Royally Lost

by Stanton, Angie

Nikolai’s chest tightened. “No, Visar. That won’t be possible. Not yet, anyway. I have obligations for the next two days and then I will be wherever you, or the palace, require me to be.”

  Visar considered Nikolai, giving away nothing. Nikolai stared, refusing to back down. Would Visar grab him here on the street and force him to leave?

  What about Becca? He couldn’t possibly leave without saying good-bye. Visar was only one man. Nikolai could hold him off.

  Two more days were all he wanted. That wasn’t asking much. He glanced at the doors to the embassy.

  “I trust you aren’t thinking of asking the United States Embassy for asylum.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Nikolai snapped.

  “I’m afraid that I am not the one who’s been acting ridiculous. Prince Nikolai, come along, and let’s put an end to your antics. You’ve become an embarrassment to the palace.”

  “As I said, I have other obligations. I will not return a minute sooner. Have I made myself clear?”

  “Perhaps I have not explained my presence here properly. I am under direct orders from the king to return you to Mondovia, posthaste.”

  Nikolai fought to keep his emotions under control. Losing it wouldn’t help. “I quite understand your purpose, and will ask you the kindness to relay a message back to the king.”

  Visar’s eye twitched.

  Nikolai continued. “I fully understand my future legacy and will dedicate the rest of my life to Mondovia. However, the next two days will remain mine, to be spent as I see fit.”

  The door to the embassy opened and Becca appeared.

  “Are we understood?” Nikolai growled.

  Visar nodded. “I will relay your message,” he answered and walked away.

  Nikolai hoped this would be the end of his father’s interference.

  “Who was that?” Becca asked.

  “Some guy who was in the wrong place.”

  “Lost?”

  “Yeah, you could say that. So how did it go? Are they able to get you a new passport?” He started walking in the opposite direction of Visar, but glanced back to make sure the man hadn’t changed his mind and come back.

  “Yes, thank God. Apparently this sort of thing happens all the time. They will have it ready tomorrow. That’ll leave us plenty of time to ride to Nuremberg the next day for my flight.”

  Nikolai sighed and put his arms around her. “How am I possibly going to say good-bye to you?”

  “I don’t want to think about it or I’ll start bawling. Trust me, you don’t want to see that.”

  He smiled. “No, I don’t suppose I do.”

  After leaving the business district, they passed through a quiet neighborhood and some retail shops. Becca spotted a small grocery store. “Let’s see if they sell sunglasses.”

  They ducked inside and found a rack of sunglasses in the corner. While Nikolai tried on glasses, Becca picked up a few items for lunch: some grapes, crackers, and sliced cheese. They met up at the checkout. She put her items on the conveyor belt hoping they didn’t cost too much. “I feel really bad that I can’t help pay. Do you have enough?”

  “It’s all right. If I can’t buy you a few meals, I’m not a very good date. I wish I could do more.”

  “Don’t be silly, this is perfect.”

  A tiny older woman with long gray hair glanced at Nikolai after scanning each item. He shot Becca an uneasy look. She wished she knew a better way to hide him.

  The clerk smiled. “I’ve never had a prince in my store before.”

  Nikolai grimaced. “I’m sorry, you must be mistaking me for someone else.”

  The woman removed a newspaper from the rack next to the checkout and laid it before them. “You are Prince Nikolai.”

  Dumbfounded, Becca stared at the cover of the Daily Enquirer. It showed Nikolai on the ground after the mugging, with her kneeling next to him, clearly distraught.

  “There weren’t even that many people there. How is this possible?” Becca asked.

  “Trust me, there are a lot of people eager to post their pictures online the second they take them. That explains the guy watching my bike this morning,” Nikolai said.

  “Haven’t you seen the news lately? There are sightings of you reported on television every day,” the clerk said.

  “No, we haven’t,” Becca said. She had barely turned a television on since the trip began. “We’ll take the paper, too, please.” She needed to know what the article said.

