Royal Watch

by Stacey Marie Brown

  “Go on.” Martin nodded my way, encouraging me to speak.

  Heat burned my cheeks, my confidence wobbling. Theo was so used to being in the spotlight. I wasn’t. I was fine with being behind the curtain.

  “Y-you’re wrong.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to sit up. He may be a prince, but I studied my arse off for my marks. I wanted to become a veterinarian, and you had to have really high grades to do it. To be a vet, you needed to be a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the RCVS, and to become a member, you had to complete a five-year degree course at a top uni. Because of that, I worked hard. Plus, I enjoyed history.

  “You think I don’t know my own family history? I was raised with the stories. The real history. Don’t bring your CliffsNotes version of my family and challenge me.” He leaned back arrogantly.

  Oh. No. He. Didn’t.

  Mina’s mouth dropped open, knowing he had just pissed off a sleeping lion.

  “Then this is going to be even more embarrassing for you.” I swallowed, noticing the professor now hiding his big grin behind his hand.

  “Who the hell are you? I think I’d know more about my family than you would.”

  His lids narrowed on me, his gaze feeling like he could slice right through me. I never had the prince’s full attention, and I felt like I was drowning in it. Intense and heavy, he locked on to me, too confident to ever doubt himself.

  “Well, I’m clearly a nobody to you, but someone might have to revisit their dear grandpa’s journals or something.” I tried to ignore the heat turning me the color of a tomato, my tongue resembling the Sahara Desert.

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” His green eyes sparked with anger.

  “Master Theodore, no need for that kind of language,” Martin scolded, nodding to me. “Let her continue.”

  “Sure.” He shrugged, falling back in his seat like he couldn’t care less what I would say. “If she wants to humiliate herself, by all means.”

  The professor arched an eyebrow, turning to me with a knowing smirk. “Go ahead, Spencer.”

  “The first alliance was set on Spain. They had a bigger military, and Albert’s father wanted that. He was determined to get Princess Isabelle for Albert, but I guess your Grandpa Al was such a twat, she wouldn’t do it. Turned him down flat. Even her father, the king of Spain, thought it better she marry her cousin instead.” I clicked my tongue. “That’s got to hurt. That level of rejection.”

  Theo’s shoulders moved up to his ears.

  “That’s why he married Gertrude and declared war on Spain.”

  The class was silent, all eyes dancing back and forth between us, ready for our own war to be declared.

  “Sorry, Theodore, but Spencer is right.” Martin stood from his desk, going around to the projector, putting up a timeline on the screen, his voice rambling on. I heard none of it. I couldn’t fight the pride bursting at my chest, knowing I just schooled the Prince of Great Victoria on his own history. But the evil glares coming from my peers shifting in their seats suggested I made a mistake. How dare I correct the prince? He was right, even if he was wrong.

  “Bollocks, girl,” Mina muttered. “If you weren’t on their radar before, you sure as hell are now.”

  I swallowed, feeling the truth in her words. Briefly, my attention went back to the prince, expecting him to be another one glowering at me. He sat back, his fiery gaze heavy on me, but it wasn’t filled with malice. If anything, it was curious and intrigued, like he enjoyed being challenged. He didn’t break away when I caught him staring at me, unabashedly watching with a strange hitch on his lips.

  I not only gained attention from people who never looked at me before, but I acquired the prince’s.

  And somehow, I knew nothing would ever be the same after that.

  Chapter 2

  (Eight months later)

  “We’re free!” Landen held up his arms to the sky, screaming at the top of his lungs. “We. Are. Free!” The final class of the year had let out. We were officially done with school here.

  “Until your father forces you to enroll in the military.” Trying to hide my smile, I swept my hair off my shoulder, the May sun brushing softly over my skin, hinting at summer coming around the corner.

  “Someone’s a killjoy.” He dropped his arms, glaring at me with his light brown eyes. He had to get them from his mom’s side since those of us on his father’s side had more the gray-blue color. “And I think I might have him talked into a gap year.”

