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  “Theo…”

  “I promise, Spence, I didn’t mean to keep it from you. Just with everything coming at us today, I forgot.”

  “Forgot.” I blinked. “Forgot that you were leaving for a week?” I folded my arms. “When?”

  He licked his lips, creating more annoyance to twist my spine. “Tomorrow.” He peered at his watch. “Actually today. In four hours.”

  “Of course.” I rubbed my forehead.

  “Are you mad?”

  Closing my lids for a moment, I wanted to scream but took in a deep breath. I didn’t want to be this girl. The girlfriend who was always mad, needy, and demanding.

  “I’m irritated you didn’t tell me. You want us to be a team, right?” I motioned to us. “You imagine this will advance between us?”

  “Are you trying to ask about if I’m proposing to you or not?” He grinned cheekily, rubbing my arms and stepping in closer.

  “No. That’s not…” Another deep breath. “You need to talk to me. Keep me in the loop. You can’t avoid talking to me because you don’t want to fight or upset me. That’s not how we are going to work.”

  “I know.” He leaned his head back. “It’s just I knew you were still uncomfortable in the palace, and I felt bad about telling you you’d be alone for a week, and then today, all the parents meeting…”

  “So, you didn’t forget.”

  He glanced to the side.

  “I’m so sorry, Spence.” He faced me again. “I promise I will be better about telling you.”

  “Highness?” Dalton stepped up behind the prince. “The car’s ready; everyone is in place.”

  My head jerked to the side, seeing Lennox was absent from his spot. Along with Hazel.

  “Is my sister coming?”

  Dalton’s lips pressed together. “No, the princess has firmly declared she is staying.”

  Did I imagine the tinge of frustration in his voice? My imagination was getting the better of me.

  After quick goodbyes to everyone, Dalton whisked us to the doors.

  “I will warn you there are a lot of paparazzi and people out there. Someone must have leaked your location.”

  “Bound to happen at a club.” Theo shrugged; no big deal to him. Though there were no pictures allowed in this private club, the means of letting the world know the location of the prince were endless. Social media really had changed everything. Everything was instant and in real time. The privacy you used to be able to have was long gone.

  Waiting for the first sighting of the prince, the anticipation in the crowd strung energy through them like clotheslines.

  “Theo!” A girl screamed when Dalton opened the door, setting everyone off like a charge exploding in the night. Theo darted out first, jogging for the large SUV primed at the corner.

  Girls screamed, bulbs flashed, and the paps yelled Theo’s name over and over. The press at the polo match was afternoon tea compared to this.

  “Theo, I love you!”

  “You’re gorgeous!”

  “Theo, marry me!”

  Theo was the equivalent of a rock star. People did whatever it took to get to him, wanting to say they touched him, while the paparazzi got only inches from his face, their cameras blinding. They shoved against the line of bodyguards protecting Theo as Dalton yelled at them to move back. Didn’t they see their need to be the one to touch him could kill him? Would they even stop if they trampled him? This level of frenzy shivered horror through me.

  “I got you,” a husky voice muttered in my ear, a hand going to my back. I peered at Lennox at my side. His face was serious, but his touch was soft. I didn’t respond, but knowing he was there and feeling the press of his hand on my back were calming. I felt stronger, like I was invincible next to him. “Let’s go.”

  Gulping, I dashed out, following the path to the car, the shrieks as people spotted me stabbing into my eardrums like arrows.

  “Spencer! Spencer! Spencer!”

  “I hate you!”

  “Spencer! Spencer!”

  “Fuck you, you ugly gash!”

  “You don’t deserve him!”

  A plastic cup was chucked close to my head.

  “Bloody hell,” I yelped under my breath as Lennox used his body to cover mine.

  “You’re almost there,” he said in my ear, pushing me faster.

  I hopped into the SUV, Lennox slamming the door behind me. I plopped next to Theo in the backseat, Dalton in the middle row. Theo’s arm stretched over the top of the seat, his leg crossed over his knee as if he was relaxing at the beach.