  The woman smiled as Nikolai pulled money from his wallet, paid for their purchases, and then slipped on his new sunglasses.

  Around the corner from the store, they found a small park with old trees, a thick blanket of grass, and chirping birds.

  “I don’t understand how people recognize you so easily. With your unshaven face, you look more like a street person than a prince.” She ran her fingers over the soft bristles.

  Nikolai stretched out next to her on the grass and opened the newspaper. “It says here that I attacked the man first because he flirted with you.”

  “That’s a total lie!”

  “They write what they think will sell papers. It also says that they still don’t know who the mysterious beauty is that lured me away.” He lowered his sunglasses and flashed his eyebrows at her.

  “Really? You’re making that up!”

  “No, I’m not. It’s right here. You can take it back to the hostel and have Kristoff translate it for you.”

  “That just proves that they make all this up.”

  “Au contraire.” He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Not only are you beautiful, but you are funny, and sexy, and have mesmerized me into following you through four countries.”

  Tingles danced over her skin. She wasn’t used to such flowery compliments. She pointed at the article. “What else does it say?”

  “The palace has finally admitted that I took off on an unapproved excursion.”

  “That’s what we’re on? An excursion?” Being together felt more like a fairy tale, and she was waiting for the clock to strike twelve.

  “Apparently so.” He sighed, tossed the gossip rag aside, and lay on the grass looking skyward.

  Suddenly her phone rang. They looked at each other; a streak of panic ran through Becca.

  She pulled out her phone. “It’s Vicky!”

  “Are you going to answer it?”

  “No way!” Both Vicky and her dad had called multiple times when they learned she and Dylan weren’t on the next flight, but Becca had ignored them all. Dylan had said he’d deal with them.

  She stared at the phone until it stopped ringing. A minute later the phone beeped that she had a message. Becca didn’t want to listen to it, but worried something horrible could have happened so decided to go ahead and check it.

  “She’s just touching base to make sure I’m all right,” Becca said, hanging up and feeling a little guilty about disobeying Vicky. She had tried to plan a nice trip for them.

  “Are you going to call her back?”

  “I’ll text her later that everything is fine. I don’t need help from her or Dad. I can handle being on my own.”

  “I’m afraid my parents wouldn’t be calling to see if I was okay. They’d be demanding I come home on the next train.”

  Becca rolled closer to him, her face close to his. “I’m sorry this is so horrible for you. Actually, I’m sorry this is your life. It sucks.”

  He turned his head in her direction. “But you make it worth every second. I hope you know that. Before, I ran away to be free from them and escape the person I was turning into. Since I met you, I’ve been myself for the first time in my life, and I like this guy.”

  She leaned forward and kissed him slowly, repeatedly, helping him forget his troubles. Her hair cascaded around their faces, a perfect curtain of privacy. Nikolai captured her with the intensity of his deep blue eyes, as his arms slid around her. He kissed her back, their lunch forgotten.

  “Okay, which way next?�
� Nikolai tried to keep quiet and let Becca navigate through a tangle of streets to a gift shop they’d passed yesterday. She wanted to bring something back to her brother.

  “It’s down this side street,” she said, studying the shops and street signs. “I’m sorry this is taking so long, but it was the perfect T-shirt for Dylan. It said Czech Mate and had a king chess piece. Dylan played chess in high school and was really good.”

  They reached the end of the block. “Are you sure this is right?” he teased, admiring the way Becca scrunched up her face when she concentrated.

  “Positive. Turn here.”

  They entered a crooked street that looked more like an alley. Signboards stood outside various shops and restaurants.

  “Okay, maybe not positive.” Becca nibbled the edge of her lip.

  Nikolai slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. “That’s all right. You’ll never be lost when I’m around.”

  They turned the bend in the narrow street and Nikolai stopped cold. Ahead, about fifty feet, stood three men from the Mondovian guard. Even though the men were dressed in street clothes and not military detail, Nikolai would recognize them and their steely, determined eyes anywhere. They were on a mission, and that mission was him.

