by Nana Malone
I had gotten a couple of looks when I walked in, but nothing I was interested in pursuing. The woman I wanted was back up at the castle and currently not speaking to me.
“I’m not in love.”
“Yeah, dumbass, you are. I know the look. Despondent. Lonely. Sad. Not quite sure how you ended up here. Yup, been there, done that.”
I hated that I was so easy to read. Why couldn’t Lucas just stay out of my business?
“Just leave me alone, mate. I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“How did it happen?”
He wasn’t going to stop. “You’re being a dick.”
Lucas grinned. “I believe the appropriate phrase is ‘a wanker.’ I had this friend once, he was British and kind of a wanker himself. He taught me all these fabulous British phrases, like wanker. And twat. And cunt face.”
Despite myself, I chuckled. He really was annoyingly persistent. “I’m not in love.” Liar.
“Are you sure? Because Sebastian rolled into my room and said, ‘The man has got it bad.’ So I’m just trying to get the real deal. You took my advice. You played the hide-the-salami angle, and it’s not working out for you?”
I groaned. “I did not hide the salami.”
“Technically, yes you did. But that’s neither here nor there. I don’t understand what your problem is.”
“She’s a princess. She’s your flipping sister. She should marry a prince, or some billionaire financier, or like a knight or something.”
“Well, I’ve known the girl about five minutes. So far, what I can tell you is she knows more curse words than Bryna does, she has Penny beat on epic side-eye, and no idiot financier would have made her happy. It’s one thing if you don’t want to be with her. But if you do want to be with her, don’t be a dick. I can make you a knight if you want.”
I frowned. Did he not know that he couldn’t do that? “No, you actually can’t. Only the Regents Council can. Have you paid zero attention in your history class? And in case you missed it, mate, I wasn’t being a dick. I was forced to be one. I wanted to be forthright and honest and tell her who I was, but I wasn’t allowed to. And then when I was about to, she found out another way. So rightfully, she felt betrayed. Lied to. Like I said, I had to deceive her, so I get why she’s mad. I never expected her to understand, and she doesn’t, so that’s that.”
“I swear to God, how is such a smart guy so obtuse when it comes to this shit? You’re the one who talked me and Sebastian off the stupid ledges. You’re fresh out of wise wisdom when it’s you on the other end?”
“Do you have a point?”
“Yeah, I have a point. My point is if you want something, fight for it. You might lose, but oh what a battle it will be. You can’t stand on the sidelines your whole life, playing soldier, never letting people get close. You think I don’t notice? Women are talking about you like you’re some kind of legend. And they’ve seen me. These women used to be like, ‘Oh my God, Roone! Roone Ainsley. Roone Ainsley.’ You’re like this unattainable super car for them because you never really peel that layer back and let anyone actually see you. But it looks like my sister got to see it, and for some reason she decided she liked it. Honestly, I don’t see the appeal. I’m not really into gingers.”
I glowered at him.
He laughed. “But, if she’s willing to fuck you once knowing that, she must be discerning as fuck herself. Fight for her if you want her. Don’t let some bullshit get in your way. So, you’re not a prince, and? If she’d turned up here with some twat of a prince on her arm, wanting the good life, I’d be concerned. But she turned up here completely normal, trying to do her own version of bad undercover, wanting to get to know us and so in love with someone, she was willing to hide it, or at least try. I want to work with her on not telegraphing her intentions. We’re going to fix it, don’t worry. Her next attack would be better coordinated.”
“Trust me, she wasn’t trying to hurt me. She’s better trained than you think.”
