Alex stopped in front of the cell and stared at the bastard who drugged him. Caleb of Hassex, chained to a wall with shackles on his feet.
A surge of anger burned through Alex's veins. "Sven, open the door."
The captain gave him a worried look, but obeyed without protest, and Alex stepped into the cell. The nobleman lifted his head and went pale.
"Your Highness!"
Alex clenched his teeth and smashed his fist into Caleb's cheek. The cheekbone cracked under his knuckles.
"Son of a bitch!"
"Wa—"
Alex struck him a second time, straight on the nose, then he grabbed him by the hair and drove a knee into his teeth.
"This is for me, you bastard!"
He let him go and rubbed his fist, then gestured to Sven.
"Bring a chair. This asshole and I need to have a long talk."
The bastard lifted his head. His nose was broken and still bleeding, his cheekbone was swollen, and a couple of teeth were missing from his mouth.
"I have nothing to tell you."
"So you attacked me just to pass the time?"
"I was only helping you."
Sven brought a chair closer, and Alex sat down and crossed his legs.
"You drugged me and took me to my rooms."
"That's not true."
"We found traces of the substance in the glass. Azaron flower, right? The same substance that was mixed with my breakfast and the water in my flask."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"My maid confessed. She said you forced her."
"I didn't do anything!"
Alex rested his chin on his fist. "Then talk. Or do I have to beat you a little more?"
The bastard ran his tongue over his split lips. "My father won't like knowing you beat me."
"He'll like it much less when he hears what you did to me."
"I didn't do anything!"
Alex bared his teeth, and anger burned in his chest again. "You drugged me, tied and gagged me, and stripped me. Should I go on?"
Caleb didn't reply. Alex snapped his fingers.
"Sven, hold him still."
The captain shot him a worried glance. "Your Highness, are you sure?"
"He hurt me. I think I can cut off one of his hands without displeasing anyone. Dead men do not need limbs."
Alex rose from the chair and drew his sword. Sven grabbed the bastard and pinned him to the ground, arms stretched out.
"No, wait," Caleb whimpered. "Wait, I beg you!"
Panic swelled in his voice, his eyes wide and full of tears. Mucus mixed with the blood still dripping from his nose as his fingers clawed at the stone floor.
Alex stepped forward and raised the sword. "You showed no mercy when I ordered you to leave."
"It wasn't my idea!" the bastard shrieked. "They forced me, I had no choice! They would have cleared my debts—I only had to help them take you away. I beg you, I didn't want to hurt you!"
Alex frowned. "Take me where?"
"I don't know, I don't know anything! They didn't tell me anything, I swear on my life!"
"That sounds like a lie. Maybe you need an incentive."
"I'm telling the truth! They gave me the drug. They told me I had to give it to you and then wait, that they'd get you out of the palace. But I didn't know it was an aphrodisiac!"
Sven looked up at Alex. "Your Highness, I think he's telling the truth."
"I want names, Caleb."
"I don't know them! I never saw their faces!"
"You make deals with ghosts?"
"Your maid was the intermediary. I only spoke to her. I'm drowning in debt, and my father wouldn't have helped me. Why the fuck do you think he sent me here?"
Alex sheathed his weapon and gestured to Sven. "Let him go. We have what we need."
He left the cell and headed upstairs. The captain walked beside him and handed him a cloth to clean off the blood.
"You went a bit far," he murmured.
"He deserved it. He humiliated me."
"You still didn't need to dirty your hands yourself."
"I did. Now I feel better." As if he had restored some kind of order.
He handed the cloth back to Sven.
"He didn't act alone. Someone organized the kidnapping. Question my maid and verify Caleb's confession."
"As you wish."
"He might have other accomplices inside the palace. Investigate discreetly."
"Should I report it to your father?"
"No. He will stay out of this."
Sven frowned. "Did you argue with him again?"
Alex ignored the question. "Keep an eye on William, too. Someone might try to hurt him. And be careful yourself."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
The captain took his leave with a bow, and Alex continued to his father's study.
