Page 17 of Mated to the Crown

We found a spot at the cafe named Daniel’s.

People fill the other tables near us and it bustles with activity.

I look around, seeing different types of food on everyone’s plates.

Some people have french toast, some have eggs and sausage.

There are even people with sandwiches and coffee.

What kind of place is this? I had never been to a restaurant, always dreamed about it but now that we are here I don’t even know how this works.

“So, nephew, tell me of life. I heard my mother passed away?” Nicholas interrupts my thoughts and I look at him. Oh my Goddess. His mother passed and he hasn’t seen her in forever. Did he leave because of her? I don’t think Malik ever specified.

“Oh you knew her?” He turns his attention to me and I nod, suddenly feeling scrutiny under his gaze.

Nicholas glares at Malik before Daisy places her hand on his arm, rubbing it gently.

“I got pulled into the drama. I needed someone to be with her. Jeffries picked her!” Nicholas shook his head at Malik’s response before looking back at me.

“I told this knucklehead to take care of her.” His voice drops and I can hear the seriousness in it.

“He did the best he could.” I defend him. Nicholas looks at me before letting out a little chuckle. He points his thumb at me but speaks to Malik.

“She is a spitfire. Perfect for you.” Nicholas says.

“I know, right.” Malik laughs and takes my hand even though I glare at him.

The waiter comes over, asking us what we want to eat.

Nicholas orders a coffee and a bagel with cream cheese.

Daisy orders lemon water and scrambled eggs.

The waiter looks at me and I don’t even know what to say.

My throat goes dry and I swallow, the anxiety overwhelming me.

This is nothing I know, I’m so out of place here.

“Two coffees, extra cream. Two turkey bacon wraps please.” Malik pipes up beside me.

He loops his foot around the leg of my chair and pulls me closer to him.

I can feel my face is red and a mixture of emotions rolls through me but his hand on mine reassures me.

“We can talk about it later.” He whispers in my ear.

“Still living the life out here, Uncle?” He asks and Nicholas shakes his head before leaning back in the chair.

“Yeah well, it’s better than the palace. Daisy just opened her bakery.”

“No way! Congrats!” Malik beams and I echo his congratulations.

“What do you make?” I ask.

“Bread, pastries, bagels.” She leans toward me, whispering. “I make the bagels that are here. That is why this big oaf ordered one.” She elbows Nicholas.

“What a good, supporting husband.” I laugh and give him a nod.

The waiter comes out with our food shortly after and I stare as the food is set in front of us.

The bagel Nicholas ordered is almost as big as the plate, fluffy and covered in seeds.

The cream cheese oozes out the side of it and I almost wish I got that.

Daisy’s lemon water has multiple slices of lemon in it, her food is steaming and little flecks of green are sprinkled on top of the eggs.

Malik and I have the same thing but our coffee is lighter in color than Nicholas’.

I take a sip, the sweet creamy taste immediately sending me on a sugar high.

The wraps are filled with turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato and a ranch sauce that makes my mouth water.

We eat and chat, the men giving each other updates on life.

Nicholas has been hard at work building the bakery out.

They had gotten it at a steal of a price and worked tirelessly over the last few months until Daisy could open it.

Nicholas is a contractor, working on projects for people here and there.

We finish out food and the waiter takes the plates and dishes away. I watch as Nicholas gives the waiter a signal and hands money over. Malik shoots him a look.

“I should be paying, we came to visit.” Malik grumbles.

“Oh please. Like you brought money with you.” Nicholas taunts and I can’t help but smile at their banter.

They acted like my sister and I even though they were technically Uncle and Nephew.

I learned that Nicholas was closer to our age than anyone else in the Royal family which made sense why they acted the way they did.

Once the bill was settled we walked together down the road, heading toward Daisy’s bakery. Nicholas and Malik walk in front of Daisy and I, talking about the funeral arrangements. Daisy wraps her arm around mine as we walk.

