The f*******n Crown

Chapter |11|

D A M I E N ' S P. O. V

"Ajax," Emmeline rises on her elbow, causing my hand that's been massaging her tight muscles to fall.

I find myself transfixed by her radiant beauty once again, and I'm not a man who admits to being struck speechless so easily, yet with Emmeline, it's natural, like everything else. "What happened earlier? With that guard you were shouting at?"

Now this piqued my curiosity, being a tale I have not yet heard from my brutish lover.

Ajax sighs, more seated against the headboard than the rest of us. "It was nothing to worry about Princess,"

She lets out an angsty growl. I try to suppress my laughter, knowing that will just rile her up more, but Ajax fails, miserably. "Ouch," He cries when she slugs his shoulder. I doubt it hurts. "It really was nothing, okay."

From my deduction it must have been something vulgar said about Emmeline, otherwise he would have just come out and said it. "Ajax, we promised nothing but total honesty from this point forward. Even...if it may hurt another."

"Wait, so it was about me? What did he say?" Ajax still remains quiet, which causes my own defences to rise. For Ajax to have punished him it must have been something bad.

"It was something crude about you and your..." He gestures to our girlfriend's p***y, probably still aching and sore from earlier. "Look he's an asshole and has been degraded to digging holes for the men to s**t in during training for the rest of the term. Let's just forget it."

I'm tempted to ask for a name so I can personally have some words with him, but being in a three way relationship means trusting them both. Something I'm not particularly good at doing in relationships.

"Oh," Emmeline lifts herself up so she's sat next to Ajax. I lazily let my head fall onto her lap and naturally she begins to stroke my hair, letting her fingers massage the pressure points. "Do people often talk about me in that manner?"

This is very dangerous territory Ajax and I have often had luck at avoiding through the course of our friendship.

Ajax gives me a look that signals save us, "Emmy," Her brown eyes look lighter with the moon shining in and that familiar clenching around my heart catches my breath when I fail to look away. "Sweetheart, people are assholes, and you are prime gossip for them to use as a joke, or the centre of an argument. You are royalty and unfortunately there will be no escaping the haters, but just know that the love Ajax and I have for you is more than enough to shield you from them."

I imprint that upside smile into my memory as she leans down to brush my lips. "You're right, and I love you. Both of you."

Ajax slings his heavy arm around her, looping down to me so I can clutch his hand. My eyes find Emmeline's bracelet and Ajax's pendant. I love the reminder that we will always be linked like this in some inextricable way.

***

Splashing the cold water on my face, I reach blindly for the towel hanging besides me. Revisions of law is possibly the worst form of academia I have ever studied.

After completing six hours a week, I feel myself completely drained of any more energy to continue with further work. The best form of a boost would be Ajax and Emmeline, who both, unfortunately for me, are busy with family dinners.

I'm sure if I asked there would be a seat available for me at both, but I'm not one to encroach on personal matters such as that. Anyways, I have my father to entertain, so I set up for our weekly routine dinner.

A basic meal of spaghetti I paid a cook to make for us, accompanied by whatever rich wine my father brings over and then followed by a game of scrabble to fill the silence.

You see, we're both men of very few words with brains that need to be constantly stimulated. He's my mirror in every way, a scary concept since he's in his fifties now with no life companion by his side.

I would like to blame my mother for that too, except I'm aware my prior habits of relationships restricted to one night stands stems from his behaviour throughout my childhood.

Still he's my father, and I'm proud to give him that title because he has been a good father to me...but part of me remains unsure that if I divulged the details of my relationship he would still be standing by my side to support me through it.

A knock cracks smartly on the door. 6:00 on the dot. I wouldn't have expected anything else.

"Dad," He greets me with a hug, and I remember he's one of the few that I allow to see me with such vulnerability.

"Food is warm." We eat discussing the various laws that have newly been passed by the council, and debate our thoughts on the outcome of the golf match dominating the news headlines.

"So, Damien what's new?"

