Royals and Rebels book 5: The Thistle Prince

Two: Prince Declan

Two

Prince Declan

            There were few things that I had in this world that weren’t mine. When I first saw Fiona Fallon, I was aware of two things. One, she was younger than me. Two, she wasn’t mine. At some point, she would leave me. And I didn’t like that. I didn’t like that at all. Then, when we were teenagers, she got pushed into my world. My elite boarding school. It was everything I wanted, and the last thing that I wanted at the same time.

            Unlike the rest of the rabble, for security purposes, I live off campus. With my best friend, Lord Oliver Berkshire. Every year, before school starts, we have a welcome back party.

            “So,” said Oliver, as we were lounging in the living room waiting for the party to start, “did you invite The Help?”

            I scowled at the mention of Fiona. “No,” I said, “we’re not supposed to be friends. I’m going to be King. She’s going to be The Help. There’s not goin’ ta be any cross over.”

            “Ye sure about that?” Oliver asked.

            “Because everyone knows your little servant girl is comin’ and a few people already have bets about her.”

            I stiffened. “Bets about what?”

            “Bets about who can f**k the Prince’s servant girl first,” said Oliver, “you know not everyone appreciates the Royal family. They’d do anythin’ to hurt you, especially if it involved someone that’s easy pickin’s like Fiona.”

            “It won’t happen,” I scowled, “I’ll tell them not to.”

            “That’s not goin’ to make any difference,” said Oliver, “it will only encourage them. The only thing that might make them keep their hands off is if they think that Fiona’s yours.”

            “I can’t date her,” I said, “Grandfather wouldn’t allow it.”

            “I never said ye had to date her. Just make them think she’s yers.”

            “Who did ye hear talkin’ about this?”

            “Evander Gordon, among others,” said Oliver, “the scholarship boys. Boys whose lives you’ve made hell before.”

            I grimaced. “They didn’t exactly welcome me with open arms.”

            “Nah, but you’re untouchable. Here, there’s nothin’ ye can do because it’s Fiona’s choice.”

            “Invite Evander to the party,” I said, “and tell Kenna to come.”

            Oliver frowned. “You know I don’t like my sister at these things.”

            “I know, but she’s roomin’ with Fiona. I had my father arrange it. She’ll bring her, and I want her to know who Evander Gordon is. And that she better stay away from him.”

            “But if ye tell her that----”

            “She won’t do it?” I said. “I know. That’s why I’m going ta find another way.”

            “Alright,” said Oliver, “I’ll do it.”

            Oliver called Kenna, inviting her to the party. Fiona was free to do as she wished. But she’d been hurt enough because of her connection to my family. I wouldn’t let anyone else hurt her. Especially not because of me.

            When the party was in full swing, Kenna arrived with Fiona. She was easy to spot, with her red hair. She wore a white blouse, with a plaid skirt, and high heels. She even had makeup on, that somehow made her green eyes sparkle even more than they already did. I could see heads, boys and girls, turning to look at her and it made my blood boil.

            Off in the distance, Evander Gordon was talking and drinking with some of his friends. He was a politician’s son, there on scholarship, without an ounce of royal blood in him. He also sported a Guillotine tattoo and his mother was a radical Professor that spoke out about the monarchy.

            He stood against everything I was. And I hated him.

            I walked over to where he stood. “What  are ye doin’ here, Evander?”

            Evander smirked. “Havin’ a good time, Prince Highney. What’s it ta ye?”

            “No one asked ye here,” I snarled.

            “Funny, I think ye boy Oliver did,” said Evander, “isn’t that right, Berkshire?”

            Oliver nodded. “That is true.”

            “Besides,” said Evander, “we all want to get a look at the palace servant bird that’s comin’. See how pretty they make the servin’ girls. See if maybe she’ll come service us, real Scottish men, and not some upstart Royal dobber. The great thing is, there’s nothin’ ye can do about it. Because here, ye don’t rule over the girl.”

            “Chan eil mi a 'toirt f**k!” I shouted.

