Skull's Royal Secret

Prologue

SCOTLAND

Seventeen Years Ago

Ipace my childhood bedroom in the north tower of Blair Castle and cringe at the bagpipes playing in the courtyard, announcing my arrival at my twenty-first birthday party.

Except I’m not there because I’m bloody hiding.

“Open up. I know ya in there.” I stop and glare at the closed door.

“You can’t stay in there. Na’s waiting in the garden, and she inna getting any younger.” Feckin hell.

I swing the door open to sneer at my younger brother Hamish.

“That was a foul thing to say.” I cross my arms over my argyle vest and jacket.

“It’s the truth, and she’s out there telling them all that she’d like to meet her great grandas before she goes. No pressure, though.” He slaps my shoulder with a wide grin.

If he only knew what I heard last night, that would have me so on edge and ready to run at a moment’s notice.

“Hamish, I can’t do this. They expect too much of me.” I shake my head, feeling the rush of panic that I thought would kill me last night return.

“Easy, what’s wrong?” He looks behind his shoulder and pushes me inside to avoid anyone who may be looking for me.

The door closes, and my breathing evens out some.

“I heard Da outside his study last night. He’s going to accept a marriage proposal.” My brother’s brows scrunch together, and then he starts laughing.

“Well, the old bloke has been alone long enough. Good for him,” He trails off when he notices my face, which I’m sure is turning green.

“Not for himself?” I shake my head and swallow hard.

“Oh,” that one simple word makes me want to throttle him.

“OH?” I groan and start pacing again.

“Well, it kinna be that bad. You would want to marry eventually, right?” I stop in my tracks and slowly turn to stare at him as if he’s lost the mind I am now convinced he was never born with.

“I want to be a surgeon. Marriage was nowhere near my radar! And to be forced into it?” I shake my head and go to the window to look out over the people gathered to celebrate my birthday.

“The weight of this is too much for one man to bear.” Hamish comes over to look with me with a sigh.

“Da’s managed,” I instantly feel like an arsehole.

“I’m not Da. I never will be. You’re his legacy. I was just born first.” I turn to him and look into his eyes.

“We can not change it. But maybe we can delay it?” I see a speck of hope in his eyes and grasp onto it with both hands.

“What are you thinking?” I grab his hands for support.

“I help you run, but when the time comes, you’ll need to return. Even I kinna change the line of succession. Agreed?” I nod like a lunatic.

“When?” I ask, looking out the window again.

“NOW.”