He studied me carefully then. “You know what you need? It’s a little pizzaz in your life. I’m convinced she can give it to you. All you have to do is convince yourself that you’re worthy. You can’t let that bullshit with your dad get to you. Sebastian told me a little about his new family, total turds. The fact that they wouldn’t give you that inheritance you deserve is bullshit. And as a result, you couldn’t take care of your mom, which is even more bullshit. But you know what? They’re the twats. That’s not on you, that’s on them. So don’t let that shit carry on into your chance to actually have a real relationship. Not some bullshit chick who’s going to be gone in the matter of a week, but a real relationship. If you want Jessa, be persistent. Find a way to show her how much you care about her every day until she’s willing to listen, until she’s willing to hear. My friend Roone, he’s a persistent bastard. He never gives up on shit. Maybe if you see him, you can tell him that. Because the only person he ever had to prove he was worthy too was himself. Sebastian and I are already on that train.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. Likely, that was the longest Lucas had ever gone without talking about himself. “Careful, there was a compliment in there somewhere.”
Lucas took a long pull of his beer. “Now, if we’re done with the mushy shit, can we go surfing?”
“Your Highness, you’re terrible on a surf board. My job is still currently to keep you alive.”
“No, your job is to keep my sister alive. What I choose to do with my own time is that guy’s problem.”
Lucas pointed at Trevor Knox, one of the newer members of the Royal Guard who was standing behind him. Poor kid looked like he’d been having a hell of a day. If I knew Lucas, he was running him rough shod. “How many guards have you been through since I’ve been gone?”
Lucas grinned. “Not that many. I’ll have you know good help is hard to find. It’s hard for these guys to keep up with me. I’m a growing boy and I need my best boy back.”
“I’m pretty sure you didn’t like it when I was your guard. I think the words you used, were ‘pain in my ass.’”
“Well, you are a pain in my ass. But you’re my pain in the ass. You know what? Fuck guarding my sister. She moved home, so you can be my guard again. Even better, just be my friend. Wait, if my sister becomes a princess officially, does that mean you’re a prince then?”
I laughed. “No, that’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works. Haven’t you been paying any attention?”
Lucas just laughed. “If you ask me, that’s sexist. Bryna is about to become a princess. Penny is a queen. Seems like you should get to be a prince.”
I just rolled my eyes. He was being outrageous as usual. But he had said one thing that made a whole hell of a lot of sense. If I wanted her, I was going to have to fight for her. Soldier or not, she was mine. I felt it down to the core of my being. And if Lucas and Sebastian didn’t care, then I needed to get over my own inadequacies because I didn’t want to lose her.
8
Jessa
“So, there’s like a team Winston Isles weekly meeting?”
Lucas laughed. “We usually call that game night, and laugh all you want, but Ariel is a card shark. I wouldn’t trust her.”
I had been kidding, but clearly, Lucas wasn’t. “Oh, well glad to be invited, I guess.”
Inside his office, Sebastian sat behind the desk. There was an older gentleman I didn’t know with him. His skin was tan. He was tall and slightly austere, with salt and pepper at the temples. I would say he was good looking though. He looked slightly familiar, but I couldn’t place him.
When everyone was in the office, including Bryna and Jinx, we all sat. The older gentleman walked over to me and then he bowed. “Your Highness. I know it’s not official, but I would rather refer you in the most respectful manner. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Ethan. I was a friend to your father.”
Sebastian smiled at me. “Ethan was his best friend.”
I stood and
shook Ethan’s hand. He looked confused that I stood. Was I supposed to stay seated? This was weird.
“And I’m also Penny’s father.”
Penny waved at me. “Yep, that’s my dad. He’s also in charge of Intelligence.”
I nodded. “Well, it’s nice to meet you. Now I know why you look familiar.”
Sebastian groaned. “Please don’t say that.”
I suppressed a giggle.
Ethan took his position back next to Sebastian. I looked around. I’d been told that Sebastian’s mother was alive, but she’d been away since I’d arrived. “Will the Queen Mother be joining us?”
Sebastian shook his head. “No, I’ll fill her in later. She’s been looking forward to meeting you though.”
“Well, I’m not so sure about that.”
Lucas leaned over from his post in a plush suede chair and squeezed my shoulder. “Trust me, she’s totally cool. She was honestly more kind to me than my own mother was.”