            “I’ve got a right ta be here! I’m not doin’ anything wrong. Besides, you know that eventually---” 

            “Shut up!” I shouted, not caring that my voice was thundering off the walls or people were looking at me in fear. Or that the room was completely silent as I thundered. Let them look at me in fear. I was their future King. “Shut up, Evander Gordon! If you don’t get the hell out yourself, I’ll have my guards throw you out on your arse!”

            Evander sneered at me. “Fine, but you can’t keep me away forever. Eventually, she’ll find out the truth.”

            He stormed off. As he did, he bumped into someone. Someone I realized was Fiona. “Ouch!” she said.

            “Sorry there, mo leannan,” he apologized, winking at her.

            He winked at her.

            I clenched my fists together, shaking. “I’m goin’ ta kill him.”

            Oliver reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. “You can’t kill him.”

            “Why not? I’m the Prince.”

            “There are two types of Kings. Those who use power for good, and those who use power just because they can. Be the first, Declan.”

            I scowled, hating that he was right.

            But he’d called her mo leannan. My lover. My sweetheart.

            I stormed over to where Fiona was with him. “What the f*****g hell are ye doin’, Gordon?”

            The bastard laughed. “Relax, your royal highney. I’m just bein’ polite to this lovely girl. No harm in it, is there?”

I was going to punch him. I swore. He knew who Fiona was, and he was going to try to use her to hurt me. I couldn’t let that happen. Which meant that I was going to have to do something dumb, but necessary. Even if she hated me for it.

“You’ll do well to leave what’s mine alone!” I shouted.

I saw Fiona flinch at my words, and I knew she would have questions later. But I didn’t care. Right now, I had to do this for her.

“All this fuss over a little servant girl,” Evander sneered, “I never would have thought. Prince Highney has a heart. Too bad it won’t do him any good.”

I reached out, and I grabbed Fiona by the shoulder possessively to make a point. “Get. OUT!” Declan ordered.

“Alright, alright. I’ll be goin’.” He winked at Fiona again, causing my blood to boil. As he left, he sang, ““I’ll be seein’ you, in all the old familiar places, that this heart of mine embraces…”

When he was gone, I could feel the tension in the room release. But I was still gripping Fiona’s shoulder.

I glared down at her. “What the hell are ya doin’ here, Help?”

“I invited her,” Kenna snarled at me, her eyes blazing, “to my brothers party. Do you have a problem with that, your highness?”

“Kenna, you should have asked before you brought her here. There are rules.

To my surprise, Fiona spoke, “Right, Prince Declan of House Alba, you might be the future ruler, but the only person that rules me is me. I wanted to come. I had a right to come. Oliver’s my friend too.”

I scowled.

Oliver, from by my side said, “Alright, hen! Of course ye are.”

“Thank you very much,” Fiona replied, smirking.

Still scowling, I said, “Come with me. NOW.”

I could see hesitation in her eyes. But I knew it wouldn’t last long. She’d been raised by her Nan, and I knew her Nans word of law. Do as the royals tell you. I could see her struggling, because she knew we weren’t at the palace. And that technically, at school, I had no power over her. But her home was in mine, and her Nan worked for my family. I could so easily ruin her life if I wanted to.

“Fine,” she relented.

“Fiona---” Kenna objected.

“It’s fine, Kenna. It’s fine.”

I grabbed Fiona’s hand, leading her through the crowd of people, perfectly aware of everyone staring and not giving a f*****g damn. Let them stare, and let them know that she was mine.

I led her up to my room, where my guard stood in front of.

He smiled at Fiona. “Hello, Fi. Settlin’ into school alright?”

“It’s fine,” Fiona said weakly.

I saw my guards eyes flit back and forth between the two of us. I knew how this looked. I was the Prince of Scotland, leading a family servant to his room. He probably thought I was going to take advantage of her. Let him think that. I needed people to believe that she was mine.

“We’re fine, Angus,” I said irritably, “if you could please give us some privacy.”

Angus grunted. “Alright, I’ll be around, if ye be needin’ anythin’. You too, Miss Fallon.” He smiled at Fiona, and then he left.

