Page 5 of Mated to the Crown

Holy fuck, shit, motherfucker. Every curse I can think of floods my brain as I run from the room.

Prince Malik was there. He talked to me.

Something in his eyes made me want to see him more, but I can’t.

There is no way. I have to go tell Lyra, like now.

I rush toward the stairs and slow before I go down them, making sure not to fall.

He was visiting his Grandma. In all the years I went he never went to visit her after me. We never bumped into each other.

Oh shit, and she died.

Now there will be a big funeral, a whole big shebang that I will need to hide from. I can’t see him again, there is no way. My heartbeat still races, thinking about us being in a room together.

I quicken my pace, slipping around the corner and entering back into the hallways of the lower levels where we - the servants - live.

I move through the hallways, scooting around people and trying to rush.

I finally get to the laundry room and skid into it, slamming the door behind me.

I take a few breaths, trying to calm down from the emotions swirling inside me.

“Lyra? Are you still here?”

The laundry area is the loudest place in the lower level - the machines constantly running, churning water and suds all hours of the day.

If they aren’t running, then the dryers are, pouring steam into the room so it’s always one of the hotter rooms. I move forward, my legs shaky as the shock of moments before starts to subside. Malik. Prince Malik.

“Lyra?” I peek around the corner of the room to where the tables are set up for folding and ironing.

Lyra is sitting on the edge of the table, kicking her feet and looking down at the ground.

She looks like me, more of a pear shaped body but shorter by a few inches.

Her hair is shorter than mine but curly as ever.

Our mother would always get frustrated trying to brush it out and eventually she cut it short so it was easier to deal with.

“You okay?” I ask quietly, stepping toward her.

I can see the tears on her eyes and frown slightly, wondering where the guy she was with earlier went. She is quick to fall for men. A trait I never seemed to suffer. Probably because I’m too busy being a miserable bitch and not wanting relations with anyone.

“Yeah. He’s fucking Marcie.” She mutters, kicking her feet back and forth.

I hop up on the table next to her, taking her hand in mine,

“Well, he will probably get a bad rash from that. I heard she’s been with everyone.” I nudge my shoulder against hers but it doesn’t pull her from a slump. We sit like that for a few minutes, enjoying the noise of the washers like white noise.

“Want some drama?”

“Sure.” She doesn’t meet my gaze and I pat the top of her hand.

“It’s about Prince Malik.”

“What?!” She jumps off the table, looking at me like a deer in headlights. “Spill it.”

I quickly tell her the story, leaving out the weird bond I felt in my chest with Malik. Her eyes widen the more I talk, her hands clutching my shoulders as I tell her. At the end she just stares at me, looking for words to say.

“What the hell are you going to do? You better meet him!”

“I can’t meet him!” I shriek. “Are you crazy? Do you know what could happen if I get caught?”

I pull away from her, standing up from the table.

“You have to Celeste. For me.” She bats her eyes at me and I push her away.

“If I go, it’s for me. Now help me figure out what to do for the next few hours so I don’t overthink it.” I grumble.

She smiles, the first time I’ve seen her smile since I’ve walked in. She takes my arm in hers and pulls me with her out of the room.

Sleezy guy forgotten, she’s moved on to helping me stay busy for the end of the day. We finish up all of our chores for the day and the whole time I feel eyes on me, but when I look I never see him.

What was I thinking, wanting to see him later?

Why did butterflies in my stomach swirl each time I play the scene again in my head? I wonder what happened to his grandmother. I hadn’t heard anything yet.

We were working on sweeping and mopping the foyer, easily the biggest and most stressful location.

We are expected to keep it tidy at all times but also aren’t allowed to be there when important things are going on.

It had been a while since I had been in here, but the aura in the room is always the same.

It’s a negative space, filled with a sense of dread and worry.

I glance over at Lyra who’s gone quiet as soon as we come into the room.

My own mind is racing, thinking about this afternoon when the side door opens and multiple people start to file in. I stand up, bending my head down like Lyra as the people are ushered in before I realize it’s the rest of the servants. I spot Josh and Kacie and ran over to them.

“What is this?” Josh asks, pulling me close to him.

“I don’t know, we’ve been in here. Have you heard anything Kacie?” She steps up to my other side and shakes her head no.

“Must be bad. They never pull us like this.” She nudges me with her elbow. I nod, looking back to the door as Jeffries walks out. Josh and Kacie had been born into the servant realm like us. We’d grown up with them and knew each other like the back of our hands.

“Good afternoon. Sorry to pull you from your duties like this.” Jeffries' voice cuts through the crowd and we all fall silent. “There has been an incident that has happened. Our dear Highness Charlotte has passed.”

Gasps and murmurs run through the crowd. I shoot a look at Lyra but she is fixated on Marcie fondling up the guy next to her. I roll my eyes and focus back on Jeffries.

“There will be someone asking questions with each of you later. Please be forthcoming on any information. If you have questions, bring it up to the head of your role and they will find me. Prince Malik would like to say something.” He reaches back and knocks on the door.

I reach out and grab Josh’s hand. He gives me a side look but doesn’t pull away. My stomach lurches in my throat, my heartbeat fluttering rapidly as I watch Prince Malik walk out to stand next to Jeffries.

“Good afternoon. My grandmother passed away earlier this evening in her room. It was peaceful, but if anyone would like to say something about her, please write it down in this book. We will have someone asking questions, just to make sure we have the full story for the press conference. Thank you.” I watch as his eyes search the crowd and I try to duck down next to Josh.

