Royally Screwed - Lynn Van Dorn Page 0,92

and not female, didn’t make nearly as much as a difference as one would’ve thought. Angelo would’ve still wanted Yuri had he been missing a limb or was disfigured in an accident. That he had a penis was hardly an obstacle at all, when you got down to it.

Angelo didn’t care what obstacles were put in his path now. Yuri was his. He was Yuri’s. Nothing at all was going to change that. Not his injured body, his sapped strength, or the machinations of his father.

Now all he needed was for his body to cooperate. He was getting stronger every day, but he felt that if he was confined and separated from Yuri much longer, he would go completely mad.

Shortly after one of the king’s daily visits with the palace doctor, Angelo’s mother came to see him. He lay in his uncomfortable hospital bed and stared out the one window the room had to offer.

“How are you doing?” she asked, sitting on a chair beside his bed.

“I’m only being held against my will by my father until I’m well enough that I can do his bidding, thereby making three people miserable.”

Gabriella put a hand to Angelo’s forehead. “I mean physically, dear. I know how you feel otherwise. You seem less feverish today.”

“Yeah. Dr. Mallick says I should be able to be up and about in a few days, so I guess my play-acting has been working.”

His mother smiled. “That, and I’ve had a word with Dr. Mallick. He’s agreed to play up your illness for as long as necessary.”

“And how long is that, Mama? How much longer do I have to wait? I feel strong enough to go now, but you and Nadia and Philippe keep telling me it’s not time yet. When will it be time?”

The queen kissed her son on his no-longer feverish forehead. “Soon. Very soon. In fact, I came here this morning to ask if you’re quite sure being with Prince Yuri is what you desire in life. I don’t want you running to something when what you’re really doing is running from something else.”

“What?” Angelo had no idea what she was getting at.

Gabriella laughed softly. “Which is more important to you: making sure your sister is the heir and you are not, or being with Prince Yuri?”

Angelo thought about it. “If Father insisted I be king instead of Nadia being queen, but I was allowed to have Yuri as my prince consort, I’d do it. It would piss Nadia off, and I’d do as much as I could to co-rule with her, but if the price of being with Yuri was also being heir, I’d do it. I’d rather have Yuri without the throne, however. Nadia won’t be pissed off at me forever and we can just live our lives. Well, within reason. As much as any married royal couple can, I suppose. It’s my best-case scenario.”

“That’s good to hear. While I of course want what’s best for the kingdom, I’ll always want what’s best for my children first.” The queen leaned down to kiss Angelo’s cheek. “Be happy with your prince, darling. You have my blessing. Not that the lack of such would’ve stopped you, I think.”

Angelo caught hold of his mother’s hand and squeezed it. “Your blessing is everything, Mama. Will you come to visit me, later, if Father doesn’t let me back into the country?”

Gabriella looked troubled. “I’ll see what can be done about bringing your father around, but I can’t promise anything. Know that I will certainly come visit you until you can come back to see me.” She stood. “I love you, Angel.”

“Love you, too, Mama.”

After his mother left, Angelo was left alone for a very long time. He tried, on and off, to read, but all he could think about was Yuri. Eventually, around twilight, he fell into a fitful sleep.

Angelo dreamed of Yuri.

He chased him through castles and Oxford and across countries. Sometimes he would get close enough to almost touch his shoulder, but with twinkling eyes and a laughing mouth, Yuri would pull away and run faster.

He woke with a start when Roger shook his shoulder. “What?”

“Sir,” he whispered. “There's someone here to see you.”

Angelo yawned. “What time is it? And I'm not really presentable. I could take a quick shower.”

He heard a voice say, “It would take a lot more than a shower to make you presentable.”

“Yuri?” Angelo's eyes searched the shadowed room. Maybe he'd just imagined Yuri saying that to him.

“In the flesh,” Yuri said,