Queen Sized (Royally Screwed Book 7) Page 9

  “Nor is she yours,” he spat back. “Attempt to stop this today, and getting you fired from your post will be the least of what I do. Do not fuck with me, Captain,” he hissed out in that thin little voice. “There is nothing I won’t do to assure my ascension to my father’s throne.”

  He took a breath, his shoulder relaxing a little as his look softened.

  “Oren, today is…” he shook his head. “Just let it happen. I know that’ll be hard for a man like you, but you need to step back from this. There’s more to this than you can possibly know. Stand back, and this will all be okay, I promise. But interfere, and things will go very badly. Not just for you, but for Queen Alessia as well.”

  I growled, my teeth baring.

  “Is that a threat, highness?”

  Brian shook his head. “No, Captain. It’s fact. Without marrying me, Alessia has no chance of ruling her country with that council of hers. I’m a king, Oren. You are a guard. Look, I know you care for her—”

  “You don’t know a goddamn thing,” I spat.

  Brian held my gaze, tensing just enough to let me know he was at least slightly scared of me, even if he was hiding it.

  “I know you care for her, Oren. But the question is, how much? Enough to let her live the life she’s meant to live? This fantasy of you and the Queen of a kingdom being together? It’s a fantasy. Surely you understand that. If she chooses you, she losses her kingdom and her crown. Period. That’s a fact, and we both know it.”

  I looked away, my eyes narrowing to slits as I gazed out over the lake, my heart hardening inside.

  “Let this play out, Captain,” Brian said quietly. “Trust me on that.”

  I didn’t turn as I heard him turn on his heel and march away, leaving me simmering in my fury and in my darkness.

  CHAPTER 13

  OREN

  STORM CLOUDS BILLOWED around my mind as I stood there, arms crossed, and jaw clenched hard enough to break diamonds. Around me, things were moving smoothly as they should—the last-minute florists were setting up arrangements, the staff were setting up a few chairs for the small number of guests in front of the newly erected altar in the rose garden.

  It was smooth all around me, but inside, there was nothing but fury and rage.

  I hated that this was happening, but worse, I hated that deep down, I knew Brian was right. What I felt for Alessia was… fuck, it was bigger than anything I’d ever felt. It was the biggest feeling of all.

  Love.

  I loved her, wholly and unconditionally. But again, I knew the little shit Brian was right. My love for Alessia wouldn’t keep her on the throne. It wouldn’t let her govern her kingdom. What did I think, that we were going to get married? A fucking queen married to a royal guard who’d come from nothing? It was laughable in the world we lived in of royal customs and traditions. Not to mention royal counsels like the one in Danesland that would very well remove her as regent, or at least neuter her ability to do a damn thing if she went and married a man like me.

  The truth is brutal, but it’s still the truth.

  I loved her, and I knew that because I loved her, I had to hold back. I had to let this debacle happen, even if it would destroy me. I wasn’t worried about me, and I didn’t give a shit about Brian’s threats to have me fired. King Rian of all people would understand if I came clean to him. And even if he did let me go, even if just for political reasons, then so be it.

  But this wasn’t just about me. It was about the woman I loved, and her future. And there was my bind. I could live with my own ruination. I couldn’t live with hers, and Brian knew it.

  Slowly, the guests began to make their way into the gardens to find seats. Emilia and Rian looked my way, Rian holding my eyes like he knew damn well, or at least had an idea what was going on with the storm on my face. He nodded stiffly, and I nodded back as he and his wife took their seats. Queen Vi was there as well, along with her King Adam and King Shane from Nessa. Duke Xavier strolled in next, looking regal with his silvered beard and hair, with his far younger bride, Duchess Lola, on his arm. Lord Nolan, some of Alessia’s council, and then everyone from Brian’s side found seats next—his advisor, Peter, some of his own royal council, and his sister, Princess Simone.

  I felt a presence next to me, and turned, storm clouds raging on my face, to see Isaac standing beside me.

  “You gonna be okay?”

  “I don’t have a fucking choice,” I growled.

