Prince Ezra
I paged through a special report file for a new drone the military had been working on for the past few months. I didn't understand a word on any of the data or the special testing that they had conducted on it but all I needed to understand was that it was lethal and extremely fast.
Kommos wouldn't personally use the weapon but I was planning to launch it on the market soon. We normally never dabbled into weaponry but I felt it was high time that we did. We could have a great defense all we wanted but we needed to learn how to take the fight out for once.
"We're going to leave soon," Cloud came walking down the aisle, dressed in straight leg jeans, slippers and a large sweater that instantly made him look like he was nineteen.
He was always so dressed up in public but when he was in his private headquarters, he looked just like the Cloud I met years ago. He sat down and took his red hair in his hands then tied it up into a messy bun.
"Is Thea occupied?" I peeked down the aisle of the large plane thinking I would see her somewhere.
"She's busy catching up with a few guards she knows," he softly smiled then peeked up at me from under his longer eyelashes. "You know, I think sometimes she misses being in the field."
"She's happy where she is," I sighed. "She's safer away from all of that."
He nodded as he hummed. His eyes studying my face and by the way his eyebrows knitted together I knew he was trying to find the best way to approach whatever it was he had been dying to say. "Iris was thinking-"
"No," I shook my head and chuckled. "If Iris is thinking something then I'm already shutting it down."
"Ezra," he sounded defeated. "It's been a long time since the entire family has been together. We were just thinking about all the babies together and the news of your engagement. It would be lovely if we went out to the beach castle. It would be nice to relax and you look like you need it. You've been stressed out with work."
"I understand that but I've already made plans to go to Turkey soon. I'm needed there for a military training meeting and I would like to see the weaponry we made in action," I explained hoping that I didn't sound too curt. "I would love to be with the family but as Minister-"
"Of military and defense it is your responsibility to ensure the safe keeping of the people of Kommos and its royal family," he explained, quoting me. "You're starting to sound like Adonis. It is always my duty. The royal family. The monarchy. Blah, blah, blah," he playfully stuck his tongue out at me which made us both laugh. "Please Ezra, I'm asking you nicely. Don't make me summon you. You know you won't be able to ignore it then."
There he was using it against me.
"How long do you plan on having this holiday?"
"Just a few days. I have to be in Moscow in two weeks therefore I don't have all the time in the world unfortunately," he pouted. "Is this you telling me you'd consider?"
"You all love to guilt trip me don't you," I leaned back in my seat and felt my muscles tighten when Thea came down the aisle with a large smile on her face. She was probably going to want something too.
"Can I come with you to Moscow? The guards told me you were going to the theatre," she instantly said to Cloud the moment she sat.
"No."
"Yes." Cloud and I both answered at the same time.
"No?" Thea looked at me with a glare. "Why not?"
"I won't be able to ensure you'll be safe if I'm not there. You'll be safer in Kommos."
"She'll be with me," Cloud argued. "What's safer than being with the King?"
"The person who is in charge of ensuring that the king is safe," I raised my eyebrows. "Plus I will be in Turkey. We will be far too stretched thin and I can't stress about you both."
"You sound like Ezekiel," Thea rolled her eyes and instantly hissed when she realized what she had said.
Cloud, himself, slightly recoiled and looked at me with worry.
I tried to let the comment roll over my shoulders. Everyone had been avoiding saying his name around me and I didn't blame them. I didn't think my reaction to hearing his name out loud after so long gave anyone much hope in me.
"He knew how to keep everyone safe. I'm just trying to do my job," I said with a clipped tone before placing the file I was working on, on the table in front of me, then stood up from my seat before going towards the back of the plane.
Instantly my throat was burning for a drink and I was glad to see the Barman busy preparing in-flight cocktails. I immediately ordered a gin and gulped it down hoping that it would wash away the sudden anxiety I was feeling. Going to the palace was a bad idea. I could just feel it already. The comparisons, Thea's constant need to defy me.
My mind was already racing with thoughts about how Iris was practically going to be glued to me. She was my best friend. Without a doubt but since her and Gino had been popping baby after baby, she constantly needed a distraction from a baby clinging off her small frame.
Thea must have known Cloud was going to ask me to go to the beach. Otherwise she wouldn't have tried to convince to not go to Turkey. They all plotted around me wanting me to express my feelings or whatever their family therapy has been teaching them.
Utter and useless bullocks if you asked me about it.