“How could this possibly have passed?” I ask, completely aghast as I stare at the words in front of me. “It was 2002—the twenty-first century, and they’re talking about deviant behavior like it’s the middle ages.”
“Your father was a very difficult man to say no to,” Veronika says with a frown. “You know that better than anyone.”
“This is my fault,” I murmur, still barely able to believe what’s just been put in front of me. “He said if he ever heard a whisper…I should have been more careful.”
I remember back to my time at Cambridge and my liaison with a fellow student—Carson Downey. It was the only time, prior to Jai, that I’ve ever been in what might pass for an intimate relationship. But it wasn’t even that. I’d never allowed it to be. Even with Lesia covering for us, I was too afraid of word getting back to my father for anything real to ever develop between Carson and me. And as it happens, my fears were warranted.
In a rare gesture, Veronika reaches out and covers my hand with her own. “Your Majesty, the late king was a…”
“Homophobic bastard?”
“Well…” She purses her lips. I can tell she wants to agree but her professionalism won’t let her. “He was a difficult man, certainly. You can’t blame yourself for this. What we need to do now is work out a solution.”
The words of the law swim before my eyes like a grotesque sight I can’t get away from. “The monarch of Korova should be of heterosexual orientation…any reigning monarch found to have partaken in deviant homosexual behavior will be removed from the throne and their rule declared void.”
“I’ll abdicate,” I say in a hoarse whisper. “If that’s what needs to happen, I’ll do it.”
Veronika’s eyes widen dramatically. “You would…?”
I give a single nod. “I love Jai. I won’t give him up because of some medieval notion of my father’s that gay men are somehow inferior.”
Veronika offers me a sad smile. “Well, that’s very admirable, but it doesn’t solve our problem. You see, the way this law is framed any monarch who is found to be queer after taking the throne will have their entire rule invalidated. That means Prince Tomas would no longer be heir. Prince Aleksandr would of course be ineligible to ascend, as would Prince Sebastian. Next in line would be Princess Sofia.”
Well, that couldn’t happen. Seb’s sister Sofia is a spoiled, snobbish socialite that cares for no one but herself. I can’t possibly allow her to become queen of an entire country.
But that only leaves one option…
“You want me to end things with Jai?” The reluctance to do any such thing comes through loud and clear in my tone.
Veronika sighs. “Just for the time being.”
“For the time being? What does that mean?”
“Your Majesty, even if you were a hundred per cent straight, this law is still a problem that must be dealt with. If something were to happen to you before Prince Tomas comes of age, this law prohibits Prince Aleksandr from acting as regent. Not to mention, it’s a ridiculous and outdated law that should never have been passed in the first place.”
“And once it’s reversed…”
“You’ll be free to be with Mr. Winters, if that’s what you wish. For the time being, however, we need to let people believe this is a move to protect Prince Aleksandr.”
I squeeze the bridge of my nose and let out a few deep breaths. “Okay. What are you suggesting? When can we get this reversed?”
Veronika sighs. “Parliament reconvenes in the new year. The end of January. I think the best course of action would be for Jai to return to America until the law is overturned.”
The thought of Jai being on the other side of the world for the next month and a half—a period that includes Christmas—is completely repulsive to me. And yet, what if someone were to learn of our relationship and use that information and this law to destroy the monarchy?
After leaving Veronika’s office, full of dejection and angry at my long-deceased bastard of a father, I go in search of Jai.
I check the residential suites first, and find him baking with my children. As I approach the kitchen I can hear Katya’s wild laughter and my heart aches at the thought of the children’s reaction to what I’m about to do. They absolutely adore Jai and I know how much they’re looking forward to having him here for Christmas.
But he can’t be here right now. Our whole family could lose everything if my relationship with Jai became public—I just can’t risk it.
“Papa! Look, we’re baking!” Katya calls as soon as she sees me in the doorway.
My eyes scan over the mess in the kitchen. Flour. Clumps of dough. Melted chocolate. Sugar. It’s everywhere—mostly all over my laughing children. “I can see that,” I say with a wry grin.
“They’re Christmas cookies. See,” Tomas says, holding up an already-baked cookie shaped like a Christmas tree.
“I see.” My smile is full of affection. I wonder how much longer he’ll be entertained by Christmas tree-shaped cookies—he’ll be twelve next year, after all.
Jai catches my eye, and I can tell by the way his mouth turns down at the corners he knows there’s something wrong.
We clear the children out of the kitchen, sending them off to watch TV with a pile of cookies each.
“What’s going on?” he murmurs so I only I can hear.
“I need to talk to you.” My eyes scan over to where my children are sitting happily with their cookies and cartoons. “Not here. My office.”
Jai’s eyes widen, but he merely nods his assent before turning to address the children. “Guys, your papa and I have some work to do. We’ll be back soon. Don’t eat too many cookies.”
We get murmured responses from Prince and Princess Zombie, prompting me to loose a soft chuckle.
We leave the