Wow. There was a story there. “Well, I guess that’s good?” I glanced around the room. I deliberately did not meet Roone’s gaze. I could feel his on me though. Every cell in my body was aware of him. My skin tingled with awareness. I wanted to run over and attach my body to his, like it was supposed to be. But no, we weren’t doing that because he’d lied. And I had no idea who he was. “So, if it’s not game night, what’s the reason for this shindig?”
Sebastian leaned forward. “Well, this would be our planning meeting. We need to decide what to do moving forward. You’re here now, so what I would personally like to do is go to the Regents Council and request the vote for coronation. When I first found Lucas, we changed the law to legitimize the previously illegitimate heirs to the throne, you and Lucas, and make you actual prince and princess. It was our father’s last wish. That was signed into law over a year ago, and Lucas was officially crowned a few months ago. There’s no reason any of them should say nay to your coronation, but if anyone does, I have enough votes to override them. But one way to make sure that doesn’t happen is to introduce you to the Council. Honestly, it’s just a formality since Lucas has already been crowned.”
I shook my head. “You’re saying these things like ‘crowned’ and ‘prince’ and ‘princess,’ and I really don’t understand. A week ago, I was just sitting in my flat, trying to figure out why my neighbor was so annoying.” I still didn’t look at him. “And now you’re telling me I’m a princess, and I need to be crowned, and there needs to be a vote. I need everyone to slow down for a minute.”
Ariel stood and started pacing. “I wish we could slow down, but the truth is someone has tried to kill you more than once. Someone took out your father. Someone tried to take out Sebastian, and Lucas, and Penny.” She was most emphatic when she said Penny. “And they are always a step ahead of us. For once, we need to have a plan that does not involve us playing catch up. I want to know what we’re going to do and how to we’re going to move forward because I need to keep all of you alive.”
Ethan stared at her. “Do you have a suggestion?”
Ariel’s gaze landed on me, and it felt slightly uncomfortable. “I say put Jessa back in play.”
Sebastian glowered at her. “Excuse me?”
She put up her hands. “Listen, just hear me out. Right now, all anyone knows is that Jessa has vanished. She could be on vacation for all they I know.”
“Actually, that’s what I told my boss, Evan Millston. I told him was taking time off.”
Roone asked the next question. “Does anyone know where you are?”
I didn’t respond to him. Instead, I kept my gaze on Sebastian. “I only spoke to Phillip Winchester before coming. He is the history professor and my father’s friend who helped me. He talked to me about the history of the islands and had some books that he shared with me, so I learned a little bit about King Jackson. He mentioned that there was a faction of the royal court who thought maybe our father shouldn’t have been king.”
Sebastian nodded. “This much we know. All because Uncle Roland abdicated.”
Ethan sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he began to pace. “Actually, this might go even further back, to your grandfather’s time. It’s an old fight, and honestly, it’s more lore and speculation than actual history. Every changing of the guard has been done according to law and without the bloodshed of a coup. But it’s been messy as all things pertaining to power are. There’s no one even old enough in the Regents Council to remember, really. Maybe a few of us that were close to King Cassius. And those of us with family in the guard would have had the lore passed down.
Sebastian leaned forward. “What do you mean going back to grandad’s time?”
I piped up. “I think it’s more than lore. At least to these people. Phillip had a book of some sort. He said it was a history book.”
Sebastian rubbed at the stubble on his cheek. “You don’t by chance have the book, do you?”
I shook my head. “No. In retrospect, I should have asked to borrow it. I mean it seemed old, but what do I know?”
My brother nodded at Ethan to continue. “Okay, King Cyrus, your great grandfather was ill. He knew the custom was that his brother, Angelus, take the throne as regent until Rhyse, your grandfather, came of age and proved himself worthy to the council.”
Lucas took out a pad of paper. “I’m going to need to take some notes.”
