His Royal Regret: Royals of Lochland Book 2 Read online

  “Robby.” Cian walked to the bar and reached out, clasping hands with the barkeep that came into view. He was an elderly man with a face full of wrinkles. I would have thought him to be a kind old grandpa until he spoke.

  “What ye doin’ here? This ain’t no place fo’ ye’ no more.”

  I cringed. Were we not welcome? Was there a past here I didn’t know about?

  Cian simply laughed. “You know as well as I that this will always be a home for me.”

  The man grinned, revealing a gapped smile. “Yer right, son. It’s been a while.”

  Cian nodded. “It has and I’ve had no way to satisfy my craving for your fish and chips. It’s been a rough few weeks.”

  “I’ll get it going now.” The man turned but Cian stopped him. “Robby, this is my friend, Serena. I’m showing her around and knew I had to bring her here to get the full Ballivaughn experience.”

  Robby turned to me and lifted a brow. “Ey, you’re a lovely lass. What ye doing with this pig?”

  He nodded to Cian who wore a face of mock offense. I giggled, not sure what to say. I felt like an intruder on these two friends. Robby’s expression relaxed and I did too.

  He leaned on his elbows. “What would ye like?”

  I paused, not seeing a menu. “I’m not sure. What would you recommend?”

  Cian stepped closer to me. “Robby has the best fish and chips in the country. You can’t go wrong with his stew or meat pie though.”

  I copied Cian’s order then we moved to a back booth away from the other customers and out of view of the front door.

  “How did you find this place?” I asked, looking around.

  It was the definition of a hole in the wall. I would never have imagined stopping here and couldn’t believe this was Cian’s favorite restaurant. I assumed it would have been a high-end place with cloth napkins, not...this.

  Cian relaxed, draping an arm over the booth. “My dad and his brother found it when they were young. Robby had just taken it over from his father. He became friends with my dad and while we were growing up this was one of the few places dad felt comfortable taking us. It’s my favorite place to come in the city.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You have an entire kitchen staff in the palace.”

  He nodded. “But here I’m just Cian, not the prince.”

  There it was. That was the real reason he loved it. Robby wasn’t one to give special treatment, even for the king and prince. Here they were just normal customers.

  “Thanks for bringing me here,” I said. “For sharing this.”

  He grinned. “I’m glad you trust me enough to stay.”

  20

  Cian

  “How are you liking the ride?” I asked Serena while she looked around at the posters covering the pub’s walls. . “Is this the last time you’ll do it with me?”

  I watched her face for a reaction but her smile grew. “I think once my legs get used to it, I’ll like it even more. It’s fun though.”

  It shouldn’t have meant so much to me that she enjoyed it. Depending on how things went this weekend, this could be our one and only time out.

  “Thanks for trusting me,” I said. “I know it’s not for everyone, but it does provide a bit of anonymity for me to enjoy the city with a small level of independence.”

  “That’s right. Isla told me security wouldn’t be far behind. Where are they now?”

  I checked over my shoulder to Tyce and Brian sitting at a booth on the other side of the dining area. “There’s two. There are a few others out front and outback where we parked.”

  Her eyes widened when she peered over to the men eating. “I never would have guessed. They were here before us.”

  I smiled. “That’s the point. They knew where we were going so they got here first to check it out and blend in.”

  She nodded still looking surprised. “They’re good. I never would have guessed.”

  “They’re some of the best, yes.”

  “Is it weird?” Her eyes held mine and I knew she wasn’t just talking about them eating on the other side of the room.

  “It’s normal life for me. It would be like me asking you if it's weird that you don’t have security.”

  She smirked. “I guess that’s true.”

  “I used to try to lose them or escape the palace without anyone noticing, but that only got me grounded. My parents told me about the risks associated with going places without security. I was young and dumb. Mostly selfish as well, but once they really explained it to me, I accepted it was a necessary part of life.”

  “What about your privacy? Do they give you space?”

  I nodded. “They can be discreet when necessary. Like the hospital yesterday. Did you notice any of them?”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Not even one.”

  “They’re very good at what they do. When it’s necessary for them to show themselves, such as at public events, they will. That’s mostly a warning to the crowd, but when the area has been cleared and precautions have been taken, they give us space.”

  She shook her head, still stunned. “I had no idea.”

  “Ronan, my youngest brother, is attending university in Scotland. He has a guard that lives in the flat next door to him and monitors him during classes and his activities, but he doesn’t walk around with a full group surrounding him.”

  “That makes complete sense. You guys all have lives and things you need to do. It’s amazing that you can go with so little security like that.”

  I shrugged. “There are places, like his school, and this city where it’s become the norm to see royals or rich and famous visitors. The tourist might get excited but the locals are pretty protective of us. They don’t alert the press or post it to social media when they see us.”

  “That’s so different from back home.”

  I laughed. “Yes, I can’t imagine the stress actors and musicians go through living there.”

  She seemed to relax a bit and I took it as a good sign that she was seeing my life could be normal. It wasn’t as flashy or restrictive as she might have thought.

