Royally Claimed

Allison West

Description

She’ll have to learn to submit to him…her life depends on it.

“How will I lie beside him at night and act like I’m falling in love with him? Last night it came easy, but now that I know what he’s capable of, I fear for my life.”

Marrying the handsome prince seemed a grand idea, until she caught sight of him murdering his father. She wanted to be queen, but at what cost?

This collection of three steamy romances include: Palace Secrets, Maiden Claimed, and Grave Misfortune.

Palace Secrets

At twenty-three, Princess Isabella must settle down for the sake of her kingdom. Caught up in a secret affair with her lady-in-waiting, Hannah, the princess knows it can only last for so long.

When Prince Alexander arrives to court her, he confides that his father is on his death bed, and he will be crowned king soon. Isabella hastily agrees to the proposal, desiring to be queen, knowing little about her soon-to-be husband.

Maiden Claimed

It was supposed to be a simple trip to the market in Paris.

Nothing for Lady Hannah is ever simple.

One secret after another.

The lies are mounting up.

Lady Hannah has made a deal with the devil. Worse, she’s falling in love with him. There’s no turning back.

Grave Misfortune

Married to a gambler and drunk, Helene is the madame for a brothel. When Vincent, a royal guard from the palace, arrives at her doorstep and tries to defend her honor, little does he know she's both married to the man and a madame for the establishment.

Publishers Note: Murder, secrets, and lies combine with ménage and power exchange in this title previously released as Her Ruined Reputation by Bridget Banks.

Sujets

• Betrayal
• Dom
• Alpha (ethology)
• Royalty
• Court (royal)
• Power exchange
• Brothel
• Mystery
• Soumission (film)
• Madame
• International
• Paris
• Romance
• Danger
• France
• Europe

Informations

• Publié par: Blushing Books Publications
• Date de parution: 12 août 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 4
• EAN13: 9781645634249
• Langue: English

Extrait

Royally Claimed Collection


Allison West
Published by Blushing Books
An Imprint of
ABCD Graphics and Design, Inc.
A Virginia Corporation
977 Seminole Trail #233
Charlottesville, VA 22901

©2020
All rights reserved.

No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The trademark Blushing Books is pending in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Allison West
Royally Claimed Collection

EBook ISBN: 978-1-64563-424-9
v1

Cover Art by ABCD Graphics & Design
This book contains fantasy themes appropriate for mature readers only. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual sexual activity.
Contents



