Royally Endowed (Royally, #3)

by Emma Chase

Cory startles awake, sputtering, “What—who?” Then he rubs at his eyes. “What’s the deal, Lo?” “The deal,” Logan says in a deadly calm tone that makes me shiver, “is you’re gonna get your arse back to the flat, pack up your shit and go home. You’re done.” Oh crap. “No, Cory—you don’t have to do that—it’s not your fault.” I tell Logan, “It’s not his fault.” But Logan doesn’t even look at me. He’s staring daggers at poor Cory. Jagged, bloody daggers. “You’re gonna want to move now, mate, or you won’t like how I’ll move you.”

“Ellie made me this playlist . . . it’s actually not half-bad.” Tommy slips his sunglasses down his nose and stares at me above the frames. “Who the hell are you, right now?”

“Your daughter’s graduating today. I’m making sure you get to where you need to be.” “Ellie?” he says, confused. “Oh, you’re aware she’s your daughter? I wasn’t quite sure you knew.”

I set my box down and say quietly to Tommy, “I’m gonna go speak to the prince.” He nods. “Took the words out of my mouth.” I point to Ellie. “Don’t leave her alone.” Tommy chuckles. “In this neighborhood? Brother, I’m not even gonna blink.”

“Why is it so cold?” Nicholas asks. Ellie’s face scrunches a bit. “Yeah—there’s a minor issue with the heat.” “What’s the issue?” “There isn’t any.”

“You ratted me out to Nicholas,” she hisses. And there’s a devil inside me that wants to tease her, toy with her—like a lad tugging on a girl’s braids—just to see how she’ll react when I do. “Yeah, I did.” Ellie folds her arms, all adorable simmering fury—a pretty pussycat who just discovered her claws. “I didn’t take you for a narc, Logan.” I shrug. “Now you know.” She jams her finger towards my chest. “You are on my permanent shit list, buddy. I’ll never forgive you for this. Never.” I lean in close, dropping my voice. “Since now you’ll actually be alive for all those years that you’re busy not forgiving me, I’m gonna put this one down as a win.” She sticks her tongue out, then twirls around and stomps away. And, Christ, even her tongue is cute. Somebody fuckin’ punch me.

“The truth is I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for you. I don’t know where I’d be or what I’d be doing, but I know it wouldn’t be pretty.” “He’s right, you know, Sarah.” Prince Nicholas steps over to them. “Before you, Henry was an unmitigated disaster. Reckless, spoiled, self-destructive—” “Thank you, Nicholas,” Henry says. “I think she gets the picture.” Nicholas smacks his brother on the back and grins cheekily. “Happy to help.”

And Prince Nicholas is back. “You still don’t get it. There’s nothing you could do—literally nothing—that Henry hasn’t already done to embarrass us.” He shrugs. “We’re immortal; we’re immune.” Henry looks at his brother. “You’re enjoying this too much.” Nicholas’s green eyes practically dance. “I am, I know. I should try and stop, but I just can’t.”

“Almost like she’s singing to someone.” Tommy nudges me. I grunt. And the tosser’s eyes practically twinkle. “Something you want to share with the class, Lo?” “Nope.”