"Well, I recently decided to take up crochet. Emmeline has been telling me how Mal, her maid, made this bag purely out of wool and it might be a useful skill to..."

"No, I mean with your love life. Jesus, I raised a f*****g bore." I laugh, downing my wine.

Lying is something I hate. Manipulation of the truth I much prefer, and yet with my father even that claws guilt inside of me.

"Nothing, as usual."

"Really, because I heard that you were sighted in the kitchen compiling what looked like a midnight feast."

I shrug, knowing there is no use discrediting his sources since we share the same. "I got hungry. Is that a crime?"

"Of course not, but were there not strawberries in your feast?"

Fuck. I'm allergic to strawberries. Deathly so, but Emmeline and Ajax loved them so I wore plastic gloves to handle them when placing them on the tray.

"Fine I did have someone over. Just a one night stand dad, so no point grilling me further." His face drops like I just told him I was in a poly relationship with my two best friends. Ironic.

"I know I haven't always been the best example for healthy romantic relationships, but I don't want you to live never having experienced love, or at least trying."

"Dad don't worry about it okay, I'm doing alright for myself and maybe one day...I can see marriage happening for me." Unlikely, unless Dahlia rules are changed to accept polyamorous relationships as legal before the Kingdom, but my father wears a look of hope that makes the white lie seem worth it.

"Maybe after Emmeline's wedding, you could focus your efforts on finding your own companion." He remarks casually, finishing off his pasta.

"What do you mean?" We have at least a good few months until she will be engaged. Enough time to formulate a plan to break her free of her duty bound shackles.

My dad pauses mid bite. "Son, have you not heard? It's been decided Emmeline will marry King Theo of Thalnia before the end of the year."

"What? When?" I saw Emmeline earlier and she smiled, dragging me into a hidden storeroom to make out. No signs that the thing she has feared most was quickly becoming true.

"Huxley found the candidate and Arabella and Hardin signed off on the engagement contract. He forced their head slightly, but he's a good man and I think he'll prove to be a good husband to her."

I'm never one to fall victim to strong emotions but anger and jealousy churn inside my stomach. I clench the glass cup tight enough that it almost cracks within my hold. My father eyes me warily, "Damien you always knew this was how it would end up. I don't understand why..."

"I need to find Ajax." My abrupt standing causes his words to die off, and I storm ragefully through the winding hallways of the palace until I reach the General's quarters.

We talked about this, the ending of our dream but it had always seemed so far off in the distant future, but now it was time to fight for our girl, and we weren't giving up until she had said I do.

***

A J A X ' S P . O. V

"Mum this is too much." I complain as she hefts another pile of potatoes onto my plate. I admit they are my favourite, fixed with a sweet aromatic aroma that was enough to make any man fall to his knees but as a soldier I had a diet to watch.

"Ror, he has training tomorrow." My dad adds.

"So what? He can work it all off then, but I won't let my son starve simply because of some stupid diet restrictions. Let everyone eat what they want I say."

If one of his men spoke to him like that, my dad would have them running straight laps around the palace until dark. Yet, it's my mother, and I have never seen a man more smitten with his wife than her. The big scary general that would do anything to please his wife.

I always admired the unusuality of their relationship.

My mum was from the auction houses, back when they existed and was chosen to act as a candidate to be Uncle Hardin's bride. She lost and should have then been auctioned to the masses that wanted her, but instead my dad fell in love with her and as General, he had the authority to keep her on as his lover until he proposed.

Shovelling some potatoes into my mouth, I raise my palm. "I seconded that."

My dad barks out a laugh, jovial he with his mug filled with beer. "Anyways Ajax, how's the love life?"

Mum elbows him. "What? You said to ask?" He whines, only intensifying her sharp glare.

Emmeline does the same to me whenever I do something stupid. The very memory has me smiling.

"So is there someone, AJ?" My mum's nickname for me.

