The Royal and the Rebel (Royally Pitched 2)

Jamie’s face was grave. “Our sources in the palace are telling us that Juliana is essentially a prisoner. Her PPO turned on her and helped the queen detain her.”

“Order 66,” Rowan said under his breath.

“Beg your pardon?” Jamie said.

Rowan’s gaze collided with Jamie’s incredulous one. “Star Wars. Order 66. The Dark Lord Sidious had the clones programmed to respond to Order 66. They turned on their Jedi masters and murdered them.”

Jamie’s eyes left Rowan’s and sought Nico’s. “Star Wars?” he asked Rowan’s friend.

Nico must have shrugged. “His dog’s name is Leia.”

“Yes, but I assumed it was from Episode VI. Leia in slave costume,” Jamie explained.

“The slave costume,” Nico said.

“The slave costume,” Rowan said.

They all laughed, but there was an edge to it.

Then, Nico rose. “I will collect Violet and leave you to it. I’ll bring her here, but if something changes, let me know.”

Rowan swooped down for his crutches and stood. “What about Annalise and Gabe? Will they be back soon? I know you haven’t seen them …” His voice trailed off.

What he’d asked of his friend was too much. He’d taken over his home, and now, he was sending him on an errand with all sorts of political implications.

“Is there somewhere you could take Violet that’s not here?” Jamie asked.

“Are you quartering soldiers in my home, Your Highness?” Nico responded, and Rowan could hear the teasing in his voice.

But the prince didn’t know Nico like Rowan did, and Jamie actually blushed and stammered out, “No, no, of course not. I just thought perhaps she’d be safer away from here.”

Rowan watched with amusement. He hadn’t thought anything could rattle Jamie Altamirano.

Nico touched Jamie’s arm. “I’m kidding,” he said with a smile. “I’ll take Violet with me, and we’ll go to Katrine’s.”

And then he was gone, leaving Rowan and Jamie alone.

Rowan stood indecisively in the middle of the room.

When Jamie didn’t say anything, Rowan asked, “Do we have a plan?”

Jamie’s eyes snapped to his, and he shook his head. “Sorry?”

Rowan bit his lip to keep from laughing. Of course, like everyone else in the country, he knew how much the prince loved football. But it was interesting to see him so nervous and out of sorts, not the put-together guy who won you over with his empathy. With Juliana unaccounted for, the vote for independence looming, and Jaime’s grandmother running a power play, Rowan supposed he was entitled to look a little freaked out.

“Robert and Ele will be along in a moment, and we can discuss our plan. We must have miscalculated something. If the plan was to install you on the throne with Juliana as your queen, why would Juliana be detained by my grandmother?”

“Do you really think the queen would cede the crown to a Barrington?”

Jamie shook his head. “Of course not. But I thought perhaps she might have felt she could control Juliana more easily than she could control me.”

“Fat chance,” Rowan muttered.

Jamie smiled slightly. “Our Jules is a bit of a wild card. But I am worried we haven’t heard from her at all. Robert tracked the GPS in her car. It remains at the palace.”

“If the car is there, Juliana is there. She won’t leave without her Vantage.”

“Exactly. But no signal on her phone.”

Rowan shuffled around to Juliana’s favorite chair. He reached his hand underneath the cushion and extracted her phone.

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Only person under the age of fifty who hates having a phone on her.”

Ele and Robert entered the room.

“Ro,” Ele said, making her way to him and kissing him on both cheeks. “We’ll figure this out,” she assured him.

Robert merely nodded at him, and Rowan resisted the urge to snarl back. He was antsy and impatient, yet everyone seemed content to sit around, waiting for something to happen.

“Do you know anything more than you knew three hours ago?” Rowan asked through gritted teeth.

Just then, Robert’s phone buzzed. He looked at the number and stood, leaving the room. Jamie’s and Ele’s gazes followed Robert as he left. Ele sat heavily in the love seat as Jamie paced. Rowan cozied up in what he now considered “their” chair and let his mind drift to images of Juliana straddling his lap in this very space, to her mouth opening under his, to her cries of ecstasy as he made her come. Gah, he missed the chit.

Suddenly, Leia jumped up from her sprawl on the floor and took off at a trot. She barked excitedly then Pelé and Leo echoed her excited yelps. The chorus of barks was followed by a bellow from Robert. As much as Rowan enjoyed the hectic tone of Robert’s voice, he knew how much trouble his three dogs could be.

He was about to call them off when he heard her voice.

“Okay, my loves. I know you are excited to see me, but let me through.”

Rowan and Ele got to their feet just as Juliana appeared in the doorway, surrounded by the pack and trailed by Robert. Ele and Jamie ran to her and wrapped her up in their arms. No one spoke as they embraced, Juliana sandwiched between them, her eyes closed.

Rowan stood, statue-like, taking her in. She was dressed in a pink frock that didn’t quite match the woman he’d come to know. She looked taller, and his gaze traveled to her feet, which were encased in strappy high heels. He liked the shoes.

She appeared unharmed, but he needed to see for himself. Finally, she opened her eyes and met his intent stare. She offered him a tremulous smile, but he could tell she was being strong for her brother and sister.

Fuck that.

“My turn,” he announced.

That was all it took for Ele and Jamie to let her go and for Juliana to walk right into his waiting arms.

And they stayed like that, wrapped around each other, for a long time.