  “Your father? Really?” Mina raised a dark eyebrow at him.

  “Of course, he said no. But I’m pretty sure the underlying meaning was I think you’re right, Landen, you should explore the world for at least a year. Might as well take two.”

  “Yep, sounds exactly what my uncle would say.” I snorted, covering my mouth. Landen and I were extremely close. His family was very cold and uptight, so I was the only one he confided in. The last time he came over, and we got blinding drunk in my room, he confessed he was confused about his sexuality, saying he was still attracted to women, but from what I could gather, he was struggling, feeling the same about guys too.

  “Shut up.” He pointed at me, his tie hanging loosely from his neck. “I plan on getting him trolleyed and then make him sign a contract I had my lawyer come up with saying he agrees to my year abroad. Bind that arsehole to it.”

  “Lawyers? Contracts? Jesus.” Mina shook her head, laughing. “This is not normal.”

  “Nothing about us is normal, darling.” He threw his arms around her, winking. “Speaking of not normal, how about you and me get hammered and have sex tonight?”

  “Ugh. Not a chance.” She brushed off his arm, rolling her eyes. We all knew he was totally playing with her. They never had a single ounce of interest in each other. Landen hadn’t talked to me about his feelings since that one drunken night, keeping them stuffed away. He flirted relentlessly with girls with over-the-top declarations, almost like he hoped they wouldn’t take him seriously. I felt it was all an act because he wasn’t ready to face his true feelings yet.

  “Hurt a man’s ego.” He rubbed the hereditary reddish-brown hair we both got from our fathers, looking anything but upset. My dad, Andrew, was a few years younger, but Fredrick Sutton looked and acted like my late grandfather, who I hadn’t liked either, taking on the patriarch role, always going on about legacy. I think someone was overcompensating for his tiny baron title. I always felt bad for Landen growing up with him. I saw Uncle Freddie enough when we went home for breaks, and I got used to hiding behind the tapestries. I think it was why Landen was very happy to head to boarding school with me, the opportunity to get away from his overbearing father.

  “Think somehow you’ll get over it.” Mina nudged him playfully. “So, are we going out tonight? Celebrate our freedom from this place.”

  “Yes. And more yes.” Landen bobbed his head frantically.

  “I think so…” I glanced over my shoulder for a familiar form in the crowd.

  “There is no think. This is mandatory.” Landen grabbed my hand, giving me a look I knew all too well.

  “No. Please. Don’t,” I pleaded.

  “Oh yes. It calls for it.”

  “No, it really doesn’t.”

  “Dying in your bed many years from now…” He started the famous movie quote he did every Christmas like tradition when we were eating. Always pissing off his father and making dinner awkward. Well, not for me. He could always make me giggle. It got us excused quickly, where we’d run off to his bedroom. “Would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance…”

  “Bloody hell, he’s doing it.” Wilhelmina let her head fall back, pinching her nose.

  “Just one chance…” He held up his finger, stepping back from me, his voice belting out in the courtyard.

  “Feck,” I muttered, letting my hair drop in front of my face. “Please stop.”

  “To come back here and tell our enemies that
they may take our lives, but they’ll never take…” He paused dramatically, everyone around stopping and staring at him. He jumped on a picnic table, his arms outstretched.

  “Our freedom!” he belted out, giving so much to his performance, he was panting. A few people clapped or whistled.

  I buried my face in my hands, laughing. The guy was a born actor. If that was an option for him, he would already be on a plane heading to Los Angeles.

  He bowed, leaping off the table, a grin bursting over his face. He had done a few plays here at school, but the moment his father found out, he was banned from doing theater again. He was, quote, “embarrassing the family.” Whatever.

  Fredrick was killing everything that made Landen special and amazing.

  “Nicely done, cousin.” I continued to snicker, my grin hurting my face. “It feels as new as the hundredth time you did it.”

  “Thank you.” He bowed. “It’s all about being in the moment.”

  “Sutton!” Our last name boomed over the quad, causing our heads to jerk up.

  “It’s for you.” Landen winked, hitting my arm.