  “Go,” Lennox commanded as he jumped into the passenger seat, the driver peeling away as girls pounded on the window, some paparazzi running for their cars or mopeds.

  “Come here, luv.” Theo wrapped an arm around me, pulling me in, his mouth brushing my earlobe. “We’ll be home soon.”

  Not one ounce of my earlier need and lust was left in my body. Adrenaline pumped in my veins, my limbs trembling, but all I could hear were the foul comments yelled at me.

  “Don’t let them bother you. They just get overexcited.” He kissed my temple, acting like we were still in that sex-induced state, while I felt like I had been brutally stripped and raked over coals before being thrown in a frozen lake.

  I had never thought I had thin skin, but tonight showed differently.

  I would have to turn off and become anesthetized to it all.

  It would be the only way to survive.

  Chapter 16

  My shoes shuffled down another quiet corridor, the lack of life watching me from the paintings on the walls. Though I swear, even the stoic figures of Theo’s royal family were rolling their eyes at the number of times I had walked by, chatting to them.

  Three days could make anyone go mad.

  Boredom was not something I was expecting with the week I had before me, but since the entire royal family was gone, it left very little activity happening at the palace, besides the skeleton staff cleaning and working in the private quarters.

  Unfortunately, I still had my etiquette lessons and meetings with Chloe keeping me from visiting home, but they only absorbed some of the hours of the day. Rain kept me from the outdoors, and I felt like a trapped rat, slinking around the palace like I was trying to find my way out of the maze.

  I may or may not have even started singing “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” to the portraits, with a bottle of vodka the night before.

  Pulling my cell out of my back pocket, I hit a button, the call going to a service. “Hey, this is Landen… you know what to do.” Beep.

  “Hey…” I kicked my foot in front of me lazily. “It’s me again. I know I’m probably annoying the hell out of you. But family gets to do that to each other.” I nibbled on my bottom lip, heading for my room. “Just wanted to talk. I miss you. Miss Mina too. Have you talked to her recently? She’s been MIA as well.” I paused as if he would suddenly pick up the call and answer me. “Anyways, I will talk to you later. Come visit me if you can. I mean, I have the King of Great Victoria’s liquor cabinet at my disposal. Think I drank a bottle that costs the same as your car.” Though the remnants of my hangover didn’t seem to care how high quality it was. “Love you. Bye.” I hung up with a sigh, stepping into my room.

  Theo and the PR team highly “suggested” I stay close to the palace, as the attention on me had skyrocketed. Though I doubted anyone would notice me if I popped into a shop. I craved shopping, and I didn’t even like shopping.

  “It’s not like you will run out of things to do here.” Theo kissed my head on the steps before they left as the servants packed the boot of the car. “Movie theater, library, video games, your classes… You can even break into my father’s liquor cabinet in his office, where he keeps the top-notch stuff.” Theo winked at me. “There’s plenty to do until we get back.”

  “So this is an upscale version of house arrest.”

  “Spence…” He tipped his head back, staring down at me. “It’s only for six
days. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  I forced a smile, nodding.

  He leaned in, kissing me. “And when I get back, we are finishing what we started last night,” he muttered into my ear. By the time we got back from the club, I had gone straight to bed.

  “Yeah, you’re right.” I nodded. “I’ll love the time to just unwind. Read.”

  “That’s my girl.” His lips brushed my head before he climbed into the back of one of the SUVs heading to their private jet. Dalton gave me a nod before climbing into the car along with Eloise. The king and queen were in an SUV behind theirs.

  I did enjoy the alone time, reading and watching movies, for the first day. But then stupidly—blaming my moment of weakness on the expensive bottle of vodka I stole from King Alexander’s cubby—I snuck onto social media.

  Idiot.

  If only that had been what they were calling me. Not one person knew me, but they all had opinions on me: slut, bitch, tramp, too tall, too thin, too fat, too short, too many freckles, too plain, uptight, not that pretty, he could do much better, she’s a nobody, noble snob, her lips are too big, her eyes are odd, I hate her, she’s vile. I don’t see what he sees in her. I’m so much prettier than her! Pick me instead, Theo! I would be far better in bed!

