Caught Between Two Princes

She was nowhere to be found. He pulled on his clothes and ran to the elevator barefoot. As he watched the elevator count down from 40, he scanned his phone.

He had missed calls from a million people, including both of his parents and Aaron. He skimmed through his text messages. They didn't make any sense.

Aaron wanted to rip his head off. What the hell was he angry about? James should be the one who was blowing up his phone with angry texts.

King Henry demanded to see James as soon as the former could send a car. Why would Henry need to send a car? He didn't send a car for James once since he got back to Caines three months ago.

His mother's texts were the most bewildering.

Who is she?

I thought you were marrying into the family of Maine.

Did your father make you do this?

Like a puzzle piece that refused to fit had finally fallen into place, in a matter of seconds he remembered. Not the whole of it, but enough to understand.

"Oh fuck!" he cursed.

James dashed from the elevator as soon as the doors opened. He sped past reception. Then went straight towards the blinding flashes and reporters that surrounded her.

Zoey choked. She was like a lost lamb being brought to the slaughter. He went for her without thinking.

Her eyes were darting around as she tried to figure out what to do. He pulled her against his chest and draped his jacket over her head and shoulders.

Duke Beaumont, what is the nature of your relationship with Lady Zoey?

Lady Zoey, what about your engagement to the crown prince?

Are you the bastard son of the king?

Is this relationship an attempt to replace Prince Aaron as crown prince?

On and on the questions flowed.

Zoey's head was spinning. James' experience with the press served him well. He acted quickly and dragged her back inside, shutting the door before the press could enter. The manager of the hotel rushed up to them as hotel staff and security scurried to keep the press out.

"My apologies, Your Grace! They came out of nowhere. Rest assured that we will find that leak and-"

James vaguely heard the words the manager said to him. Everything around him was a faraway dream. The woman in his arms staining his shirt with tears was the only thing that was real.

"Just get them out of here!" he ordered, cutting the manager off as he rushed Zoey into an elevator.

"Of course, Your Grace!"

The manager hurried off through the crowd of guests that had gathered to see what was going on.

When the doors of the elevator closed, James withdrew the jacket from her shoulders. She was breathing heavily, but at least the crying had stopped. Steadying herself, she turned to him. Grabbed his left wrist and lifted her left hand to show him the matching wedding bands.

"What on earth happened last night!"

She was nowhere to be found. He pulled on his clothes and ran to the elevator barefoot. As he watched the elevator count down from 40, he scanned his phone.

He had missed calls from a million people, including both of his parents and Aaron. He skimmed through his text messages. They didn't make any sense.

Aaron wanted to rip his head off. What the hell was he angry about? James should be the one who was blowing up his phone with angry texts.

King Henry demanded to see James as soon as the former could send a car. Why would Henry need to send a car? He didn't send a car for James once since he got back to Caines three months ago.

His mother's texts were the most bewildering.

Who is she?

I thought you were marrying into the family of Maine.

Did your father make you do this?

Like a puzzle piece that refused to fit had finally fallen into place, in a matter of seconds he remembered. Not the whole of it, but enough to understand.

"Oh fuck!" he cursed.

James dashed from the elevator as soon as the doors opened. He sped past reception. Then went straight towards the blinding flashes and reporters that surrounded her.

Zoey choked. She was like a lost lamb being brought to the slaughter. He went for her without thinking.

Her eyes were darting around as she tried to figure out what to do. He pulled her against his chest and draped his jacket over her head and shoulders.

Duke Beaumont, what is the nature of your relationship with Lady Zoey?

Lady Zoey, what about your engagement to the crown prince?

Are you the bastard son of the king?

Is this relationship an attempt to replace Prince Aaron as crown prince?

On and on the questions flowed.

Zoey's head was spinning. James' experience with the press served him well. He acted quickly and dragged her back inside, shutting the door before the press could enter. The manager of the hotel rushed up to them as hotel staff and security scurried to keep the press out.

"My apologies, Your Grace! They came out of nowhere. Rest assured that we will find that leak and-"

James vaguely heard the words the manager said to him. Everything around him was a faraway dream. The woman in his arms staining his shirt with tears was the only thing that was real.

"Just get them out of here!" he ordered, cutting the manager off as he rushed Zoey into an elevator.

"Of course, Your Grace!"

The manager hurried off through the crowd of guests that had gathered to see what was going on.

When the doors of the elevator closed, James withdrew the jacket from her shoulders. She was breathing heavily, but at least the crying had stopped. Steadying herself, she turned to him. Grabbed his left wrist and lifted her left hand to show him the matching wedding bands.

"What on earth happened last night!"