Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

21

THAYER

In a furious rage, I paced back and forth and threw out curses known to man.

One of my bodyguards came down from Kennedy’s room. Judging by the look on his face, I already

figured out what he was about to say.

“Where’s the woman assisting Kennedy?”

“She’s in the room.” He dropped his gaze, colors draining from his face.

“What the fuck is she doing there?” My blood boiled, knowing nobody could talk to Kennedy to change

her mind or stop her until I arrived.

I forced myself to think straight, but nothing I could think of other than my selfishness and guilt screwing

my head.

“Miss Arina has the jewelry, and she’s— she’s crying, worried of losing her job, Your Highness.” Of

course, she was.

If Lud couldn’t stop her from leaving, what Arina could have done? Kennedy was no weakling—she

was strong-willed, smart, and motivated, but she was also fiery and impatient.

With eyes were ablaze with anger, I turned to Ash. He was typing something on his phone.

“How long that asshole would be here?” My voice was quiet but deadly.

“He’ll be here in less than thirty minutes.”

“Good. Tell him to see me in the study.” I strode towards the hallway. My chest tightened. I had to lean

against the wall as I felt like my movements were uncoordinated.

“Your Highness, are you okay?” It was Ash. He must have followed me. "T?"

I shook my head. “Nothing is okay. Stop asking me that stupid question anymore. Everything! My life is

falling apart. I’m one of the most powerful men in this country, but I couldn’t do anything to stop my

woman from leaving! I am helpless, Zakkary!”

He held the door open for me. I quickly went to the liquor rack and poured myself the strongest I had. I

emptied in one gulping, ignoring the burning sensation in my throat.

My mind went back to Kennedy as she knelt before me, taking my cock all the way to the back of her

throat. She didn’t have an ounce of shyness to do what she wanted in giving me pleasure. She was the

most beautiful thing with her teary, lust-filled eyes, dozing with needs.

I sat down at my desk, feeling my knees give in. For the first time in my life, I felt helpless. I could have

everything in a snap of my fingers. When it came to love and relationship, I was weak and useless.

Jesus.

I love her. I could feel it in my heart, in my bones, deep down in me. How could that even be possible

when I knew little about her? I guessed you didn't have to know the person to fall in love with. When

she was the right one for you, everything seemed just right.

Again, I checked my phone for her message. Nothing—nothing from Kennedy as if she blocked me out

of her life completely.

“Everything is gonna be fine, T.” I felt the sincerity in his voice, but I also knew that he was trying to

make me feel better.

I met his gaze. “Not this time.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“I don’t see you a quitter, either as a prince or my friend. We’ve come this far. This is not the right time

to give up on something you’ve invested your time and your feelings for. I would do everything in my

power to help you. All you have to do is ask.”

Before I could say something, someone knocked on the door.

“That’s probably Ludovic,” he announced.

As soon as Lud’s face emerged from the door, my rage boiled. I spat out, “You’re fired! Get out, and I

don’t wanna see your face anywhere near me ever again!”

Lud might have been expecting that I would be raging mad, but clearly, he wasn’t thinking that I would

fire him. The color drained from his face. His eyes widened in shock.

He still entered and bowed. “I apologize for my behavior, Your Highness, but if you—”

“Did I tell you that you could talk?”

He dropped his gaze.

“I trusted you with my life. I considered you as one of my few friends. But what you did was

unforgivable. You broke my trust, Stellan. I don’t need an employee who can’t follow protocols. Get out

of this fucking room before I do something I might later regret.”

“Your Highness,” Ash called me in low voice.

“What?” I snapped my gaze at him. “You’re gonna save his ass?”

“No, Your Royal Highness. But I have a proposition.”

I shook my head. “I’m not interested. I want you to take this man out of my house.” Shaking in anger, I

poured another shot into my glass. I placed the bottle down when my hand. It didn’t stop me from

shaking no matter how strong I gripped the bottle. A sudden chill of dread swept over me.

“Your Highness.” Ash rushed towards me as he caught the sight of my struggle. “You’re upset. Let me

help you with that. Please, try to take a deep breath.” He poured me a shot, dutifully watching me.

“I’m fine.” My hand was still shaking.

“Lud, call the doctor.”

“I don’t need a fucking doctor. What I need is Kennedy! If you can’t bring her back, then there’s nothing

you and that doctor could help.” My mind was reeling, but nothing seemed to make any sense. My

chest was whirring with so mixed emotions, and I was losing control. Clearly, I underestimate my

feelings towards Kennedy, and I took for granted the fact of telling her the truth.

“That’s what I’m about to propose to you,” he said hesitantly.

I stared bleakly at him.

“But I can’t do it alone,” he added.

I snorted mockingly. “Let me guess. You need his help.” I swift a glance at still unmoving Lud.”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s a two-person mission.”

I gave a miserable shrug. “I’m listening.”

“Your Highness, may I speak?”

“What do you think you’d say that would pique my interest?”

He swallowed. “Remember the plan B?”

A picture of that moment sprung in my mind. For a brief moment, a tiny thrill of excitement tingled my

skin. My chest filled with hopes as I let go of a long shuddering sigh.

“How would you two supposed to do that?” I calmed a little. I gestured for Lud to join Ash in the lounge

chair.

“We need a jet,” Ash said.

“It can be arranged. What’s the crucial part?”

They looked at each other, fighting which one of them to answer.

“Just fucking say it.”

Thirty minutes later, I was sitting on the edge of my desk as they arranged whatever they needed.

I tapped my finger against the glass in my grasp. “Do you think this would work?”

“Have a little patient and give us some credit.” Lud chuckled.

“If you failed me again, you’re out. Completely.” I would have laughed at my words, but I watched how

they did their jobs. I understood why he helped Kennedy out of this country. I just couldn’t accept my

failure and my mistake.

“It seems that everything is ready.” Ash closed the laptop on his lap.

“Just don’t make any scenes. I can’t afford to have my security details tangled in any mess and create

an international incident.”

“We know what to do. And I have plan B. Well, it would be Plan C.”

“Good. Good luck. Keep me posted.”

***

Eight hours later…

I was summoned by my father. I figured what was this all about. When I came face to face with him, I

showed him my defeat, but in my heart, I was not ready to give up now that our plan was in progress.

“Where’s your girlfriend?”

“Sorry, what?” Did he just say, my girlfriend? I also noticed something different in his mood today. He

seemed to relax than the last time I was in this room.

“You heard me, Thayer.” He offered a glass of Dalmore 62.

“What are we drinking for?”

“She went back?”

“Yeah.” My stomach clenched tightly.

“Tell me you have plans.”

I met his gaze. “I think, you win.”

“I raised you, my son. I taught you how to face difficulties, to be resilient. So that one day, you could

apply it. I didn’t teach you to give up because you failed. I taught you how to crawl back when you fall,

rise to your feet, and fight again.”

I blinked in surprise. I wasn’t expecting to hear something like this from him. Not today. “What

changed?”

“Family. Building a strong kingdom starts within the family. When we showed how tight this family is, we

built an example for our people. You could only do that when you start constituting your own, with the

person you love and trust. She would be by your side, guiding you when things wouldn’t go as planned.

She would support you in all your endeavors. A wife, royal or not, is still your life partner, Thayer. You

fight side by side. I don’t see that in Lady Laudeau. When I saw you were dancing with Kennedy, she lit

you up. I saw the love and connection that I didn’t see when Lady Laudeau was with you.”

About time. “To Kennedy, then.” I raised my glass.

“To you and Kennedy. And don’t ever let me down.”