  It went on and on. Tearing down my looks, my outfits, my personality. They shredded everything about me, tossing me into a woodchipper, not caring how bloody and broken I came out as long as they felt better about themselves. Forgetting I am just a person who happened to fall in love with a prince.

  Theo was praised and gushed over by women, men, and the media, while I was dissected and torn apart in a game I had no way of winning.

  Since then, nothing kept my attention, my heart heavy and sad. I wandered the hallways, calling Theo, Eloise, Mina, and Landen… No one was able to take my call. Hazel wasn’t even in town.

  Normally I loved being on my own, reading and being outdoors with the horses. But the feeling of being held here left me antsy and irritable. It wasn’t home. Even with no royals here, I still couldn’t relax. There was always a maid or a someone running the house popping out of nowhere.

  Flopping on the bed, I opened my laptop, ready to put on a movie and take a nap while the rain pattered gently at the window.

  The browser still open on social media, I cringed, ready to close it up, when my gaze landed on the top post.

  “Volunteers needed! The Animal Rescue Shelter is having an open house this weekend, and we need all the help we can to get these pooches and kitties at their best for adoption!”

  I sat up, scrambling off my bed, not even needing to read the rest. It was a place I had donated to before and joined them on a march, trying to ban kill shelters. It was exactly what I needed. To forget all the ugly stuff out there about me, to let all the royal nonsense go.

  Just be me for a few hours.

  Zipping up new boots and grabbing a jacket, I darted out the door and down the hall. I knew I was supposed to let Lennox know where I was going, but he would stop me. He took Theo’s “suggestion” of my staying here as law.

  I needed this more than air, to do something I loved, and the animals needed me.

  Like a stowaway hiding from the crew, I slunk through the palace, wanting no one to stop and question me. Heading out the side door, I pulled up my hood, the soft raindrops tapping my head, the cool misty air slinking around in my hood. I couldn’t see any safe exit out of here, which for security reasons was a good thing, just not good when you are trying to sneak out. It was the fastest way to feel how much a prisoner I actually was.

  Racing down the private lane, I knew cameras were catching me, but I hoped I’d be too far for them to respond in time.

  “Hey, Rory!” I called out, so he wouldn’t straight out shoot me as I ran past the guard station, the usual guy on duty.

  “My lady?” He did a double take, his hand clutching his gun, his head swinging past me, looking for any danger. “What are you doing?”

  “Jailbreak.” I held my finger up to my lips, winking at him.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I can’t tell you. Because you will tell Lennox.”

  “Lennox doesn’t know?”

  “Don’t ruin my escape. Come on.” I batted my eyes. “Please.”

  He shook his head, a smirk huffing his nose.

  “You are trouble, my lady.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Why don’t I call the house for a car, miss? Can take you where you want to go.”

  “You do not get the idea of sneaking out, do you?” I laughed, jogging past him, blowing him and the three other guards a kiss. Their stoic faces on duty broke into smiles as I went by, their heads wagging in wonder. Their job was to defend the palace from intruders, not to prevent me from leaving it.

  The moment I stepped out onto the public road, the cars zooming past, visitors chatting, mulling around taking pictures, locals speed walking to their destination, I felt vulnerable and free at the same time. Hailing a black cab, I jumped in, the car pulling away from the curb. I turned back and watched the palace slowly disappearing from view.

  Fleeing Lennox and the palace gave me a rush.

  This was the most alive I had felt in a while.

  “We really appreciate the extra hands.” Debra, a woman in her early forties with curly brown hair and curvy figure, motioned me to follow her through the shelter. On several weekends during school, I had volunteered at their adoption fairs. They were the top no-kill shelter, always trying to get pets homes, which was my goal for all shelters. “I must admit, I wasn’t really expecting you… I mean, with you being…” She blushed, walking faster down the hallway.

  “You mean since I’m dating the Prince of Great Victoria.” I smiled, watching her cheeks turn a deep crimson.

  “Yeah. I would think you would be far too busy to come here. I mean, you are everywhere. A celebrity now.”

