Love For Hire

Los Angeles, two years later…

Kinsley pulled into her driveway to find a luxury car parked at the curb. She got out of the car and watched as two men stepped out of the other vehicle. Kinsley was surprised to see Octavius and Stephen again. Octavius smiled at her warmly. “I thought I would never see you again,” she said, coming to stand in front of him.

“It has been too long.”

“How is Nicholas?” She asked, dying to know if he had survived or if his treatment had failed, and Nicholas had passed on.

“The Prince has requested you join him for dinner. If you have the time,” Octavius told her.

“How did you even find me?” She was not in the phonebook, and both she and her parents had moved some time ago. It amazed her that they had been able to track her down.

“With enough money and a good PI, you can find anyone,” she supposed that was true.

“Dinner?”

Stephen came around the car and opened the rear door for her to get in. Kinsley chuckled. They knew she would go. She did not even have to say yes. Kinsley stepped into the back of the car, and the two men climbed into the front, and they started to drive. “Is Nicholas well?” She asked. Octavius just smiled back at her, and she knew he was not going to tell her anything.

They drove to the palace outside town. The same place she had spent so much time with Nicholas. She looked at the mansion as she stepped out of the car. So many memories here. She had honestly thought she would never see this place again. Kinsley followed Octavius inside. He led her to the parlour, where he gestured for her to take a seat while he fetched Nicholas and told him she was waiting on him.

Kinsley sat down and waited. It was not long when someone came in. Kinsley stood up and turned to see Nicholas. She was astonished. He looked remarkable. The corpse he had been the last she saw him was no more. He was strong. No longer skin and bones. He was well-fed and fit. His skin had a healthy colour and not that ashy look of death. The dark circles around his eyes had faded, and his face was no longer sunken. His hair had grown back and, more importantly. He was standing. He had walked into the room.

At his side sat Brutus and Nicholas had a firm grasp on Brutus’ harness. He still stared directly ahead, and she assumed that meant he was still blind. He smiled, even though Kinsley had yet to say a word. “I know you are in here. I can smell your perfume,” he said with a smile.

Kinsley was doing her best not to cry with joy. She rushed across the room and hugged him tightly. Nicholas laughed and letting go of the dog harness; he hugged her back. “Look at you,” she said, stepping back to look him over. “You look amazing. You look strong and healthy.”

He smiled at her, and she could see the pride on his face. “I am happy to say the treatment was a resounding success.”

“Dr. Horton cured you?”

now manageable. As long as I take my daily injections, I remain

change is remarkable. You have made

of disappointment. “My eyesight never returned. I tried radiation therapy again to see if I could shrink the tumour. It did not work, unfortunately. The tumour is still inoperable, but the radiation had, in a way, killed it. The tumour is benign now. Harmless. It does, however, still press on my optic nerve. They cannot cut it out, but Dr. Horton is confident that it will not get worse. So I will simply have to learn

surprised her. Kinsley stood up and smiled at

on the closest Couch, and Nicholas sat down next to her, and Brutus lay down on the floor next

thanks to your kindness. The money

a deal, and you lived up to your part, so

“Is that all it was? Love for hire? Did I ever mean

did not know if I would survive or recover if I did. I did not want to be a burden on

cried for you

as the smile faded from his face. “Is there…” He trailed off like he did not want to ask what was on his mind. Like he feared her answer.

you are asking, is there another man in my life… no, there is not. There has been no one after

“Why not?”

new when you are still in

“So you

do

that said, I have a proposition

“Is that so?”

have come to LA to collect you,” Nicholas

“Collect me?”

am flying back to Kustium next

surprised and disappointed to learn he was leaving.

I will be king one day; I have to learn how to run a country. I have to go

wish you

you to come with