“Doing okay? It can be a lot. When I first met Nicholas I was scared. I assumed how he would act and was so confused why he would want anything to do with me.” Her happy voice lowers, pulling me closer.

“I definitely feel that. I am a servant. Or was?” I am not sure what I should call myself anymore.

“I was a Doctor’s daughter who didn’t want to be a Doctor.

” She giggles and I smile in response. “It will get better. The self doubt will get better. It really is a different world over here from what I have heard when Nicholas gets drunk and tells stories. Will you come back?” Her voice sounds hopeful and as much as I want to say yes, I really don’t know.

“I would love to come back. I can talk to Malik about it. There still is a lot we need to work out.” I give her a smile.

“Of course. I will make sure to push Nicholas to reach out. It has been a while since they have talked.” We slow our walking, watching the two of them talk. She lets out a little sigh as she watches them.

“Does it ever go away?” I whisper.

“What? The longing? The love? No. We have been together for 8 years now.” She speaks quietly. What she says is comforting but I am still scared deep down. A scuffle behind us distracts me and everything seems to move in slow motion.

Palace guards surround us, passing by Daisy and I effortlessly.

They converge in front of us, headed straight for the two of them.

Daisy pulls her arm from me and shouts but I can’t understand what she is saying.

Everything slows, the guards push Nicholas out of the way and then grab Malik.

Once they touch him everything changes to high speed.

I am battered with emotions both mine and his all at once.

He whirls around, slipping from the first guard's grasp. I watch as he fights, enthralled by the view. I can’t move even if I wanted to, mesmerized by his actions.

A guard grabs him and he twists in his grip, stepping away from him.

Another guard appears and I realize there must be upwards of 8 of them.

He blocks. Steps forward. Twists. Punches.

Kicks. Guards fall down around him and I can feel the adrenaline pulsing through the thread.

It should spur me on to help but what kind of help am I?

I am a servant. I don’t know anything but watching him I feel confident he knows how to fight.

He whips his body around, ducking as another guard tries to catch him.

My eyes move and I see Nicholas is trying to help, punching and fighting the guards but Daisy is pulling at him to get him away.

My heart beat echoes in my ears, my chest tightens and my hands turn to fists.

“Celeste, run!” Malik’s voice cuts through the fight and everything slams into me back to normal speed.

Fear surrounds me, it bites deep into my bones and I realize that he is caught.

The guards have gotten control and he is being pulled away.

Blood drips down his face as he thrashes against them.

His eyebrows furrowed into a deep scowl.

“Run.” He calls again and hands wrap around me. I throw myself back, kicking wildly but it is no use. Tears run down my face as the guards haul Malik away.

“Stop. It’s me. Celeste, we can’t help him right now.” I realize the person holding me is Nicholas. Despite knowing who it is I keep thrashing, watching as Malik gets dragged away. He looks defeated, furious and sad all at the same time. I finally relax against Nicholas, my body feeling weak.

“No.” I whisper, watching as Malik disappears into the crowd. The audience around us slowly dissipates once Malik is gone and I don’t even know what to think. My mind is blank. I whip around, pushing Nicholas’ hands from me. “What will happen to him?” I shout.

“I’m not sure Celeste but I will get some men on it.

I have connections. We will figure this out.

For now, I need you to come with Daisy and I in case they try to come back.

” His voice is solid, there is an air of leadership about him and I realize now he would have been a perfect King.

He stayed calm the whole time but wasn’t afraid to fight for his family.

I look at Daisy who hides behind him and nod.

At least they will keep me safe for now.

I follow behind them like a lost puppy, leaving the valley behind.

We climb a small set of stairs near the back of the valley to a large hill where multiple houses sit.

I follow as we walk toward a brown house.

The windows are huge, much larger than the other houses.

They arch on the top and the siding seems to curve around them.

The chimney steadily puffs smoke out the top.

The front door is a large, dark red wood that I can’t tell if it is naturally that color or stained.

Nicholas opens the door and ushers me inside.