“Should an incoming monarch be under the age of rule, which was set by King Jackson himself, a regent had to be named. And if the Council saw forth that the regent was better fit to rule than the crown prince, the regent would be named king if he was of royal blood. On the off chance that the regent wasn’t a listed member of the royal court, he couldn’t become king under any circumstances. But if the regent was, say, a king’s brother, then he could be named king, if the Council so voted.” Ethan kept talking. “But Cyrus and his brother hated each other. The stories tell of some Cain and Able type of rivalry. And Angelus had three sons. Cyrus knew that Angelus would make a play for power and either kill the heir, banish him, or plot to depose him, so Cyrus held a secret meeting with the Council to have the law changed.”
Sebastian blinked. “But couldn’t that have gone horribly wrong?”
“Oh yes. There was a risk, but it was no greater than actually having Angelus become regent. It came out in Cyrus’s favor though. It helped that he was well-loved and Angelus was not. At that meeting, they also stripped Angelus of his voting seat on the council. That part is actually in the history books as a footnote, but no reason is given. Though I suspect it was to make a point.”
“I should have made popcorn,” Penny muttered.
Her father ignored her. “So, upon Cyrus’s death, Rhyse was made king. It was a bit of a scandal because he was so young, but there were some members of the Council who thought he could be easily influenced and controlled. That might have been why they changed the law. Angelus would listen to no one’s counsel. King Rhyse proved to be a formidable opponent and a great strategist. Through a loophole, he managed to amass more Council seats in his name when members without heirs passed. Sebastian, as you know, he found a way to pass those voting seats to you, skipping over your father.”
“This is some Tudor shite,” muttered Roone.
Ethan turned to me and Lucas and gave us a brief explanation. “With every king, his queen, and any children he has, all get an equal voting seat on the Regents Council. Most laws need a majority vote on the Council. The King still gets the ultimate veto, but if he needs something to pass, he must have the votes. Nothing becomes a law that the king doesn’t want. But consequently, nothing can become a law without the entire Council. So, the Council can’t pull a stunt and oust the king because he has veto power. There is one exception… if the king is seen as unfit.”
“But that could be anything,” I argued. “Can they really depose a king for any reason?”
He nodded. “They need cause, but some can be found. Sebastian, that’s why King Rhyse passed
all those seats to you. He and Cassius didn’t always see eye to eye, and he was afraid of how your father would use the additional seats.”
“Jesus Christ, this is complicated,” Sebastian said.
Ethan leaned against the book shelf. “Now, when we knew the tattoos were an issue, I did a little digging. There had to be a way Sandstorm was tied into all of this.”
“Yeah Dad, that’s a good point,” Penny said. “He was convinced that he was Prince Roland’s son.”
“I think it has to do with lineage,” Ethan added. “Duchess Maria, Roland’s wife, is from Angelus’s line. That much is in the history books too. It’s why she was such a good match for him, and that was arranged. Angelus had three sons. Each had two children. Maria was the daughter of his oldest.”
Sebastian frowned. “But, Sandstorm was Roland’s son. Not Maria’s.”
Ethan shrugged. “You sure about that?”
Everybody stared at him agog.
“With his wild claims, we of course tried to run a blood test against Roland’s. But Roland refused.”
“He had nothing to fear. He wasn’t king anymore. Why refuse?” Sebastian asked.
“He might not have wanted to give Sandstorm’s claims credence. It wouldn’t have changed anything. He was still going to be a traitor. But my guess is he was trying to protect someone else.”
“Who?” I asked.
Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “I think I know this one. Maria, right?”
Ethan gave him a nod of approval. “Well done, my Prince.” Lucas preened as Ethan explained. “Maria took a break from court the year Roland abdicated. Her whole life was in shambles. Some say she’d been in love with someone else and had her heart and her dreams broken.”
Penny tried to make sense of it all. “Wow. That’s a leap.”
Ethan nodded. “Yes, it is. I had Robert Sandstorm’s blood tested against Sebastian’s to see if his claims were true. He was no match to Sebastian, so I knew Roland couldn’t be his father. I suspected he might just have been fed lies, but I dug deeper. He’d been absolutely raised by his parents since birth, so where was he getting his theory?”
