It didn’t matter. It wasn’t a logical response.
“It still feels like that night. In the woods.”
“I’m sorry,” Aiden said brokenly, holding Ronan’s wide eyes.
“Why?”
“I failed to protect you. They attacked and I couldn’t—”
“No!” Ronan snapped. He took a step toward Aiden, reaching for him, and Aiden couldn’t stop himself from retreating. He wanted nothing more than to trust him, but he didn’t know this man anymore. The only thing he did know was that he was working for the European Ministry. That was reason enough to be cautious.
Ronan immediately stopped and held up both hands, seeming to understand Aiden’s hesitance. “I have never blamed you. We both died that night. I hated myself for centuries because I didn’t protect you. That I couldn’t save you. Aiden—”
“What happened to you…after?” Aiden quickly asked. It felt like safer ground than anything Ronan might say next.
“I was taken east. Denmark and then Norway. Spent a number of years in Poland and Austria,” Ronan said. His words were a little more even and controlled now, as if the question gave him a moment to get a hold of his emotions.
“Spain and Portugal.” Aiden paused and smiled at a memory. “A brief period in Morocco before returning to England. And then the United States mostly and some South America.”
“And the family?”
Aiden’s smile grew wider. “Acquired when I was in England. Or rather, I was adopted by them.”
One of the best nights of his life still remained meeting the children who would become his sons. He’d loved Julianna already, but meeting the boys had simply sealed his fate. There had been no leaving England without them all at his side. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Ronan everything about Julianna and their sons, but now wasn’t the time.
“The European Ministry?”
Ronan’s expression turned adorably sheepish, and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks as he looked away from Aiden. “It’s been a long life, Aiden. I was bored the last century or so. I started taking on some little odd jobs for the Ministry to pass the time.” His smile returned and he looked up at Aiden. “But then I heard about this new King Aiden. I begged, pleaded, and pulled every fucking favor I had to accompany the envoy. I was seriously considering jumping on a plane, even if I didn’t have their approval, and crashing your party, but I didn’t want to burn every bridge I’d built over the years if I wasn’t entirely sure it was you.”
Aiden chuckled. “That sounds like you.”
Ronan huffed with false indignation. “I’ll have you know that I have learned some restraint over years without you around to rein me in.”
“Far more of Europe would have burned if you hadn’t,” Aiden muttered, earning another laugh from Ronan. The sound alone made him want to weep. How he’d missed it! It was better than hearing the first bird song in the early morning hours. More precious than a baby’s bliss-filled sigh.
“What does the European Ministry want?” Aiden asked, not sure what answer he was expecting from Ronan, but definitely not the straightforward reply that he got.
“They want to know how easily you can be influenced,” Ronan admitted with a deadly serious tone. “Apparently, they are accustomed to manipulating and heavily influencing the American Ministry.”
“No. Absolutely not,” Aiden said, turning his voice to hardened steel. “I will not allow the European Ministry to influence how I govern the vampires in America so long as I wear this crown. My duty is to do what is right and best for them. Not the whims of the European Ministers.”
Ronan’s lips tilted up in one corner. “Just as I expected. The crown is new.” His eyebrows rose and his smile grew. “The sons are definitely new. But the attitude, the sense of duty, that’s all old Aiden.”
Aiden refused to let himself bask in the warmth created in his chest at Ronan’s words. “What now? Nothing you or your European confederates say will sway me. Will you kill me under orders from the European Ministry?”
Pain slashed across Ronan’s face, and he shook his head. “I don’t give a damn about the desires of the European Ministry. I would never harm a hair on your head. You know that.”
“I knew that at one time. So much time has passed, Ronan. We’re different men now. I have a family to protect.” The words hurt to say, but they were fair and true. Ronan had to understand that.
Ronan glared at the frozen ground under his feet. “I won’t argue that. We have changed, but I don’t think it’s as much as either of us would expect.” Ronan’s head snapped up and those dark eyes locked on Aiden. “You’re still my greatest friend, and I’ll do everything within my power to keep you safe. You threw yourself into danger hundreds of times to keep me safe because you believed in me.” A slow smile formed on his mouth, and the twinkle returned to his gaze. “I find myself looking forward to doing the same for you. And I will prove to you that you can trust me.”