  “Here’s ye fish and chips.” Robby set down our food baskets and drinks before walking away.

  “Mmm this smells delicious.” Serena lifted a chip to her mouth and moaned. “It’s so good. How is a fry this good?”

  I chuckled. “I’m glad you like it. Not everyone loves pub food.”

  She shook her head. “They’re insane.”

  “I’ll let Isla know.” I winked as she blushed.

  “Oh. I didn’t mean—”

  “I’m joking. Isla comes here more than I do.”

  She glared at me and took a bite of the fish. “I’m never leaving here.”

  Her words made my heart race. I knew she was joking but I couldn’t help but take it as a good sign.

  “I wouldn’t mind that.”

  She froze and met my eyes. “Cian…”

  Her voice trailed off and I smiled like it was a joke. “I know, but a man can dream.”

  “It’s just this is all so new. We’ve only known each other for two weeks.” She shook her head. “It’s all happening so fast.”

  It didn’t matter to me if it had been two days or two years. I knew how I felt and I wanted her to know. “Crazier things have happened, love.”

  She peeked up from her plate. “It’s scary.”

  “I know. I’m scared too, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. I knew from the moment I saw you I needed to know you. Then I ended up falling.” I sighed. “The week without you was painful. I hated every second of it. I don’t want to be without you. I know that and I need you to as well.”

  Her eyes bore into mine. “It was hard on me too. I was miserable.”

  I wanted to ask why we were about to do it to ourselves again. Why weren’t we planning our future?

  “I don’t want to go through it again.” It was as honest as I could be until she let me know she’d changed her mind.

&n
bsp; “Cian…I’m not just afraid of what life would be like here. I’m terrified I’ll lose myself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She dropped her head speaking softly. “I don’t want to have to stop what I’m doing. I don’t want to stop working on building the schools. I don’t want to just organize them and let other people do the work. I want to be there, with the people I’m serving. I can’t—” She sighed. “I can’t live a life on your arm.”

  I waited for her to meet my eyes. She finally glanced up, which watery eyes.

  “I wouldn’t want that for you,” I assured her. “You’re so much more than a silent trophy to have at my side. I fell for you because of your heart. I know you want nothing more than to give everything you have to those in need. I would never stop you from doing that. If there was a project you wanted to work on, I’d make it happen. I’d send a security team with you, but you’d still be able to go and work. You’d just have a few extra hands.” I tried to make her smile but failed.

  Her eyes filled with insecurity. “You say that now and it might be possible while you’re still the prince, but what happens…what happens when you’re the king?” She cleared her throat. “It’s one thing for Charlie to be with Aiden. It’s unlikely she’ll be queen, but that’s your future. Would the queen of a country really be allowed to travel alone?”

  I hadn't thought that far ahead. I couldn’t lose the momentum I had though. “My father isn’t going anywhere for a long time. It’s likely I’ll be in my forties or fifties by the time I take the throne. You have time, and if you still wish to go to the projects then we will make it work.” I smiled. “I will be the king after all.”

  She gave a weak grin, but it disappeared in an instant.

  I covered her hand with mine. “Serena, you made me realize there was so much more I could be doing. I was going through the motions getting lost in the day to day. You made me stop and see the bigger picture. I have the opportunity and means to be doing more than sit in endless meetings and attend the mandatory appearances. You gave me the push I needed to trust Aiden and let him take some of the load.”

  She pulled away from my grasp. “You can do all of that without me.”

  “But I don’t want to. I did it because I realized I wanted more time for you.”

  She tugged on her loose braid, frowning. “Cian, if we were different people—”

  “Don’t say that. Don’t hide from me. I love you, Serena.”

  Her eyes widened at the same moment I realized what I’d said. It was true. I’d known since the day I left that I loved her but I wasn’t planning on telling her over fish and chips.

  “Cian.”

  “It’s true. I love you and I can’t imagine life without you.”

  She shook her head, but I reached across the table and grabbed her hands in mine. “Don’t fight this, please. Don’t run.”

  She blinked and looked back at me. “I’m so scared. I don’t want to lose myself.”

  “I’ll be here for you whenever you’re afraid or down or tired. I’ll be here for you when you’re happy and excited too. I promise I’ll never inhibit you and your dreams. I want all of the moments. I want to share my life with you.”

  She wasn’t saying it back, but I could tell she was holding back. It was fine. She didn't have to tell me. I knew in her heart she felt the same.

  “I don’t know.” She let out a sigh and rubbed a hand over her face. “I don’t know what I want. Part of me wants to say yes, but the other part is telling me it’s a mistake.”

  “Don’t let fear guide you, love. I promise I will be here for you through it all. You will never be alone in this.”

  “We barely know each other, Cian.”

  “Don’t do that. Don’t diminish what we have. I know you and your heart. We might not know each other’s favorite color or childhood memories, but we have time to learn that.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “What about your parents? My parents?”

  “You can meet them tonight. I’ll fly to wherever your parents are.”

  She seemed doubtful. “What if your parents hate me? What if they don’t approve? I’m not just their son’s girlfriend, I’d be the future queen.”