I opened my bedroom door, and I dragged her inside.

“Declan, please,” Fiona begged, “whatever you’re thinking of doing---”

“What are you thinkin’, Fallon?” I demanded. “My father is financin’ ye tuition to this school for yer future. You might not be workin’ for the palace here, but yer schoolin’ is bein’ funded by it. From now on, you do what I say. You hang out with who I let you hang out with. You only go where I let you, or else I’ll have you and your Nan out on the street. Do you understand? I don’t want you here, and I can make your life hell.”

“Declan, please. You can’t be serious----”

“I’m deadly serious, and don’t even let me catch you talkin’ with other boys. You’re not goin’ to find your Prince Charmin’ here. You’ve got a future. With me. With the palace. We invested in you, so I own you. Do you understand?”

It was one of my worst fears. That she’d come to school, meet some rich prick, and be taken from me. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.

Her eyes filled with fear. “But you love my Nan. Why would you do this to her?”

“It’s not her I’m doin’ it to,” he said, “I’ve lost enough people in my life, Fallon. I won’t lose you too. Especially not when you were always supposed to be mine.”

“Declan, I----”

“Here.”

I started to take off the wax seal necklace I had that identified me as a Prince of Scotland. If Fiona wore this, no one would dare touch her. I walked behind her, leaning up against her. I brushed her red hair out of the way, my fingers touching the bare of her small neck as I clasped the necklace around her.

“I don’t understand,” she said, “I can’t date you, Declan. I’m not. I mean---”

I flinched at her words, but that didn’t matter right now. I stepped around to face her. “This isn’t about dating. This is about letting the rabble know that your mine. You’re a walkin’ target as long as you are here, Fallon. They’ll use you to get to me. As long as they think yer with me, they won’t dare try. You don’t have to be with me. You just have to give the illusion that you are.”

“But what if someone finds out----”

“They won’t,” I said sharply, ““it’s only at school, and it’s only for your protection. Word got around fast who ye were, and all of the vultures are comin’ out. They don’t just want to scavenge your corpse, either. They want ta eat you alive.”

“How do you know?” she whispered.

I reached out, taking her chin in my hands, and I forced her to look at me. “What do you think a scholarship kid like Evander Gordon  sportin’ a Guillotine tattoo was doin’ flirtin’ with ya?”

“But I’m no one,” she whispered, her voice small, “I’m a servant girl. The Guillotine wouldn’t get anywhere by messing with me. It would be meaningless.”

“You’re under palace care,” I said, “if somethin’ happens to the servant girl while she’s at school, trainin’ to be a royal nanny, whose heads do you think they’ll come for?”

I could see realization dawning in her eyes. After all, The Guillotine killed her parents. They’d killed the Princess of Ireland. They could kill anyone, including a servant girl.

“Are there really that many of them here?” she asked. “I thought they were only in Coleum.”

“They’re everywhere,” I said, “and they want to destroy people like me, and people like you. Father didn’t think about that when he sent you here. But father’s not good at thinkin’  much these days. Promise me, you won’t talk to Evander Gordon. Promise me right now.”

I watched her internally debate herself before finally saying, “I….I promise.”

“Good,” I said, and I reached out to muse her hair a little. I knew what it would look like. Like I’d taken the palace servant and f****d her senseless in my room. Good. Let them think that. It was all to keep her safe, anyway. From them. “It’s only one year,” I promised, “come on, let’s go out, and enjoy the party.”

“Alright….”

Taking her by the shoulders, I led her out of the room, back down to the party. Everyone was watching us. Watching Fiona specifically. I knew what they saw. Her hair was mused, and she was wearing the official symbol of House Alba.

I saw the girls look on with envy, and the boys look on with realization that if they touched a single hair on her head they’d be f****d. Good. Let them think that. Fiona had a future with me, and I wasn’t going to let anyone take that from me.

Fiona broke away from me. When she did, she made a beeline to Kenna. I saw the two of them whispering. Kenna shot me a look, and I smirked at her. Then, the two of them left the party.

