Page 13 of Trained Royal
“Nah. It’s just…” He sighed. If he couldn’t talk to his friend, who could he talk to? “Fuck it. This goes no further, Zane.”
“Fuck you.”
Kieren chuckled. “Glad you agree. It’s the person I’m protecting.”
“Holy shitballs. Seriously?”
“I really like him, Zane, but I don’t want to lose him. I can’t lose him like I did them, and with everything going on around here…” He bit his tongue, knowing he couldn’t divulge any more than he already had.
“Bloody hell. You don’t do things by halves, do you? A bloody prince, Kieren!”
“It doesn’t matter who he is. There’s nothing I can do about it.” Except screw it up more than he already had.
“Does he feel the same way?” Kieren sighed. “He does, doesn’t he? What are you waiting for? You might not find this again, Kieren. Don’t borrow trouble. Take what you’re given with both hands.”
Kieren rested his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. “I don’t think I can.”
“They wouldn’t want you living like this.”
Kieren stayed silent, knowing Zane was right but unable to change anything. His parents had always believed he would find the person he was meant to be with when the time was right, just like they had. He couldn’t bring himself to forget the promises he’d made when he stood at their gravesides. Promises he knew they wouldn’t want him to keep, but that he made anyway. Promises to protect those who needed it. With his own life, if necessary.
Zane sighed. “I know I won’t change your mind. Just think on it, okay? Don’t make any final decisions before you think long and hard about this.”
“Okay.” It was the best he could do. He cleared his throat. “Tell me about your wedding.”
Changing the topic, he spent the following hour listening to Zane rave about their holiday, making Kieren wish he could join them one day. Unfortunately, that would never happen. As it was, he could barely sit in a car for any length of time. Going on a train, a boat or flying would never happen.
****
“Check in, please,” Brett’s voice came over Kieren’s earpiece.
“Felix, main hall, garden exit door,” Felix said.
“Isaac, main hall, front entrance door.”
“Matt, entrance hall.”
“Locke, main hall, side door.”
“Kieren, main hall, emergency exit door.”
The rest of the security team checked in with their names and locations, ensuring everyone was where they should be. Christian’s birthday party was bigger than Christian was expecting, according to Patrick. He believed it was just immediate family, but Christian’s boyfriend, Oscar, had gone all out for him. After what they’d been through, Kieren could understand trying to stamp out the terrible memories, but it made for a security nightmare. At least, as far as he was concerned.
Although the entire security team had to be alert for any dangers at all, they were also focused on specific individuals. In Kieren’s case, if Patrick moved out of the room, Kieren would go with him, and another guard would take his place. Despite it being a nightmare, they were a well-oiled machine and had done it many times before.
Prince Douglas entered the room, calling, “The birthday boy has arrived!” and a cheer sounded as Prince Christian followed him. Christian greeted several people before racing across the room to Oscar and spinning him in a circle, ending with a kiss. Kieren’s mouth curled, and he found himself searching for Patrick. He locked gazes with the man because Patrick had already been looking at him. Even across the distance, the look felt like a physical caress across his skin, and he repeatedly blinked before diverting his gaze. He tapped his fingertips on his thumb in order and surveyed the room, ignoring the fluttering in his chest and stomach.
It had been precisely one hour and nineteen minutes when the DJ announced, “Good evening! Please, could you give a cheer for the birthday boy, Christian?” A cheer answered him. “We will need your attention on the stage at the front of the room for the next few minutes as we have a wonderful lineup of comedians—oh, I mean, men who’d like to dish the dirt—um, talk about how amazing Christian is. Over to the stage.” Laughter filled the room.
The king, Andrew, took to the stage first, welcoming everyone and claiming Christian as his son, not his nephew. Kieren could see the prince was in tears because his parents and siblings had disowned him, but not this part of the family. These members were truly who you’d want by your side, as their stories and banter proved when they each took a turn to talk about Christian and what he meant to them.
When Oscar stood on the stage with the microphone, someone sidled up beside Kieren. He didn’t need to look to know who it was. As Oscar began speaking, Patrick leaned into his side, not his full weight, but enough to show he was there. It took all the discipline Kieren had not to wrap his arm around his shoulders and hold him close.
“Everything okay?” he asked instead, his gaze scanning the room, though every atom of his body was attuned to the man beside him.
“Yes.” It was all he said before he wandered back through the crowd to his family.
Prince Douglas and his boyfriend, Mav, carried a box up onto the stage. If it hadn’t already been cleared with security, they would’ve been racing to that platform right then.