  His voice was a knife cutting through the crowd. Students scrambled out of the prince’s way, letting him through, bowing to his whim without a word uttered. His green eyes narrowed on me, his shoulders rising.

  “What is this?” He pulled a piece of paper from his notebook, a bright green pamphlet reflecting off the sunlight between his fingers.

  Everyone around us stopped, watching like hawks. I was no longer invisible at this school.

  “If you ever learned how to read,” I whipped to face him, my arms folding, “Your Highness,” I stepped closer to Prince Theo, his dark hair ruffled, his tie loose like Landen’s, “you would see it’s a march for endangered animals.”

  “And you think I care about that?” He stepped closer, tipping his head.

  “I really don’t care if you do, only care if your money does.”

  He stared down at me, breathing deeply. “If I see one more of these stuffed in my book, I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?” I countered his step, my shoes hitting his.

  “I’ll do this.” His hands skated up my face, his mouth crashing down on mine. His lips moved against mine but held back from fully kissing me. It seemed way too soon that he broke away, his gaze darting around nervously. “Probably shouldn’t have done that here.”

  “Probably.” My shoulders dropped, my eyes scanning the crowd for anyone taking pictures or video of us. We were mostly protected and safe here, but you couldn’t stop people from slipping photos to the paparazzi for a hefty price. Dating the prince came with onerous limitations. We always had to be on guard and keep PDA to a minimum.

  “Just wait until we’re alone.” He grinned down at me, his eyes hinting at the promise. “Think you need to be punished greatly for these.” He held up the leaflet.

  “Really?” I coyly lifted a brow. “Then you might need to discipline me over your dorm room too.”

  “Oh hell. What did you do this time?” He waggled his head, moving in closer.

  “I didn’t do anything.” I opened my eyes wide, feigning innocence. “I’m not allowed over there, remember?”

  “Okay, what I meant to ask was, what did Landen do for you?” Theo’s gaze flicked over to my cousin.

  “She made me!” Landen pointed at me. “Not my fault. I was blackmailed! Had no choice.”

  “Damn, you fold easy.” I curved my head back to my cousin. “Not even ten seconds.”

  “He can cut off my head!” Landen waved toward Theo. “Toss my sexy self into a dungeon!”

  “And I can cut off other things, plus show your dad those pictures I have from when you turned sixteen. You remember, right?”

  “Bloody hell, woman.” Landen shook his head. “You are truly evil.”

  “I can’t help it. I was just born this way.”

  “Hey, back to me.” Theo waved to himself. “Still scared what you did to my room.”

  “Let’s just say you have wall-to-wall reminders of a fantastic charity to donate to. A generous contribution from His Royal Highness would be extremely appreciated.” I winked, moving in so close our bodies pressed together. “It’s very important.”

  “You wallpapered my room?” He let out a choked chuckle. “And no one stopped you?

  “With superglue. They might have to burn the room down to get them off.” Landen smiled proudly, rolling his shoulders back. “And no one, not even your bodyguards, can resist my charms.”

  “My guards stay outside the school.”

  “Then who the hell did I bribe then?” Landen tossed his arms out. “Wow… that makes so much more sense now. No wonder they so easily agreed.”

  “You guys are so weird.” Theo shook his head, pulling me into him, his nose nuzzling my ear, whispering privately to me. “You are making it really hard to keep my hands to myself.”

  “Good.” I went back on my toes, kissing him, his fingers gripping my face firmer, pulling me into his physique.

  “Okay, okay. Nobody wants to see this.” Landen groaned, motioning to us.

  “Actually, I think billions of people would.” Mina tapped her chin. “We could make millions.”

  “Wait?” Landen perked up. “I could have sold my cousin out and been living in Fiji? Drinking and napping in a hammock between hot yoga instructors and maids coming over for sex?”

  “Yep.” She nodded.

  “I’m sorry, Spence, never liked you that much.” Landen shrugged, and his mouth pinched together. “Not even the pictures you have can stop Fiji.”

