Royal Command (Royal Watch #2)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  My bones aching to move, I slowly tried to move away from the large frame behind me.

  “No,” he grumbled, his arms pulling me back against him, curling around my stomach, his mouth snuggling against my ear. “Not yet. It’s only six a.m.”

  “You can keep sleeping.”

  “Few more minutes.” He gripped me tighter, his voice low and husky. “Before we face what is coming at us. Okay?”

  I exhaled, trying to relax back into him, taking in the last moments of peace, where it was just him and me, before the bloodthirsty hyenas out there attacked. Before I confronted the consequences of my actions.

  But I couldn’t relax, knowing how much I needed to do: call my father’s lawyers, the royal PR, their lawyers, speak with my family. I had no doubt the media was already camping outside our estate, hoping to get a glimpse of them or me.

  “No one knows where you live, right?”

  He sighed, loosening his hold. “That lasted thirty seconds.”

  “Sorry…I just can’t turn it off.” I sat up, climbing out of the bed. I snatched up his hoodie from the chair, zipping it up against the chill in the air; the feel of encroaching snow crept into my bones.

  Today was Christmas Eve.

  The day was usually spent with my family. Landen and I would get tipsy by the fireplace, playing games, driving Fredrick nuts, while my sister twirled around, singing Christmas songs relentlessly.

  None of those things would happen today.

  My mom did not handle challenges well. Either she would get so drunk she’d pass out or never get out of bed at all, not thinking about how much my sister loved the holiday. I felt even more guilty for taking that away from Olivia. She was too young and naïve to be punished for my actions.

  “Hey.” Lennox climbed out of bed, striding to me, cupping my face. “You’re going to the dark side.”

  “There is no other side.” I stared up at him. “I don’t think you get how bad this will get. I’ve been in this world enough to see when Eloise didn’t greet the princess of Norway the way people thought she should, and she was in the press for months about their feud. The press spun it as jealousy, a fight over a man, or said they were actually in a lover’s tiff. My incident with the animal shelter will seem like rainbows and kittens.”

  “And we will get through it. Fight back.” He tipped my face back. “Fuck the world, remember?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “Fuck the world.”

  He stared down at me, not believing my words.

  “You know how I said I’d wait for a truly tequila worthy day?” I swallowed. “I think it’s that day.”

  He gripped my face, his mouth grazing mine. “I’m gonna jump in the shower, and then we can start on making a dent in the tequila bottle.” He kissed me deeper then broke away, strolling toward the shower, forcing my gaze on his firm arse flexing as he walked. “Start some coffee if I have any.”

  Venturing to his galley kitchen, the sound of the shower turning on brushed at my ears. Searching his cupboards, I found almost all of them bare.

  No coffee. Not even tea.

  The desperate need for coffee trickled into my veins, digging my teeth into my bottom lip.

  Buzzz

  The low murmur of my mobile rattled on the surface where I plugged it in. Picking it up without thinking, my mouth parted as my gaze ran over the screen of my very private phone: 45 missed calls, 73 text messages, 2,000 DMs, 89,000 notices of my name being tagged, the number continuing to jump as I stood there.

  But it was the latest text that caught my eye, my finger clicking on the number.

  Need to talk. Café across the street. Alone. Now.

  Lord William’s message iced my veins, turning my head to the window as if he was floating stories up, staring inside. Exhaling, I darted my attention to the bathroom, the shower still running.

  Lennox would demand he come with me, but I was in no place to piss William off. The scandal of Landen would level my family. We couldn’t survive that as well. And protecting my cousin was my priority. It was the least I could do after all the crap I’ve caused.

  Rushing, I slipped on the jeans and Chucks I had left here, shoving on a ballcap of his and a hooded jacket. I snuck out of the flat, my heart hammering against my chest like I was some thief.

  Ducking far into the hood and pulling the bill of the cap down, I stepped outside into the freezing air of December, ice stabbing at my cheeks and nose. Hints of snowflakes teased the sky, the street relatively quiet because of the holiday. I jogged across to the small café filled with takeaway items and baked goods that couldn’t overpower the rich, delicious smell of coffee.

