Royally Screwed - Lynn Van Dorn Page 0,24

one of the guards said. Yuri thought the other had called him Charlie. “I need to get you away from this crowd. It’s not safe.”

“What about Lord Dickface?” Angelo growled.

“Not my problem,” Charlie said. “Jeremy’s dealing with him. Stay or go, I don’t care, but I’m getting the prince out of here.” He started to move, herding Yuri along while barely touching him and making a clear path between gawking students.

Angelo called out, “I’ll join you shortly,” and then he was gone, taking even his scent with him.

Charlie hustled Yuri through the college and then to his room. Yuri dug for his key, but it wasn’t necessary. The door opened, and behind it, stood a frowning Philippe.

“Thank you, Charles,” Philippe said. “You’re free to go and report in. I’ll take it from here.”

“Yes, sir,” the bodyguard said, then he slipped silently away.

“Come now, your highness. Get in here.” Philippe ushered him inside the room then closed the door behind them. “Sit, please. You look an utter mess,” he tutted. “You’re far overdue for a haircut and those shoes of yours are a disgrace. I think I’ll have to insist that you live out of College while pursuing your post-graduate degree. That way I can keep an eye on you.” He turned away then handed Yuri a steaming mug. “Here. I made you cocoa.”

And to his utter embarrassment and shame, Yuri took one sip, tasted his childhood, and started to sob. He would be twenty-three in a month but he felt two decades younger.

10

Angelo Is Called on the Carpet

Pictures of Angelo roughing up Lord Dickface and then kissing Yuri had indeed found their way into several tabloids. Angelo expected an angry call from his parents, but there had been nothing but stiff silence from them. When Angelo dared to broach the subject, they had said it could wait until both boys could travel to Mirea for, as his mother put it, a chat.

That did not bode well. Neither did Yuri’s radio silence. Still, feeling very much alone for the first time in his life, Angelo dutifully texted Yuri about the upcoming royal parental “chat.”

Yuri: yeah, I heard

Angelo: your father is sending a plane for us

Yuri: I heard that, too

Angelo: so we’ll travel back together

Yuri: obviously

Angelo: Yuri, how are you? Really?

There was a long pause.

Yuri: not good. Not good at all. It’s all over the papers, Angelo. People are talking about me. About us. If things don’t work out between us, how the hell are we supposed to go on with our lives?

Angelo: I couldn’t let him hurt you

Yuri: he wasn’t going to hurt me! It was a public space!

Angelo: Violence isn’t the only way to hurt someone, princess

Yuri: Yes. I’m well aware

To that, Angelo had no reply.

Three weeks and one very silent airplane ride later, Yuri and Angelo, with Philippe in tow, arrived at the Mirean palace. They were ushered to their private rooms and Angelo was told to clean up then present himself at King Claudius’s study at six sharp.

Angelo quickly took a shower and changed into more formal attire. “Getting your arse chewed out by two separate royal families” attire. Not wanting to sit and crease his trousers, Angelo paced his room restlessly. He was brought up short by a knock on his door.

When he opened the door, it was Yuri on the other side, scowling. “I’m only here because Philippe thinks we should present a united front to our parents.”

“I see,” Angelo said, although he didn’t. “Do you want to come in?”

Yuri ventured inside. “We only have a few minutes before we have to go down and face the music. Do you have any idea at all what you’re going to say to our parents?”

Angelo opened his mouth then closed it. “Are you going to tell them about Lord Dickface?”

“Francis,” Yuri snapped, “or Blackheath. And you haven’t left me much choice, have you? Events are bad enough with context. Without it, your behavior is irrational at best and downright deranged at worst.”

“Let me hang, then,” Angelo said, pushing away from the wall he leaned upon. “I’ll take the blame. You won’t have to tell your parents anything.”

Yuri closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose that he let out of his mouth. Then he opened his eyes and pierced Angelo with a scornful stare. “You have all the diplomatic acumen of an enraged rhinoceros. I despair of you sometimes. Especially when…” Yuri frowned and turned away.

Angelo went up to him and put a hand on