Page 1 of Royally Scr*wed

CHAPTER 1

JUDE

“Your Royal Highness.” Nigel, a member of the royal guard who is currently sitting in the passenger seat of our getaway vehicle turns so that he can better see the two of us huddled together in the back seat.

“Nigel. What happen backed there? Are there any casualties?”

“No word on casualties. The team is working on it, I assure you. Right now there is a more pressing issue,” he tells me with a somber look on his face.

“Go on. Out with it,” I demand, wondering what the hell could be more pressing than someone starting a shoot-out in the middle of my wedding.

“I’m afraid it’s the king, Sir. We’ve been ordered to get you to the hospital immediately.”

Charlie gasps and squeezes me tighter as an ominous feeling rises in my gut. Being called to the hospital isnevera good sign.

Theo, our driver, takes a sharp turn and changes our destination.

“Where is the queen?” I ask.

“She’s with her personal detail en route to the royal hospital.”

“And Willow?” Christ Almighty, where is my sister? She wasn’t far behind us in the processional.

My head spins in a wave of worry and unrest.

“Willow has been accounted for. I’ve been assured that she is with Her Majesty as well.”

I breathe a tiny sigh of relief and continue to take a mental stock of the most important attendees. “Have the castle walls fallen down?” I mutter out loud.

“The castle walls are still standing,” Nigel replies, understanding exactly what I’m asking.

“Ottiline and Kathie?” I ask at the same time that Charlie practically screams, “Oh my God, my parents!”

“All four are said to be unharmed. Oscar ordered that they be taken to a safe house until we’ve pieced everything together. Medical support for Miss Ottline is being coordinated as we speak.”

“Thank God!” Charlie hiccups.

“What about Oscar? He was hit.”

“Loaded into an ambulance while barking orders,” Nigel gives the faintest hint of a smile because of course Ozzy would still be giving orders after being shot.

“See to it that he’s taken to the royal hospital as well and given top notch care. He’s to be treated as a member of the royal family. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Nigel turns his head and speaks into the tiny microphone that doubles as a cufflink. A few seconds pass before he looks back to me. “Oscar is two minutes out from the royal hospital. I’ve been told that he’ll be undergoing immediate surgery.”

“Is Agnes safe?”

Nigel gives a curt nod. “She’s with Miss Charlotte’s family.”

“Have her brought to the hospital. She should be the first to see Oscar when he’s able.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Theo continues to navigate us through Herefirth and safely to the royal hospital in record time.

The street surrounding the hospital has been barricaded off and there is no one around when we pull up to the entrance. Nigel and other members of the security team who were waiting for our arrival flank our sides and cover us as we step inside.

The entire hospital is at our disposal. Closed to the public. And it’s always been this way.

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