Prologue

Andrei's POV

I always took pride in being a good friend to my friends, a good brother to my cousin Damien, a good King to the people of Mercia, a good father to my children and a good... in fact wonderful husband to my lovely wife who I loved more than my life but one thing I hated was a backstabbing friend.

I always took pride in being able to control my temper whenever I was extremely angry but this time... I don't think I can. Not when I hurt so bad, it felt like my heart wanted to burst out of my chest and explode from the excruciating pain.

No, I wasn't involved in an accident but my precious wife and first son were. And it was all thanks to a man who I once considered my friend. A man who I let into my home, treated like family but all the while was working for Arielle's father.

Remember her? Princess Arielle of Havindelle? Well, her father didn't accept that his daughter's act of treason warranted a death sentence and he promised to retaliate. 

I mean, I'd given Arielle another chance to change but she'd not taken it. I had to do what was best for my family.

Of course, as usual I called his bluff and forgot about him almost immediately I left his palace and I went on my merry way. I didn't hear a word from him for seven years until today. A month before the quads seventh birthday.

Today, I got a call from my mother in law who tearfully explained to me that my wife and son had been in an accident and were on their way to the general hospital in the ambulance.

Now standing, rather pacing the floor in the hallway outside the operating room... anxiously waiting for news about them, I got a call from King Elroy. No surprise there.

"What?". I did not care if the man was my father's agemate. He was a dead man either way but he didn't know it.

"I heard the news." Elroy said. "I'm very sorry to hear about the accident. Please accept my condolences."

"They're not dead." I growled. "But you surely are."

Elroy barked out a laugh. "Oh really? And how will you accomplish that?".

"That's for me to know and for you to find out Benson." I spat. "I don't care if it's ten years from now but I hope for your sake that you die before that time because what I will do to you will be worse than what happened to your worthless daughter."

"You don't scare me boy." Elroy mocked. "I have your number already."

"Okay. Whatever floats your boat son." I chuckled darkly. "Say hi to your lovely wife for me. Oh wait, she's dead, isn't she?".

"My wife is out of the country." He sputtered in anger. "The only one burying anybody will be you!".

"I'm sorry. I was just telling you to accept my condolences in advance." I told him. "Very soon you'll be the only one left and then even you won't be around to witness my victory dance. Good bye Benson." I hung up and pocketed my phone just as the doors to the operating room opened and the doctor walked out.

"Your Majesty." Doctor Cedric gave a half bow.

"How's my wife and my son?". I asked. "Please tell me they're fine."

"Your wife is going to be fine Your Majesty." Doctor Cedric said. "Your son however..."

"I do not, absolutely do not want to hear you say that he's dead." I cut him off harshly. "I do not mean to threaten you but if you value your life... do not tell me that."

"The Prince is not dead Your Majesty." Cedric allayed my fears but prepared me for something worse by pausing. 

"Well?". I demanded impatiently.

"He's just... The impact of the accident left him... Paralyzed."

I stared at the doctor's face wondering if what he'd said was what I heard. My son was paralyzed?.

"Your Majesty?". Doctor Cedric called. "Are you okay? You're not going into shock, are you?".

"No." I found my voice. "Paralyzed as in...", I let my voice trail off on purpose.

"From the neck down." Cedric had the grace to wince.

That's it. I stumbled back and thankfully hit the wall and I would have slumped down to the ground if Jared hadn't caught me. I wanted to fall and cry like a baby but I was the King and I had to be strong. That didn't stop the tears from pooling in my eyes though.

"You need to stay hydrated." Doctor Cedric's voice sounded far away to me. 

I was led to sit on the sofa and a glass of water was pushed in my hands but I couldn't drink.

"Will he ever walk again?". My voice sounded like sand paper, dry and scratchy.

"His spinal cord injury is incomplete so it's possible that he'll walk again. With the help of physical therapy and other treatments... It'll be like the accident never happened." Doctor Cedric sounded hopeful.

"And how long will this take?".

"It won't happen overnight but give it a few years." He assured me. 

"And my wife?". I got to my feet.

"She sustained a few minor injuries. A deep gash on her forehead, two bruised ribs, a dislocated shoulder and suffered a mild concussion."

"You said minor. How are those minor?". I glared at him. "Will she get well almost immediately?".

"A few weeks at most."

"I want to see her. Right now." 

"Of course sire." Cedric knew not to argue with me about hospital policy.

"Wait." I called as he turned to leave.

"Yes sire?".

"Can I see my boy first?". I asked in a shaky voice. 

"Sure." Cedric smiled gently and gestured for me to go ahead.

Thankfully Jared and Cedric knew to leave me alone with my son and immediately they left, I broke down in tears. I wondered how anyone could have been so heartless as to hurt an innocent boy like my son Leonidas.

He was the sweetest, cutest thing ever and I would like to admit that he was my favorite. It was bad of me to have a preference for which child I liked but he was like me in every way but now they'd broken him.

I grudgingly understood where Elroy was coming from seeing as his only child was dead but two wrongs didn't make a right and I had to make him see that. 

Elroy Benson was going to pay for hurting my wife and my son and I don't care how long it was going to take. I would have my revenge or my name wasn't Andrei Mitchell Sebastiani.

******

Two weeks later

"Don't make me go daddy." My son pleaded before he was wheeled onto the plane. "I want to stay with you and mommy."

Anna and I decided to send him abroad for the treatments we knew he needed and yes he was being taken care of here but I wanted to make sure he recovered fully even if it meant not having him around for awhile.

I watched my wife lovingly caress his face with tears streaming down her face. One time I used to think that her tears could heal me whenever I was in pain and somehow I believed that, but not today, because my wife was in pain. She was feeling it on a higher level than me and there was nothing I could do.

"Mommy loves you baby." She rained kisses on his face. "So so much."

"Grandma and Grandpa will be with you." I told him. "Mommy and I will come and visit you okay?".

"Okay." He looked resigned. "Will I ever see you again?".

"Very soon." I promised him. "We'll all come and visit you."

"Okay."

"I love you son." I kissed his forehead.

"I love you too daddy." He traced his pointer finger down my nose with a smile. It was our thing.

I did the same to him and kissed his forehead again then stepped back. My mother, father in law and Jared with a couple of bodyguards were accompanying him so I knew he was safe. The plane had gone through safety checks a million times just to avoid another of Elroy's infamous pranks.

"Don't worry baby, we'll take very good care of him." My mom assured me.

"I know." I smiled. Once upon a time, I had hated my mom with a passion but now I was so glad she stayed even when I thought travelling around the world just to take her mind off dad's death would be good for her.

"I want to go." Anna spoke up.

I looked at my wife who was staring after our son longingly and I smiled. I was beginning to wonder when she'd break and decide to go with them.

"Good thing I had a maid pack some of your clothes." I said and gestured for a guard to bring her luggage.

"Thank you." She hugged me as her bag was given to one of the bodyguards who then handed it over to a flight attendant. "I love you." She muttered against my lips before she kissed me.

"I love you more." I said. "I'll take care of our other tiny monsters."

She nodded and hugged me one last time before pulling away and walking over to inform our son of the news.

I hugged my son one last time before he was taken away from me and then everyone else got on the plane and the door was finally shut. I waited until the plane taxied slowly to the runway, lifted off the ground and into the air. I waited until I couldn't see them anymore before I got into the car and my driver took me home all the while plotting Elroy's death.

Did I kill his henchman? Yes, I did and it was very painful to watch but it had to be done and I sent a message to Elroy so he'd know exactly what he'd gotten himself into that he'd never get himself out of.