Royal Mistake #2: Royal Mistake, #2

By Ember Casey and Renna Peak

As the crown prince, I’ve devoted my life to Montovia. My one mistake has already cost me dearly, and I find I must now take more drastic measures to regain the trust of the people.

Victoria can help me to do just that. And though she finds my plan ridiculous, it is the only way to regain what I’ve lost.

But she continues to surprise me. And after our ordeal, I find I’m unable to find comfort anywhere but in her arms.

I can't stay away from her, but I know that because of my position, she and I can never be together.

New to the Royal Heartbreakers books?
Each series contains a complete romance story and can be read on its own, but the following is the chronological order of our books:

Royal Heartbreaker series (Prince Leopold + Eleanor Parker)
Royal Mistake series (Prince Andrew + Victoria Simpson) 
Royal Arrangement series (Prince William + Princess Justine)
Royal Wedding Fiasco (special release)
Royal Disaster series (coming soon!)
Royal Escape series (coming soon!)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Casey Peak Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Feb 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386421337

Book preview

Victoria

Iopen my eyes and blink a few times as I adjust to the bright sunlight coming through the nearby window. It takes me a few moments to remember where I am and what’s happened. We were in a plane crash. And I’m pretty sure the room I’m in now is some sort of hospital. It only takes me another moment to realize I’m in bed. And that I’m not alone.

I shift a little onto my side, trying to see who it is lying next to me, not that I really have any question. I can smell him—he must have showered since the last time we were this close, but there’s no question the arm underneath me belongs to Prince Andrew.

Of course, this makes zero sense unless I’m hallucinating. Or maybe dreaming. But I don’t get a chance to rack my brain for the last thing I remember before he speaks.

You’re awake. His voice sounds almost as groggy as I feel.

I turn my head to meet his gaze. I…guess.

His lips tick up into the smallest of smiles. Do you know where you are?

I shake my head. I have no idea.

He chuckles. "I suppose that was a terrible question. I’m not certain I know where we are, and I’m not the one who’s been medicated for the better part of a day. He pauses, his smile widening ever so slightly. Do you know who I am?"

I give him a single nod. Yes, but I—

What’s the last thing you remember? His smile falls and his eyebrows draw together. Do you remember coming here? To the hospital?

I glance around as much as I can—the bed we’re on seems to be some sort of hospital-type bed, but it’s hard to be sure. Wherever we are, it’s a hell of a lot cleaner than the little cabin we were in last night—if that was even last night.

I give my head a small shake. I don’t remember. Coming to the hospital, I mean. I remember the cabin. I remember sleeping on the floor. I remember… The kiss. Holy shit, do I remember the kiss.

He nods. Do you remember leaving? He lets out a small breath that almost sounds like exasperation. Do you remember the gun?

I nod again. I remember that. It was a long ride, worrying about the guy with the rifle. I pause, trying to think of what came after that, but there’s nothing. My memory seems to be gone after that point. I assume we made it into town or the two of us wouldn’t be talking now.

He gazes into my eyes, almost like he’s searching for something. We did.

So that’s where we are now?

He shakes his head. "There was no hospital there. We’d only been there a few minutes—I wasn’t even able to use their telephone—before they were rushing you out to their ambulance. They didn’t want to allow me to come along, but I insisted—"

You would. I smile before the reality of what is actually going on starts to sink in for me. Did you at least let your family know you’re alive? Have you spoken to the press? My heart starts to race and I lift my head off his arm. Are they parked outside the door? Did you at least—?

He touches the top of my arm, brushing the pads of his fingers softly over my skin. It’s nothing to concern yourself with right now.

My mouth falls open for a moment and I glance at his hand, trying to ignore the electrical shock his touch sends through my skin. I stare at what he’s doing for a minute before I look back into his eyes.

His jaw drops for a moment before he snaps it closed at the same time as he pulls his hand away from my arm. He slides away from me as much as he can without falling off the bed.

Andrew lifts a brow. "I’m only here… I mean here—in this bed—because you asked me to be. You practically begged me to hold you last night when you came out of your procedure. The nurse said I was welcome… His voice trails off and he draws in a long breath, almost stiffening. I only did this for your benefit. For your comfort."

I nod and lift my head again, shifting myself to the opposite edge of the bed. He slides his arm away from me and edges off the bed and into the chair next to it in a single motion.

I sit myself up, and Andrew grabs a remote control thing from the table next to us, pushing a button to raise the head of my bed.

It isn’t until I lean back that I feel the throbbing in my foot.

I must wince or something—Andrew’s eyebrows draw together with concern again. Are you in pain? I’ll ring the nurse so she can bring you more medication. She said—

I’m fine. There’s no way I’m going to allow myself to be medicated so heavily again that I’m begging Prince Andrew for anything—especially for him to hold me. My God, I can’t believe I would ever do anything like that. Especially to him.

The physician who worked on your foot said you should be able to walk as soon as you’re ready. He also said there would be a large scar. He frowns. Of course, I believe we should consult a plastic surgeon afterward. I believe they might be able to—

I shake my head, interrupting. It’s the bottom of my foot, Andrew. Who the hell is ever going to see the bottom of my foot? It isn’t like it matters. I close my eyes for a moment before turning back to look at him. Did you talk to your press secretary? You should at least make a statement—tell the world you’re alive.

He looks at me blankly. "I am alive."

I blink at him a few times. Clearly.

"And I would never take my own life."

