Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7) (13 page)

“She doesn’t love
Cherub more. He’s like our child, she says.”

“Uh-huh. Keep telling
yourself that, big guy.”

“I didn’t come over
here to talk about horses.”

“If you came to talk
about Brayden, you might as well keep your mouth closed.”

“Even if I want to
tell you how good it is to see you happy?”

“Really?”

“I wanted to hate
him, but the way he looks at you is how I think I look at Jade.”

“It is.”

“What’s going to
happen when he becomes king? You going to leave us to become queen?”

“That’s not
possible. The Parliament here would never allow him to marry a
commoner.”

“Fuck, Darce. Are you
going to be okay?”

“No. I’m going to
need lots of Ben & Jerry’s, and non-stop RPG time. It won’t
be enough, but I might be able to at least function.”

“I’ll be there. We
all will.”

“I know.”

I hug him tight,
thankful that for once, I have people I can depend on. I realize I
would do anything to keep my friends, and that maybe my secrets will
cause me to lose them. It’s only a matter of time before the
mentors confront me. I’m surprised they haven’t yet. Reina
would’ve told them, wouldn’t she?

Brayden

I’m barely in the
locker room door before Noah is on me. “I thought you were done
with Darcy.”

“I can’t imagine
ever being done with her.”

“So you’re giving
up the kingdom?”

“No.”

“Then what the fuck
are you doing with her?”

“I don’t know,” I
say quietly.

“She doesn’t
deserve to be your piece on the side.”

I slam him into the
nearest locker. “Don’t ever talk about her like that. She would
never
be that to me.”

“They’re going to
force you to marry. You know that.”

“I’ll hold them off
as long as I can,” I tell him, running my hands through my hair.

“Why not cut her
loose now, and save you both from heartache.”

“It’s too late to
save us from heartache, and as selfish as it is, I’m going to take
all of the time I can get with her.”

“This is going to end
so badly. I’ll be here for you, though, because I believe you
really do love her, and it’s going to destroy you when she’s
gone.”

“I’m pretty sure
you’re right.”

We don’t say anything
else as we change into our uniforms. I actually have a decent chance
of winning this game. Not by cheating, though. I’d never cheat at
polo. If I can win, I think I’ll get my man card back, or at least
have borrowing privileges for it.

When we walk outside,
the first thing I see is Darcy in the middle of a hug with Nate
Anderson. She said he’s her best friend, and I know he’s got his
own girlfriend, but I can’t stop the jealousy that overtakes me. I
hate seeing her with any other man.

“Simmer down, Bray.
They’re just friends.”

“I know.”

“Yet you still look
like you want to commit murder, and while I consider myself a good
fighter, I don’t think I could win against him. I’ll still go for
it if you want me to, but be prepared to visit me in the hospital.”

I smile at my best
friend. “I’m good. You don’t have to fight for me.”

“Thank God.”

We walk over to them,
and Darcy’s smile grows wide as she sees me. “I like this uniform
thing.”

“More than my
basketball shorts and t-shirts?”

“Yeah, no. But it’s
better than your stuffy suits.”

“I thought you liked
me in a suit,” I tell her, acting hurt.

“I like you in
everything, but casual Brayden is my favorite.”

“I know. I’m just
messing with you. You’ll have to suffer through me in my tux
tonight, but after, I’ll go casual just for you.”

She leans up to whisper
in my ear. “You’ll be going naked for me after the ball, but they
don’t need to hear that.”

I laugh before kissing
her hard. “Deal.”

“Enough of that. We
have a match to win.”

“Good luck, Noah.”

“Thanks, Darcy.”

The match is hard
fought. The other team isn’t giving us an inch, and in fact, I’m
almost knocked off Striker more than once. We end the match with a
win, but I’m covered in mud and more than a little bruised. I climb
from my saddle, wincing a little, only to be surrounded by players
and Parliament congratulating me on the win. I grin through the pain,
like the royal I am, but it’s not easy. I actually think I may have
broken a rib or two.

