Royal Elite Epilogue (Royal Elite #7) by Rina Kent

“Now what?” Cole tugs on Silver’s hand so she falls on to his lap. The fucking hypocrite was just pointing out the rooms for me.

“Xan here was saying that he’s Kimmy’s first and last when I actually dated her first.”

“No, you didn’t.” Xander elbows him.

“Mais oui. Remember that date at Mum’s favourite restaurant, Kimmy?”

“Your mum’s favourite restaurant, huh?” Teal crosses her arms, staring her husband down, even though he’s way taller than her.

He quickly backpedals, holding her hands. “You know that’s not what I meant, ma belle. Xan was a dick at the time — more than usual, I mean — and I was only being my usual Prince Charming self. It’s not me, it’s my genes.”

“Shut it, Ron.” Xander elbows him again and gathers Cecily off the floor. She snuggles in his embrace, ignoring everyone else. Xander feels smug whenever we tell him she’s a daddy’s girl.

“Hey, Remi,” Ronan calls out for his son and he comes running, jumping in his father’s arms. “Tell your mummy who loves her most in the world.”

“Daddy and Remi.”

“That’s right.” Ronan fist-bumps with him.

“And Uncle Knox!”

“And your Uncle Knox, when he’s not getting himself in trouble.”

“My brother doesn’t get himself in trouble.” Teal goes straight to the defensive.

“He kind of does,” my wife says. “Though it’s not always his fault.”

“Thank you!” Teal squeezes Elsa’s shoulder.

“You did well and will be rewarded by Lars later.” Ronan puts his son to his feet. “Off you go, my second in command.”

Remi stands upright and makes a salute. “Yes, sir.”

Everyone laughs as he runs at full speed and crashes into Brandon and Eli.

Everyone except me, because I’m contemplating a way to kidnap Elsa out of here and have her all to myself.

After Eli falls asleep.

I pull out my phone and email Jonathan because he dislikes texts. Usually, I would purposely text him, but I need him for grandpa duties this weekend.

It’s been some time since I had Jonathan’s island all for me and my wife.



From: Aiden King

To: Jonathan King

Subject: Don’t You Miss Your Grandkid?

I’ll bring him over this weekend.



From: Jonathan King

To: Aiden King

Subject: Don’t You Miss Your Grandkid?

No.



He’s probably planning to go to the island with my stepmum himself, and he can get stiff as fuck when it comes to her time. I smirk as I type.



From: Aiden King

To: Jonathan King

Subject: Don’t You Miss Your Grandkid?

You had your chance. I’m calling Aurora.



From: Jonathan King

To: Aiden King

Subject: Don’t You Miss Your Grandkid?

Don’t.



I pull Aurora’s number and text her.

Aiden: Elsa needs time to decompress. Can you have Eli this weekend?

Her reply is immediate.

Aurora: Absolutely! I miss his face.



My smirk widens as I pull back the exchange with my father.



From: Aiden King

To: Jonathan King

Subject: Don’t You Miss Your Grandkid?

Already done.



“What are you plotting?” a soft voice whispers from my right as I tuck the phone in my pocket.

Elsa stares at me with slightly narrowed eyes, as if she knows exactly what I’ve done.

“Just some negotiations with Jonathan.”

She raises a brow. “Just Jonathan?”

“I might have deferred to Aurora.”

“Aiden!” She clutches me by the shoulder. “Stop using her against your father.”

“I’m not using her. It’s mutually beneficial. It’s not my problem that Jonathan doesn’t see it that way.”

She chuckles under her breath. “You’re awful.”

“But you still love me?”

Her lips brush against my cheek as she whispers, “When did I ever stop?”

“I never stopped loving you since that day I first saw you when we were just kids, sweetheart.”





23





Kimberly





I tug on Xander’s bicep. “Let Cecily go so she can play with the other kids.”

“You mean so they’ll hurt her?” He tickles her tummy. “Not that I would let anyone hurt my little Cecily.”

She breaks out in giggles, dimples creasing her cheeks as she holds on to him with all her might. “Daddy!”

I shake my head as I take her from his arms and put her to her feet. She staggers for a bit before she breaks into a run towards the others. He’s making her so spoilt, it’s on a whole different level.

“Why did you do that?” He frowns, following her with his gaze as she stands beside Remi, holding on to him as she did to her daddy.

I smooth a crease in his shirt on his shoulder, and yeah, it could be just an excuse to touch him. Truth is, I can’t stop touching Xander. So what if we’ve been married for nine years? When in his presence, I feel like the little girl who snuck into his house to sleep beside him.