  His jaw tightened. “Hey, you want to go out with a fucking bang, and kidnap the queen to run off into the sunset with her, just say the damn word, man. I’m with you.”

  I smiled a small smile, shaking my head.

  “You’re a good friend.”

  “I’m serious, you know.”

  “So am I,” I said quietly, smiling at him and clapping a hand on his shoulder. “It’s done though. It has to be.”

  “Fuck that,” he muttered. “You don’t want to fight for—”

  “Damn right I do!” I hissed fiercely—fierce enough that a few of Alessia’s council turned to gawk at me for a moment before turning back.

  “Damn right I do,” I growled again, lower this time. “But it’s not about me. It’s about her. I torpedo this, and what happens to me? I get fired? Who fucking cares? But her? She losses her crown. Her kingdom. Her legacy.”

  I shook my head, my mouth tight.

  “No, Isaac. If it were on me alone, you know I’d be fighting to my last breath. But this is about her, and I won’t destroy that.”

  I glanced at him again, and a small smile spread over my face.

  “What?”

  I snorted, reaching out and plucking a long red hair from his shoulder.

  “You gonna tell me that isn’t from Simone.”

  “It’s not.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever you say, bud.”

  “Oren, it’s…” his mouth tightened. “It’s not what you think. Slightly more complicated than that, actually.”

  “Doesn’t seem that complicated. You’re hooking up with the Princess.” I shrugged, giving him a small grin. “It’s not like I’m the right guy to be judging you on that, buddy.”

  Isaac shook his head. “I’m telling you, it’s more complicated than—”

  There was a small murmur, and I turned, my eyes narrowing as Brian strolled into the garden and headed for the small altar at the front of the crowd. A violinist began to play, and I closed my eyes, my hands tight fists at my sides, my heart roaring.

  This is for her. This is all for her.

  I kept saying it to myself, because it was the only way I was going to stop myself from lunging over the guest, knocking Brian out, and then stealing his bride away from the damn altar. My staying back, and not taking her away from this was the only way to guarantee she walked out of this whole thing with her crown. I may have been head over heels in love with her, but it was for that very reason that I was going to let her get away from me.

  Keeping her would ruin her, and I wouldn’t do that to her, even if meant sacrificing myself.

  The music changed to Pachelbel’s Canon—the same damn music for every damn wedding—and the small crowd murmured again as they turned towards the back of the garden. There was a small gasp, and with my teeth grinding and my jaw tight, I growled as I forced myself to turn.

  And there she was.

  Fuck she looked beautiful. Stunning, really. Alessia walked into the garden alone, clad in a white, shimmering gown that made her look like, well, a queen. Elegant, gorgeous, stunning, and magnetic. Her face was pale though, and drawn, and when her eyes darted over the crowd, they found mine, and she froze.

  Her brow crumpled, and she made a move to walk towards me, when her uncle stood and cleared his throat.

  “Go,” I whispered, nodding at her slowly and gesturing towards the altar with my chin.

  She quietly shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes.

  “My Queen,” Brian said sharply, shattering the meter of the vio
lin that was still playing. He glanced at me, his eyes narrowing before he turned back to Alessia and beckoned with a hand.

  “Come, my Queen,” he said, smiling thinly.

  Alessia hesitated, pausing there halfway down the small aisle with her eyes locked on me. Brian’s face darkened, and he strode towards her, her hand coming to rest on her shoulder.

  “Now, Alessia,” he said quietly. “This is happening.” His eyes swiveled to me. “Isn’t it, Captain.”

  My jaw tightened.

  This is for her. This is all for her.

  “Go,” I said quietly, my eyes locked with Alessia.

  This was happening. I could fight it. Fuck did I want to fight it. But what would I win? Her? Maybe, but I’d destroy her chances at being queen in the process. And that wasn’t something I was willing to do. The fantasy was to knock out Brian, throw Alessia over my shoulder, and roar off into the sunset with her on my bike.

