by Nana Malone
Yes, and Ashton's. When had Ashton become like this? When had he become this person full of hatred and envy?
He didn’t become this. He’s always been this.
For all intents and purposes, he should be king. If my uncle had never abdicated, then Ashton would have been in line for the throne. But I would never let that happen.
And that's what makes you king. The sound of my father's voice in my head shook me. With my hand on the doorknob, I took a moment to drag in a deep breath and steady myself. I fought back the tears. Fucking tears. My father would be so disappointed.
I did not have time for mourning. I'd been in mourning long enough. It was time to be king now. That meant dealing with my piece of shit cousin.
When I opened the door, Ashton was leaning against the fireplace sipping brandy. "Cousin, it really is a shame that this is what we've come to. You dragged me all the way back home just to tell me they are exiling me back to where I was. Come on. That's a waste of the people's money—the Crown's money. I mean, I know you have billions to spare now but honestly, you could've just left me where I was."
I tucked my hands into my pockets and stared at my cousin. We’d never really been close. We’d played together because there had been no one else to play with. And they’d been at all the same family functions, gone to the same schools, had all the same opportunities. But while I had never wanted the crown at all, my cousin had wanted it too much. So much so that he was willing to kill for it.
"You do realize that I know what you've done."
My cousin scowled. "You don't know anything. You suspect. But you don't know. There's no trail of proof. And I'm afraid anyone who could say anything about me is long gone. And without proof, there's not much you can do."
I didn't say a word. I just walked over to my desk and picked up a letter.
Ashton frowned. "What the hell is that?"
"This is a certified letter. It arrived on the day of the last Regents Council meeting."
"And I'm supposed to give a shit about this, why?"
“Well, coincidentally, it was the very same day that you missed the meeting. It is also the same day you left the island, but we managed to track your movements: Iceland, Venezuela, Belize, the Czech Republic, and finally the Isle of Wight. I do love your digs there. A mini palace all your own. From the pictures I've seen it's quite beautiful. Must've cost you a fortune."
"I didn't use Crown money. In case you haven't noticed, Cousin, I have my own."
I shrugged. "Technically, you have your father's. But we won't mince words." I held up the letter. "This letter is from Mr. Richard Thompson, your co-conspirator in poisoning my father."
Ashton paled. "You know someone poisoned your father, yet you're still you’re standing here accusing me? I am royalty."
I had expected his defensiveness. "I have evidence that Ethan has been compiling for weeks. We have the account transfers to your friend, Cy Bennett, also known as the Chemist. We have phone logs, and we have video footage of you going into the king's chambers without authorization. "
"You're going to take the word of a commoner over me? I'm of royal blood."
"Yes, you are. And as such, you are immune from hanging for treason.” I studied my cousin like an insect in a petri dish. “But then, I also watched the security tapes from that day a few weeks ago, footage from the day you grabbed Penny and tried to assault her."
"She's lying. I didn't assault her. She came on to me. I rebutted her. I even had bruises. She's been trained, after all. She is Royal Guard."
“See, here is the problem. You didn't assault just any Royal Guard or a random commoner. You assaulted the future queen of the Winston Isles.”
I intended to marry her. Whether she would say yes or not was another story. But my intent made her untouchable by law, even for a member of the royal family. Back when the kingdom was founded, there had been a bloody battle and Jackson’s wife was slaughtered. He’d been so distraught that afterm he’d made a decree. That to harm a regent’s wife or children would carry a harsher punishment than harm to the king. Wives and children were untouchable. So even if I couldn't hold Ashton's feet to the fire over my father, I could hold his feet to the fire over this. There was footage of Ashton with his hand on her throat. That alone was enough to hang him, but that would be too quick. No. Instead, I would put him in the deepest, darkest hole I could find. History dictated that Ashton be allowed to choose the prison of his making, but that was not going to happen either.
"I didn't know you intended to marry the whore."
I fought the flare of anger. Hell, I could not lose my cool, not now. "It doesn't matter. The fact that I do intend to marry her makes her untouchable. And you violated that.” I stepped into his space, the rage coursing through me. “You tried to hurt her, you piece of filth. You put your hands on her. I should kill you, but my father wouldn't want that. She wouldn't want that. So tell me, where do I send you?”
"You're supposed to send me right back to the Isle of Wight."
"I wonder how you will keep up the payments since your accounts will be frozen?"
My cousin staggered backwards. "You can't do that."
"Yes, I can. I could provide you a small allowance on which to live, but I won't. You’ll have to find your own way, which means a job. And, just so we’re clear, it won't be in Isle of Wight."
"But that's not our law, our custom. I am a royal!"
“You see, that's the thing. I had a little look at our laws. Even if you had only a small part in Father's death, you touched Penny. So your ass is mine. The law does say that I can excommunicate you to a location of my choice. That is a law. It just so happens that rulers in the past have tried to help other rulers save face, but I have zero interest in that. You will be headed to Greenland. Since your mother is from there, I worked out a deal with the president. You are going to rot in jail. Special circumstances. Not to worry. I'll send Royal Guard to help you get on your flight. I hope to never see you again.”
