Secret Princess

by Rachel Angel

  I smiled widely, “No, but you’re a prince, and…”

  “When it comes to the matter of the heart, it doesn’t matter what status you are or what I am,” Jordan said. “I’ll be blunt. If Kaz didn’t see what an amazing woman you are, no, person you are, then it’s his loss and you are my gain. Come to SF with me, and I will show you who I am, and let you judge whether I am someone you would like to see more of or…”

  He didn’t finish his sentence because he was already kissing me, passionately this time, showing me he could be sensual and a skillful giving lover.

  When we broke away from each other, we were breathless.

  Polly returned with a young man dressed in all black.

  “Hey Tempest,” Ricky said, “Thank God I caught you before you left.” Ricky eyed Jordan, lingering on Jordan’s arms around me. “Kaz?”

  I laughed and stepped away from Jordan. “No, it’s Jordan. Prince Jordan, Kaz’s older brother.”

  Ricky looked confused at first and then a look of understanding registered across his face.

  “Remind me if we ever play Poker,” I said, not to team up with you.

  “Why?” Ricky asked.

  “Because your face is telegraphing everything you’re thinking right now.”

  “Oh,” Ricky said. “Sorry. It’s just I never thought Kaz’s brother would ever visit Kingsbury Prep.”

  Jordan gave Ricky a quick once over before dismissing him. “Of course I have an interest in Kingsbury Prep,” he said, looking over at me. “I have a lot of interest in Tempest wherever she goes.”

  Ricky raised an eyebrow as he glanced at me. “Possessive much?”

  “Ricky,” I said, “He is my sponsor. My mysterious benefactor.”

  Ricky’s eyes widen. “How?”

  “You know that I participated in a sport called Underground Fighting? Well, Jordan owns the network that puts on the biggest ones, streams it live, and has lots of merchandise and stuff that goes along with it. Apparently it is growing fast as a sport, and well…I won one of the tournaments, and became their spokesperson slash model?”

  Jordan patted my shoulders and said, “Something like that.”

  “That’s huge,” Ricky said. “But who would have thought the Underground Fighting Network was owned by Kaz’s brother?”

  “Well, from my intel, princes can have a life outside their royal duties once in a while,” Jordan said. “Take for instance, Ori with his fighting career and Hunter with his career as an artist and a rock star. I just happen to dabble in high-tech ventures, sports, and anything that seems like a sound investment.”

  Ricky whistled. “The Underground Fight Network just went public. I mean, I’ve watched it sometimes, and Tempest…I wanted to tell you the night of the Kingsbury Birthday Bash that I knew about you being Tempest Storm. I figured it out the first time I met you. I’m a huge fan. So…when you showed up at Kingsbury Prep as the first student who was a non-royal, my bet was on you succeeding. Everyone in Arcadia wants you to succeed…to finish and graduate from Kingsbury Prep. You’re so close to finishing the year. You can’t quit now.”

  Jordan smiled. “I forgot to add, Tempest, your share includes our online gaming and betting business, too. You are still earning revenue from UFN.”

  “You mean people online are betting on me?” I asked.

  “You’re the face of our network,” Jordan said. “People want to know everything about you. What you eat, what you wear, how often you work out, how you do your hair, your nail polish of the week…everything.”

  My face turn red. “You mean they know about who I’m with, too?”

  Jordan gave a wry smile. “They know to some degree. We don’t show any of the graphic details, but our social media team do post photos of you around town.” Jordan turned to Ricky. “There’s one of you with Tempest in Arcadia, shopping.”

  I turned to Ricky, “Did you know about this?”

  Ricky looked embarrassed. “I’ve seen photos of you, but I didn’t know it’d be Paparazzi-style. Tempest, you’re like a celebrity. No, you are a celebrity. People love seeing you and knowing all about you.”

  “I didn’t know,” I said.

  Jordan took my hand and squeezed it. “Don’t worry, Tempest, we only showed you in the best light. You’re our star after all.”

  “But what about everyone else around me?” I asked.