I never thought you would—

"Apparently there are some who do… His voice trails off and he looks at something over my shoulder. I’ve devoted my entire life to my country, and yet the first reaction…the first thing people thought was that I had attempted to take my own life."

Something about his tone makes something twist in my chest. Oh, Andrew. I shift, trying to cover the pain I’m sure he can hear in my voice. Have you spoken with your parents—?

I couldn’t remember the telephone numbers. I… His voice trails off and he looks at the floor for a moment before returning his gaze to mine. It’s a terrible thing about technology, wouldn’t you agree? That the information about our contacts is lost when our telephone is lost?

I give him a grim nod, lifting a brow. Terrible. That is why they have the backup systems, though, I suppose.

He nods, rubbing at his unshaved chin, ignoring my comment. The only number I could remember was Leopold’s. He’s quiet for a moment before he turns his gaze to mine. I dare say he sounded disappointed to hear from me.

I seriously doubt that, Andrew. I search his eyes for a moment—he seems to really believe what he’s said about his brother.

He rubs at the stubble on his jaw again. You don’t understand. You don’t know the history of what’s transpired between us. If you did… He shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair. I have a new plan.

I nod. A new plan? For…what?

For our story. His voice is almost somber. "Particularly now."

My head is starting to throb—I’m not exactly in reporter-mode, but he doesn’t seem to care.

I let out a small sigh. "And why particularly now? None of this is making sense, Andrew—"

He nods—his eyes are almost wild. It will. It will make perfect sense when you understand.

I rub at my temple and close my eyes for a second. "Understand what? Andrew—"

"Understand that I was not attempting suicide by plane crash. That I would never do that—not to myself and not to my country. He stands, shoving the chair against the wall to give him room to begin pacing the length of the bed. I can see it in my head now. How the story will play out. It will be perfect for us both, Victoria. You can present everything—beginning with Leopold’s betrayal of me and finishing with my engagement."

My eyes widen for a second as his words sink in—did he just say engagement?

I open my mouth to answer, but I don’t get a sound out before he continues.

We’ll detail the past four years. He stops and looks at me for a moment before he turns his gaze back to the floor. He puts his hands behind his back and starts pacing again. "Then, you’ll write a series of carefully crafted stories, slowly weaving in my side of the current crisis. And by the end, the world will see how I could never betray my country by attempting suicide… He almost spits out the word. And with any luck, the world will instead be on the edge of its seat, watching my wedding to my perfect bride and they’ll have forgotten that my brother even exists."

He finally stops walking and turns to me with a small smile. What do you think? Can you handle this?

I… I… My breath seems to be stuck in my throat. I force a smile, trying to slow down the racing of my heart—he can’t really be saying what I think he’s saying. Andrew—

"I know this is quite sudden, Victoria, but you’ve proved to me that you’re up to the challenge. That you’re the perfect person. That you’re trustworthy and intelligent and capable. You’re perfect."

My cheeks burn under the compliment. And I can’t help but grin, even if this is…sudden. I’m flattered, Andrew, really, but I think—

He nods, grinning. He runs another hand through his hair, making it look almost as wild as his eyes. "I’m sure my mother will want some say in this plan. She’s quite adept at things such as this, and now that Leopold has finally—perhaps permanently—attached himself to someone, it shouldn’t be quite so difficult. He nods to himself. Yes, this is the perfect plan, wouldn’t you agree?"

I press my lips together, trying to hide the strange combination of giddiness and surprise and terror—and I watch him as he starts to pace again.

I try to pull myself together, shaking my head a few times. Even if he is asking me to marry him, it’s out of the question. He’s so damned devoted to his country that I can’t imagine him ever being that devoted to me.

But he held me. Again. I asked him to hold me in my delirium, and he did. Maybe he can be devoted to a woman. But even if he can, we barely know each other. I’d at least like to get to know him—to know if there’s something more than attraction between us before I agree to marry the crown prince of Montovia. Before I agree to be the future queen.

Holy shit.

Andrew, why don’t you sit down? Slow down for a second.

He stops pacing and turns to stare at me for a moment. He pushes the chair next to my bed again before he drops back into it.

I let out a slow breath. What you’re offering is very…flattering. Really. But I think we need to slow down—

He shakes his head. "We can’t. What you said before—before the crash—was right. We need to be in front of the story. I should have been in front of it, but I had hoped it would go away. But as it stands now, this is the only way."

I reach out and take his hand in mine. I think—

They’re accusing me of attempting suicide with my airplane, Victoria. They’re saying I’m incapable of ruling Montovia. He blinks a few times, and I could swear he’s blinking back tears. So you understand why this is the only way.

I tilt my head, meeting his gaze. Andrew, once they find the plane—once they see the damage to the wing, everyone will understand why we crashed.

He shakes his head and frowns. No, you haven’t heard… He clears his throat and turns his gaze to our clasped hands. They extracted the airplane from the lake yesterday. There was no damage. There was no bird strike—there was no reason for the crash at all. He pauses for a long moment before lifting his eyes back to mine. I hope you know I would never…

I squeeze his hand. I know. Andrew… I let out another long breath. "I know that if you had wanted to do what they’re saying, the plane would have been in a million pieces. We would have been in a million pieces. And I’m perfectly willing to go out there

Reviews for Royal Mistake #2

[Deb Pden · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So we meet a few more characters and not much else changed from the first in the series..goo-goo eyes and a couple of kisses and now his father is involved in his plot to marry a noblewoman. The reporter is hired to cover this story but can only write what he or his father approves of...