  Scanning the place, only a handful of early risers sprinkled around the seating area, reading newspapers or chatting quietly while holiday music played lightly from speakers.

  At the last table against the wall sat an older man with a cane, newsboy cap, and dark overcoat, his familiar brown eyes zeroed on me.

  Keeping my head bowed, my insides knotted as I noticed the front pages of the trashy tabloids everyone was reading.

  Spencer Sutton Caught In Cheating Sex Scandal! Our Prince Heartbroken Over Video!

  Locking my jaw, I moved to the table, sliding into the seat across from William.

  “You have created quite the scandal.” He stirred the tea in his cup. “I’m not surprised. I did see this coming, after all.”

  “What do you want?” I hissed, my gaze darting around the room, making sure no eyes were turning our way. “To brag? Rub it in? Well, good for you. You foresaw what a complete disaster I am. Congratulations.”

  “I didn’t come here to brag.”

  Snorting, I leaned back in the chair. “Really? So why did you ask me here? Alone, may I add.”

  “Because you two being together in public would be noticed.” Damn. He was right. No disguise could really hide Lennox. He stood out, had enough energy and confidence that turned heads.

  William smirked, sipping his tea, his emotions locked away. “I also didn’t feel like having my life threatened by him again.”

  “You deserved it.”

  “Possibly.” The cup clicked as he set it down on the saucer, his eyes finding mine again. “I wanted to talk to you, and I wanted to do it alone.”

  “And you thought now was a good time.” I peered over my shoulder again, feeling like the entire room was staring through my layers of clothes, but all were lost in reading about me instead. Little did they know the girl on the front cover was sitting only feet from them.

  “I figured this was the last opportunity.”

  “How did you even know where I was?”

  “Not all that hard to find out. And I’m not even a nosey gossip rag.”

  If William found me so fast, that meant paparazzi wouldn’t be far behind.

  “You wanted to talk. So…talk.” I crossed my arms, waiting for him to continue.

  He exhaled, a ghost of sadness leaking from him. “I’ve decided to step away from public life and return to my country estate, probably to my wife’s horror, but I think it’s time to be somewhat of a husband to her.”

  “What?” My lids narrowed. This was not the direction I had seen this conversation going.

  “Good or bad, the Royal House isn’t the only thing you have completely spun upside down. What you showed me in the hospital,” he swallowed, glancing to the side, “brought up things in my past I thought I were over, thought I had rectified, only to realize they had consumed me instead. They turned me into someone who spent most of his life bitter and angry. Revengeful. I forgot I had been capable of loving someone. It had turned to hate so long ago, but seeing Landen this time…not seeing Fredrick or the reason she left me, but my son. I realized how much time I had wasted.”

  My spine stiffened, fear punching my chest.

  “Don’t worry, girl.” A taunting smile tipped his mouth, his finger tapping on the handle of his cane. “Even if you don’t believe me, I couldn’t hurt him, not now. I have dest
royed any possibility of my son ever respecting or loving me. I understand it is better for him not to know about me.” He blinked, his irises glossy with emotion. “That is my cross to bear. My choices in life brought me here.” Grief flooded his features before he cleared his throat, regaining himself quickly. “Take it from a miserable old man at the end of his life. No matter what people say to you, don’t make our mistakes. We could have left this all behind. Been happy. And in that life, I would have been a good father, possibly a good man.”

  I curled my lip.

  “I said possibly,” he retorted, making me snort. He glanced to the side, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “At least I like to think so. I will spend the rest of my life wishing things could have been different, wasting away in the dream of the life I didn’t live.”

  Emotion pierced my throat like an arrow. As much as I still wanted to hate him, my heart ached for his loss, for the life he could’ve had if only my aunt chose him instead.

  He pushed his cup away, scooting out his chair. “Your family’s debt to me has been nullified. Not that they don’t have other problems, but my connections with your family are done.” His voice was formal and arrogant. He gripped his cane, his fingers touching the brim of his hat. “It’s been… interesting, Ms. Sutton. Getting to know you has changed my life. You are an amazing, strong, fierce, young woman, and I wish you the best in your ventures.” He nodded his head and then took off for the door, his cane clipping the tile as he walked out, never glancing back.

