Page 97 of The Prince of New York

While Eddie showed every sign of wanting to rebel, he sighed and said, “If I’m left off duty, I will be a pacing menace, and I know it. I’m one of those freaks who just does better on duty during waiting periods.”

“I’ll change your schedule in the system,” Barb promised. “Are you wanting to work tomorrow, Terry?”

“I’m going to be officially off duty but around in case of emergency. I’ll monitor for news on his dad so Eddie can work.”

Eddie relaxed. “Thanks, Terry. Ian, I’m going to grab a quick shower and a change of clothes, and I’ll meet you at your suite while Dr. Stanton handles giving the marching orders to the kitchen.”

While I would rather avoid being sent to the hospital, I’d been given a chance to get cleaned up along with a change of clothes. After dealing with the terrorism incident, I bet Eddie would emerge from his shower a new man. “I’m sure Terry can keep me out of trouble until you’re done and he gets a turn.”

“I can,” my sister’s head of detail confirmed.

With the girls reassured, contained, and on the way to bed and most of the RPS scattered to handle their work, I could relax enough to bow my head and groan. “Did they tell you what’s actually going on, Madelyn?”

“Barb pulled me aside. Are you all right?”

“As all right as someone unfortunate enough to get in the way of a bullet can be. I currently have a love-hate relationship with my crutches. Without them, I would be sitting and refusing to move. With them? I look and feel like an idiot.”

She laughed. “You’re not an idiot, and it’s not like anyone shot you on purpose.”

“That’s the really insulting part of this whole thing. I got shot just minding my own business and trying to stay out of the way. Eddie about had himself a heart attack, and Terry just shook his head and told me I have no luck. Which is true. Please show me where my suite is so I can sit down and bitterly complain over being an invalid.”

“Do not let him go to sleep,” Dr. Stanton ordered, and she waggled her finger at me. “You can go to sleepafteryou have dinner. I’m going to go check on the girls and help get them tucked into bed. If he tries to go to sleep, annoy him, Madelyn. Recruit the leopards.”

She headed off, and she muttered something under her breath.

Sika and Tumen, who were in the custody of one of the California RPS agents, waited with admirable patience nearby. “Where’s Isla?”

“Your parrot is asleep in her cage in your suite. She’s decided she’s actually a night parrot, but in good news for us, she seems happy to watch the cats and play with her toys. We’ve put her in the largest cage she can tolerate, and we’re going to try giving her a bigger cage in a few days. Terry is handling the work to make the cage expansions; once he adjusts the cage, someone will coat it with something to protect her. She’s not stress preening, so that’s good.”

I adjusted my grip on the crutches, made certain I wouldn’t fall on the polished floors, and hopped my way along, careful to keep from using my injured leg. “Dr. Stanton must be having kittens at this stage.”

“She really is. It’s bad enough that His Royal Majesty of Texas had a heart attack, but because she’s such a good recovery specialist at this point, she’s going to end up leaving for Texas tomorrow. She has the most recent experience with monarch cardiac care.”

I sighed at the reminder of my friend’s heart attack, which had done a good job of scaring a few years off my life upon finding out, especially as Zach had used his talent on him. “In good news, any physician can handle my follow up care, and I want Pat to get through this, which means he needs Dr. Stanton. I’m surprised they didn’t toss her onto the plane with His Royal Majesty of Maine, though.”

“Dr. Stanton refused. At that point, we’d just gotten the details on what actually had happened, and we weren’t sure how badly you’d been shot, and nobody could actually get to you.” Madelyn grimaced. “None of the animals seemed stressed, not even Thunder. Zach told me I needed to pretend like nothing was going on so the girls wouldn’t get scared. They’re going to teach them how to handle events, but they’re just too new to palace life, so we made the group decision to hide what was going on.”

“I don’t like misleading them, but at least the truth is in there. Because I was clumsy, I got hit with a ricocheted bullet. At least it wasn’t someone actuallytryingto shoot me. I’ll explain it to them once my leg heals and I go through therapy.” I sighed at the rather loud thunk of the crutches hitting the floor. “Everyone will know I’m coming from a mile away.”

“We certainly won’t be at any risk of losing you. I’m sorry, but they have the suites deep in the palace for dignitaries. I tried telling them you have no dignity and wouldn’t mind something closer to the front doors, but the RPS agents had afit. I’m pretty sure the Californians wanted to cry. Zach just seemed resigned and made arrangements for Peter and his family to come early. We were also told that we had to restrain ourselves. We’re not allowed to lock you in your suite or force you to use a wheelchair.”

“Right now, I wouldn’t mind a wheelchair, but I’d fall asleep, Dr. Stanton would get pissed, and we’d all get yelled at. I’d get yelled at for being lazy and falling asleep before dinner, you’d get yelled at for letting me fall asleep, and the RPS agents would get yelled at, and they’re already having a bad enough day. The only significant injury was to me. And it wasn’t even intentional. I think that’s the most offensive part of this whole mess. Nobody actually shot me on purpose.”

“I’m accepting the blame because I warned him he was most likely to be targeted and shot in the leg during a kidnapping scenario,” Terry said, and he laughed. “At this stage, I’ve accepted there was nothing I could do to prevent it, and I’m going to enjoy watching the Californians suffer. They did a fantastic job handling the situation, but a principal going to the hospital is not what they want as a consequence of an event.”

“You find my misery funny,” I accused, and I did my best to keep from laughing.

“The only reason you’re at all miserable is because you didn’t want to inconvenience anyone adding to your probable fever woes. Also, Madelyn, I know entertaining a sickly prince is not part of your job description, but if you can keep him from going on a wander, you’ll spare us all from a lot of drama. The Californian monarchs will not be able to handle him going on a wander. The queen will cry, and the king will laugh and go on a wander with him.”

“Oh, no,” she whispered, and she stopped to stare at Terry. “The royals gang up to cause trouble?”

“At every opportunity. As far as troublesome royalty goes, Ian is better than most. He tends to only wander for good reason or if he’s fevered. Dr. Stanton is hoping if she can get dinner into him, which is when she can give him his medications, he might sleep through the night. Then he’s fully our problem, which honestly terrifies her.”

I could believe that. “I will do my best to behave, but I’m not making any promises after what happened following the first mud run.”

By the time we made it to the suite, I wanted to lie on the floor and nap. Alas, sleep was not on the agenda, as Ethan’s mother waited for us at the door, and she hurried over, dodged my crutches, and kissed my cheeks. “You poor little baby. As I have already claimed your sister as my daughter, you are now one of my boys, and I am not accepting no for an answer. You can either title me or call me Mom. Choose wisely.”

As being bossed into calling her Mom beat having to use titles, I replied, “I’m sorry, Mom. You can call Will and let him know I trashed his plane.”

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