His eyes pass over me and he leans toward Jeffries, speaking something before disappearing again.

“You are dismissed.” Jeffries announces and everyone starts to dissipate. Josh shakes my hand loose from his.

“You okay?” He asks, taking a step back.

“Yes, so sorry. I just need some air I think.” I give him a shy smile and turn to leave. The main foyer looks good enough so I could disappear for a few minutes, get some air. I wave a little at Lyra before slipping out the side door.

I make my way down the large concrete steps into the garden below.

It is a lush area with flowers, bumblebees and birds this time of day.

Charlotte had curated most of this area.

There are sculptures, fountains and benches dotted throughout.

Flower beds bursting with daisies, daylilies, tiger lilies, carnations and bluebells.

I find my favorite bench and slump down onto it.

He was looking for me. What did that mean? Did he tell Jeffries something about me?

I’m going to get fired, tossed aside and left to figure out life on my own.

Malik wouldn’t even have to worry about anything, he is safe as a Royal.

I scoff, crossing my arms and leaning back against the bench.

I close my eyes and try to focus on the scent of the garden.

The flowers are beginning to bloom. The bees buzz around, depositing pollen from one flower to another.

The wind is light today, only gently swaying the trees around me.

“There you are, Princess.” I jump up, whipping around to see Malik leaning against a large tree. His smug face makes me want to punch him.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I hiss, brushing off my skirt and heading into the maze of the garden, trying to get away from him. His laugh echoes behind me and soon he is walking next to me, his arms tucked behind his back as he does.

“What are you doing? I didn’t see you at the debrief.” His voice is lower than I remember, but also lined with mischief.

“Now you are looking for me?” I quip back, not daring to look at him.

I turn to the row of roses, hoping if I get him deep enough in this maze I can lose him. I had been playing in the gardens since I was a toddler so I know this place well, I can’t say the same for him.

“Maybe. Where were you?” He asks again and I bite the inside of my lip.

“I was there. What did you say to Jeffries at the end?” I swerve to the left around a large fountain. The water cascades down the side and into a large basin sunk into the ground.

“That I was looking for you.”

I skid to a stop and turn to see him. His lips are curved into a smirk, his fucking gorgeous face only inches from mine.

“If you want me to just disappear, let me know. You are going to get me exiled.” I snap. “I don’t need you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. I told you, I didn’t do anything. She probably passed from natural causes.”

“She did. There was no foul play. They will be arranging her funeral now.” He stands still, letting his hands drop to his sides as he watches me. His hair moves in the breeze, tousling it ever so slightly.

“Then why are you looking for me?” I raise an eyebrow. He opens his mouth to speak and then shuts it before taking a few steps ahead. I follow after him, my own fantasies playing in my head about this time alone with him.

“I want to know more about you, Celeste.” He says casually.

I tilt my head ever so slightly. I remember I never told him my name, how did he find out?

“Oh Celeste, you think I couldn’t find your name? Although, I do like Princess better.” I stop walking and give him a look.

Who does he think he is?

Just because he is a Prince doesn’t mean he can talk to me like this.

“I don’t know what kind of shit you are pulling, but I am over it. I will not lose my job and my life because you think I am interesting. You may get to do whatever you want, but some of us get consequences from that.”

He turns around and looks at me before taking three long strides until our faces are inches away,

“You are more than interesting, and I would never do anything to jeopardize anything for you.” His breath washes across my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine.

My heart races and my face heats with his close proximity.

“I am not a concubine,” I mutter but all that does is make him smile.

“I don’t want a concubine. I want a friend. Royal life is not all it’s cracked up to be. You seemed to be friends with my grandmother, why would I be any different?” He takes half a step back and clasps his hands in front of him. I stare at him, not sure what to say.

“So please, meet me at 7? Or we could do it now,” he continues on as he shrugs his shoulders, “I could dismiss you from your duties, say that you were doing something else. Jeffries will confirm since I have already asked him about you.”

“What is it you want to know exactly?” I cross my arms, suddenly feeling vulnerable out in the garden with the Prince.

“Why do you hate me so much?” His question throws me off.

“Is it not obvious? Are you so stuck up that you don’t know anything?” I scoff.

“I know a lot, but I am genuinely curious. Why do I upset you?” His face is calm, the anger from before isn’t there.

I bite the inside of my lip, “I want more than this life. If you lived like me, maybe you would understand. I am expected to be this, and that with no regard to what I want.”

“That is exactly what I feel.” He says quietly, meeting my gaze.

Heat blooms low in my belly and I start walking, trying to ignore the feeling. I had never thought about that before. I suppose he could want something else than to be in the Royal family. It was something he was born into.

“What is it you want to do or be?” My voice comes out a whisper. The clouds move across the sun and I shiver involuntarily at the loss of sunlight.

“I’m not sure - but nothing to do with politics.” He is behind me but I feel the fabric of his jacket draped over my shoulders.

At first, I pull it tight around me. Surrounded by his scent of bourbon and pine, I close my eyes, reveling in the moment. Before I realize - the damn Prince just gave me his jacket.

I spin around to face him. He has a white button up on and is rolling up the cuffs of his sleeves. My head spins at the image.

“What? Why did —” I go to say.

He smiles at me and I lose all train of thought. What can I even think about this situation? Why is he so interested in me?