by Nana Malone
“Penny.”
She lifted her gaze to meet mine and my breath caught. Would this feeling ever go away? I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry you’re not happy being home.”
“This is my real life. I was only playing at being an artist.”
I don’t know why, but that broke my heart a little bit. “Well, playing or not, I think you’re a fantastic artist. And I hope you find a way to get back to that.”
Because if I have to give up my dream, I don’t want her to have to as well.
13
Sebastian
I don’t know why I was nervous. It was my birthday, so we should celebrate and shit. But somehow I was worried about my brother meeting my best friend.
Lucas was picked up at the airport a few hours before. I wasn’t able to meet him because, well, the king couldn’t exactly go to the airport or fly commercial. Technically neither did the prince, but no one knew who Lucas was, and there would have been reason for suspicion if I had rented a private jet for him. So he’d flown commercial. It was first class, but still commercial, and I’d had a car pick him up then one of the staff showed him to one of the guest cottages on the grounds. Again, I didn’t want anyone’s suspicions piqued if I had him in the palace. I wanted him to have a comfortable, low-key experience. I had arranged a tour of the island and planned to take a full two days off while he was there.
The vote was in a few days, but I wanted to just mostly hang out with Lucas. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to go out with him like I normally did. But there was a ball planned, and I was pretty sure my brother would get a kick out of that.
All that aside, he was meeting Roone in about five minutes, and that was freaking me out. I’m not sure why; I just wanted the two of them to get along.
There was a knock at my office door, and I felt little, giddy butterflies as I opened it to greet him. Lucas grinned. “Fucking hell, this place is a maze. They did give me a map and everything but this is crazy.”
I waved him in. “Sorry I wasn’t able to get you myself. Everything is a little bit trickier than it was supposed to be. “
Lucas’s smile was wide, but his eyes were grave. When I led him into my office, I closed the door behind him and then turned around with a grin, and we gave each other a classic clasped-hand, one-armed bear hug. “You know what? It’s actually really fucking good to see you.”
“Same, man, considering you look shitty.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Do I? I feel like shit. It’s like I’m tense all day, every day, just waiting for someone to realize I’m not a real king.”
Lucas shook his head. “Nah, it looks good on you. No one’s going to notice unless you tell them. So fake it ‘til you make it. That’s what I do, anyway. It’s the secret to being a great grifter. Believe the lie. So you just keep pretending it until you believe it. It’ll work out.”
“Man, if you say so. So what’s good? Dare I ask what you’re getting yourself into?”
Lucas grinned. “Do you really want me to answer that question?” He chuckled. “No, I’ve been behaving, mostly. Honestly, since you left, it’s been all school, all the time. Finals are coming up. I just want to get some good marks and see what’s up from there.”
“Man, you got this. Even though you spend a hell of a lot of time partying, I know you. You work your ass off, and it shows.”
“Thanks, man. So what is the plan? Where are we going? Where are we hitting up?”
I rolled the back of my neck. “Well, that’s the thing. I can’t exactly leave the grounds to go partying.”
A frown formed between his brows, but then he seemed to think it through. “Yeah, fuck. I guess not. That sucks.”
“Trust me, I know. But I have an alternate plan.”
He grinned at me. “Do tell. You’re gonna bring in strippers? You know I’m always up for a party.”
Shit, I’d really missed him. “Well, I’m not sure how much of a party it will be, but it’s a ball.”
He whistled low. It seemed like he almost might jump up and down. “A ball? I’m down for that, bitches.”
I shook my head. “Don’t say bitches. It’s not princely.”
“When is this big ball?”
“It’s in a few days to celebrate my birthday. It’s the first big event after, you know, Dad. So, I’m just trying to keep my head down and stay focused.”
“Why do I get the impression you’re not telling me something?”
I knew I could trust Lucas, but I didn’t want him freaking out. “It’s nothing.”
“Nah man, you can’t play the player. Tell me.”
I sighed deeply, not sure how to tell him. And then I just let it out. “We think Dad might have been murdered.” Lucas stared. For a long moment he said nothing. And then his brows drew down.
“Do you have proof?”
I nodded. “We’re analyzing his blood. The funeral pretty much had to be right away as soon as I got home. But one of my father’s men was smart enough to take a blood sample and we’ve sent it to get tested. So we should have results soon.”
“Motherfucker, that’s heavy.”
I nodded. “Listen, it’s not for you to worry about. Right now, you’re just here to check out the place. My mate Roone is going to come soon, and I’m excited for you two to meet. I’ve known him since Eton. He’s a good guy. He’s going to make sure you get to do all the fun stuff on the island, the stuff that I can’t be seen doing with you.”
Lucas laughed. “So he’s my babysitter / your BFF for life. Why can’t you just let Penny show me around?”
I cleared my throat. “Um, not really possible.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “Man, tell me you’re not still jealous, are you? I won’t flirt with her. You’re clearly in love with her, so I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Well that does make me feel better, but that’s not the reason. We haven’t uh, sorted … It’s tense … I don’t know how to say it.”
