Page 1 of The Wicked Prince

Chapter1

Every so often, there were days where the stars aligned and everything seemed to finally be going Prince John’s way. Enough that it made being kingworthit.

Fine. Prince Regent. Close enough.

Regardless, today was one of those historic days. The day Prince John had caught Astren’s most elusive, most wanted outlaw, Robin Hood.

Well… maybe notthatexact day, if Prince John was beingtechnical.Andif they were getting into those pesky details, Prince John wasn’t the one whophysicallyapprehended her. Robin Hood had been apprehended a few days ago by the Sheriff of Ferren Forest. Ithadbeen John’s plan… he just hadn’t had a hand in executing it.

What was the point in being Prince Regent if he had todothings instead of make someoneelsedo them?

Regardless, this was the day his outlaw was scheduled to arrive in Lathe. The day she would be brought before Prince John.

So that made today the important one. The one everyone would remember.

The second John had stepped out of his room that morning, he’d dismissed all the advisors and officials squabbling for his attention. Vultures. He’d taken an extra half hour to ensure everything was perfect. To make surehewas perfect. Of course they’d taken the opportunity to swarm him the second he had appeared even though there was no sense in even pretending to do any work that morning. He would be too distracted waiting for the arrival of his outlaw.

And her band of Merry Men, he supposed. The Sheriff had succeeded in catching all of them, thanks to John’s brilliant plan. It was so perfect a plan even an idiot couldn’t mess it up—proven by the fact that the Sheriff had caught her and hadn’t lost her in transit. Catching all of them at the same time had been the key. The many times one or two got away had always led to the rescue of the others. But this time there would be no escape or rescue. Her little band would be headed straight for the dungeons. Robin would be brought straight to him.

John sat on the king’s throne—it was his right as Prince Regent—and he waited. As the morning wore on, his patience didn’t falter. But he did drum his fingers on the arm of the chair, watching the way the gold rings caught the sunlight. Another hour passed. He should have brought something to occupy himself, but his usual hobby would have been too much hassle with all the rings on his fingers. His back started to hurt so he shifted, leaning back against the arm and swinging his legs over the other side in a display wholly inappropriate for royalty.

But who was going to stop him?

As long as Richard was gone, he was the highest authority in the kingdom. His brother was off in the desert fighting over who got more sand dunes behind their borders. No one in Astren held more power than John.

It was good to be king. Well, regent.

When a scrawny little page finally gave him word that the Sheriff and his prisoners had been spotted entering the city, John almost straightened back up into a proper position, but stopped himself. No. This would be better suited for his and Robin’s second meeting, and his victory.

The doors opened, and the sight had John grinning as brightly as he had the day he’d come up with his brilliant scheme.

The Sheriff—John couldn’t remember the man’s proper name, but he also didn’t care to. He wasn’t important enough for that. Regardless, the Sheriff was a weathered man at least two decades John’s senior whose incompetence was the only reason John knew who he was. But at least today his incompetence had proven no match for John’s brilliance. Or rather, the painstaking step-by-step instructions John had given him so that there was no room for the Sheriff to make a single decision on his own.

He was holding what looked like a leash made of chains connected to a set of manacles and shackles. Two of the Sheriff’s men hovered around the figure in chains, their hands on her arms, forcing her forward while the Sheriff pulled on the chain.

But the young woman would not move an inch without a fight.

The only reason she wasn’t being dragged on the ground was because of the guards half-carrying her. The chains rattled as she struggled, trying to kick and twist and break free in any way she could. Her head thrashed around, sending her dark blonde hair flying in a thousand different directions as she screamed—or tried to. The gag around her mouth muffled it, but considering how loud she was even then, John was grateful his ears were spared.

It was like they were transporting a wild animal.

John’s cheeks started to ache with how big his grin was.

The second her blue eyes landed on him, she redoubled her efforts. To no avail.

“Your Highness,” the Sheriff called out over Robin’s screaming. “We executed your brilliant plan perfectly. She was right where you said she would be, desperately trying to talk Lady Marian out of her wedding to Guy.”

Robin’s screaming grew even louder.

A lesser man might have felt guilty at missing the wedding of the man who was the only thing he had resembling a friend. But friend was a loose term. And John’s presence would only have raised suspicion and could have ruined his perfect plan.

Falling in love with Lady Marian and giving John the opening to plan the perfect trap was the only useful thing Guy had ever done in his life.

“Of course she was. Criminals like to think they’re so much cleverer than the rest of us.” John let his rings catch the sunlight for a moment before lowering his hand. “Well… until they’re caught.”

The guards threw Robin to her knees, and her screaming stopped. The Sheriff jerked on the chain, and Robin caught herself with her hands. She was a streak of grass and dirt wholly out of place amongst the glittering opulence of the throne room. Her head snapped up and never before had John seen crystal blue burn so brightly.

He gestured to her gag. “I know you spend your time running around a forest and following your impulses like an animal, but if we remove your gag will you prove capable of civilized conversation?”

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