Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

“Holy shit,” The student next to me whispered.

I turned to tell him that if he was going to take up two seats, the least he could do was be quiet. Instead I was distracted by his expression. I looked up in time to see four men in dark suits walking toward our corner. There was something familiar about them. I didn’t have time to put it together.

They were in front of my table.

“Molly Washington.”

“Yes?” I eked.

“Mademoiselle, please come with us.”

I stared at them. Shaggy blond hadn’t picked up his jaw yet.

“Why? What’s wrong?” I looked around, searching for some kind of life line.

“Come with us.” It was an order.

“Who are you?” The guy finally spoke up, still slouched behind his computer.

The first suit eyed him, unimpressed. “This is a royal concern.” His voice boomed loud enough to silence any further interference. The quiet library was suddenly like a graveyard. Everyone gawked at me.

I pulled my shoulders back. He couldn’t be serious. I was being summoned?

“What does he want?” I whispered.

“Matters of His Majesty aren’t discussed in open forums. Come.” He motioned to me to follow.

I didn’t like it. I didn’t like being summoned without a reason. I didn’t like that I hadn’t heard from Damon.

I leaned forward. “No,” I whispered. “You can tell His Majesty to call me if he’d like to speak to me.” I glanced at my screen and pretended to ignore them.

I was smug. A little too smug. Proud that I had fended off the royal guard. But within seconds they had closed in around me, each one pulling under my arms and lifting me from the chair.

“Hey!” I yelped. I kicked my legs. “Put me down.”

They didn’t speak, but continued to carry me through the maze of tables and rows of books.

“You can’t just take me like this,” I hissed. I looked around for a librarian or someone to step in, but the crowd watched in awe.

I wiggled fruitlessly while they placed me in the back of a car marked with the royal crest and shut the door. I tried the handle but it was locked. There was no way out. I beat on the glass.

This was insane.

“Let me out of this car.” It sounded more like a whine than an ultimatum. I jerked on the handle again. The engine started and we pulled away from the library. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

We drove outside of the city and along the steep highway, curling around the low mountainside, until I had a full view of the palace.

I glared at the mass of stone and windows that towered over these grounds for centuries. Galonians loved their palace. It symbolized the richness of the monarchy. It showcased the majesty of the land. The architecture set the tone for the aesthetic of all Freychon. There were touches of the palace throughout the city. It may be reflected subtly in an archway above a shop door, or a column on one of the government buildings, but this palace was the centerpiece of the land.

Right now, it felt like I was being dragged to prison.

We rolled through the private tunnel and the car stopped at the back entrance. The door opened and I scowled at the officer who had taken me from the library.

“Please follow me.” He extended his hand.

“And if I don’t?” I challenged.

“You will be escorted by force,” he stated. There was no change in his voice or expression. I wondered how many people he bullied around like this.