Once inside I find a seat and plop down. I need to process. I need to get my mind clear and I need to know if he is okay. I close my eyes and let out a few breaths.

“Let’s give her a minute.” Daisy says quietly, closing and locking the door as she enters. The two of them disappear into the house and I am alone. I focus on my breathing, trying to calm my racing heart. One breath. Two. Three. Focus on what's around me.

I peek open my eyes and scan the area. I am in a small room that opens up into the kitchen, much like a mud room, the palace has many of those.

The walls hold many pictures from portraits to dried flowers framed in glass.

The lights are a pale yellow, casting a cozy feeling instead of bright harsh lights. I take a step toward the kitchen.

It is small but compared to what I am used to that is probably a normal size.

It looks like it fits two people perfectly.

A fridge, stove and dishwasher all sit quiet, the stainless steel of them matte against the wooden cabinets and countertop.

More flowers sit atop the windowsill in front of the window, bending toward the light coming in.

The other side is some sort of living room.

Couches and chairs sit around a large fireplace embedded in the wall.

Portraits line the mantel and I see one of Charlotte standing with her three children.

They all look so much like her. Isla still looks pissed, like always, but Nicholas and Sandra are beaming with smiles.

“Hey.” Daisy speaks softly and I turn to her, giving her a half smile. “Doing okay?”

“No.” I laugh. “I don’t even know what to think right now. I’m so confused.”

“Maybe you should lay down. That was a lot. Nicholas is working with his contacts to see if he can get some answers. It will take some time and there is no use in you being exhausted when we finally get an answer.” She walks up to me and takes my hands in hers.

I nod, listening to her and realize she is right.

“Okay.” I whisper. She takes my hand and leads me to the hallway off the living room down to a bedroom.

I can hear Nicholas talking in the room down the hall.

She leads me in and shows me where everything is before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

I sit down, sinking into the plush mattress and close my eyes to focus on the bond.

It takes a minute to block out everything else.

The tick tock of the clock in the room. The whirring of the ceiling fan blowing air to stir my hair.

The drip of the faucet in the bathroom. Slowly I find it, the thread that calls me to Malik.

It is far away and takes me a minute to grab hold.

When I do I am flooded with emotion. Anger.

Fury. Disappointment in himself. I frown, hating that he feels that.

I try to do as he has done for me and send feelings back but I am not sure if they are working.

I am safe. I am okay. I miss you. Eventually the negative feelings subside to sadness and worry.

I focus, pushing more and more comfort to him to try and help.

I hear footsteps in the hall and open my eyes.

It must be Nicholas and Daisy. Does he have any answers?

I get up and rush to the door, cracking it open to listen.

“I don’t understand. Who would take him?” Daisy speaks.

“It was his mother, Sandra.” Nicholas sounds tired, weary.

“But why?” I can hear Nicholas let out a deep sigh to Daisy’s question.

“There are rules to the family about who can take over and who can’t.

The main rule is the oldest male shifter.

Then the oldest male. While Isla has males she does not have a shifter and Sandra does.

Malik is the only shifter so technically if Isla died or something happened to make her not able to rule anymore, it would go to Malik. ” He explains.

“What? So, is it all Sandra making this happen?” Daisy sounds just as surprised as I am.

“Yeah. I always had a bad vibe about her but I didn’t think it would be like this. She probably has something planned. I don’t like it.”

“We have to tell Celeste.” Daisy’s voice rises.

“No, not yet. I need more answers. I can’t have her running to the palace with half a story. What if Sandra threatened to hurt her to keep Malik in line?” Nicholas’ voice turns into that strong King again.

“Fuck.” Daisy’s voice rings out and I take a step back.

Holy shit.

I stumble back to the bed and lay down. I pull the covers around me, hugging them tightly to feel some sort of comfort but all I can feel is the anxiety and negative feelings as they drag me to sleep.

Emotions eat away at my insides and I begin to believe my original voice in my head, that I am not the one for Malik.