  Staring after him, my mouth opened in awe and disbelief, a strange feeling settled in my stomach—a warm buzz of confused fondness, relief, and appreciation. Three feelings I never thought I would have associated with Lord William. I would never forget what he did to me, but I sensed someday I would learn to forgive.

  Relieving my family of our biggest debt and confirming he wouldn’t be telling anyone about the truth of Landen’s real heritage, I couldn’t help but feel grateful to the old man.

  Sitting for a few more minutes, I tried to wrap my brain around what had happened, but the aroma of coffee taunted me, curling in my nose and dragging me over to the counter. I knew Lennox would be worried, but I was already here…

  Keeping my head down, I ordered the coffee and tea and stood over to the side to wait. The door swung open, boisterous voices forcing me to peer over at the door. At least six co-eds, giggling and yelling, stumbled in, dressed in clothes you’d wear to a club, still appearing quite drunk from their outing that looked to be just coming to an end.

  Anxiety had me tugging the cap down farther, turning my head deeper into my shields.

  “Can you believe it? What a stupid fucking skank!” A blonde girl pointed at a paper lying on the table, trying to stay steady on her cheap, sparkly heels, her hair falling out of its pinned-up style. “Who could possibly cheat on Prince Theo? He’s beyond fit! Daft cow!”

  “Always watch out for those sweet, innocent ones, closet slappers every time.” A tall, heavier guy with brown hair laughed. “She sounds just like my type. Got a hard-on watching that video. I would love my turn to make that elitist bitch choke on my dick.”

  Air sucked sharply into my lungs, bile rising in my throat, fear and humiliation heating me under the clothes.

  “Sounds like she’s got her mouth full for a while.” Another guy made grotesque motions with his hand and mouth. “Guarantee she was giving head to all the guards.”

  “Guys, what do we want?” A brunette girl stumbled to the counter, but the rest of them were far too distracted by shiny things to hear her.

  The first blonde girl picked up the discarded paper, holding it up.

  “I don’t see why Theo or that buff bodyguard even liked her. She’s not that pretty. And talk about a snore. Her put on act of loving animals like she’s fecking Cinderella. Oh, and her spiel after the bombing about thinking about others who had been hurt or died…ugh…what utter bullshite. God, I hate her. Theo’s so hot. If I had the chance to be a princess, never work or have to go to school, simply attend parties and have designers begging to dress me? That girl needs to be slapped. Hard.”

  “I’ll do it.” The first guy grabbed his pants, indicating how he would do it.

  “Guys, lets order. I’m starving.” The brunette rested on the counter as if it was holding her up. “Especially before the rest of the group gets here.”

  As if on cue, the front door swung open, and a cluster of drunk partygoers started to siphon through the doorway, yelling and calling to the group at the counter. “Mate, why is there a shite load of media outside? You didn’t try streaking through the parliament building again, did you? No one wants to see that!” A guy joined the group, his hand pounding on the heavier guy’s shoulder.

  Fear gripped my lungs, panic bubbling at the surface. Media?

  “Clearly they do.” The guy shrugged.

  “It’s strange. Why are they here?” A tall, pretty girl walked up in a very tiny party dress. “Was there a huge celebrity at the club I missed? There are a lot of papzz out there.”

  I could feel a panic attack crawling over my bones. They found me already. I needed to get out of here. Now.

  “Miss?” A voice yanked my head to the person behind the counter, holding my takeaway cups.

  “Thanks,” I muttered, seizing them out of her hands. The loud voices and laughing clawed down my vertebrae, pimpling my skin with terror.

  Keep your head down. Walk fast.

  Set to beeline for the exit, I whipped around right as the blonde faltered on her heels, staggering into my path, colliding into me.

  A gush of hot coffee and tea sprayed up in a surge, splattering her glittery dress, running down her front, and I spotted her horror-stricken face.