He hadn't seen him since the day before, when they had argued, and he didn't know what to expect. Would they end up shouting at each other again this time?
"It doesn't matter," he murmured, then knocked and entered.
His father lifted his head from the documents, and a flash of surprise crossed his face. "Alex! What are you doing on your feet?"
"My duty as a prince, Father."
"You should be resting."
"Why? Someone has to deal with the bastards who tried to harm me."
His father frowned and looked down at the bloodstains on his shirt. "What did you do?"
"I interrogated Caleb. Since the guards couldn't get anything out of him, I took care of it myself. Apparently, threatening to cut off his hand with a sword works."
"And that blood?"
"It's from his face. He's not very good at taking punches."
"I hope he's still able to stand."
"Don't worry. He can walk to the scaffold on his own legs."
His father knitted his brow. "You should have been focused on resting."
"There's no need. I'm fine." Alex took a seat. "I've reassigned my servants. From now on, William will take care of my needs."
"Why?"
"I don't trust anyone else. My maid was drugging me—I can't allow that to happen again."
"There's no need. I will check the staff; nothing like that will happen again."
"I don't care, Father. I trust only William."
The king let out a heavy breath. "Very well. If it makes you feel safer, do as you see fit."
"I have also decided that I will accept Ballard's marriage proposal, but only under certain conditions."
"Go ahead."
"I want time to get to know her first, and Ballard must drop the accusations against Will. And I don't want the court to know that I am courting her."
"They are reasonable conditions. I don't think Ballard will object."
"You may inform him in advance, but I want to discuss it with him face to face."
"Anything else?"
"Yes." Alex met his gaze. "If you take William away from me, I will leave."
"By the spirits, Alex, you can't—"
"I know what you asked him. I don't care what you think, but he stays. At any cost."
His father looked at him for a moment, then averted his gaze. "I will arrange the meeting with Ballard shortly. If there is nothing else, you may go."
Alex bowed and left. He had managed to gain a little time, but it would not last forever. And he still had to discover who had organized his attempted kidnapping.
"I should inform William about all this."
------------------
William slipped the last books into the box and closed it. He would be able to enter the new apartments by the end of the week, and he felt excited.
"It's rare to see you this happy."
William stiffened and turned: Nikolas was staring at him from the doorway with his arms crossed, but he did not look happy at all. "What do you want?"
"The truth."
"I have nothing to tell you."
Nikolas stepped closer. "You've become a real asshole."
"Think whatever you like. It ended three years ago—we have nothing left to talk about."
"Maybe you don't, but I need it."
"That's not true. You're just hoping the reason might give you a chance to change my mind."
"And is that wrong?" Nikolas snapped.
"Of course it is! I don't belong to you—you have no rights over me."
"You didn't think so when you whispered that you were mine!"
"We were young! What the hell did we know about love?"
Nikolas pressed his lips together. "There's someone else, isn't there?"
"It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is!"
He grabbed him by the arm, pushed him onto the bed, and loomed over him. Panic flooded William and clenched his stomach.
"Nikolas," he stammered. "Get off me… please…"
"Why won't you understand how much you're tearing me apart? I need you, please."
William pressed his trembling hands against Nikolas' chest. "Please, move away…"
"I can make you happy. No one loves you like I do. You know it, yet you keep pushing me away."
"I beg you…" The first tears welled in his eyes, and Nikolas' face became a blurred shape. "Please…"
Nikolas grimaced and got off the bed. "If you want my vote, you'll have to tell me the truth, William. A favor for a favor."
"I can't…" William murmured as panic clutched his chest. "I can't do it."
"That means you don't really care about staying here. Think carefully—you don't have much time."
He left the room.
Once alone, William pressed his hands over his lips and sobbed. It wasn't possible—it was just a nightmare, wasn't it? Nikolas couldn't have blackmailed him.
He couldn't have made him feel dirty again.
"William?" The prince's voice made him lift his head. "Are you all right?"
William wiped his cheeks, got off the bed, and threw himself into his arms.
"Take me." He buried his fingers in the prince's jacket. "Please."