  Her voice cracked at the end and I knew she was nervous.

  “They’ll love you,” I said. “I promise.”

  I wasn’t actually sure how they would respond to her. They’d been so accepting of Charlie, but Serena was right. She would be the future queen. There was significantly more pressure on who I chose to marry than Aiden.

  She was silent for a while before nodding slowly. “Okay. I want to meet them.”

  I nearly clapped but refrained. “Thank you, Serena.”

  I stood and moved to her side of the table, kissing her once before offering my hand to help her stand. “Let’s get back.”

  She didn’t look very excited about returning, but it was something we had to do. The important part was that we would be facing my family together.

  21

  Serena

  Lewis arranged for me and Cian to meet with the King and Queen an hour after we got back to the palace. Cian had gone to shower and change which left me alone to panic for sixty minutes.

  I showered, rushing to make sure I had plenty of time to do my hair and makeup. Not to mention I had to find something worthy of the occasion. I had a faint idea that I might meet them while we were here, but I knew they were often away or at the capital so I didn’t necessarily plan on it.

  I stood in the white silk robe that had been waiting for me in the bathroom when I arrived and sighed. What was I going to wear?

  A knock sounded before the door swung open and Vanessa let herself in. “Hey. I heard you were back.”

  I bit my lip. “I’m meeting his parents in a few minutes.”

  Her eyes widened. “Not looking like that I hope.”

  My hair was a wet tangled mess and my makeup was only half-finished. “No, I just don’t know what to wear.”

  She held up a finger. “Hold on for a second.”

  She left and I finished my makeup. When she walked back in, she was followed by Isla. “I heard there was a fashion emergency,” Cian’s sister said.

  I blushed. I felt silly talking to her about my nerves since they were due to meeting her parents. I doubted she thought it was as big of a deal as I did. I wished Charlie was here instead so I could ask what she wore.

  “Yeah, I don’t know what to wear to…” Vanessa waved her hand signaling me to spit it out. “to meet your parents.”

  Isla nodded, not laughing or teasing. “Okay, let’s see what you have.” She walked to the wardrobe and swung the doors open wide. She pushed each item aside, searching through everything I brought.

  “You don’t want to overdress since they’ll be casual. You don’t want to wear just jeans though.” She started over and pulled out a navy cap sleeve dress that had a cute scalloped hem. “This is perfect. You can wear heels if you want or these sandals.” She held up a pair of gold, strappy flat sandals. I was surprised by the combination she made out of my own clothes but appreciated it.

  “That’s perfect. Thank you.”

  She moved behind me at the vanity. “You are welcome. Just be yourself. They’re our parents, first and foremost.”

  Of course, it was easy for her to say that, but I knew I would be scrutinized for the role of a future queen.

  “Thanks.”

  She patted my shoulders. “Do you want help with your hair?”

  “Oh no. You don't have to.”

  I peered at Vanessa for help but she shrugged. “She did my hair this morning. The girl’s got talent with no outlet.”

  Isla nodded fervently. “It’s true. I do Charlie’s all the time.”

  “Okay, I’d appreciate that.”

  Without another word she picked up my brush and blow-drier and got to work. She used the tools with expert, practiced hands. Vanessa sat on the bed watching while I ran through p
ossible questions like I was preparing for a job interview.

  In just over ten minutes she set down the hair spray and stepped back. “Done.”

  My hair was full and had bounce as I turned from side to side. She’d dried it straight and sleek letting it flow to my lower back. “Wow. You’re amazing.”

  She laughed. “It’s your hair.”

  “I can’t make it do this.”

  “I’ll teach you how.” She paused. “I mean if you stay.” She cringed. “Sorry. I don’t know where you and Cian stand and I feel like I’m putting my foot in my mouth.”

  “If we have time, I’d love that.”

  She nodded over to the dress she picked out. “You’ll look lovely. Just remember to relax and be yourself. They’ll love you as much as we do.”

  “Thank you, Isla.” She let herself out and Vanessa moved to the dress.

  “Let’s get you ready.”

  I changed into the dress and decided on a pair of nude heels, just to be safe. “How do I look?”

  Vanessa nodded her approval. “Very sophisticated.”

  I blew out a breath. “I’m freaking out.”

  “I know you are, but that’s a good thing.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why is that good?”

  “It means you care.” She wiggled her eyebrows and I rolled my eyes.

  “Of course, I do. I’m meeting the king and queen of a country. That’s a huge deal.”

  “It is when you think about it like that, but you have to remember the reason you’re meeting them. They’re Cian’s parents.”

  “That doesn’t help. It just makes me more nervous.” I took a deep breath. “What if they hate me?”

  “They won’t, but in the small chance that they do we’ll face it. We’ll deal with whatever happens, we always do.”

  I nodded and gave her a hug. We walked out of the room and headed to the top of the stairs. Vanessa squeezed my hand. “Go show them how amazing you are.”

  “I’ll try.” I let go of her hand and carefully made my way down the stairs. In the foyer, Lewis was waiting for me.