“Look, when you called and told me the whole situation that the old man had sent her to protect you, I was pissed for you because I knew something was off with her. But the more I think about it, you know, she did the right thing, man, because if you’d known, you would have bolted. Then you and I wouldn’t have gotten to know each other, and she wouldn’t have saved your life. So, the way I figure it, we both owe her.”
“It’s complicated.” Although Lucas had a point, and I knew he had a point, and well, Penny knew that too, I just hadn’t figured out a way to reconcile it all yet. “It’s all just fucked up. And we have this—I don’t know—complicated love-hate shit going on right now.”
Lucas shook his head. “Man, if you can’t sort your shit out, give her to me. I know what to do with a woman like that.”
And just like that, the flare of jealousy was hot and quick, and it scalded my skin from the inside. “Shut it.”
Lucas grinned. “See? You still love her.”
“Yeah, love her or not, I can’t exactly have her.”
“Remind me why not again?”
“Well, because of the way the Winston Isles came about. During King Jackson’s rebellion, he wanted to make sure that we were always deeply tied to European royalty as a way to force a bond and repair the relationship. So the law is written so that the reigning monarch needs to be married to someone with royal blood. I was engaged once. She was noble, but she found herself a better prince from Italy. Awesome, huh? He’s a European prince, so he’s better than me.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “That’s fucked.”
“Yeah well, it’s not that rigidly enforced for anyone who was not first, second, or third in line for the throne, but if there’s any chance you could sit on the throne, being with a commoner isn’t possible.”
He stared at me. “Dude, aren’t you the king? Can’t you change the law?”
“Well, I’d have to put it to a vote. And as it stands, it’s going to be hard enough to get you your birthright recognized. Getting yo
u in your rightful place is more important, especially if we determine that Dad was murdered. I want someone that I can trust as second in line, and I don’t trust anybody but you and Roone.”
“You have to trust someone. And I’m really sorry about you and Penny.”
“Thanks.”
There was another knock at the door and I went to answer it. Roone was on the other side.
“So, where is this Yank?”
With a chuckle, I introduced Roone and Lucas. At first, they eyed each other up and down, trying to assess each other out. But luckily, it only took them seconds to figure out they both liked giving me shit. So that bonded them like a house on fire, which was fine.
I could be the butt of their jokes, at least for now. All that mattered was my brother was here, and I didn’t feel so alone. I just tried not to focus too hard on what he said about Penny because right now it was dangerous to introduce hope.
* * *
Sebastian
Maybe putting Lucas and Roone together was a mistake. I’d barely seen my brother in the last day and a half. The two of them had been yukking it up somewhere. Lucas, ever kind, continued to send me images of their shenanigans.
He was getting ready for the ball. I wanted him to meet my mother before the actual event, and since she’d had several meetings yesterday, tonight would be it. On my way to her chambers, I noticed a petite redhead who looked familiar. She was in Royal Guard formal attire: the black skirt to the knee and the black coat with brass buttons and military stripes. Why was she familiar? She’d never been on my service, had she? Maybe the hair was a dye job. As I approached, her gaze slid my way and she stiffened, scowling for a moment before she straightened.
What the hell? Why would she be angry with me?
Oh shit, had I slept with her? I generally tried to keep my shit outside of the palace, but sometimes, I slipped. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
She rolled her eyes even as she gave me a brief curtsey. “Nope. You don’t know me at all.”
“All right, I think you’re missing Your Majesty on the end of that.”
She bristled and stood at attention, forcing her gaze straight ahead. Okay, that was more like it. “What’s your name?”
“Ariel, Your Majesty.”
Again, her tone was angry, but why? What the hell had I ever done to her?
“Do I know you?”
“It appears not, Your Majesty.”
“Okay, you have to stop saying it like that. Why do you seemingly hate me?”
“Permission to speak frankly, Your Majesty?”
Okay, yeah. I was going to regret correcting her. “Yeah, sure, go ahead. Since you’re already being insubordinate now, why don’t you tell me all about myself?”
She turned to me straight on. Something told me the sharpness in her eyes could cut me if she wanted to.
“You, Your Majesty, are an asshole.”
I lifted my brows. “Well, tell me how you really feel.”
“Penny saved your ass. I was there. You were busy drinking your life away. You’d have been roofied and mounted on some chick’s wall as a trophy if it hadn’t been for Penny, and you’re still treating her like a dick.”
Oh, this was about Penny. “And you are?”
“Ariel Mills. I was on the assignment with Penny.”
This made more sense. “You were there.”
“Yes, sir.”
There went that tone again, all sass and attitude. Part of me kind of liked her because she clearly had zero fucks to give when it came to my title. On the other hand, I couldn’t accept that. “Watch your tongue, soldier.”
She flushed slightly and turned back around to face the wall. “Yes, sir.”
“Listen Ms. Mills, I’m glad Ms. Marsh has friends like you looking out for her. But Ms. Marsh and I will figure things out on our own. She doesn’t need you to fight her battles.”
“That’s just it. She’s sweet. She’s a good person. She genuinely wanted to do the right thing. She wanted to tell you the truth, but your father said not to because his son would run off like a sullen teenager. She had no choice, and you’re punishing her for it.”
