“I fucking love you, Mrs Royce. Always mine.”
“Only yours.” My silky voice was low.
“Promise me?” He winked.
“I promise you, always.” I smiled before pushing my lips onto his again.
I would never tire of him.
He was my forever.
My king.
CONOR
Seven Months Later
I sat and watched Darcey with Arabella, sitting in the gardens of our new house in Surrey. We still had our house in Cornwall, but once we were married, we wanted to move a little further out, back into the country and I still needed to be near work. Plus, my new neighbour got me a good deal, he wasn’t a bad boss.
He was right, about children just fitting in. She was a little sleep thief, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was head over heels in love with both the women in my life.
Darcey took to motherhood like a duck to water. Shortly after the wedding, she received a call from the Royal Ballet School of London offering her a part-time job as a ballet teacher. Honestly, if I could have taken a picture of that look on her face when they called her, I would frame it everywhere. She was so adamant she wouldn’t get it, but she did.
And I was so fucking proud of her.
She explained that she had just had a baby and they were happy for her to start in a year’s time. She was honest about her injury and that some days were better than others, but they agreed to let her change up her schedule if needed. She was hesitant, but she was supportive with me, and I had to be supportive with her.
Carter offered Julia, his house keeper, to look after Arabella if needed, but Zara was looking to move down to be near her daughter.
I was hoping Chase and Robyn were going to follow down, he was doing so well, but recently spiralled into a dark hole. The nightmares came back with a vengeance after the wedding. I don’t know if it was the thought that we were leaving him as such, even though nothing was changing. I don’t know if he felt he lost a bit of himself when me and Darcey got married.
It broke my heart, but I knew he could do this. He was a warrior, and he was going to push through this dark spell and shine on the other side. Because he was a soldier, he was a fucking fighter.
Darcey walked over to me with our little bundle, sitting on my lap. I took her out of Darcey’s arms, cradling her in mine, my other arm snaking round my beautiful wife and kissing her.
“Thank you,” I muttered to her.
“For what?” Her stunning smile spread across her face.
“For not giving up on me, for staying by my side, for waiting for me. You made a promise when I was away from you, you promised you would marry me. And you did. You asked me to promise you one thing, do you remember?”
She nodded.
“What was it?” I asked cockily, tilting my head to the side, pushing my tongue into my cheek.
“I asked you to promise me that you would come home.” Her voice was hushed, and I pressed my forehead against hers.
“Baby girl, I was always coming home. You are my everything. Now, forever and always.” My lips brushed over hers softly before she pulled away.
“I love you.” She sighed happily.
“I love you too, my queen.”
I was Conor king Royce, and this king needed his queen.
And I finally had her, my Darcey Royce.
CHASE
The fake smile I plaster across my face was getting tiring, the pretending that I was okay was too much.
Why me?
Why was I kept behind and tortured day in and day out?
What the fuck did I do wrong?
If anything, it should have been Conor that was tortured. He was always so cocky, a right jack-the-lad. Always pushing the boundaries and going that one step too far.
He was my best friend. Yes, I fucking loved him like a brother. But he left me when I needed him most, fucking scurrying away to return home to my family.
They were mine.
It was bad enough that he was married to my little sister, worming his way back into my family again.
I wanted him to leave me alone, but at the same time, I didn’t. I needed him. I needed him to get me through this. But I didn’t want him with her, no. I wanted him to be my friend and only mine.
I was tortured with these thoughts, day in, day out.
This is what my head is like constantly, doubting, hating, but I can’t stop it. I love my family and my friend, but at the same time, I loathed them.
I scream, lashing out and throwing my room about. But it doesn’t help.
But Robyn, my ray of light in my stormy days, she does help.
But I am haunted.
I need her to help me, I need the help from them all. I was beaten, stabbed, burned, and treated like a human punching bag. I thought I was going to die, I was left to die by my country and by my best friend.
I screamed for him to help me, every fucking day. I screamed so loud until my throat burned, no voice left, and my tears were dry.
But no one cared.
No one came.
I needed saving but no one wanted to come to my aid. No, they left me to rot in the dark, damp cell to be tortured by monsters.
I was here to tell my story, to tell you what really happened when I was left behind.
I am scarred, I am broken, I am bruised.
But I won’t give up. No. I am a warrior, and I am going to push through this dark spell and shine on the other side.
I am a soldier, I am a mother fucking fighter, and now it’s my time to be heard.
I am coming for you, I am coming to torture you like you tortured me. And I will not go down without a fight, because I am better than that, I deserve more than that. I deserve my happily ever after, and I am going to fight to my last dying breath to get it with the woman I love.
A small smirk spreads across my face as I watch Robyn walk towards me, her beautiful fucking smile gracing her pretty face. She sits on my lap, handing me a blue water bottle.
“Have a drink, you’ve not drunk all day,” she mutters before kissing me.
This girl, right here, is going to be my saviour.
She is going to save me.
She is going to be the one to rescue me.
THE END
Chase, Robyn, Conor and Darcey will return in a complete standalone for Chase’s story – Spring 2021.
Curious about Carter and Freya?
Keep reading for a snippet from the beginning of their whirlwind romance, or buy it here : mybook.to/SomethingNew
Something New Excerpt
Chapter One
I was laying on the sofa slobbing with the cat.
I don’t really like cats.
I’m more of a dog person. Tilly turned up four months ago when I moved into my flat and has never left. I sighed as I looked at her, padding her paws on my belly and purring. She wasn’t that bad I suppose. My phone beeped, it was such an effort to move. I rolled my eyes, “Ugh, Tilly, move, I’ve got to get ready before bridezilla whoops my arse.”
My best friend of thirteen years is getting married in six weeks, 18th August to be exact. Laura had text me reminding me to be ready at eight p.m. sharp and not to be late. I am always late.
I slowly dragged myself away from the sofa, turned Friends off and made my way to the shower. I stepped out into the steamy box bathroom and wiped the mist away from the mirror. God, I looked awful, deep set bags lined my eyes and my dull hair laughed back at me. I am lucky I’m olive skinned, but lately I just feel pale. I hadn’t been sleeping very well since I found my asshole ex, Jake, cheating.