Return of the Prince

by Nana Malone

"It's good to have you home. But I want you to be careful. The Regents Council isn't going to be particularly thrilled."

  "I'm anticipating that. But it's not like they can forcibly remove me or kill me, so I think I should be okay."

  "Don't joke. I'm not sure how many of them took part in this whole conspiracy. Obviously, Lucas, my mother, Penny, Ethan, Jessa, and Roone are all safe. But I wouldn’t trust anyone else. Not with your life."

  "I hear you. I'm not planning on giving you any trouble. I’m just here for football." Liar.

  "Who knows? Maybe it’ll bring cachet for them. After all, my cousin is a famous football star."

  "Well, I don't know about being a star, but I do know what to do with my ball."

  Sebastian snorted. "Despite what it sounds like, I'm happy to have you home. It’s been too long."

  "I'm happy to be home. It feels good."

  "Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room. What are we going to do about your security? Obviously, there was a plan before, but now you’re home."

  This was the question I'd been anticipating. "Well, it only makes sense to have Trevor continue guarding me since he's been doing that already. I'd still love to have Frank, but he's going to be recuperating for a while."

  Sebastian nodded at this. "Yeah, he's taking a much-deserved break. So, all right, Trevor it will be. And then I have a couple of King’s Knights that will be assigned to you as well."

  My ears perked up at this. "Knights?"

  "Ariel has a team, so I have asked her for two of them to watch your back."

  "I get it. There were a couple of troubling incidents, but no one is going to touch me here. This is my home."

  "It's your home, but in some ways, it's a lot more dangerous. You have to be careful."

  "I think it was isolated to Barcelona."

  "I doubt that. Are you forgetting the attempt in Vienna? And what are the chances that I can get you to keep a low profile?"

  I laughed. "Are you kidding me right now?"

  "I'm saying you need to keep a low profile."

  "And I'm telling you that's not possible. It's just not. I'm here to be the returned son... the return of the prince. It's what the media is saying. I do need to make appearances. Give me one of Ariel's Knights. And fine, I'll take Trevor, but you can't give me any more Royal Guards. Ariel, I'm sure, has a business to run, and I need to do my job."

  "You're a prince."

  "Maybe, but that is not my job. I was cast out of the palace, not by your doing, but still, the same result. So you can't hamstring me. You can't tie my hands behind my back and expect me to be able to function, to perform."

  "I'm just trying to keep you alive."

  "And I hear you, I do. I get it. But just assign me another Knight and my Guard, and I will be out of your way. As it is, Ella will have her own personal security. I can't technically hire them, but they're not going to let me die. So ban access to anyone you need to, but I’m not going to be a prisoner inside these walls. Not again. Not anymore."

  Sebastian frowned at that. "You were never a prisoner here. This was your home."

  "I know you didn't always see it, but living under this roof with my brother, I might as well have been in prison. I'm not going back to that. I plan on being free."

  "Fine, I can live with that, but I also plan on you staying alive."

  I sighed. "Fine, I hear you. I'll take extra precautions. I won't take any unnecessary risks."

  That was a lie. In a few short weeks, I'd be taking one hell of a risk. But while I might not have any more of the cachet of being a prince, I did at least still have diplomatic status. And I had full intentions of using it to the extent of my ability.

  "That’s all I ask. In the meantime, we’re interviewing the police in Barcelona. We'll get things rolling on this, and then I want the Royal Guard looking into it."

  "What the hell? No. That’s not necessary."

  "Yes, it is. Someone is trying to kill my cousin. It's absolutely necessary."

  Fuck. That is not what I wanted. Anyone looking will tie the attempt on my life back to Max. He was the only real, conceivable threat from Ella's past. If people were starting to watch him more closely, I wouldn't be able to execute the plan. And for her sake, I needed to execute this plan.

  "Nothing is going to happen here."

  "So, you prefer me to wait until something happens?"

  "Well, maybe it was just a random hit-and-run driver in Barcelona."