"Maybe?" I think of how not to f**k this up. "There is someone, but they are bound to their duty." I describe both my lovers, and I guess in a way myself, however I know that if giving up my title meant being with them both forever then I would do it in a heartbeat.

For them it's different. It always has been. Their roles are a part of their identity.

"Well what do they do?"

"It's complicated." My father softens his scrutinising look, in case of something more understanding.

"Fight for them then, there is nothing a person likes more." Being accepting of my fluid sexuality is one thing, but being happy for a son in a dangerous poly relationship is another, and something I fear neither of my parents would fully understand.

"Thanks," The door suddenly bursts open, forcing me and my dad on high alert, already reaching for our weapons. I exhale in relief as Damien fills the doorway, Uncle Elliot lingering behind him.

He nods to me, "Have you heard?"

"Heard what?" My parents exchange cagey glances which sets my heart in overdrive. They've always been fiercely protective of me, but that has meant caging me from reality at times.

The moment I meet Damien's gaze I know it's something bad. Something that threatens to destroy us.

"Emmeline is engaged. She's set to marry the King of Thalnia before the end of the year."

"What? How can that be happening?" There are process in place for a royal engagement to be confirmed, at least a two week period.

"Let's find out." He starts to move when his dad steps in his way.

Damien gives his father a look only reserved for outsiders that severely piss him off. "Move."

"Her parents are telling her right now, give them time."

"No f*****g way. We deserve to be there with her. We're her..."

"Her what?" My dad interjects. I fear what I already know, that he has some inkling of suspicion that isn't far off from the truth at all. He directs his question to me instead. Testing us. "Her what?"

I gulp down the truth. "Her friends. Her best friends, who are probably the only people who can provide the comfort she needs right now." We both can sense the other is holding back, but I relent a little and plead with my eyes for him to stay quiet for now.

The last thing Emmeline needs is a scandal getting out.

Looking at Damien, I nod. "Let's go." This time Uncle Elliot moves aside, smart seeing as though Damien is like a raging bull right now, taking on my role within our dynamic.

"You need to calm down." I murmur, reaching down to squeeze his hand. We're alone as we walk at a fast pace to the dining room, but still, I'm wary of eyes everywhere. "Jealousy is written all over you."

"Good because she's ours."

Now I'm f*****g confused. "Damien, we knew this would happen someday. I don't understand..."

"Someday, but not now, and maybe...maybe I've realised that this doesn't have to happen."

I move in front, stopping him in his tracks. "Wait, what do you mean?" That cruel feeling of hope takes hold of me. "We could be together? All of us? Just how we imagined, but..."

He reaches out to cradle my face between his palms. "Look, I don't have all the details ironed out but we'll find a way to make this work. There isn't a world where the three of us don't end up together, Ajax. We just need to look to harder, stall the marriage for as long as f*****g possible."

Even I'm apprehensive about this. Damien is always the calculated, logical one of us, but yet he was letting emotion drive him over reason. "Hey, you've always trusted me before. Trust me now, I will find a way."

"Okay." Love is trust and if anyone could find a way to overcome political, social and family barriers it would be him. "Let's get our girl."

This time Damien holds my hand, clinging onto it the whole way until we reach the dining room. We separate, finding a moment to collect ourselves before opening the doors.

Well, f**k.

Uncle Hardin and Aunt Arabella smile politely, ushering us in. "I'm assuming you both heard the good news and came to wish Emmeline good luck." There's an underlace of threat within the King's voice.

Did she tell them about us? Is that why the room is filled with an ominous silence that pervades?

"Yes of course." It's Damien who answers. We glance at each other before walking in.

At this angle Emmeline is shielded slightly from our view, and only when we round the long table do we find something even more terrifying. She smiles, the most natural thing I have ever seen. "I'm getting married...in five months."

Her mum begins to iterate wedding plans and details that no doubt the two of us will be a part of as her guard and advisor. Through it all, Emmeline doesn't say a word. Instead, she continues to smile.

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A/N: Ahh thoughts on Emmeline's reaction??

And our protective alpha males?