Striker’s reins are
taken out of my hand, and I don’t realize at first that it’s
Darcy who’s caring for my pony. She stroking his mane, and feeding
him some sugar cubes while I deal with my duties. She stays there in
the background until I’m finally able to turn to her. Then she
steps into my arms, holding me close, but not too tight.

“Did you like the
match, Cat?”

“It was crazy, and
you scared the hell out of me when you almost fell off of Striker.”

“I’ll take that as
a yes, then.”

“How badly are you
hurt?”

“I think I may have
broken a rib. Or two.”

“Damn it. It’s just
a game, Bray.”

“I won, though. No
cheating.”

“Yes, you did. But
you could’ve been smarter about it.”

“If I’d have played
it safe, we wouldn’t have won. And I wouldn’t expect you to be
the one telling me I should be careful.”

“It’s this love
thing. Somehow my adventurous side gets suppressed when I think about
you being hurt.”

“I’ll be fine. I
just need to wrap my ribs, and take some pain meds.”

“I’ll get Audrey.
She’ll have something better than prescription meds for you to
take.”

“It’s so weird to
think of her as a chemist when she looks the way she does, and can
work the press like a pro.”

“She is pretty
awesome. Now, let’s get you inside.”

I keep my arm around
her, and let her take some of my weight. I’m hoping it just looks
like I want to hold her close, and I think we’ve succeeded. Until
the head of Parliament, Derrick, intercepts us right before we get to
the door. Darcy immediately tenses, and I inwardly cringe. He’s not
a fan of mine, and the feeling’s mutual. Unfortunately he was
elected right after my father died—in fact, I’d bet money on the
fact that he was
only
elected because my father died and I wasn’t ready to rule yet—and
I’ve always felt like he’d kill me if he could. He’d have to
kill my Uncle Steven, too, in order to claim the throne, but I could
see that happening, too.

“Brayden, are you
okay? You seem to be leaning on your lovely fiancé.”

“He’s fine,”
Darcy answers for me, practically snarling at him.

“I was speaking to
the prince. Mind your place, young lady.”

Oh hell no. “Her
place is next to me. You need to remember that she’s my fiancé,
and grant her the respect she deserves.”

“
You
need to remember that we will never grant you permission to marry
her.”

“Goodbye, Derrick,”
I tell him, not wanting to continue that conversation with him, or
anyone else.

“I’m sorry, Bray. I
shouldn’t have spoken up like that. I know better,” Darcy tells
me once we’re inside.

“Never apologize for
being yourself, or speaking up.”

I’m purposely not
bringing up what else he said. We both already knew it was true, and
we’ve also agreed to not dwell on it. So, I won’t give voice to
it, even if it’s that proverbial elephant in the room.

“Let me help you get
your shirt off before Aud gets here,” she says, also choosing to
ignore it. Ignorance is bliss, right?

* * *

Darcy

Audrey took care of
Brayden, while scolding him about getting hurt before the ball. He
reminded her that the polo match was her idea, but she said she
didn’t think it was going to be so bloody. Honestly, I didn’t
either, and it’s making me a little suspicious. Especially after
Derrick intercepted us on the way to the locker room. I’d wager
that he had something to do with how rough the other team was being
with Brayden and his guys.

I’m waiting in my
room for Stella and Jenysis to arrive. It was Jen’s idea for Stella
to help me, thinking I wouldn’t be capable of putting myself
together on my own. I didn’t argue, because no one can make me look
better than Stell, so why fight it?

“We’re here,”
Stella says opening the door.

“Thank you for the
help,” I tell her, making myself be formal when Stella and I are
both anything but.

“Of course. Now,
let’s see your dress and get started,” she tells me with a wink.

My dress is amazing,
which is no surprise since she picked it. The bottom layer is a nude
colored mini dress. Over it is cheer chiffon and organza with shiny
horizontal brown and cream stripes covering most of it except for the
very top. There are pockets, which I love, and it’s as funky as
it’s formal. Stella had special heeled sandals made for me in the
same brown as the stripes. They’re sparkly, but don’t try and
compete with the dress, because they can’t.

“Wow. That dress is
brilliant. I’m impressed.”

Stella keeps quiet, and
lets me take the credit. “It
is
pretty great.”