  "You want to believe that? Three times you’ve had near misses. In Vienna, you were shot at, and in Barcelona you were nearly run off the road and shot at, and you really want to believe those were just random coincidences?"

  "There is still no evidence to suggest the first incident was targeting me. The second could have been targeting Ella, and Frank got caught in the crosshairs. It's entirely possible."

  “And that nasty bit of business with that car trying to run you off the road. You still want to tell me someone isn’t after you?”

  He stared at me. I was wondering if he could tell that I was lying or if he could see the cracks in my armor. I certainly hoped not, because I needed that facade to hold.

  “Someone might be after me, Sebastian. But I’m home now. You said it yourself; I’m safer here than anywhere else.”

  Now if only either of us believed that.

  Tristan…

  ALL IN ALL, it could have gone worse with Sebastian. At least he supported me being home. If he hadn’t, I’d be dead in the water.

  I took the hallway leading to the Rose Tower, my bearings going on autopilot, my memory taking over. Belatedly, I realized some of the paintings had been swapped out along the familiar hallways. I recognized some of Penny’s work from the bold colors and island landscape.

  When this was all over, and I was finally free to go where I wanted and live how I wanted, maybe I’d buy one of her paintings for my place. I had to laugh at that. A real place of my own. Somewhere to belong with total freedom and no fear. I’d kill for that.

  You just might have to.

  And as close as my cousin and I were, he wasn’t the only support I’d need. The Council’s support would come later. For the moment, I’d settle for them not exiling me outright. They had no cause to, so I should be safe.

  My gut twisted. Gilroy might become a problem, but I’d deal with that when it came up. But no doubt news would travel to Ashton that I was home, so I was working on borrowed time.

  I rounded the corner, opting to take the garden path to my suite, when I nearly ran headlong into Lucas by the pool. He was just how I remembered him. Proud smile, tanned skin, glowing, he looked happy as he approached. "Tristan, man, what's up? Sebastian said you were back."

  While most everyone on the island had an American or British accent, or slipped between a patois and the two, Lucas's accent always surprised me. He’d been raised in the States, so clearly it was American, but somehow it flowed easier.

  He didn't sound much different from Sebastian, but there was something that said he'd grown up abroad in the States. When someone from the Winston Isles traveled, people always wondered if we were possibly Canadian, or maybe grew up on a military base somewhere.

  I grinned back at him and accepted his easy hug. "Hey Lucas, what's up, mate?"

  He clapped me on the shoulder then stepped back with a grin as he looked me over. "I kept hearing stories about you dying and shit. I'm glad to see you're in one piece."

  I shrugged. "Well, it looks like the news has been greatly exaggerated. It would seem I’m indestructible."

  "I can see that. It's good to have you home. I know you've been trying to come back for a while. Now maybe we’ll actually get to spend some time together."

  "Yeah, well, I finally got the deal, so here I am." I’d first met him when Penny and Sebastian got married. I’d been allowed home for the festivities, and I’d liked him immediately. I’d only seen him on his brief visits abroad after that.

  He nodded slow
ly and casually glanced around. I realized then that it was his casual nature that made people dismiss him. Especially the elite on the Regents Council who were none too pleased about having my uncle’s bastard children legitimized.

  But underestimating Lucas would be a mistake. Because even though he was easygoing and generally playful, he was shrewd. Ever watchful. He paid close attention to every single person and conversation near him. He masked the shrewd calculation with easy charm, but he was whip sharp. And that was exactly why I needed his help.

  "Well, I, for one, can't wait to get front row seats to your matches. I don't want the royal box and shit. That's boring. I want to be right on the pitch."

  I laughed. "I think that can be arranged. Do you want to sit with the team?"

  His eyes lit up as his brows rose. "Can I?"

  "You realize you look like a kid now, right?"

  "You don't understand. I grew up with soccer. We moved around a lot, and I lived in a lot of places where soccer was the only thing considered football, and basically the only sport. And my fucking cousin is an international soccer star. It’s basically Christmas morning as far as I’m concerned."

  "Star is hardly the word."