“Believe me, I’m aware of how things happened with Ms. Marsh. It’s an untenable situation. I’m sorry you don’t agree with my methods.”
“You mean you being a dick?”
“What the hell has she been saying to you?” Because I wanted to fucking know. Did she talk about me? What did she say? Did she have feelings for me? Fuck, I had problems.
“If you want to be respected as the king, then act like the king, and not like her butt-hurt boyfriend. If the situation’s untenable, fine. Just don’t be a prick about it, because don’t forget, you lied too.”
I stiffened. I straightened my back and gave her a sharp nod. What could I say? She was right. I knew it. Penny knew it. “Thank you for your frankness, Ms. Mills. If you’ll excuse me, I need to see the queen.” No, I wasn’t running from the truth. It just burned to hear it.
14
Penny
"Jesus, this is the twilight zone."
I slid Ariel a sidelong glance. "Tell me about it." For starters, I was here in the palace, acting as security and Royal Guard for a state event. The king's birthday.
Sebastian the king. Just thinking about Sebastian made my heart ache. I thought that with all the weeks that had gone by the pain would've lessened, but it hadn't. Instead, it had only gotten worse. Not that we’d had much alone time since London. That small truce felt anomalous now.
We were together all the time but never alone, and he didn’t speak to me outside of polite conversation. Sometimes I watched him, because, well, I needed a life. But I could see the tension around his mouth. The tightness. His smiles still didn’t reach his eyes. And to be honest, he looked tired all the time.
He was still grieving, and I had nothing to offer to help.
I had to fight the urge to ask him anything personal. That was the worst. Sometimes I’d have questions about a camera or photography, but I couldn’t ask. After all, that wasn’t the nature of our relationship. You did that.
Ariel leaned over. "Are you okay?"
I blinked back the stinging in my eyes. "Yes. I’m fine. Just doing my job." And trying desperately not to look at the king. I had to think of him that way. As the king. If I thought of him in any other way, things got blurrier than I could afford.
Sadly, I could feel his presence in the room. Every time he talked to some foreign dignitary. Every time he took a woman for a turn on the dance floor.
The jealousy ate at me. The low, throbbing ache between my legs made it difficult to concentrate.
Everything had changed that day.
“Sebastian, I can explain.”
But Sebastian’s face fell as he stared at me. “You knew.”
I crushed the sheet tighter to me as I stood. “Yes, I knew. Your father sent me. I—”
He took a step toward me, but I held my ground. “You knew.”
“Yes. I knew.”
“Your Majesty, if you’ll allow me, I can escort Ms. Marsh off the premises. We can get a proper guard in here for you.”
Sebastian paid Robert no attention. Instead, he stared at me, blinking, his eyes narrowed, a tight crease between his brows. He kept rubbing at the center of his chest like his heart was hurting. I did that. I shifted my gaze to Robert. “There’s no need to escort me anywhere, Robert. I’ll head back to my apartment. I’ll contact Ariel, and we’ll be ready to go.” As I passed by Sebastian, he didn’t try to stop me. He just stood there, staring blankly.
Perhaps the grief finally settled in along with the hurt. He would need everyone, everyone but me. When I passed by Robert, his voice was hushed. “This was your big mission, sleeping with him? Or did you take that on all by yourself?”
I said nothing, just bypassed him. I didn’t owe him any explanations, not after what he had done to me.
That one exchange had been the end of everything. The
end of the magical, mystical life I’d built for myself. The fake life, the one that couldn’t possibly be real, and it shattered into a million pieces. There was no getting it back.
"We can blow this off in about an hour if you want. Wine. Ice cream. All the feel-good things?”
“Thanks, but I’m just going to get out of these shoes and crash. All I want to do is forget.”
But that wasn’t in the cards. A voice from behind startled me. “We need to talk.”
I whirled around to find Robert at my side. Ariel wasted no time and stepped in front of him. “Nope. You don’t get to talk to her. She finally kicked you to the curb. #ByeFelicia.”
Robert ignored her and took my elbow. “Put your watchdog on a chain, Penelope. You and I need to talk. Right now.”
I shook off his hold. “I’m actually very busy at the moment, Robert. Anything you have to say can be said here and now.”
The corner of his lips ticked up as his gaze narrowed. “You really want me to talk to you about fucking the prince in New York where everyone can hear?” He shrugged. “Up to you.”
My stomach sank, and I could only inhale in short, choppy breaths. “What did you just say to me?”
“You heard me. Come with me.”
My head spun. He was going to tell everyone. My family. All that pride. He would flush it down the toilet. “Is now really the time?”
“Yes, it’s important. I need to discuss King Sebastian’s guest with you. The one he’s speaking with. All I know is his first name. You need to give me a full report on him for the intelligence office.”
I frowned. “You work for my father. You can ask to see those files.”
“I need you to fill in those blanks. Let’s go.” He tried to take my arm again, but I slipped his hold.
“I’m not your girlfriend anymore. You can’t just touch me when you like.”
And Ariel was having none of it. “Listen, dipshit, if you don’t stop trying to touch her, I will go in full-on ass-kicking mode.”