Palace Secrets

Maiden Claimed

Grave Misfourtune


Allison West

Blushing Books

Blushing Books Newsletter
Palace Secrets
Royally Claimed, Book One
Chapter 1

T eardrops fall from the sky as I sit in my room with the window open, watching the dirt road into the castle. Prince Alexander, from a neighboring kingdom, is scheduled to arrive at court today. It's no secret I made things difficult for the last prince who courted me. I can't remember his name, only his beady eyes and putrid breath. I have no desire to tie my heart down. The thought terrifies me to no end.
There's a knock at my door and I shut my window, keeping the mood from seeping inside. Silly superstitions.
"Princess Isabella," Hannah says, greeting me with a curtsey. Her blonde hair is braided intricately across the top of her head and down her back. I wonder who did her the honor. She's wearing my favorite color on her too, a deep rich blue that accentuates and compliments her pale blue eyes.
I pull her into my room, slamming the door shut behind her. Hopefully no one saw her entrance. If they did, we can surely think up an excuse for her presence in my room. Unlike a boy, there are no rules being broken having Hannah alone in my chambers. Lucky me.
Without thought, my lips descend onto hers, shoving her forcefully against the door. Hannah is not shy, though she pretends to be, around my parents. I don't blame her; they are intimidating and also the king and queen of our land.
"You have to tell your father, King William," Hannah whispers between kisses. Her fingers slip against the back of my neck, moving my dark locks to one side. Hannah's rosy lips fall against my bare skin, kissing a path up to my ear. "It's the only way we can be together."
"He'll never allow it," I say and sigh, letting my eyes shut. I worry that confessing my feelings for her might result in her banishment from our kingdom. It's not only the fact Hannah is a woman and our relationship is forbidden, there's also the issue that she's a lady-in-waiting. She's not of royal blood and I'm to marry a prince and strengthen our alliance. Nothing can ever develop between us more than lust and romance.
"Princess Isabella," my maid Anne says, knocking on the door. "The carriage is on its way. Are you ready?"
Hannah moves from the door and rushes to the window, trying to appear as innocent as possible. She sits on the cushioned ledge, smoothing her dress. I'm almost certain my maid Anne knows of our tryst, but she's discreet and I appreciate her more for it.
"Come in," I say, and she opens the door, glancing from Hannah to me. "Your parents are waiting for you to join them."
Of course, they're waiting for me. It's not as though I'm anxious for this day to come. I turn and glance back at Hannah. There are so many words I want to say, terms of endearment and exchanges of emotion, but that's not what comes out. "How do I look?" I ask. I must accept my fate with poise.
"Beautiful as always, Princess Isabella."
I offer her a smile, the only thing I can give her.
Stepping out from my bedroom, my heels clink on the marble floor until I reach the carpeting twenty paces down the hall. I swear my parents had a hand in designing the layout of the corridor just outside my room, making it difficult to sneak out of my bedroom at night or for someone to sneak in. I suppose I'm lucky that Hannah is my lady-in-waiting and no one suspects what we're up to.
Dressed in a chocolate brown gown, my dark hair is wavy and extends halfway down my back. My outfit leaves my shoulders exposed, accentuating my bust and my perfectly pale complexion. While Hannah is petite in size, I've got a slightly curvier figure accenting all my features. The dress was made exclusively for today. The castle maids had three weeks to design and sew a gown for my introduction to Prince Alexander. My mother insisted I look the part of queen, for one day I would be sitting upon the throne.
"Smile, darling," my mother, Queen Grace, says as I enter the throne room. She wears the crown well; it's like she was born to be a queen. "You want our guests to feel welcome in our home."
Actually, I don't, but I hold my tongue. It's best not to cause a scene. Two guards open the double doors and the three gentlemen walk into the room to greet me. I'm not certain what I expected but this wasn't it.
The young man in the center looks to be about my age. He is gorgeous, with a well-built physique and alluring sapphire eyes. I want to run my fingers through his rich dark hair. My father walks over to the men, shaking their hands politely. "Thank you for joining us. It is an honor to have you at court. Please make yourselves at home."
I step closer, curious to meet Prince Alexander. I gather that the two standing on opposite sides of him are his palace guards, both by their attire, age and stature. I'm sure my family would have done the same if I had traveled to another country.
Slowly, I approach the prince and reach for his hand to shake it. "It's nice to meet you, Prince Alexander."
Instead, he brings my hand to his lips, placing a kiss over my soft skin. I shift anxiously on my feet, drawing my hand back to my side. I've never courted a young man before, except for the one prince, and I don't think he counts. Is this what it's supposed to be like? Warm and strange tingles stir in my stomach. I'm twenty-three, well beyond the age of marrying. My parents waited until they felt I would be ready to take this courting business seriously. Or maybe they'd given up after repeated efforts that had failed. I'm lost in his eyes and his long, thick eyelashes make me jealous.
"The pleasure is mine," he says and bows before me.
It feels weird to watch a prince bow before a princess. We're equals in many ways and yet he's here, trying to vie for my affection. I'm not sure whether I love it or hate it.
"Would you mind touring me around the palace?" Alexander asks.
"Sure." I smile, gesturing for the door that he just came in through.
Alexander links his hand through my arm as we head into the hallway. I don't have to turn around to know his guards, along with mine, are following. Until I'm married, there's no chance of us being alone together at court.
"Tell me about your kingdom," I say, leading him through the long corridor and showing him the inside of the palace, excluding the bedrooms.
"My father, King Charles, has taken ill and we believe he's on his death bed. As you may know, I'm in need of a queen by my side when I assume the throne."
I don't dare ask how long his father has left or if the rumors are true that the Plague swept through their village months ago. That would be rude. The prospect of becoming a queen so young has me intrigued. "How soon do you propose this marriage will occur?"
Alexander stops walking and his gaze latches onto mine. "Tonight."
That is far sooner than I would like, but if he's under pressure to marry and I turn him down, I may not be given another chance. I'm silent for a moment, considering all my options. "I will marry you on a few conditions," I say, needing to stand my ground.
"I'm listening." Alexander's face shows no hint of emotion and I'm certain I won't get a final say anyhow. King William, my father, will decide if I shall marry Alexander. I make my demands heard, at the very least, as a shot in the dark. What's the worst that will happen?
"My maids and lady-in-waiting will accompany me to your court. I will feel most comfortable with the ladies I've grown up with."
"Is that all?" Alexander asks. I'm not sure if I could allow more or he's fed up with my demands already.
"Yes," I say. It is absolutely what I require, Hannah to accompany me to a new court.
"You shall have your maids and lady-in-waiting if they wish to join you. Tell them at once to pack your bags. We will leave before sundown."



"Are you really going to marry Prince Alexander?" Hannah asks for the umpteenth time. "You've known him for ten minutes."
My maids are packing my dresses into a wooden trunk. I don't know when I'll be back to visit. Anne is carefully folding each exq