  “Our cameras only capture what they put out there. If they’re kind and gracious like you are, that’s what the camera will show. If they’re cruel and mean, that’s what the camera will show too. Their true self to the public.”

  “Oh,” I groaned. Is that what the K3s found out about me? Were they that mad about it to end our relationship?

  Ricky took out his phone. “Tempest, I want you to see something. You see, I came to work at Kingsbury as someone in the kitchen so I could help you. I want to help you…to win. To get back at the bullies. You can’t quit on me now.”

  Jordan and Ricky exchanged looks then, and I thought I saw a look of understanding pass between the men.

  Ricky’s phone played a video of an event I was all too aware of. I had just slapped Ori so hard, he almost had whiplash. Then I stood up and left the cafeteria where Kaz and Hunter were getting blowjobs under the table from Veronica and Sabrina. It brought such pain to me even watching the video, that I had to turn away.

  “Tempest?” Ricky asked. “Are you okay?”

  I took a deep breath and said, “Yeah, I’m just still reeling from seeing that. I can’t believe…Veronica and Sabrina of all people.” I clenched my fists.

  Ricky grinned and said, “I could feel your pain, Tempest. That’s why I felt like I had to do something for you.” He played the video, and right after I left, the meals were served at the K3 table. Veronica and Sabrina emerged from underneath the table and sat down besides Kaz and Hunter, wiping their mouths and smearing their lipsticks even worse.

  Suddenly, after taking a few bites, Veronica and Sabrina ran from the table, holding their stomachs. Kaz and Hunter looked bewildered, but a little relieved as though they were happy that the girls were gone. But shortly after, they ran from the table, too.

  Ricky was laughing.

  Jordan had a knowing smile on his face.

  “Ricky…did you do something with their food?” I asked.

  “Didn’t I warn you before you went to dinner, not to sit at the K3 table?” Ricky said.

  “I do remember,” I said.

  “That’s why,” Ricky said. “You have to come back now, Temp. Now that I sacrificed my vacation and plans to just lay around before college starts for me at Arcadia University, just to work at Kingsbury, you have to come back or all I’ve done…this masterpiece of revenge, would be in vain.”

  “If you go back,” Jordan added, “It would make great stuff for your fans. They want to see you go back and beat the crap out of the bullies. I would too.”

  “So, you don’t mind me not going to SF with you?” I asked Jordan. I didn’t want to add that going there would constitute a date, especially in front of Ricky, who seemed to want to be more than friends, too.

  Jordan glanced at Ricky before turning to me. “I’m confident in my abilities to persuade you next time. If you think Kaz or any of the K3s are man enough for you, I could beat them in years and in inches.” Jordan gave me a knowing look, and my face heated up just imagining what he meant by that.

  Even Ricky reacted to that by shuffling his feet.

  “If you want to execute a perfect revenge plan against the bullies,” Jordan said, “You’ll have to include me. Nothing gets under Kaz’s skin more than me.”

  He took off his suit jacket and tore off his shirt then, revealing beautiful smooth skin over hard muscles, ripped abs, and a V-line going down to a huge bulge. Grabbing me and pulling me up to him, he shouted at Ricky to film this, before he kissed me, open-mouthed while reaching one hand down the front of my jeans.

  His fingers began stroking me, and I let
out a loud moan.

  “Oh man,” Ricky said. “Wished we can switch positions, Prince.”

  “Never,” Prince Jordan groaned, kissing me. Stroking me. Fingering me. Plunging into me.

  He was an expert with his fingers, knowing where I was aching for his touch, while satisfying me with his mouth.

  “That is so hot,” Ricky said, filming.

  Jordan and I didn’t hear him. We were already tearing each other’s clothes off.

  But before we could do the deed, Jordan pulled back, and stepped back. Zipping up his pants before running a hand through his hair. “I want to savor you more but not here. And certainly not in front of him and the camera. The intimate moments between us would just be between us, Tempest.”

  “Jordan…” I began. What had just happened? Did I just almost had full-on sex with Kaz’s brother? “I must be on the rebound. I don’t know if I could get into another relationship right now.”