I didn't bother looking at him as I strode out. I had more important things to do … like getting back to Penny.
* * *
Sebastian
It took me another fucking week to get back to New York. And again, just for a stretch of two days. But it was well worth it. Noah's team still hadn't been able to locate Penny. She wasn't using her credit cards. She wasn't using her phone. Her parents said that she emailed, but she used a public computer at the central library, so I still had no idea where she was. Be patient; you’ll find her.
When I approached Lucas's door, I heard something all too familiar: a laugh that burned through my soul. It filled me with light, burning away the depression of the darkness, not allowing it to encroach any further into my heart. That was Penny's laugh.
I knocked on the door, and when Lucas opened it, he grinned. Then his face fell. What the fuck? "Sebastian." He called over his shoulder. "Hey, Penny, someone's here to see you."
I glared at my brother. "Do I bother asking what the fuck is going on here, Lucas?"
My brother shrugged. "Penny needed a place to stay. Thanks to you, I have this palatial pad and a spare bedroom. So I kept her safe, like I'm sure you would've wanted."
"You fucking knew how worried I was about her. You knew where she was all along?"
"Well, I have loyalty to both of you. She got here first and asked me not to say anything. If it's any consolation, I've been encouraging her to call you and talk."
Penny strode into the foyer. "You will not berate Lucas. He did what I asked. I didn't want you knowing where I was."
Logically, I knew I'd missed her. But I didn't know it would feel like this, like rain after a drought. Jesus Christ, all I wanted to do was hold her and bury my face in her hair, inhaling her coconut shampoo. "Penny. Do you have any idea how worried I was?" I glared at my brother. "And you—She is mine."
Lucas put his hand up. "I'm gonna head down to the bar and leave you two kids to chat."
The second he was out the d
oor I strode toward her, but she backed up and put up her hands. "I'm yours? Are you fucking kidding me? Like a possession? Like you own me? That's not what you said last month."
Fuck. This could go so wrong so quickly. "No. You are your own woman, and you can make your own decisions. But he knows I love you. And he knows that it's been tearing me apart to not be with you and he just didn't tell me. I can't help but think part of him wants you for himself."
"You're being ridiculous and jealous for no good reason. Your brother has been nothing but kind and welcoming to me. He could have made this place a total bachelor pad and enjoyed the fuck out of his newfound status. But he hasn't. He let me stay here and watched Project Runway with me. I know I’m cramping his style, but I can't help it. I need more pieces to show, otherwise I'll never get anyone to buy anything. So I needed time. I asked him not to tell you I was here, and he did me a favor. I know you can't imagine a world where not everyone bends to your will."
She had a point. "I know. I'm doing this all wrong. I want to say that I'm sorry. I fucked up. Please. And I saw what Ashton did to you. He's never going to touch you or anyone again. I excommunicated him to an island off the coast of Greenland where his mother is from. It’s habitable, but there will be no extras. And he’ll have ‘round the clock security. He won’t come back."
Penny frowned. "He chose that?"
I shook my head. "No. I didn't give him a choice."
"But royals who commit a crime get to choose where they're exiled to. That's a law."
"It's actually not a law. It's a custom. As he is royalty, I can't lock him up for his part in my father’s murder, but he hurt you. And you're off-limits."
“He worked alone? He didn’t have an accomplice in the Royal Guard?”
“I’m sure. Between Roone and your father and I, we’re all sure.”
“It’s just the attacks in New York were so coincidental with Michael’s visit and—”
“I’m sure. You’re safe from Ashton. I just wanted to tell you that. You don't have to be afraid to come home.”
"Home? Right. What do you want, Sebastian? Because what I want is to be left alone. I'm starting to make a life for myself. I sold another piece. I used that money to secure myself studio time so I don’t poison Lucas here with paint fumes. Just a little more time and I'll have enough money saved for my own place. So I need to be here.”
"I'm so sorry for the way I treated you, Penny. I want to kick my own ass."
"I want to believe you. I do. And I do believe in part that you are sorry. But when you say you want to be with me, I know better than to trust that. I'm so common, and you're so royal."
"All I want to do is be with you." What more did I have to say to make her believe that?
31
Penny
"Are you sure you want to move out? I've gotten used to having you around."
I laughed. "You mean you've gotten used to me cooking for you. I draw the line at laundry though. I have a feeling I don't want to go anywhere near your sheets."
Lucas placed a hand over his chest and pretended to flail. "You mortally wound me woman. I've been a good boy, I have. School's the focus this term. I just want to finish everything before my life becomes someone else's."
I hadn't thought about how all of this would affect him or the things that he would have to let go of soon. He hadn't said anything about his relationship with his family, and I got the impression their relationship was strained thanks to an overheard phone call. What was that like, knowing that your life could've been easier, could've been better?
“You're okay with that?”
“Sure. I mean, I'm a prince, right? What about you? You sold a painting, right?”
“Yeah, to a little gallery in SoHo. But you never know. It's just one piece, but I'm building. And soon I can go out on my own."
“C'mon, this is your first night out in the six weeks since you've been here. All you've done is work. Work, paint, work, paint. You're finally getting a night out. Let's make it count.”