Oliver came and stood by me. “Is that yer seal she’s wearin’?”

I nodded. “f*****g yes it is.”

“Declan, do you realize what you’ve done?”

“Yes,” I said, “you know why, Oliver?”

“Why?”

“Because you know what happens at school? People learn things. They meet other people. They fall in love.”

“So, are ye in love with her?”

“No,” I lied, “but she’s mine. Her future is set, and I’m not goin’ ta let someone take her away from me.”

Oliver sighed. “Declan, she’s allowed to have a life of her own. Even if you don’t want her to.”

“How can you say that?” I said. “I’m not an i***t, Oliver. I see the way that you look at her. The first time you saw her, you said that you wanted to kiss her.”

“I know I did. But she’s a girl, Declan. She’s got thoughts and feelings of her own. What’s goin’ ta happen if she decides she wants to go to college? If she falls in love with someone? You can’t force someone to stay with you.”

“I’m the Prince. I’m the future King of Scotland. I can do whatever the hell I wish.”

Oliver sighed. “Fine, maybe you can. But it won’t endear you to other people. Forcing someone to do something isn’t the same as loving them.”

“I grew up with this girl, Oliver. She came to us when she was ten after parents were killed because of people that hated my family. For a year, she used to sleep walk in the palace because she kept on reliving her parents death over and over in her head. Once, I had to bring her back inside to stop her from freezing to death in her sleep. When she was thirteen, someone attacked her at school because she worked in the palace.”

Oliver’s face paled. “When did that happen? And why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were still at Eaton,” I said, “and it didn’t seem relevant.”

“Not relevant? Listen, she might be your servant but Fiona’s my friend. She helped me with my schoolwork, she got Kenna to talk, and she convinced my parents to bring me back home for you. Anything that happens to her is relevant to me because she’s my friend.”

“Fine,” I said, “I’ll keep you updated from now on. But the point is, she’s in danger because of me, and I have to keep her safe. It’s my job. I’m a bad Prince if I don’t, and I’ll be a worse King. I won’t have something happen to one of my servants.”

“So, what if she has a life of her own? Because if you’d really care about her, you’d let her.”

“I’m her future,” I said, “I’m her life. So I keep her safe.”

“Declan….”

“No. I won’t hear anythin’ more. If anyone asks, Fiona Fallon is mine. If anyone looks at her, touches her, or does anythin’ without my permission, I will have their throats slit. Make sure everyone knows, Oliver.”

“I’m not your servant, Declan. Why’s it have to be me?”

My gaze narrowed at him.

Oliver sighed. “Fine. I’ll make certain everyone knows.”

The thing about monarchy is, there’s a certain way things happen. An order. My Grandfather was King. My father was a Prince. When my Grandfather died, he would be King. Oliver’s father was Prime Minister. When my father died, I would be King. Then, Oliver would be my Prime Minister.

He might not have worked for me yet. But he would soon, and we both knew it. It was better if he did things my way, whether he liked it or not.

“The sooner you do it, the better, Oliver,” I said.

“Of course, your Royal Highney,” he said as he left to do as ordered, and I almost laughed. Almost.

When he was gone, I looked around at my apartment full of people. I went looking for Angus.

“Everythin’ alright, your highness? I saw Miss Fallon leave. She looked a little upset,” my guard said.

“Fiona’s fine,” I said, “but can you get everyone out? I want to be alone.”

Angus smiled. “Of course, your highness.”

“Oh, and Angus?”

“Yes?” he said.

“Make sure Miss Fallon is added to the Inner Circle list,” I said, “but don’t tell anyone at home. I don’t want them gettin’ ideas.”

“Yes, sir,” he said, “of course, sir.”

The Inner Circle was a list of people that were approved to come see me. Girlfriends, best friends, lovers and the like. Anyone on that list could bypass security. Fiona wasn’t anything but a servant girl. But if people heard she was on the list, they would think exactly what I wanted them to. She was protected by the Prince of Scotland. She was mine. And if anyone hurt her, they’d be f****d.