  Jordan hushed my mouth with a kiss and said, “Just go with what you feel, Tempest. You want this. I could tell you want this as much as I want it. Now go…show Kaz the video of us, and enjoy your revenge.”

  Chapter 3

  Tempest

  Ricky helped me grab my luggage as Prince Jordan gave me all his contact information. “You will be hearing a lot from me now,” Jordan said. “Now that you know that I’ll be around.” He handed me another card. “Our kingdom is only an hour away from Arcadia. I will be there most of the time now that I’ve achieved what I wanted for UFN, getting it to become a publicly-traded company, a legitimate business. Matters at home in the kingdom calls me there all the time. Our father, the King, is getting older, and he wants a successor to the throne sometime soon. The way Kaz has been badly behaving; our father has serious doubts about him becoming King soon. Kaz has some growing up to do before he could even govern anything. Kingsbury Prep for instance…”

  “Why is he the Crown Prince when you’re the older more responsible brother?” I asked.

  Jordan shook his head. “Politics. Our father has always favorited Kaz’s mother over mine. My mother was the first wife, the Queen, but she and the King had a little misunderstanding so he was able to take on another wife, a Concubine. Kaz’s mother caught his eye when I was just a toddler. Soon after, she became his favorite and was made Queen over my mother. Their son, Kaz, became his favorite son, and was designated the Crown Prince. But because our kingdom was built on tradition and ancient laws, many believe that the eldest son should be next in line to the throne…me. Another faction, who support Kaz’s mother, supports Kaz. The ones supporting me are a larger group, and these people believe in the eldest son ruling. Because of this unrest, no thanks to Kaz and no thanks to me, Kaz was sent to Kingsbury Prep to live in safety and to learn to become a wise and effective diplomat. Not this bully of a young beautiful common-blood girl. So you see…Kaz has a lot of growing up to do before anyone could accept him as King. I, for one, think you being here at Kingsbury will help him grow up. If not, then he’s the biggest fool.”

  “Jordan,” I said. “Thank you for telling me your side of the story. I wouldn’t have known any of this. The boys…K3, they’ve kept a lot from me. They were so secretive. I don’t even know if I could ever believe them again.”

  “Don’t,” Jordan said. “Don’t believe them. Don’t trust them. Before you do, they have to earn your trust in them.”

  I looked at Jordan, trying to decide if I could trust him too. He did come through with the sponsorship. He did provide me with the funds to buy back my parents’ company. And he seemed to have told me everything that could be somewhat verified. He didn’t seem the type to have committed any heinous crimes or to have made headlines for cruelty or for any other scandals.

  Meanwhile…the K3s have bullied me, imposed the Black Envelope on me, swept me off my feet, and made me fall hard for them, only to break my heart with the ultimate in bullying and heartache.

  So why was I going back to Kingsbury Prep?

  In the distance, I saw three figures making their way to the landing strip where Jordan’s jet was still on the runway. Jordan saw them too.

  When the figures were close enough to see us clearly, Jordan grabbed me and pulled me in. “One more kiss to last me until I could see you again, Tempest,” Jordan said. “And so you can remember me. Remember I’m interested in you too. I want you too.”

  He kissed me hard and so passionately, Ricky turned his head away. “Get a room already,” he muttered.

  When we broke away, I was breathless and speechless. Jordan looked equally as affected, swallowing hard. “Tempest. Wow. I won’t be able to stop thinking of wanting to kiss you again after this.”

  I pushed him into his jet and waved. “Have a nice trip!”

  Then I turned.

  Kaz, Hunter, and Ori were standing together looking up at me where I stood on the stairs now detaching from Jordan’s jet.

  Hunter and Ori mouths had dropped. And Kaz looked like he had just been hit with a sledgehammer.

  Pain was written all over his face. Anger, regret, but mostly pain.

  So K3s, you ripped out my heart and played with my mind like it meant nothing. Now taste how it felt when you get your hearts stomped on. Feel my fury. Feel my pain. I returned to Kingsbury for this…to be the Tempest I was meant to be.