  “That’s why I have even more blackmail on you.” I turned to face him, Theo’s hand lightly touching my waist. It still felt like I would wake up and us becoming a couple seven months ago would all be a dream. I couldn’t get over the fact that I had fallen for a prince. I, who hated that whole aristocratic world, was now right at the center of it. Though being here at school, we were able to keep “us” quiet from the press. No one outside these walls knew we were dating. “I have a naked video of you in the bathtub with a rubber ducky.”

  “Oh, when I was three? Please, Fiji is worth that.” He huffed dramatically.

  “Try last year.”

  “What?”

  “New Year’s, baby.” I winked at my cousin. “After a crate of champagne and eating some space cake.”

  “Fuck! Again, my dreams are thwarted by blackmail.” He let his head drop. “Goodbye, hot yoga instructor… hammock… pretty blue water. Lots of sweet money.”

  “Seriously, I thought my friends were weird. Until I meet you guys.” Theo shook his head, dropping his arms from me.

  After that moment eight months ago in class, Theo put me on his radar. Pursued me. A month later, we were dating, which meant dating his friends too. Being around Theo, Ben, Hazel, and Charlie so much, I had come to see they loved to tease and be mischievous, but only in the way true elite understood. They had existed their entire lives in such a bubble of just them, what they found funny or naughty existed way out of the realm of the normal person. They didn’t watch movies, TV, or couldn’t talk about the latest Netflix binge. They spent their breaks taking private jets to islands and partying with rock stars, models, and actors from the shows I watched on the sofa in my sweats.

  I liked them a lot. They were more “real” than most of the people trying to be part of their world. But there was still a disconnect, a sphere they lived in I could never touch.

  “We’re going to head to my godfather’s pub tonight. You are coming, right?” Theo kept space between us. Everyone here knew we were together, but the future king, no matter what, couldn’t be caught making out with his girlfriend. When we did kiss at school, it was quick and chaste. He tried to make up for it in private, but there never seemed to be time to really be together. Duties, lacrosse, schoolwork. The prince was always needed somewhere. “He’ll have it secured for us. I’m so ready to let loose.”

  Theo’s godfather, Thomas
, owned a chain of upscale pubs and restaurants, but the one we went to the most was a very small, local pub. It was randomly stuck in a neighborhood in the middle of row houses and flats in an up-and-coming area. It certainly wasn’t hip or trendy, and I think that was why Theo liked it. Having a pint of beer while he watched a footie game with the locals, he could be a normal guy for a night. The reporters and paparazzi hadn’t figured out the place yet, probably because it was not where they imagined a prince would go. The bodyguards preferred it because it was easier to secure, keeping Theo safe and under the radar.

  Thomas made sure everyone left Theo alone when we came in. He insisted they didn’t take pictures or go on social media about the prince and his friends being there. He was very protective of Theo.

  “I’m there.” Landen raised his hand. “Be honest, that’s all you really cared about.”

  “Yeah. Sure, mate,” Theo replied evenly. I could tell Landen rattled him a bit; he wasn’t quite sure how to take him.

  “We all set to get rat-arsed tonight?” Ben came up behind Theo, patting him on the shoulder, grinning at all of us.

  “Hell. Yes.” Theo exhaled deeply, the rest of us nodding in agreement.

  “Okay, let’s get to it then.” Ben cuffed Theo again. “You don’t have a lot of time before freedom ends. Better get to it.”

  My lids narrowed at Ben’s odd comment, but Theo didn’t give me a chance to ask what he meant.

  “Yeah. Grab Hazel and Charlie,” he said to Ben as he stepped closer to me, grabbing my hands. “I’ll meet you there?”

  “Of course.” I nodded.

  “You know I hate we can’t go together, but we have to be careful. The press…”

  “I totally understand.” I did, but it still hurt that I had to act like we weren’t together, that I was just a random girl showing up at the same bar until I was inside and we could relax a bit.

  “See you later.” He kissed me on the cheek before heading off for his dorm room. The one he seemed to forget was completely plastered with animal rights pamphlets.