  “Celebrity?” I chuckled. “Not even close.”

  “Do you even know how much you are being talked about?” She peered at me. “Telly, papers, internet. I mean everywhere.”

  “I’m still me,” I responded. “And never too busy to help animals. They are my first love. They will always come first.”

  She nodded, but her expression pinched like she didn’t believe me. “Well, as you probably saw, today we need help bathing and trimming the dogs, getting them to their best. Nothing would be better than getting them all adopted.”

  “I’m here to help where you need me.”

  “Okay, I’ll start you on washing duty with Kyle, Sarah, Travis, and Poppy.” She walked me into a room, the smell of wet dog and soap filling my nose. Music played steadily behind the random dog barks and the chatting between the group.

  On the right and left walls were large built-in wash sinks for the dogs with hose facets and shelves of soap and towels. Across from me were glass doors, opening out onto a small patio with fake grass. They probably let the dogs play and dry off out there on warm sunny days. Blow-dryers, combs, and trimming devices were stocked in rolling carts around the room.

  “Hey guys, you have another hand.” Debra gestured to me. “This is—”

  “Fucking hell.” A blonde girl washing a Yorkshire terrier stood up, blinking at me.

  “Poppy.” Debra frowned.

  “Blimey… Do you bloody know who you are?” Poppy’s mouth dropped open. All four of them stared at me in awe.

  “Some days, I wonder.” I smiled, trying to ease the focus off me.

  “Y-you’re… I was just reading about you!” She held up her mobile.

  “She’s here to volunteer, just like you.” Debra’s stern tone told Poppy to curb herself. “The animals are the celebrities here.”

  That word was making my brain twist up. Celebrities were movie actors, sports stars, musicians—people who had talent and skills, not some girl who happened to go to the same school as the Prince of Great Victoria.

  Most definitely not
awkward, shy me.

  “Yeah. But…” Poppy wasn’t quite ready to let it go.

  “Could you help Spencer get a station set up?”

  “I will!” Both Poppy and a guy around my age raised their hands.

  “Thank you, Travis.” Debra’s slight to Poppy was not lost on her. She huffed, glaring as Debra left the room.

  Travis wasn’t tall or built, but he was a good-looking boy with a mop of brown hair that he kept shaggy like he thought he could be mistaken for a boy band member.

  “Spencer, right?”

  “Yeah.” I kept it short, wanting to just get to helping the animals.

  “Wow, so you are really dating the prince, eh?”

  “That’s what the papers are saying.” I grabbed a mobile cart and dragged it to an available sink.

  “Ha! Funny.” He snorted, raking his fingers through his thick hair. “So, you’re like close to the royals?”

  “Dude, arsehole, she’s boning one of them!” Poppy exclaimed from her station. “You are a total moron.”

  “Where do we get the next dog to be washed?” Ignoring Travis, I glanced around to the other two workers.

  “The ones still waiting are playing in the room there.” Sarah pointed to a door next to my station.

  “Thank you.” I nodded, heading for the room, muffled barking and yipping coming from the other side.

  Travis trailed after me as I ventured into the large dog playroom. “What I meant was you are good friends with the Princess, then.”

  Ah.

  Eloise.

  Staying silent, my hands went out for the dogs running up to me, jumping, barking, and nudging my leg for attention. I cooed and pet all I could reach.

  “She’s so hot… I was just wondering—”

  “No.” Blunt and ruthless, I cut him down, my attention on a dog hiding in the corner, its fuzzy body shaking. His coat was dirty and matted, but you could see with a little TLC he would be the cutest thing in the world. “Not a chance.”

  My legs moved across the room to him, pretending I didn’t hear Travis call me a bitch under his breath. “Hey, little dude.” I went up slowly to the little mixed breed, his huge dark eyes watching me, flinching like I might hit him. “It’s okay.” I spoke slowly and quietly, coaxing him to come to me first. They were the reason I was here, not helping band-boy Travis get laid. Plus, if he only knew the real Eloise, he’d piss himself… right before she annihilated him.