“Okay, okay. I'm gonna celebrate.” I shrugged. “You ready for this new life of yours?”
Lucas shrugged too. "Is anyone really ready for that? I mean, you see what a shit show Sebastian's life is."
I didn't mean to, but I winced. Before Lucas could apologize, I put a hand up. "No, don't. I need to get used to hearing his name. It's fine." I'd come back to New York for a reason, one that had nothing to do with Sebastian. Okay, it had a little to do with Sebastian. But I needed to know that I could do this on my own. And no lie, it was hard.
If I hadn't had Lucas’s support, I didn’t know what I would've done. You would've survived. But having him had helped me a lot. I'd sold a few paintings, enough that I could afford my place now, though I still had to work up to my own gallery opening. But several high-end restaurants in the area featured some pieces of mine after they'd seen my painting at Sebastian's bar. So things were definitely looking up. Studio time was still exorbitant, so I was hoping to use my new place, as a work-life situation. It had great light on the balcony just like my first apartment in the city had.
"You know, he still calls every day."
My heart squeezed hearing that. "I need to do this, Lucas. But thank you. You've gone above and beyond."
He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Well, even if you're not going to be my sister-in-law, I still consider you family, so don't mention it. That's what family does for each other."
I couldn't help it. I ran right up to him and wrapped my arms around him. Lucas was a hugger. So when he enveloped me in his warm embrace, I snuggled in. I'd really come to care about him. He'd been a true friend to me when I needed it. "I won't forget this."
He gave me a wide smile when I backed away. "I've never been so well-fed in my life. I had to up my workouts to compensate. You should check out my svelte physique."
I giggled. "You are outrageous!”
"Hey, did you see the mail? I think you had something in there. Gallery opening maybe?"
I frowned. No one knew I was here. Well, maybe it came from the studio where I rented space. I’d had to put Lucas's address on the rental agreement. Lucas said, "It may be something fun. You may meet someone there.”
I shook my head. “Not interested. But you can go. Hot smart women will likely be there.”
"Oh no, thank you. I prefer my women with loose morals and empty brains. But I will come to support it. Do you think they'll show a piece of yours?"
I laughed then I went to the counter to check the mail. "That's a no. I don't even know what this gallery is. But it might be nice to get out for a while."
* * *
Penny
The next night I slipped on a simple dress. Once Lucas saw it, he sent me back into my room to change. "Oh my God. Penny, you can't go boring and basic to this thing. Sure, it's just a little gallery opening in SoHo. But you have to look the part. You convinced me to go, so you have to go correctly dressed. Go and change into something befitting a celebration."
"Oh my God, you're worse than Ariel. You're giving me a complex."
"As long as you go change."
In ten minutes I was back out, wearing a red sheath with eyelet cutouts on the shoulders, but then when I turned around, it was backless with a deep V stopping just over my hips. "This better?"
He whistled low. "Yes, thank God, and you look gorgeous. Now, we can go."
When we reached the gallery, I could've sworn I recognized one of the security guys. Maybe he’d come into the bar sometime? I'd definitely seen him before.
Lucas paid no attention. Instead he shoved me past the line and held up our passes. "Excuse us. We have a VIP pass."
"Do you have to be so ridiculous? I don't think that thing gets us into the VIP."
“What they don't know won't hurt them."
In the corner, I could've sworn I saw a man who looked a lot like my father. But that wasn't right. I'd talked to my parents just two days ago. They were back in the Winston Isle
s. As soon as I sold a big painting, I'd go home for a visit but not yet. I wanted to go home a success.
A man in a suit stepped up to a microphone on a raised platform, and I finally took a moment to look around.
I turned my gaze on Lucas, who just stood there with a sheepish grin on his face.
"If you look around. I'm sure you'll see some things that you like."
My heart hammering, I looked around. Everything was familiar. Each painting was mine. All of my paintings were on display. "Holy hell. Did you do this?"
Lucas shook his head. "While I do love you, I don't love you that much."
Sebastian. This had to be Sebastian. I wobbled in my heels and then stooped down to take them off. I trotted to the main gallery area and turned a corner to find the original painting I'd sold him. It was hanging on display as the focal point of the gallery. "Sebastian."
"Penelope,” he said with a smile. "I hope you like your surprise."
I couldn't talk. My throat was strangling on every word. All I could do was stand there and gape with my mouth open.
"I'll take the speechlessness as a good sign."
"How? Why?"
He gave me a warm smile. "Well how, I had a little help from my brother. We collected all your paintings: the ones that you were working on, and we even hustled to get the few from restaurants that had them on display. I convinced the gallery to show an up-and-coming artist instead of the Winston show. I made a few calls. The rest is what you see."
"But why?"
Sebastian gave me another winning smile then lowered himself to one knee.
Oh God. God. Oh my God. "What are you doing?"
"I'm showing the woman that I love how far I will go for her. I love you. This is your dream, and I support it wholeheartedly. If you want to stay and pursue your career, I will find a way for us to be together. All I need is your forgiveness and your love."
He’d done all of this for me? "You were serious?"
"You bet I was. But you were right. I needed to show you, not just tell you.”