“Nadia? She’s helping us?” Yuri ate another tart. This one was raspberry.
“As far as I can tell, and it makes sense. She wants to be the monarch and her brother doesn’t.”
Yuri perked up. “He doesn’t? Are you sure?”
Jacki gave him an exasperated look. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m supposed to tell you that betrothal or not, he’s coming for you, because you’re his. Which. I love Melanie bunches, but I’m not sure I’d give up a kingdom for her. Good thing no one’s offering me one.”
“It’s not what it’s cracked up to be,” Yuri assured her. He felt filled with light all the way to his fingers and toes. Angelo still wanted him. He wanted Yuri enough to turn down the throne for him. It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for him.
“No, I suppose not. Only, Yuri, are you planning on sitting around here waiting for Angelo to come rescue you?”
He shook his head. “No. I think that if anyone around here needs rescuing, it’s Angelo, not me.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Jacki bit into a strawberry tart.
“So all we need now is a plan.”
Jacki looked down at the empty plate that sat between them. “And more tarts.”
Philippe had left several messages for Yuri, none of which were particularly illuminating, other than the repeated reassurance that Angelo was still safe.
He called Phillip and sat next to Jacki with his heart in his throat. What if Phillip’s mobile had also been taken away? What if Yuri couldn’t contact him? What if Philippe’s loyalties had changed? All doubts were cast aside, however, when Philippe answered his mobile.
“Your highness. It’s a relief to finally hear from you. I was getting quite worried.”
“How is he?”
“Prince Angelo is a strong, young man, and even though he is here… involuntarily, he is receiving care from the best physicians in the country. However, the faster his highness recuperates, the sooner King Aryan can announce the end of the betrothal and the change in designated heirs. We have a very narrow window to work with. But we are not without allies. We have Princess Nadia fully on Prince Angelo’s side, as well as the queen.”
Yuri gasped. “The queen is on board?”
“She is now. I made sure all the facts of the situation were brought to her attention. She will, indeed, help us.”
“Do you have a plan, Philippe?”
Even though he couldn’t see it, Yuri could hear the slight smile and see the sly twinkle in Philippe’s eyes. “I might, your highness. But it will need to include you coming here to rescue your prince.”
Yuri’s heart leapt in his chest. “I like this plan, whatever it is.”
“I want to help,” Jacki said.
“Jacki wants in on this,” Yuri said.
“We will more than welcome Ms. Jacqueline’s assistance. The queen has devised a way for you to get past customs when entering Tanzhir. Having Ms. Jacqueline as a companion will only increase your ability to blend in.”
“Blend in with who?” Yuri asked.
“The other passengers, your highness.”
“Other passengers!” Yuri felt dread fill him.
“Yes, sir. I’m afraid you’ll be flying commercially.”
Yuri groaned. “And this is the best you can come up with?”
“To get you into the country without the king learning of your arrival? Yes, sir.”
“Fine. We’ll do it. If great-grandfather Octavius could give up his home to shelter refugees fleeing the Nazis, I guess I can fly commercial.”
Jacki laughed so hard that she snorted.
“You’re being very brave, your highness.”
“Shut up. Both of you. If this doesn’t prove my devotion to Angelo, nothing will.”
32
Angelo Is Holding out for a Hero
Angelo lost track of time, isolated as he was without any means of communication or even a television. The only thing that marked the hours was visits from medical personnel, his family, Philippe, and the times Roger had come in to sleep. That had been twice, or maybe three times. It was frustrating as hell. Angelo wanted to be doing something but he'd been ordered to stay in bed and only given books to read.
His sole information about the outside world came from Philippe and Nadia, and he was sure they weren't telling him everything, either.
He took the time, usually after his father's visits, to walk around his room. It had been slow going and painful as hell at first, but Angelo was gaining both strength and stamina. His wound was healing well. He chafed at being kept an invalid, but at the same time, he knew the minute his father could put him in front of cameras, he'd announce the change of heir. So, for the short run, he was forced to pretend he was sicker than he really felt.
The news from Yuri had been spotty, as well. Everyone told him things would be fine, but he wasn't certain they realized that without Yuri in his life, nothing would be fine ever again.
It was strange. He’d previously gone days, weeks, and sometimes even months without talking with or seeing Yuri. It had been less than a week since he’d been with Yuri and yet he was as restless as a tiger in a cage.
For all of his life, Angelo had thought of Yuri as an inevitability, like death or taxes. He had chafed sorely knowing that Yuri was his only possible fate and fought against it. He’d done his best to make Yuri as unhappy with the arrangement as he’d been. He’d begun purposefully antagonizing Yuri when they’d been children, and that had gone a step further in their teens. He hadn’t known, when he’d spanked Yuri that very first time, what would eventually come of it, but even then, he knew they’d crossed a line and there was no going back. He’d pretended to himself that it was all one-sided, that Yuri took and Angelo gave, but the truth was that, from the very beginning, Angelo had liked their