  “Becca,” he said, taking her arm. “We need to turn around and go in the other direction.”

  “But I know this is right. I’m sure of it.”

  The three men walked toward them, their eyes fixed on Nikolai. He knew he should give himself up and go quietly, but he wasn’t ready. Not by a long shot.

  “Becca. Don’t panic, but see those men?” He spoke in a calm voice and tried to lead her away. “We need to get out of here.”

  She looked at the men and back to Nikolai with fear in her eyes. “Oh my God,” she uttered, turning with Nikolai and rushing back the way they came.

  Nikolai grabbed Becca’s hand and they took off, dodging tourists. The men started running. His heart pumped and his mind raced as he tried to figure out an escape plan.

  He glanced back. The men were gaining on them fast. He pulled Becca along.

  She stumbled and went down. He pulled her up by the waist and kept running.

  “Nikolai, who are those men?”

  “My father sent them. They’re here for me, not you.”

  Just as they reached the corner, a crowd of tourists blocked their way.

  “Excuse me, pardon me.” He dragged Becca through the mass.

  They turned the corner and came up short against a souvenir cart of handbags and a crush of more tourists.

  “Prince Nikolai!” a commanding voice called out, much too close.

  Nikolai hesitated for an instant, then continued on, only to have Becca’s hand ripped from his.

  “Nikolai!” she screamed.

  23

  Rough hands grabbed Becca from behind, yanking her away from Nikolai’s grasp. Even though he said the men weren’t after her, she’d never been so terrified. Nikolai turned to help her as the other men caught up.

  “Stand down!” Nikolai commanded with steely determination, no longer the mild-mannered guy she’d grown to love. “She has nothing to do with this!”

  Instantly, the men released Becca, who ran to Nikolai. He put himself between her and the dangerous-looking men. Nikolai stared them down, daring them to make a move.

  “You need to come with us now. King’s orders,” the taller man said.

  “I’ve already instructed Visar that I would be more than happy to in two days’ time.”

  Crowds of tourists gave them a wide berth, watching with the same shock as Becca. She clung to his arm.

  “Are you okay?” Nikolai asked, training his eyes on the men.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  Nikolai fired angry foreign words at the men.

  Around them, cameras flashed and clicked as the crowd grew.

  The taller man spoke calmly to Nikolai, again in a language she didn’t recognize. Nikolai didn’t relax his stance. Instead, he held up his hand, as if ordering them to stay back. He eyed the men with caution.

  “Becca, I’m so sorry.” He turned and cupped her face with his hand, and she saw the torment in his eyes.

  “Who are they? Do you know them?” She took his hand in hers, relieved to feel his strength and steady calm.

  Before he could answer, two Prague police officers pushed through the crowd of spectators. Thank God!

  The officials looked past Nikolai to the men and nodded.

  Suddenly two of the men from Mondovia stepped forward and pulled Nikolai away from her, ignoring the police presence.

  Nikolai lashed out as they dragged him away. The men struggled to keep their hold. Becca experienced a stab of terror when Nikolai was knocked in the face as the men fought to control him.

  “Help!” she screamed to the police who stood idle as if they didn’t want to get involved.

  Without thinking, Becca ran into the fray, pounding on the back of one man as they lifted Nikolai off the ground. A strong hand shoved her away.

  Suddenly her arms were pinned behind her.

  Nikolai fought harder, bucking and kicking. His phone fell to the ground and was crushed by one of the assailant’s boots.

  The men were carrying him away.

  “Nikolai!” she screamed.

  “Becca!” Nikolai yelled, with blood running from his nose. “I’ll find you. I promise.”

  Why was no one helping them? She struggled, to no avail. “Let me go! Don’t you see? They’re kidnapping him!”