  "You were number one in Barcelona for the last three years."

  "Well, a lot has changed. Let's hope I can keep the same record for the Argonauts."

  He waved a hand. "This is modesty nonsense. Be like me. You should accept how awesome you are."

  I laughed. "Okay, fine. I'm bloody fantastic."

  He grinned. "Nah, you've been spending too much time with Roone."

  I grinned. "Why do you say that?"

  "He's been trying to get me to use all his Britishisms. I'm just waiting for him to say 'dude' one day."

  I shook my head. "You lot are hilarious. You’re forgetting I went to Eton. British slang is ingrained."

  Lucas inclined his head toward the pool and I followed him. When he took a seat on a lounger, I did the same.

  I could almost feel his dark, penetrating gaze behind his sunglasses. "Okay, real deal? Sebastian wants me to keep an eye on you. Keep you out of trouble."

  I grinned. "Of course, he does."

  "He asked Roone to keep you from getting killed too. At least, you know, from basic poisoning and stabbing here on the palace grounds."

  "Well, Roone is a Royal Guard and a Knight, so that makes sense."

  "My question is why."

  I tipped my head. "What do you mean why?"

  "If the incidents in Barcelona were as isolated as you tried to make us believe, then no one would follow you here. I looked at the reports from the police in Barcelona, and they think that it's some kind of stalker Ella has. So, if it's a stalker of Ella's, you're not on manifests coming into the country. Private jet, black flight, nothing. Until your first day in the Argonauts, no one knows you're here. So why does my brother think you needed watching?"

  I shrugged. "I have no idea. I don't think I should have any problem here."

  * * *

  LUCAS PULLED his shades down then and met my gaze with his. "I think it's a mistake to discount anyone on the Council wanting to do you harm. You need to watch your back here. Seriously."

  "All right. I hear you. But no one on the Council wants me dead. I'm the second son of a forgotten king. I’m unimportant."

  "You'd be amazed. I thought a den of thieves was bad. The Council can be… difficult, so trusting them is a bad idea. I guarantee there are those who supported the sons of Angelus who are still on the Council. And those who didn’t will worry that if you supported the sons of Angelus and are getting close to Sebastian, you could be trouble. Especially now that you’re home, so be careful.”

  "I hear you." I considered for a moment. "Maybe it's not the best idea I stay here?"

  Lucas shook his head. "No one is dumb enough to try anything in the palace, but it's a good idea to be careful. Ariel's team, of course, can be trusted. And Trevor is solid. He was with us through the shit in London, so he's good. But anyone else… just keep your eyes open."

  I watched him for a moment. He was dead serious. I don't think I had ever seen Lucas communicating so seriously before. "Actually, since we’re discussing real shit, cousin, I wonder if I can ask you a favor."

  "Anything. What do you need?"

  "I want you to teach me to be you."

  He blinked and slid his glasses back down his nose. "What?"

  "Well, you before you became a prince. The prince part, I have, believe it or not."

  Lucas's grin was quick, bright white teeth against bronze skin. "Yeah, I think you do. Besides, I am hardly a prince."

  "I think you'd be surprised. You're probably one of the best princes we've ever had. But yeah, show me your ways. I know you were a con man. I know before all this, you were a thief. Not that I think you still are, but I'd like you to show me how you did it, if you don't mind."

  He frowned. "I get the feeling this isn't something Sebastian would want to know about?"

  I nodded. "Exactly. What your big brother doesn't know, is probably not going to hurt him."

  He lifted a brow. "Should I ask why?"

  I shrugged. "Mostly, I'm curious. Clearly Sebastian and Roone don’t do this, but I think a lot of other people overlook you. And while they're overlooking you, you're taking a full assessment of them. You know what to say, how to make them feel, how to distract them. I want to learn that."

  Lucas angled his head as he studied me. "But you already know that. You grew up with the lords of leisure your whole life. You know who's genuine and who's not."

  I grinned. "Spoiler alert. None of them were genuine. But I'd like to learn how you do it in an unfamiliar situation."

