by Isla Olsen
“I’ve heard of it. Does that count?”
“No, that doesn’t count,” I growl. “Lukas, it’s a classic! You have to see it—I’ll watch it with you.”
“I’m not really a big musicals person,” he says doubtfully.
My face stretches into a grin as I feel a challenge being extended. “You’re not a big musicals person yet. Trust me, baby, soon you’ll be singing a different tune,” I tell him, laughing at my own stupid pun. “Besides, we’re not having sex again until you can tell me what the lonely goatherd were doing.”
Lukas’s eyes widen dramatically. “How long is this movie? Do you have it on your tablet? We can watch it now!”
I let out a wry chuckle. “Love the enthusiasm but it’s getting light. People will be moving around.”
He sighs, running a hand gently over my face. “I don’t like leaving you.”
I offer a warm smile. “I don’t like you leaving.” I press a soft kiss to his lips, but pull away before it can turn into anything more. No time for that, and I have a condition to uphold. “I’m going to go shower. We’ll watch the movie tonight.”
Lukas lets out a groan of frustration as I pull away from him to slide off the bed and the sound goes straight to my balls. But I manage to ignore it and get myself to the ensuite before my dick has a chance to seize control.
When I return to the bedroom after my shower, I’m surprised to find Lukas is still there. He’s stretched out on my bed, one arm back behind his head, a triumphant grin on his face.
“What are you still doing here?”
“They were on a hill, yodeling,” he says.
“Huh?”
“The goatherd.”
My eyes narrow on the phone in his hand. “That’s cheating.”
“I was being resourceful.”
“Mmhmm.” I arrange my features in an attempt at a stern expression but I can feel my lips twitching. I realize it’s the same thing that happens whenever I try to discipline Katya for something that’s technically against the rules but I find absolutely endearing.
Lukas slides off the bed and stalks toward me. As he reaches me, he grabs the towel at my waist and uses it to pull me closer to him. “I answered your question about the goats. Now we can have sex.”
I chuckle, my arms automatically flying up to link around his neck. “People are up and moving around. You won’t be able to get back to your rooms unseen.”
His lips quirk up. “Maybe I don’t care about being seen.”
“Lukas…”
“I’m not suggesting we start walking hand in hand around the palace. But I think it would be okay to relax a little here in the residential suites.”
I feel a grin stretching across my face. “If you’re comfortable with that, I’m absolutely on board.”
Relaxing in the residential suites begins with dinner with the prince and princess that night. Just me, Lukas, Tomas and Katya, and I can’t help feeling like we’re starting to establish a little family.
“Is Penny coming for dinner as well?” Tomas asks as he slides into his chair at the table in the family dining room, clearly bemused by my presence.
“No, just Jai,” Lukas replies.
Tomas’s brow draws together in the exact same way Lukas’s does when he’s perplexed about something. “Why is Jai here and not Penny?”
“Tomas, don’t be rude,” Lukas scolds.
I let out a soft chuckle. “It’s okay, it’s a fair question.” To Tomas, I say, “Penny’s busy tonight, and since she and I usually eat together I was all alone. I hope it’s okay I’m crashing your dinner.”
“It’s okay, Jai!” Katya pipes up. “I like that you’re here!”
I offer her a wide smile. “Thanks, Princess.”
The servants arrive with everyone’s meals, serving us in order of rank: Lukas, then Tomas, then Katya, then me. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to being waited on like this, but as Penny keeps reminding me, serving in the royal household is a very prestigious and well-paid job, even if it does seem a little redundant at times.
“Jai do you like boys or girls better?” Katya asks as we’re finishing up our meal, prompting a drastic shift in the conversation which had been about riding lessons and ballet.
I smile indulgently at her. “I like both.”
The princess rolls her eyes dramatically. “But which do you like kissing?”
I sputter a cough as a sip of water gets caught in my throat. “Uh, in that case I’d have to say I prefer boys. Big boys, I mean. Grown ups,” I rush to clarify.
Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Katya turns her attention to Lukas. “Papa, do you like kissing boys or girls?”
“Don’t be stupid, Katya,” Tomas drawls in the superior manner of all his eleven years. “Papa likes kissing girls. Mama was a girl.”
“But maybe Papa likes both boys and girls,” Katya argues.
“You can’t like both boys and girls, you have to choose one,” Tomas shoots back.
“That’s not true!” Katya all but wails.
“The princess is right on this one, Your Highness,” I interject gently. “Your cousin Sebastian likes both boys and girls.”
The prince considers this for a moment, his expression still a little doubtful. Fortunately, he’s not an overly stubborn child—not like his sister—so he lets the matter drop and I make a mental note to suggest to Lukas a further, private discussion might be in order. Although, I’m sure he’s already filing the thought away himself.
Before the children can start in again on questioning Lukas about his preferences, I rise from the table and start collecting the empty plates. “Princess, would you like to help me get dessert ready?”
Her face lights up and all talk of kissing is forgotten. Dessert is her favorite meal of the day, after all.
Once the kids are in bed, Lukas and I settle in to watch The Sound of Music. I am still absolutely dumbfounded that he hasn’t seen it already and it’s something that needs to be rectified as soon as possible.
We watch in comfortable silence for a little while, but then I feel Lukas tense up behind me. “What is it?”
