Loyal to You by Sarah Kades

Author:Sarah Kades
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: eco-thriller, Alberta, ecology, landscape, rockies, family legacy
Publisher: Stark Publishing
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Tucker gripped the railing at the top of the covered stairs. He couldn’t see the stars, only feel the bite of the wind.

You’re not responsible for your father’s actions.

Grace’s words damned the last several months of his life, dared him to bust out of the fortress of self-loathing he had buried himself in.

What the hell did she know?

Tucker stilled. Princess Grace continued to suffer under treacherous family members, and what had he done? In his anger, he had grasped at rebukes and petty meanness.

He heard a click behind him and turned.

Grace stood in the doorway, holding the door. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cross a line.”

Her soft admission sliced him. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I did, and I’m sorry.”

“Want to come back inside? It’s freezing out there.”

He nodded and followed her inside. Tucker closed the door, unsure what to do or how to explain. “I’m fucked up.”

Grace snapped her head up at his words. “Don’t say that.”

He shrugged. “It’s true. I just bit your head off for telling me my own advice. That’s effed up.”

Grace picked up his beer and held it out to him.

He rubbed his jaw before taking it. “Thanks.”

She sat cross-legged on the couch, cradling her beer. “No one in my family considers it necessary to tell me who my biological father is, that’s fucked up. And when I tried to access my birth certificate, it was sealed. Same with my mom’s first marriage license.”

Tucker sat down next to her, shocked. “Is there any way you can find out?”

“I’m having my DNA run against those commercial genealogy databases. I’m also fairly certain a friend of mine is breaking into our national archives to get me a copy of the untampered one.” Grace held up a hand. “Before you go all copper on me, as a royal heir, I am allowed full discretion of records that pertain to me. Whoever tampered with my birth certificate and my parents’ wedding certificate and license is subject to some serious jail time and hefty fines. Tampering with documents concerning succession is a big no-no.”

Tucker hadn’t considered that. “I guess it would be more complicated than simply hiding an indiscretion.”

“Succession makes people crazy.” Grace’s hand shook when she took another sip of her beer. “And someone tried to kill me. Twice.”

Tucker stilled. “What happened?”

“Someone replaced the combat training prop gun with a real one. I wanted to chalk that up to an accident, but then a few days later, the plane I was supposed to be on blew up.”

Tucker stared at Grace. “Who wants you dead?”

She dropped her head. “I’m pretty sure it’s my grandfather, the grand duke. Though, I guess it could be one of his followers.”

“Is it a succession thing? You mentioned that made people crazy.”

Grace scrunched her brow, “I don’t believe so. My grandfather was compelled to abdicate as king. He did not take the loss of power, such as a constitutional monarchy affords, well, and the country has become alarmingly polarized since. He blames me. There’s an election in a few days that early polling declares will be historic.

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