by Ally Summers
Table of Contents
Epilogue
Untitled
Corbin
Elena
Bearly Royal: Corbin
Ally Summers
Head Over Heels Press
Copyright © 2018 by Ally Summers
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Untitled
1. Corbin
2. Elena
3. Corbin
4. Elena
5. Corbin
6. Elena
7. Corbin
8. Elena
9. Corbin
10. Elena
11. Corbin
12. Elena
13. Corbin
14. Elena
15. Corbin
16. Elena
17. Corbin
18. Elena
19. Corbin
20. Elena
21. Corbin
22. Elena
23. Corbin
24. Elena
25. Corbin
26. Elena
27. Corbin
28. Elena
29. Corbin
30. Elena
31. Corbin
32. Elena
33. Corbin
34. Elena
35. Corbin
36. Elena
37. Corbin
Epilogue
A note from Ally
Dear Sweet Readers,
We all know this is a shifter book—a complete work of fiction, but I care about you all so much that I felt like I needed to put this disclaimer at the front just in case this is a personal struggle for you. This book contains a fictional portrayal of a character recovering from alcohol abuse. The story takes a very “light” approach, but is in no way meant to belittle or downplay the serious struggles families face when confronted with alcoholism. Just know readers, that if this topic is a trigger for you, it is mentioned frequently in the book. The character depiction is only a means to guide the storyline.
Much love,
Ally
1
Corbin
“It was a pleasure, sir.”
I grimaced, strolling past the last administrator I’d have to deal with in this place. He held the door. I didn’t respond. I just wanted out.
I threw my hand toward the sky to block the sun. Fuck. Why was it this bright outside? I pressed the sunglasses on my face.
“Your highness.” Kurtis nodded as I walked toward the long black car parked behind the building. It was nice to have a familiar face from the palace, even if it was only my chauffeur.
“Thank you.”
He was like an iron statue next to the car. I spotted two men from my security detail on either side of vehicle.
I ducked inside, relieved when the door closed behind me and I could sit in the cool shadows. The two guards climbed into the front.
I looked at the building as we pulled away. White marble. Ornately carved statues. Fountains every twenty steps. It was hell dressed up in fancy architecture.
No one knew inside those guarded walls Galona’s prince had been forced to face his demons.
Demons I had chosen to live with. Demons I embraced. Demons I greeted every morning when I opened my eyes. Only, no one else wanted them lurking in the palace. They didn’t like that I carried the demons with me, willingly inviting them to join in. My brother sure as hell didn’t.
But this place. I huffed. I had to give it to them. They had accomplished something no other center had done before. I’d completed the program. It was the first time I had made it a full month. I tacked on an extra few weeks for good measure. That surprised even me.
I patted the inside pocket of my jacket. It was still there—the letter.
I pressed the speaker. “Where is Elena?” I asked the driver.
She should have been waiting for me. I expected to see her on the sidewalk or inside the car at least.
“Your highness?” the driver responded.
I sighed. “My royal manager. Elena DuBois. Did the palace fly her in from Freychon this morning? Where is she?”
I realized she might be waiting at the royal jet, but still this was unusual. Elena was always within reach. And she never missed an opportunity to orchestrate my activity. She should be here with a full itinerary that clocked every second of my day. It wouldn’t be the first time she would have to spin one of my scandals.
“I’m sorry, sir. I had instructions to escort you to the airport. That is all. We should be there in fifteen minutes. Do you need anything before we arrive, sir? Should I stop?”
“No. That’s all.”
I turned the speaker off. Kurtis didn’t know anything. I was irritated Elena wasn’t here to answer my questions. It was pointless to ask the driver where my sister was. Juliette should have been here too. They all had waited for this day.
Wasn’t this what they wanted? My sobriety.
Wasn’t this my re-entry into royal life? The shameful brother redeemed and saved after fifty days.
That’s all it took for salvation in the crown’s eyes. Fifty fucking days.
I twisted the cap off a bottle of water and began to chug.
After a few swallows, something Dr. Garcia had said in one of our sessions seemed glaringly obvious. Recovery is a lonely journey.
She was fucking right. After fifty days, I could admit that much. I frowned.
There were a lot of reasons I needed to atone. What was the other thing she said? Oh yeah, the rough Spanish translation: recovery was a long hike upward, not a walk down the street.
How many of those clever sayings did she have stockpiled for people like me?
Other addicts.
I never thought I’d be able to say it, but that’s what I was—an addict. My drug of choice was bourbon. Occasionally gin. I mixed it with women regularly.
