Chapter 486

"Pearl, how was your nap?" Erik smiled as he walked into their bedroom, carrying little Rose to her breast for her afternoon feeding.

"It was glorious, but I missed you both."

Pearl smiled as Erik kissed Rose on the top of her head and then leaned in to kiss Pearl's forehead.

"I have a meeting with our son. I will be back in a few hours."

Pearl nodded and smiled, waving him to go as she cuddled Rose in her arms.

Erik smiled back, the contentment overflowing from his heart, and leaving her to it. He needed to get to the guest house as quickly as possible, Christian made it clear it was urgent.

"Come in." Christian greeted him in jeans, without a shirt or shoes. His thick hair out of place and he looked frantic.

"I came as soon as you texted. Are you alright?" Erik straightened his jacket and walked inside, following Christian to the kitchen. He looked around the house, noticing the blankets strewn out on the floor and the disarray of the furniture.

"Cuppa?" Christian offered, stirring his own tea.

"Please." Erik watched him, as he ran his hand through his hair and fumbled the kettle, unsteadily handing him the cup.

"Okay, let's cut the formalities and tell me what the hell is going on, aye?" Erik said, sipping his tea.

"I have a problem." Christian paced the kitchen.

"Oh yes, that is painfully obvious. That's not what I need to know, I need to know what kind of trouble you are in so I can help you get out of it."

Erik was no stranger to the upheaval of the norm. He could sense Christian was off, and in an elevated state of distress.

"Umm, it's a bit unsettling, actually. And random. You're never going to believe it…" Christian began.

"Is it illegal?" Erik's demeanor much more casual than it should be for the question.

"What? No. No it's not."

Erik sighed and put his cup down, placing both of his hands on the counter. "Excellent, so, let's have it then."

Christian hesitated. Erik was just about to slam his hands on the counter when he said, "It's Alex."

Erik stood up straighter, the name causing him to feel a bit cautious. Alex was not a huge fan of Erik's and he was a difficult young man to read.

"Is he alright?" Erik asked.

"Yes. Yes and no."

"Alright, Christian. Enough. I need you to be clear about what is going on and enough of this rubbish."

"Okay, I met a girl last night. Allegra." Christian smiled when he said her name. He thought back to the day before, the hours they spent naked, desperate for one another.

"So you met and shagged a girl, that's obvious. How does Alex play into this exactly?"

Christian looked away. "Allegra was Alex's fiancée," he said, quietly.

Erik slid his hand down his mouth, propping his arm up in place.

"Excuse me? I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you say she is Alex's fiancée?"

Christian nodded and looked down. "And he walked in on us yesterday morning, naked in each other's arms."

Erik took a moment to process what he had just been told.

"Alex was engaged?"

"That's what you are asking me? I just told you I shagged the girl he loves AND that he walked in on us and you are shocked by him being engaged?"

Erik took a deep breath. "I apologize. I just had no idea Alex was.. is…"

"They haven't, you know, she told me they never… that Alex is still a…"

Erik held his hands up. "None of my business, really. Just the whole thing. Wow. Alright then, did you know she was before he walked in on you in the… act?"

"No! I had no clue. She didn't even know who I am. It was not either of our faults." Christian paced the floor again.

"I find it terribly difficult to believe that she didn't know who you are. You're the bloody king of Great Britain. I call bollocks."

"She didn't. It was a random meeting in the parking lot of a pub. She said she thought I resembled the king but she didn't think I actually was the king. And I had no idea about Alex, obviously. Your reaction confirms that."

Erik took a moment to contemplate the situation. "So it's just an extraordinary coincidence then?"

Christian nodded.

"Well, it's not like you are in love with the girl. It was a shag, and that's all. We will call Alex and set up a family meeting… " Erik began and then his words were cut short by the look on Christian's face. "Dear god. You don't.. you can't actually be in love with her after one night?"

Christian looked away again.

Erik walked closer to him. "Right?"

He couldn't make eye contact with Erik. He wasn't sure if it was love but it was something much more than a one night stand for him.

"Bloody hell." Erik turned and rubbed his temples.

"I don't want to hurt him, but I am not willing to just walk away from her. Can you talk to him? Can mother? I think she is the loveliest person I've ever met and I never expected to feel like this after Nora.. "

Erik nodded. He remembered the instant connection he and Pearl shared and what worlds he was willing to burn to the ground to have her. He also knew how painful it was to have his cousin, who was like a brother to him, take her from his grasp and turn her against him. He looked at his son and knew his intentions were pure, so he made the decision to help.

"I.. I will try to talk to him but I can't make any promises."

Christian smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, father. You have no idea how grateful I am to have you in my life."

Erik patted his shoulder and smiled. "This is going to get ugly before it gets sorted out. Try to stay away from her for a bit and definitely avoid being in public. I will reach out to him and get back to you after. I love you, my son and we will work through this."

He left him there and headed back to the main house. He needed to talk to Pearl and something told him it wasn't going to go well.