Once I’m dressed, she
places a salon drape over me, and starts on my hair and make-up. She
also uses the time to grill Jen. “So what’s going on between you
and Wayne?”

“Nothing. Did he say
something was? Because if he did, it’s rubbish.”

“You’re protesting
a little too hard.”

“He’s a cocky
bastard.”

“That’s just his
hard outer shell. Inside, he’s a totally sweet guy with a big
heart.”

“Bollocks.”

“Truth.”

“He’s not my type.
I mean, have you seen him with that big hair and perfectly trimmed
scruff? He probably takes longer than me to get ready.”

“No doubt, but
there’s nothing wrong with looking good.”

“There is when you
know it. And flaunt it. That swagger—ugh.”

“Again with the
protests. You should give him a chance.”

“No thanks.”

“Your loss,” Stella
says with a shrug. “I think we’re done, Darcy.”

She turns me around,
and I look in the mirror. My shoulder length hair is pulled back into
a twist, with my bangs swept to one side, while my make-up is subtle
and flawless. I had no doubts that I’d look good, but I didn’t
expect to look so regal. I could almost pass for a princess. Almost.

“Thanks, Stella. I
can’t believe I look this good.”

“My cousin might
faint when he sees you.”

“I doubt that, Jen.
He’s dated supermodels for years.”

“He didn’t date
them. He shagged them. You’re the only one he’s ‘dated’ in
years. And trust me, seeing you like this is going to fell him.”

“We’ll see.”

Walking down a hallway
next to Stella and Jenysis is not for the weak. I may look great, but
I’m no bombshell or regal beauty. Brayden’s face when he sees me
is enough to banish those thoughts of insecurity from my mind for the
rest of my life. His jaw literally drops as he looks me over from
head to toe.

“You look…I
mean…Darcy…wow.”

“That tux is working
for you, too.” It really is. He looks like the future king.

“Are you ready,
Brayden?” his mother asks, giving me a look of approval as she
comes into view.

“Yes, mother. I’ll
see you inside, Cat.”

I nod, and watch as
they walk to the doors where they’ll be announced and walk in.
Steven, Jen, and I will walk in a minute later. Protocol is
everything tonight. I know that, and I’ll be doing my best to
adhere to everything I’ve been taught. The afternoon was for fun,
but the night is for show.

The three of us enter
and join Brayden and his mother in the receiving line. Although I’m
Brayden’s fiancé, I’m also lowest on the proverbial totem pole,
so I’m at the end of the line. I don’t expect anyone to care
about me, but I’m happily surprised by all of the people who offer
their congratulations and wish me well.

The mentors and their
families come through separately, because although it seems like
everyone knows about the Society, in reality it’s only a very small
percentage of the world’s population. It’s known that they’re
friends, but not many people know just how deep that friendship runs.
Or how powerful they are. I’m always glad to have them on my side,
but I’m feeling even more grateful to have them in this room with
me now, watching out for me when I need them most.

Once everyone has had
their moment with the royal family, we take our seats for dinner. At
least, for this, I’m allowed to sit next to Brayden. “How are you
holding up?” he asks me.

“That wasn’t so
bad,” I tell him a little relieved.

“Good. I’ll be with
you for most of the rest of the night.”

“Most?”

“I have to dance with
my mother, Jen, and at least a few of the guests.”

“Oh. I must’ve
missed that.”

“You know you don’t
have to worry, right? I mean none of them could beat me at Call of
Duty.”

“Are you kidding? All
of them could probably beat you.”

“Ouch.”

“I’ll kiss your
bruised ego better later.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

I get to have the first
dance with Brayden, but then he really is pulled away to dance with
pretty much every other woman in attendance. I dance with quite a few
of the men, and do a pretty good job, even though ballroom dancing
wasn’t my best subject during Foundation training. I’m taking a
break and heading for the bathroom when I hear raised angry voices. I
recognize Jen’s right away, which makes me life my skirt and hurry
down the hall.

“I don’t want to
dance with you,” she says as I enter the small sitting room. I
recognize the man with her, and my blood boils.