“What’s what?”
“What’s got your brow all creased?”
“How could you possibly know my brow’s all creased? You don’t have invisible eyes in the back of your head, do you?”
I let out a small breath of laughter. It’s true, with him stretched out on the sofa and me nestled between his legs, my back to his chest, I can’t be absolutely certain he has that cute furrow in his brow, but I’m pretty sure.
“I can feel you tensing up. Don’t get me wrong, I love the feel of those abs clenching, but I want to know what you’re all tense about.” I shift my position a little so I can crane my neck around to face him. Sure enough, there’s that adorable furrowed brow. “Is it what the kids were asking at dinner? Did it freak you out?”
His expression clears a little and he gives a shake of his head. “No, surprisingly it did not. It’s this song. It’s quite condescending. Just because this boy is a year older than the girl it doesn’t make him wiser. It’s scientifically proven women mature earlier than men.”
I let out another chuckle as I turn my attention back to the TV to watch Liesl and Rolfe dancing around the gazebo. “Well, he’s a Nazi, so of course he’s an idiot.”
“I don’t know what she sees in him.”
I grin and swivel my head back to face him. “Really? You don’t think he’s just a little cute?”
“He’s a child!”
“He couldn’t have been much younger than me when this was filmed.”
Lukas grumbles something under his breath and I turn back to the movie, my smile even wider.
“Why are we watching this again?”
I roll my eyes. “Because it’s a crime that you’ve never seen The Sound of Music. And because we’re basically living this story. I mean, apart from the fact I’m not an outcast nun, and I only have two kids to care for, an
d you’re a king, not a naval officer, and we don’t need to run from the Nazis—well, at least I hope not anyway…the rest is spot on.”
“Uh huh. Even the part with all the musical numbers?”
“Okay, not that bit either. I could try, but I’m completely tone deaf.”
We watch the movie for a little longer before Lukas murmurs, “I think Katya is shipping us.”
I loose a soft breath of laughter. “Did you just use the word ‘shipping’?”
“Yes. Did I use it correctly?”
I use the remote to pause the movie and shift around so I’m facing him properly. “Yes, you did. And I agree. I think she likes the idea of us together.” The thought that Katya would be rooting for Lukas and me as a couple makes my heart want to explode.
“I’m not sure Tomas feels the same,” Lukas says with a frown.
I let out a thoughtful sigh. “To be honest, I’m not sure the idea has even entered his mind.”
“You heard what he said at dinner.”
“Yes, but I don’t think that was about us,” I venture. At Lukas’s confused expression I continue, “Look, I could be wrong but…Tomas is getting to that age, he’s starting to notice things…”
Lukas’s brows arch up. “You think he might be gay? Or bisexual?”
I shrug. “I don’t want to go making assumptions, I just think it’s something to keep an eye on.”
He offers a soft smile and reaches up to thread a gentle hand through my hair. “Do we have to watch the rest of the movie?”
Pulling my head away from him, I turn back around and restart the movie. “Absolutely. We haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.”
18
LUKAS
“Your Majesty, we need to talk.”
I groan inwardly, noting the serious tone of Veronika’s voice and the concern lining her features. I nod and follow her into her office, taking one of the guest chairs while she slides into her seat behind her desk.
“I know what you’re going to say…” It’s the conversation I’ve been dreading for weeks. As much as Jai and I have tried to keep our relationship secret, we’ve certainly become laxer in recent days. Veronika’s no fool and it’s her job to know everything that goes on in the palace so it doesn’t surprise me that she’s finally taking her moment to speak out.
She arches one of her perfectly manicured brows at me. “I’m not sure you do.” She sits back in her chair, her gaze fixed on mine. “I’m aware you’ve developed a relationship with Mr. Winters, and I also know you’ve been…relatively discrete. As your friend and someone who admires you a great deal, I’d like to say I’m very happy for you—it’s nice to see you smiling again.” She offers a faint smile and I hesitantly smile back, although I’m certain there’s a ‘but’ coming. “However, as the Crown Secretary, I need to tell you this relationship is extremely problematic.”
I nod, letting out a regretful sigh. “That’s everything I thought you’d say.”
Her eyes are full of sympathy as she says, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but there’s more to it.” She reaches into her desk and pulls out a heavy tome—the book detailing the laws and customs surrounding the Korovan monarchy. As she flips through the pages, she asks, “Were you aware a Monarchical Act was passed while you were away at Cambridge? It was done very quietly, with very little publicity so it wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t hear about it.”
I shake my head, my brows drawing together in confusion. Monarchical Acts are laws proposed by the reigning monarch and pertaining to the monarchy. They still need to be ratified by Parliament before they become official law, but it’s extremely rare for Parliament to block the Act. I put forward the last Monarchical Act twelve years ago when Lesia was pregnant with Tomas. We didn’t know he was a boy at the time and I wanted the child to be my heir no matter the gender.
But I have no recollection of my father putting forward an Act while I was away at university…
Veronika opens the book to the relevant page and turns it around to face me. With her manicured fingernail, she directs my gaze to the law in question, and as I read, my stomach churns with a mixture of dread and disgust.
“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 o
ur 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 children and I lead Jai to my office, pausing at the doorway to speak to Boyd. “No one is to come in here. No one.”