“That’s good to hear. While I of course want what’s best for the kingdom, I’ll always want what’s best for my children first.” The queen leaned down to kiss Angelo’s cheek. “Be happy with your prince, darling. You have my blessing. Not that the lack of such would’ve stopped you, I think.”
Angelo caught hold of his mother’s hand and squeezed it. “Your blessing is everything, Mama. Will you come to visit me, later, if Father doesn’t let me back into the country?”
Gabriella looked troubled. “I’ll see what can be done about bringing your father around, but I can’t promise anything. Know that I will certainly come visit you until you can come back to see me.” She stood. “I love you, Angel.”
“Love you, too, Mama.”
After his mother left, Angelo was left alone for a very long time. He tried, on and off, to read, but all he could think about was Yuri. Eventually, around twilight, he fell into a fitful sleep.
Angelo dreamed of Yuri.
He chased him through castles and Oxford and across countries. Sometimes he would get close enough to almost touch his shoulder, but with twinkling eyes and a laughing mouth, Yuri would pull away and run faster.
He woke with a start when Roger shook his shoulder. “What?”
“Sir,” he whispered. “There's someone here to see you.”
Angelo yawned. “What time is it? And I'm not really presentable. I could take a quick shower.”
He heard a voice say, “It would take a lot more than a shower to make you presentable.”
“Yuri?” Angelo's eyes searched the shadowed room. Maybe he'd just imagined Yuri saying that to him.
“In the flesh,” Yuri said, and sidled out from behind Roger's looming presence.
“But… but I was coming for you.”
Yuri leaned down and kissed Angelo's lips. “Too late. I've come to rescue you.”
Roger cleared his throat. “I'll just leave you two alone.”
“What kind of rescue is this?”
“A tricky one, as it turns out. Absconding with a prince to another country is harder than you might think. So I need to ask you a question.” Yuri crawled onto the bed and snuggled next to Angelo as he had in the hospital.
Angelo kissed Yuri thoroughly, feeling like he might never get enough. “I can't believe you're here.”
“It wasn't easy, let me assure you. I had to fly on a commercial flight. With people.”
That made Angelo laugh, but he tried to do it quietly. “You're a terrible diplomat,” he said.
“Wrong. I make a fantastic diplomat. What I would be terrible at is actual reigning. Whereas you would make a wonderful king.”
“No, dammit. Nadia would murder me to gain the throne and besides, I wouldn't have you. You're more important.”
Yuri nuzzled his nose against Angelo's neck. “More important than a kingdom?”
“More important than anything and everything. Kiss me. Then kiss me again. I still can't believe you're here.”
“I'm very here.” Yuri kissed him and it was long and slow and sweeter than any kiss they'd had before. “So let me ask my question.”
“I thought you already did,” Angelo said, pulling Yuri to him for another kiss.
When Yuri came up for air, he gasped, “Marry me.”
Angelo froze. “That wasn't a question.”
“No, I suppose not, but will you?”
Angelo grabbed him then rolled so Yuri was under him. “Are you serious?”
“Is all this activity good for you? I don't want you ripping anything open.”
“I'm fine, Yuri. Are. You. Serious?”
Yuri nodded, his face solemn but his eyes full of love and hope. “Yes, Angelo Devdan Nicolau Laurent Tanzhir, will you marry me?”
Angelo laughed. It was from sheer relief and joy, and he couldn't have stopped it any more than he could've halted the sun in the sky. “Yes, princess, I will.”
“Good,” Yuri said, then kissed him.
“When?” Angelo asked. “After we get me out of here?”
“No. Now.”
“Now?”
Yuri looked anxious. “It's kind of important. We—”
Angelo cut his words off with a kiss. “Yes.”
Yuri sighed deeply. “Thank god. It'll make all of this a hell of a lot easier.”
“All what?”
“Your escape!” Yuri pronounced. “Now get off me. Unless you want Philippe and your mother and sister to see you humping me.”
“What the hell is going on, Yuri?”
“I keep telling you. It's your escape.” He kissed Angelo on his nose. “So let's get this show on the road.” He scrambled down from the bed and waited for Angelo to do the same. “Come on. We're already late.”
“Late for what?” Angelo ran his fingers through his messy hair and knew he was making it worse.
Yuri went to a side door that led into a room nearly the same as this one. He opened the door and bright light flooded through the open doorway. “Our wedding,” he said with a beautiful, crooked smile. “Surprise!”
After stepping into the other room, Angelo could see that someone had made an effort to make the nearly bare room festive. There were flowers everywhere and silk streamers hung from the ceiling. “Oh my god,” Angelo said. “When did you do all this?”
“It was mostly me,” Nadia announced, “but everyone pitched in.”
Everyone seemed to consist of his sister, mother, Roger, Jacki, and Philippe. “This isn't the grand wedding you always said we'd have.”
Yuri scrunched up his nose. “It doesn't matter. I just want you. Legally.”
“In my pyjamas?”
“Just as long as you're wearing something,” Jacki said, making Nadia snicker.
“Philippe,” the queen asked, “would you please get Judge Bose?”
“Of course, your majesty,” Philippe said with a courtly bow and a flourish of his hand, then quietly left the room.
“The head judge of the high court?” Angelo asked.
“Who better?” Nadia asked. “The legalities of this are important.”
“But gay marriage isn't legal in Tanzhir. I thought the plan was that we would be married in Mirea.”
Yuri squeezed Angelo's hand tight.
“Not true. I've been studying Tanzhir law,” Nadia said. “Same-sex marriage is allowed if the parties involved are of royal blood. Father had that added shortly after Yuri was born, just in case, but it was added quietly. Virtually no one knows the law exists, except a few ministers, judges, and me.