  Chapter 4

  Ori

  She was still here at Kingsbury Prep. After everything we’ve done to try to force, scare, and humiliate her to leave, Tempest was still here.

  Have to admire someone for that persistency. For that bravery.

  Looking at her standing up there on top of the stairs, she looked like a goddess to me with her purple hair blowing against her face. God, I love her.

  I wanted to see her, to pull her into my arms, kiss her, and ask her for forgiveness for my vicious part in the cafeteria set up. It was meant to break her heart, but I could feel mine breaking as I watched the pain she was going through.

  I could tell Hunter was going through the same emotional ups and downs as I was. He was just better at hiding it. He was a performer after all, having always perform as the dutiful son, the dutiful best friend, brother, and lover. Now I could see the cracks of that dutifulness wearing thin. He was on the verge of breaking.

  That last stunt with him having to grin and bear it with Sabrina between his legs, and Tempest watching, nearly had him beating Kaz, punching him, when it was over.

  “You fucking went too far,” Hunter shouted at Kaz. “I want Tempest to go, but not that way. Now she’ll never look at me the same again.”

  “I didn’t plan it to come out that way,” Kaz said. “Veronica and Sabrina…they just did it. You know how ruthless and diabolical Veronica could be. Now I think Sabrina might be just the same way.”

  I had to step in before they really did get into a big fist fight.

  “Stop it,” I said, pushing Hunter off of Kaz. “I don’t know about you guys, but I want to see Tempest. I have to see her…” I rushed out the cafeteria and ran to her dorm, but she was gone. Everything of hers were gone.

  I sat on her bed, unable to believe I had pushed the only girl I ever loved, out of my life, like that.

  I bunched my fist with Tempest’s bedsheet, trying to catch the last remaining scent of her. My body ached for her.

  “Damn!” I shouted angrily to the empty room. “Fuck fuck fuck!” I got up and wanted to find something to throw, to destroy.

  When Kaz entered the room with Hunter, I wanted to punch him with all of my might. I wanted to break his neck. I wanted him to hurt like I was hurting. It only took me a few long strides to reach my childhood brother of another mother and stuck out my hands like a claw, ready to tear his heart out like the way my heart had been ripped out of me.

  Hunter’s hand stopped me. He looked terrible. “Can’t you see, Ori?” Hunter gestured at Kaz. “He’s a dead man walking.”

  Kaz’s eyes looked vacant. His lips were white, and he looked like he could b
arely stand.

  We hoisted Kaz between us and placed him on Tempest’s bed, face up. His eyes stared straight up to the ceiling, looking empty. “Why does love hurt so much?” he asked. He grabbed one of the pillows and brought it to his face. “I can even smell Tempest now.”

  Hunter and I exchanged looks. As angry as we were with Kaz for bringing up Tempest’s betrayal and breaking up our happy family by punishing Tempest, we couldn’t leave Kaz as he was.

  “Fuck,” Hunter said. “I’m going after her. I don’t want her to leave without seeing her. Fuck. I don’t want her to leave. I have never wanted her to leave. Dammit, Kaz, if we haven’t gone through so much together, I could kill you for tearing me away from her. For taking her away from me. If it was anyone else, I would have sent my guards to destroy you.”

  “I’m already destroyed,” Kaz muttered.

  “Then you can stay here while I go after her,” Hunter said. Hunter looked at me, “Coming?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I’m not staying here with this sourpuss any longer. I want Tempest, and I’m going to be man enough to get her back.”

  I walked out of Tempest’s dorm with Hunter, leaving Kaz to wallow in his misery. I’ve never been so angry at Kaz as I was at that moment.

  Hunter and I began looking everywhere we could think of for Tempest. Her favorite reading spot in the library, the corner of the cafeteria, the music room, and even at Kaz’s house. She wasn’t anywhere to be found.

  Then we saw him…that blonde surfer guy who claimed to be just friends with Tempest. Rich or something. Ricky.

  “There’s Ricky,” I said, pointing him out to Hunter. “He probably would know where Tempest is.”

  “Let’s follow him,” Hunter said.