Page 48 of Trained Royal
“Don’t linger too long, please,” Kieren muttered.
“Bossy,” Patrick replied, keeping the smile on his face.
He took the steps, covered in red fabric, and paused a couple of times for the media to get photographs, then entered the building, sighing as the noise reduced again.
“Your Highness!” He turned, and the organiser, Augustus Milden, held out her hand. “I’m pleased you were available for this event. I’m happy you’re here.”
“Augustus, thank you for having me. As you know, this is a worthy cause. I’m more than happy to help.”
They went through the plans for Patrick’s job briefly—they’d already been through it several times, but he understood things could change at short notice—and he joined the guests milling in the ballroom. This was the part he hated the most—mingling.
Kieren was by his side the entire time, which helped, but a deep-seated need to hold his hand as he went through the hell he was in had to be pushed back several times. As if he’d noticed, Kieren kept close, brushing their arms together occasionally, which helped to centre Patrick more than anything else.
They invited the guests to take a seat at their tables, and Patrick moved to the table closest to the stage. Originally, they had been placed in the centre of the room, right at the front, but after some discussions about security, they had been moved to the side of the room instead. It would be easier to get Patrick out of the room if he wasn’t surrounded by people. When he got there, Christian and Oscar were already there.
“Hi,” he greeted them both.
“How are you holding up?” Christian asked. Patrick smiled and turned his back on the guests before pulling a face, then smiling again. Christian chuckled. “Like that, huh?”
“I’m excited to be a part of this.” Patrick gave his rote answer and sat beside his cousin. “Not as much to be standing up doing an auction,” he whispered.
Before he could get another word out, Douglas, Mav, Henry, Robert and Kean arrived, seating themselves at the table. Patrick glanced at Kieren and caught a grimace as he looked at the table. A source of contention for all the security involved. Having that many royals under one roof was not a good thing, according to them. Patrick could understand, but they couldn’t stop attending these things just in case something happened. Luckily, they had an amazing security team.
“Thank you for being here tonight,” Augustus said. “This charity is something close to my heart, and I’m happy you are here to support such a worthy cause.” She continued for a short time, explaining the need for such a charity and what they spend their money on. “As you are aware, tonight is an auction. We have been blessed to have such amazing items for you to bid on. And to help us during the event, please welcome His Royal Highness, Prince Patrick.”
She clapped, and everyone joined in as Patrick climbed the steps to the stage, his heart pounding painfully. Kieren joined him but stayed on one side of the stage, his eyes scanning the entire room.
Patrick faced the guests. “Good evening, and welcome to Claridon’s Domestic Violence Support Auction.” He addressed the guests, thanks to George’s speech-writing ability, reiterating parts of what Augustus said to highlight them again, then wound down. “Shall we get the auction underway?”
****
Chapter 15
Kieren
Kieren hated every minute of this. The security for the event, though good, was not good enough to stop a bullet if someone wanted to do it. Patrick was spotlighted for everyone to see in the centre of a large stage, with nowhere to hide should something happen. Kieren was ready to fly across the stage at a moment’s notice, but he hated it all. Patrick so exposed, so vulnerable. But he was also extremely proud of him for getting up there and speaking in front of probably a hundred people or more. Patrick hated it, and Kieren didn’t blame him. He hated standing to the side where everyone could see him, but he’d refused to be hidden behind a curtain as it would impede his view of the room.
As the auction started, the staff brought items onto the stage on the opposite side of Patrick, showing them off as Patrick described what they were before going through the bidding part and confirming the winning bid.
“We have movement at the back right of the room,” Brett murmured in his ear.
Kieren didn’t reply but swung his gaze to that part of the room. Two security guards stood, stopping another man with a camera from entering. He flicked his gaze back to Patrick, checking he was okay, before focusing on the newcomer again. It hadn’t gained any attention from the room except for the nearest table, and the scowls on the occupants’ faces were not much to go on.
“Congratulations, Mrs Emery. You have the winning bid,” Patrick said.
As Kieren went to look back at Patrick, he caught movement from his side and instinctively put his arm out. Christian pushed past him with a muttered, “Charles,” and disappeared behind the curtain. He glanced across the stage and saw Charles standing with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face. Kieren checked in with Patrick again, not seeing any indication that Patrick was uneasy, and continued to check between Patrick and Charles. The man didn’t appear to have any weapons on him from what Kieren could see.
Christian appeared beside Charles with Brett by his side, which eased Kieren’s mind. There was a heated conversation, though Charles never lost his smug expression. He saw Christian’s eyes widen, focus on Patrick, then out into the crowd. Then he glanced across at him and mouthed, “Gun.”
Kieren went on alert and stared into the crowd, not seeing anything untoward. “What’s going on, Brett?” he murmured into his earpiece.
“Charles has implied there is a shooter in the audience. We need to get everyone out.”
Kieren was already on the move when a gun discharged. He slammed into Patrick, taking him to the floor as pain flared through his arm. “Stay down!” He covered Patrick’s body with his own, palming his gun and aiming it towards where the noise of the shot had come from. Someone lay face down on the floor with their arms behind their backs and two security guards hovering. He turned the gun towards where Charles and Christian had been, seeing Charles glowering as they clipped him into handcuffs. Christian had a gun in his hand, held in a handkerchief. The noise in the room drowned out what they were saying, but Patrick took his attention.
“Shit! Kieren! Kieren! For fuck’s sake, you’re bleeding!”
Pain splintered through him as Patrick pressed against his arm, and his head swam. He breathed through his nose, blinking his eyes to keep his focus on the two areas of the room that could provide more issues—the shooter and Charles.