  A white, unmarked van pulled up. The men shoved Nikolai inside, jumped in after him, and slammed the door. The van sped off, as people rushed out of the way, lest they be run over.

  When the van was out of sight, Becca was abruptly released. She turned to face her captor—a Prague police officer.

  “What is wrong with you? Those men just abducted my boyfriend! Go after them!”

  The officer glared. “Miss, you are interfering with international affairs. I advise you to return to your hotel and leave this country before you find yourself in more serious trouble.”

  The horrible man stood like a formidable wall. Becca turned around to find a circle of gawking tourists watching the spectacle, most with shocked expressions, others taking pictures. Becca rushed to where Nikolai had been only moments before. All that remained was his broken phone. She’d put her contact information in it so they could stay in touch.

  How would he find her now?

  She scooped up the pieces and looked down the street, in the direction the van had disappeared. Empty.

  A glance back revealed more officers now dispersing the crowd while the mean officer watched her with an unyielding glare.

  How was this possible?

  Nikolai was gone.

  24

  Becca was lost, literally and figuratively. All she wanted was to get back to the hostel.

  And after wandering aimlessly, she finally asked for assistance. A few more wrong turns and she spotted the hostel. As she approached, she remembered Nikolai’s motorcycle. She ran around the corner, not sure what to expect.

  Her heart lurched. The cycle was gone. Nikolai was gone. It felt like a death. She looked around, hoping to somehow find him peeking out behind the bushes, but she didn’t see Nikolai or any of the terrible men from Mondovia. She was beginning to hate his country.

  She entered the hostel. Kristoff was working behind the counter. He stood up, alarmed, when he noticed her defeated face.

  “Miss, what has happened? Have you been hurt?”

  She looked down at her dirty shorts, scraped knee. “I’m okay,” she said, with a controlled breath, willing herself not to fall apart.

  “Where is your friend?” he asked with concern.

  “He’s—gone.” She didn’t know if she should say anything or not. She’d been trying to hide his identity and protect him, but it hadn’t mattered. He was gone, ripped from her side.

  The door opened and the
group from Minnesota poured in. “There she is! I told you!” Claire said.

  “You’re right,” said Brian.

  “You’re on the cover of the Daily Enquirer!” Andrea rushed forward and pulled the paper from her handbag. “Look! There you are with Nick. I mean Prince Nikolai. Where is he?”

  Becca swallowed her emotions. “He’s not here.”

  “What do you mean not here?” Claire asked.

  “He went home,” Becca answered.

  “Great. I finally meet someone famous and he’s gone before I can prove it,” Claire complained.

  Kristoff came out from around the reception desk. “Why don’t you come back to the office for a minute,” he said, saving Becca from more of Claire’s annoying comments.

  Becca followed, still too shaken to know what else to do. Kristoff indicated a chair and offered her a bottle of water. He sat across from her.

  “Are you sure you’re all right? Because you don’t look all right.”

  Becca gripped the water bottle. How could she explain? None of it made any sense. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”

  “How about you tell me how you came to look so disheveled. Did someone hurt you?”

  She swallowed. “Some men came and took Nikolai away. I think they were from his country.”

  Kristoff’s eyes widened. “People from Mondovia?” he asked, wide-eyed.

  She nodded silently, her eyes watering.

  “Well, that’s not an everyday occurrence. Is there anything I can do to help?” Kristoff asked.

  “I don’t know. My wallet and passport were stolen, but I pick up my new passport tomorrow.”

  “Do you have someone who can wire you money?”

  She really didn’t want to think about this right now. “Yeah, I could call my brother.” She sure didn’t want to alert her dad to more problems.

  “I can provide you information on where he should wire it.”

  “That would be great, but can I get it from you later? I’d like to be alone for a while. I’ve got to figure some things out.”

  He nodded. “Please let me know if there is anything I can do. I’ll be on until five this evening.”

  “Thank you.” Becca left the office, relieved that Claire and her friends were gone, and that the common room was empty.