The women didn’t care. I was second in line to the throne. It didn’t matter to them if I smelled like expensive booze, as long as my cock worked and they had the chance to moan my name when I made them come harder than they ever had. That’s all they wanted—to fuck His Royal Highness.
But the day I showed up drunk to a children’s library wing dedication was the final straw for the crown. My brother had ignored my addiction for too long. He had conveniently assigned morning events, banking on me being sober.
He pushed Elena to manage all my habits, thinking she was going to stop me from taking a drink or a woman to my bed.
However the morning at the library changed the course of everything. I was finally able to drown out all his hope that day. He saw what an all-night bender looked like, and signed the royal order to send me to rehab. My brother, the king, took one look at me and admitted he had no choices left. I had backed him and the crown into a corner, something he despised.
I created a royal scandal. I mocked the family. Embarrassed my brothers and sister.
Rehab was my only path to redemption. I was off the rails by that point. Even I knew I needed help.
The letter crinkled next to my chest. Only, my family didn’t know what motivated me. Why this time I took it seriously. Why I put up a fight, but didn’t wage a war when they forced me into the car. I wanted to be stone-cold sober for once. My bear growled from deep within. He was ready for a taste of freedom.
“We’re here, your highness.” Kurtis beeped in.
“Thank you.”
He pulled the car on the tarmac and parked in front of the jet. The Marquis family crest glinted in the sun.
I took a deep breath. The door opened and I walked into the sun. Only this time I didn’t shield myself. There was only one way this would work. I had to prove I could walk in the light.
2
Elena
“Are you sure the cabin is clear of all alcohol?” I asked the flight attendant.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve checked three times, including the butler’s pantry.”
I should feel relieved, but I wasn’t.
“Absolutely sure?” I pressed. “You’ve looked in all the compartments?”
She eyed me. I didn’t care if I annoyed her. What she thought didn’t matter. Corbin would be here any minute. He was what mattered. The prince was my only concern.
The royal hostess scurried to prepare hot tea. I had flown with Liddy before. She was unusually opinionated for someone on the flight crew. I would have a conversation with her once we landed in Freychon.
I stopped to look in one of the mirrors. My dark blond hair was pulled back in a bun. My lips were pink and I wore the appropriate amount of makeup for a woman on the royal staff. Enough to not look pale, but not enough to be noticeable.
I was supposed to be a pleasing accessory, not a centerpiece. I should be able to blend into the background when prime ministers and presidents were in the room. I should be charming and convincing enough to persuade the same leaders to change their minds about trade deals and social policy. I also had to know the entire royal family’s whereabouts and the innermost details of Prince Corbin’s position. Getting the makeup right was as important as remembering how many wives and children the Prince of Saudi San had. I sighed.
My long-sleeved silk shirt was tucked into the subtle blue pencil skirt. A string of pearls hung around my neck. My pulse beat faster when I heard a car outside the jet.
I was afraid to look. I closed my eyes and pressed my lips together. I had a job to do.
“He’s here,” a valet whispered to Liddy.
“How does he look?” she asked.
“Hold on. I’m trying to get a look at him,” he replied, too eager for my liking. They were worse than the paparazzi.
I stood motionless. I should be at the top of the steps when he exited the car, but I was frozen. I should be standing there to greet His Royal Highness. After all, I was his manager. The person responsible for his entire schedule. The woman who organized his life.
My head snapped when I heard the car door slam shut.
“Have to say I think it’s the first time he doesn’t look hungover.” The valet chuckled. “But I’m sure it won’t take long.”
I glared at them both. “Shut up, immediately. I never want to hear that again. I’ll have your jobs for saying anything disrespectful about his majesty,” I hissed. “Get back to work. Tea. He needs tea, not your judgement.”
“Yes, ma’am.” They lowered their eyes and stopped gawking. “So sorry.”
I forced my feet to move toward the landing in front of the cabin door. My knees wobbled. I had switched into higher heels this morning. It seemed absurd in this moment.
He was on the staircase now. Any second he would walk through the door.
I swallowed hard and flattened the front of my skirt. I didn’t know why it suddenly felt tight against my thighs. Why my shirt felt hot. Why my pearls were about to strangle me.
It had been fifty days.
Fifty days since I deposited him in the secret facility. Since I had to walk away. Fifty days that I had to fill on my own without him. Without his laugh. Without his dark green eyes. Fifty days that felt as if I was trapped in a prison of my own.
What was a royal manager without a royal to manage?
“Your majesty.” Liddy curtsied.
The valet bowed. “Good morning, your highness.”
“Good morning to you as well,” he replied.