  But this was real life, not fantasy. And in real life, that roaring off into the sunset, if I even made it that far, would be followed by half the guards of Bandiff, Danesland, and probably Seyvette as well. It’d end with me in jail and Alessia dethroned, and I couldn’t let that happen to her, even if it meant losing her.

  “Oren—”

  “Come,” Brian said quietly, tugging her towards the altar. “You have to trust me, Alessia. Just…” he pursed his lips, his eyes wide as he looked at her, and then me.

  “Please,” he whispered, the honesty in his tone made me pause. “Just… just let this happen. And trust me that it’s going to be okay.”

  My scowl deepened, a growl building in me as I took a step towards him. “What the fuck are you—”

  “Oren.”

  Isaac’s firm hand on my shoulder stopped me. “Trust him.”

  I whirled to my friend. “The fuck?”

  “Dude, just…” his mouth was a tight line. “If nothing else, trust me, okay?”

  “Isaac—”

  “Let’s go.”

  Alessia gasped as Brian yanked her away, tugging her to the altar until they were both standing in front of his family’s priest. I stepped forward in a daze, but again, Isaac stopped me, shaking his head.

  “The fuck is going on,” I snarled at him under my breath as the ceremony got underway.

  “I’m telling you, just trust—”

  “I do.”

  My head snapped around at Brian’s words. Christ, that’d been a short ceremony.

  “And do you, Queen Alessia Karl of Danesland, take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?”

  She was silent, and slowly, her head turned, her eyes locking with me.

  “She does,” Brian said quickly, his eyes darting around nervously.

  “She, uh, she has to say it herself, my King,” the priest said gently.

  “Alessia,” Brian said quietly.

  Her eyes locked with mine, and a single tear slid down her cheek.

  “Yes.”

  A blade slid into my heart, my gut twisting as the world spun around me.

  The small crowed was still quietly clapping when suddenly, Brian turned to the assembled members of his royal council.

  “It’s done,” he said quickly. “Do it.”

  The three of them nodded, and right there at the wedding altar, they walked over, one of them pulling a gleaming gold crown from a velvet box. The man raised it high, murmuring some sort of proclamation I couldn’t quite hear from the back, before he placed the crown on Brian’s head.

  “By the powers bestowed upon us by royal decree and custom, we are proud to crown you ruler of Seyvette, hereafter forever uncontested and unrevoked.”

  Brian grinned, swiveling his gaze to his sister, who beamed right back. He turned back to his councilmen.

  “Are we good?”

  “Yes, your Grace,” one nodded. “You are officially King of—”

  “Perfect.” He spun back to the priest, taking Alessia’s hand in his.

  “We’d like an annulment.”

  Wait. Fucking what?

  There were gasps and murmurs from the small crowd. His royal council looked like they were about to literally shit bricks, and I was far from the only one who’s jaw dropped. What the fuck was going on?

  Brian’s family priest frowned. “Pardon, your Grace?”

  “An annulment, right now.”

  Alessia’s head swiveled, her eyes darting to mine, and the same look of “what the hell is going on” on her face as was on mine.

  One of Brian’s councilmen stepped forward.

  “This is highly unusual, your high—”

  “Annul it,” the new king muttered to the priest, ignoring the man. Brian quickly turned to Alessia, smiling as he bit his lip.

  “No offense?”

  She frowned curiously, her gaze darting between him and I.

  “Um, none taken?”

  She glanced at me again, her lips mouthing “what the fuck” as I stood there dumbstruck.

  The priest cleared his throat, glancing at Alessia. “And do you consent to this, my dear? I need you both to say I do.”

  “I do,” Brian said quickly, turning to look expectantly at Alessia. She frowned, shaking her head in confusion before she nodded.

  “I—yes, yes of course. I do.”

  The priest looked confused as he shook his head. “Well, by the power vested in me, I hereby annul this union and dissolve this contract.”

  He cleared his throat again.

  “You are now no longer man and wife.”

  Brian was grinning widely as he turned to his councilmen.

  “And I’m still regent?”