  Oh. Fuck. No.

  Her mouth stayed parted in shock, her eyes shifting from disbelief to fury in a blink. “You daft twit! Look what you did!” She squealed like a pig, motioning to her dress, causing the entire café to turn to us, moving in closer to see.

  Terror gripped my lungs like two hands, freezing me in place, sweat trailing down my spine. Like a cornered, wild animal, fear fluidly transferred into primal instinct.

  Flight or fight.

  “My dress is ruined.” The girl continued to squawk, but she sounded far away as my gaze darted around the throng condensing in, blocking my exit.

  “Hey?” The girl waved a hand in front of my face, tilting her head to try and see my face beneath the cap. “You are either buying me a new dress or paying for dry cleaning. Are you listening to me? Hello?” She slanted enough to get a glimpse of my face, her eyebrows furrowing. “Wait a minute…” Oh no, oh no. Her eyes widened along with her mouth. “Holy! Shite! You’re…you’re…”

  The need to flee rammed me in the arse, spurting me forward. “Sorry,” I muttered, shoving past her and through the crowd.

  “Wait! Stop!” the girl yelled, her friends huddling together to stop me from leaving.

  “Let me out!” I rasped out, pushing against the wall they built, panic leaking off each syllable. “Please!”

  “That’s Spencer Sutton,” the blonde screamed out, excitement in her tone, but not the good kind.

  There was a second of shocked silence before the room flipped on its head, swirling me with terror and motion.

  “Spencer. Spencer. Spencer. Spencer!” My name volleyed around like a threat, bodies shoving in around me, bouncing me like a pinball. Hands grabbed for me, tearing at my clothes, nails driving into my skin.

  “Let me go.” I tried to shove back, wiggling between two people.

  A large hand wrapped around my waist, yanking me back.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” The husky guy growled into my ear. “I heard you are really good at sucking cock. I’m gonna make you choke.”

  “Get off me.” My elbow rammed into his stomach, causing him to loosen his grip. My frame bolted forward, about to reach the door, before hands yanked the back of my hood, pulling it back roughly. It cut into my
throat like a noose, my arse hitting the floor with a thud. The group leapt for me, snarling and screaming.

  “Stop or I’m calling the police!” I heard an employee yell, but the pack from the Lord of the Flies was too far in their bloodlust to take heed.

  “You think you’re so much better than us?” The brown-haired guy snarled over me, showing his true ugliness. “You noble, uptight bitches think you’re so above us commoners. But we saw, Spencer. You’re just a basic slag that needs to be taught her place.”

  He gripped the hoodie again, yanking me up to my feet, the cap falling from my head, my long hair tumbling down my back. If some weren’t sure it was me before, they had no doubt now.

  “I may not be better than anyone else,” I snarled, rolling on the balls of my feet. “But I’m better than a manky tosser like you.” I bit down on his hand. The moment he let go, I lurched for the door again, the sound of his anger busting behind me. I stepped one foot out the door before a palm hit the back of my head, smacking my face into the pavement with a crunch. Tears instantly stung my eyes as pain sizzled up my nose, blood splattering over the cement.

  “You bitch!” The guy seized my hair, yanking my head painfully back as figures crowded around me. “You will pay for that.”

  “Look! We have Spencer the slutty whore here!” The blonde waved at the media waiting down the street very close to Lennox’s flat. Not caring who the girl actually was, they ran like hungry piranhas, sensing blood in the water—a tidbit to sell to papers.

  It was their lucky day.

  “Holy shite! It is Spencer,” a guy with a camera yelled, as more popped up behind him.

  The media’s appearance shot the energy into a frenzy, turning the crowd feral.

  “You are nothing but a slag! You should have never been with the Prince! You are nothing!” A pointy shoe slammed into my ribs, hacking a cough up my lungs. “He deserved better than you. Good riddance to you.” Her actions and words set off a frenzy, the guys howling with encouragement as several girls clawed and kicked at me. The bitter taste of blood dripped down my nose to my lips, pained groans huffing from every kick or punch.