My heart stopped. Fifty days since I had heard the rich tones of his voice.
“Is Elena on board?” he asked.
His head turned in my direction as I stepped forward from behind the sofa. My fingertips pressed into the soft leather.
“Hi, your majesty. I am here, sir.” My head dropped as I curtsied.
My eyes lifted to his as my posture straightened.
Did fifty days feel the same way to him?
“Good you’re here. I missed you at the center.” He rubbed his jaw.
I smiled more brightly than usual. I started toward him.
I had wanted to go this morning, but the optics were best if he was on his own. This was the chance he needed to demonstrate the strength of his independence. To show the citizens of Galona their prince had control. To show the world he had power over his crisis finally.
“You can update me during the flight. I need a full rundown on the rest of the week’s agenda, starting with that absurd deal my brother made with the Bostique Islands.”
I blinked and took a step backward. My lungs felt heavy and each breath was rougher and more uneasy than the last.
“Elena, is that a problem?” he asked. “You do have an update for me.”
“No. Of course there’s no problem.” I found my voice. “I have your itinerary and the details His Majesty forwarded from today’s lodestar. I’m ready to brief you.”
He took the seat next to me and pulled the seatbelt across his lap. “Are you going to sit?”
“Y-yes.” I sat across from him, buckling the belt.
I pulled the tablet out of my executive case. Only royal managers had custom crafted bags like mine. Inside, I carried the royal schedule and the files from the king.
“Tea?” Liddy walked toward us with a silver tray. I noticed how her eyes raked over Corbin.
His arms strained against the gray jacket. He didn’t miss any workouts in rehab. There was something alluring about the Marquis men. It was hard to be around them and not notice how chiseled and dominant they were in any room. But it was Corbin’s sharp jaw and shockingly dark hair drew me to him.
He grinned at her. “I’ve flown with you before, haven’t I?”
She blushed and I wanted to kick her ankles with the spikes on my heels. “Yes, your majesty. Many times.”
“I thought so.” He took a china cup. “You make the best tea.”
I rolled my eyes. “Liddy, that’s enough. Thank you,” I spoke tersely.
She trudged back to the galley, but not before throwing Corbin another once over.
“Elena?” He placed the cup on the saucer.
“Yes?” I knew there was something hopeful in my voice. Something that shouldn’t have been there.
But despite everything it was there. Fifty days had given me time to think. And all I thought about was Corbin.
“Start with the Bostiques.”
And like that, the hope cracked.
I cleared my throat. I tapped on the file and began.
3
Corbin
I don’t know what kind of homecoming I expected. There wasn’t going to be a parade with the Royal Navy, marking my grand return from rehab.
I walked into my apartments. There was a vase of flowers on the round table in the foyer. They were exotic and rare. I knew who sent them before I read the note.
I plucked the card from table.
Welcome home, brother. I’m so proud of you.
All my love,
Juliette
Xoxo
“Hmm.” I folded it in half and tossed it next to the vase. “Where is Juliette?” I asked Elena.
She was busy directing the valets with my luggage.
“She’s still in Spain,” she replied.
“I see.”
“Everyone misses her. I’m sure she’ll be back at the palace soon. Maybe another week or two at the most. I understand she has fallen in love with the countryside.”
Elena’s heels clicked across the marble when one of the royal messengers entered. She whispered something to him and faced me.
“The king and queen would like for you to join them for dinner tonight as a wel
come home supper,” she conveyed.
“Would they?”
She nodded. “Here is the royal invitation, signed by the queen.”
“How is that working out?” I asked.
“Excuse me?”
“The queen. I’ve only met her once and then my brother married her.”
Elena’s eyes widened. “Oh. She has been wonderful. A truly modern queen.”
“Elena.” I stared at her.
I didn’t know why she had been so strange since the flight. Maybe my constant drunken haze had made it seem like she was more forthcoming, but something seemed different. Elena seemed different toward me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Should I send a reply?” she asked.
“After you tell me what you really think of my sister-in-law.”
My fingers itched. I turned for the bar and stopped mid-stride. Wasn’t that what I always did? I’d pour a drink while Elena filled me in on the palace news. It was part of our routine. Sometimes she would try to talk me out of a fourth or fifth drink.
I didn’t remember her succeeding often.
I didn’t have to look to know the bar was stripped. Alcohol would never be served in these apartments again. I felt a swell of triumph knowing I didn’t want it. I liked viewing the world with clarity.
I decided to settle on more tea instead. Maybe later tonight I could roam the woods outside the palace wall. It had been fifty days since my fur had felt the wind.