  "And there's no particular reason you want to learn this skill?"

  “Maybe it’s not in your best interest to know that. I also think learning some sleight of hand would be fucking fantastic."

  Lucas laughed then. "Awesome, because I already stole your watch."

  I frowned and glanced down. And sure enough, my Tag Hauer was off my wrist. "Shit. When did that happen?"

  Lucas held it up. "I was going to put it back in your room later."

  "Why? That was bloody fantastic."

  "Well, it's sort of a habit. I like to keep the skill fresh. Never know when they’ll all get wise to me and send me back. Gotta take care of my lady love somehow.”

  Did he really worry about that? “I’m sure you make an excellent thief, but maybe a better prince.”

  He shrugged. “The jury is still out. I know Sebastian would lose his shit if I did that to anyone else. I just like to make sure I can still do it. Don't want to go all soft."

  "I want to learn that."

  He leaned forward. "I think you're right. This is not something Sebastian needs to know about."

  "So we have a deal?"

  Lucas nodded. "Yeah, we have a deal. But whatever you don't need these skills for, whenever it's going down, I suggest you get back up. Because most people won't take too kindly to being manipulated."

  "I promise you," I lied through my teeth, "I don't intend any practical application. I'm just curious."

  His signature grin was back. "Great. So about how long is this curiosity going to take?"

  I had to laugh. "About four weeks."

  "In that case," Lucas stood and gave me back my watch, "we’d better get to work."

  Tristan…

  AFTER TRAINING WITH LUCAS, my hands felt numb. He had practiced for years with nimble fingers, years of making it work, forcing his fingers to work the right way. I, on the other hand, was clumsy as fuck.

  You can't afford to be clumsy.

  I had a month to get my act together, or my whole plan was toast. One month to figure out a sleight of hand so good it would make a magician jealous. But I could do it. I had to do it. Ella was counting on me.

  Tired and weary, I followed the familiar path to the Rose Garden. The scent of roses, mixing with gardenias and hibiscus, smelled li
ke home. In the distance I could hear the waves crashing on the shore below. I had always loved this garden. I'd almost always found Queen Alexa walking through it, working on something, thinking about something. I'd always been closer to her than my own mother.

  I still hadn’t seen her. Sebastian told me she was on some kind of diplomatic mission, so I wouldn't see her for another few days. Maybe that was best. She always knew when I was up to something. Hell, she always knew when any of us were up to something, so it really worked better for my plans if I didn't see her.

  But I was home now. I refused to hide. When I opened one of the massive gold-embossed French doors, I stopped short. Ariel was striding down the hallway. That was Ariel. No nonsense. Fast clip. Direct.

  I spoke without thinking. "Considering you never wanted to see me again, you spend a lot of time trying to see me."

  She stopped short. "Jesus. I swore I got rid of you." And then she rolled her shoulders. "Sorry, was that rude? I didn't mean to be rude. It’s just your face does that to me." She shook her head. "I had a meeting with Sebastian."

  I worked my jaw. Fighting with her wasn’t going to take away the gnawing, clawing hunger. "You don’t have to explain it to me. I’m hard to forget."

  She frowned at me, but I couldn't make heads or tails of her expression. Yeah, sure. I got it. She was unhappy with me for some reason, but I didn't know what the reason was this time. “All due respect, Your Highness, go fuck yourself.”

  I grinned. "In the palace? So dirty. I’m shocked you would suggest such a thing.” I was being a twat, but fuck if I gave a damn. She was on my turf.

  "I don’t have time for this. I have a date."

  Her aim was sure, and it hit me center mass. “With who?”

  She narrowed her gaze at me. "I'm not sure that's any of your business."

  “I’m not that interested anyway.”

  “God, you are such a prick. Stay away from me.”

  “Happy to. You’re in my family’s palace, remember?”

  “While we’re at it, keep your lips to yourself. Your fiancée doesn’t deserve that. She’s a pill, but she doesn’t deserve it.”

  My gut twisted. “Don't worry, I’m not touching you again. Burned once.”