  “I…” one of them frowned, scratching his head before he nodded. “Yes, your highness. The laws are, once you’re officially degreed regent, as we just did, it surpasses all other laws and customs, and nothing can break it short of the council unanimously voting you out.”

  Brian smiled, his eyes shining.

  “Wonderful. My first act as regent is to appoint my sister, the Princess Simone, to my royal council.”

  The three councilmen looked shocked as they yanked their heads around to look at Simone, who was grinning just as wide as her brother.

  “Highness, should we discuss—”

  “No, we shouldn’t.”

  Brian turned, his chest heaving and his eyes gleaming as he looked out over the small crowed. He glanced at Alessia, and then at me, and then, the shit really hit the fan.

  With one motion, he reached up, grabbed his wispy beard, and yanked the fucking thing right off.

  “What the fuck…” I growled.

  Brian tossed the fake beard aside, his hand sliding into his hair, and with a tug, that was tossed away as well. My jaw dropped as long, red hair tumbled free of the wig, falling down his—

  His?

  Hold. The. Fuck. On.

  Because suddenly, standing there in a regal looking suit was no longer the waifish, slender, effeminate looking “King Brian,” but a stunningly gorgeous, strong and poised looking woman.

  And suddenly, the pieces slid into place. Peter, Brian’s quiet advisor, stepped forward with a huge grin on his face and looked out over the small crowd.

  “May I present to you, the Queen of Seyvette, her highness Queen Brianne.”

  Holy. Shit.

  The crowd of guests, however small, erupted in whispers and shocked gasps, and I felt my own jaw basically hit the ground.

  “Impossible!”

  One of Brian—well, Brianne’s—councilmen shook his head wildly, jabbing a finger at her.

  “No, this isn’t possible. King Philip’s first-born daughter abandoned the family years—”

  “My father’s eldest daughter left the family to find her own way in the world,” Brianne hissed. “Because my father was a misogynistic, old-school asshole who considered women, including his own daughters, to be inferior to men, and unable to lead.”

  The councilman bristled, his face going red.

 
“Be that as it may, it is Philip’s estranged son who is to inherit the—”

  Simone snorted. “Yeah, about that.” She grinned. “We don’t have an estranged brother. I started that rumor years ago as a joke to mess with the tabloids, and it finally came in handy.”

  The man went crimson as he glared at the two LaBeau sisters.

  “Seyvette does not allow women to assume the throne—”

  “Does not allow unmarried women to assume the throne,” Brianne butted in, a cool look on her face as she eyed the man. “In bylaw amendment twenty-two of Seyvette’s code of law, a Queen may be declared regent by her council if she is married, and if her spouse is either unable to lead, unfit to lead, or dead.”

  She smiled thinly.

  “And you all just declared me regent.”

  The man sputtered, red in the face.

  “But! But—but you’re girl!”

  “Last time I checked.”

  The crowed chuckled as the councilman’s face darkened.

  “You misled us!”

  “Correct.”

  A second councilman stepped forward, just as red as the first.

  “The bylaws state that your husband must be unfit to lead, and Queen Alessia doesn’t look like a husband to—”

  “Husband?” Brianne folded her arms across her chest, smiling thinly at the man. “The bylaws don’t say ‘husband,’ they say that a queen must have a ‘spouse’ to be eligible for nomination to the throne.”

  “Seyvette does not allow women to marry other wom—”

  “Yeah,” Simone grinned. “But Bandiff does.”

  Suddenly, this whole thing was clicking into place.

  “Let’s check the boxes, shall we?” Brianne said sweetly, her eyes glaring at the councilman.

  “I’m the daughter of a king. I’m married—or at least, I was when you declared me regent, and I think it’s safe to say that my ‘spouse’—”

  She turned and smiled at a totally confused looking Alessia.

  “It’s safe to say she isn’t ‘fit’ to lead, seeing as she’s, for one, not even a citizen of Seyvette, and for two, already a Queen of another kingdom.”

  Holy shit, this girl was an evil genius.

  “No,” the third councilman muttered, shooting a dagger look at Brianne. “You’ve misconstrued—”