethan meets my gaze, still holding his daughter by the shoulder. “We plan to have a family dinner with Aiden and Elsa this weekend. How about you join us?”

I gulp. This could be either my last chance to try and fix things with Aiden, or to completely screw it up.

“Please come,” Elsa says. “I’ll make sure Aiden behaves.”

I smile at the enthusiasm in her tone and face. There’s something about her that’s both bold and innocent. I wonder how she gets along with a hot-headed person like Aiden. He’s so much like his father, it gives me whiplash.

“I will love to.”

“You will not.”

My back snaps upright and I nearly yelp like a damsel in distress at that strong, authoritative tone.

The entire atmosphere shifts from familial and fun to stormy and dangerous in a fraction of a second as Jonathan strides to the middle of the scene as if he’s the master of it.

The priest’s words and the slight chatter coming from the inside filter and vanish into thin air. Even the people greeting and passing us by might as well be invisible right now.

My entire attention is attuned to the man standing before me in his pressed black suit, diamond cufflinks, and dark leather shoes that I could see my face in if I squint hard enough.

There’s something about Jonathan’s presence that throttles and pins me in place without him having to touch me. The fact that it’s effortless on his part makes him even more frightening. He’s a man in power and he’s well aware of the fact.

All I can do is watch as he dominates the room and everyone in it. Or maybe it’s only me.

His black hair is styled back, revealing that strong forehead and his too-sharp jaw.