Page 64 of His Runaway Princess

She reached for the remote. “Just a little bit. Dr. Lincoln wants you to wait until he comes back. I already hit the button to let them know you’re awake.”

His head rose, just a little bit, but enough for the moment. “Can you tell me what happened? It’s a little fuzzy.”

She shook her head and gave him another bit of water. “They want to talk to you without tainting your memory.”

Ryker let his eyes close again. “I understand.”

He remembered proposing to Amalia, something he’d been thinking about since they day after he arrived. His hesitation came because they still hadn’t known each other more than a few days, not even two weeks counting the time in Ravenzario and back in Øyanord.

Then... a call from... someone. Thor? Had he told Ryker they were coming to Øyanord? And Princess Genevieve?

He’d been on her security team for years. It had the potential to be quite awkward. Her reaction and attitude would determine that.

Knowing her as well as he did, she’d likely breeze in to whatever room he happened to be in at the time, command attention by her mere presence, then proceed to make some joke or snarky comment meant to make him laugh.

“Benjamin and Genevieve will be by to see you shortly, unless they expect to move you to the palace soon. Then they’ll see you there. Thor is doing what Thor does.” He could almost hear the amused eye roll.

“Talking with the security teams.” It didn’t even need to be a question. Thor had always been - and would always be - a protector at the core.

“Exactly.”

Before they could say anything else, the door opened to let several people in. The newcomers included a couple of doctors and nurses, along with... Was that the King of Øyanord?

“Good morning, Your Royal Highness.”

Ryker managed to control his response when he realized the doctor spoke to him and not one of the other people in the room. “Morning.”

He knew they considered him married to Amalia, but didn’t the king have to do something special to give him an actual title?

Maybe the doctor used it regardless of the official legalities - and those could be different in Øyanord than Eyjania.

“How are you feeling?”

Right. The doctor had already asked that once. “Everything hurts, but I’ll live.”

Dr. Lincoln chuckled. “That’s the plan.” He sat down on the doctor stool and rolled to Ryker’s side. After listening to his heart and lungs, he took a peek at the leg. “Everything looks and sounds about like we’d expect. Do you remember what happened?”

Ryker closed his eyes and tried to think. “He had a knife. I think that’s about all I can remember at the moment.”

The doctor made a note. “It’s not uncommon to lose the moments immediately prior to a head injury. You may remember in time, possibly as we reduce your medication, or you may never remember. Yes, he had a knife. You were fortunate to be stabbed in the leg. Right now, we would expect for you to regain full range of motion and mobility rather quickly. You’re young, in good shape, and were attended to immediately.”

He patted Ryker’s arm. “You can sit up and move as much as you’re comfortable with, but don’t push it. Get some rest. That’s what you really need right now. I can kick any or all of these big wigs out if you want me to.” Dr. Lincoln winked at him. “They might be royalty, but I’m the doc.”

Ryker’s laughter quickly turned to whimpers. “I’m good for now, but if something changes, and I need a few less titles in here I’ll let you know.”

Dr. Lincoln grinned. “Very well.” He gave a glare to the rest those in the room. “But he does need his rest so this needs to be brief.”

Queen Eliana spoke from them all. “We’ll be careful not to tire him out and let him rest.”

The doctor and his entourage left the room. Ryker found himself alone with a king and a queen mother from his two countries.

Would he need dual citizenship? Would Øyanord allow him to if he became prince consort?

Queen Eliana smiled at him. “I’ll be back shortly. Ryker, you’ve served our family faithfully for years, helping keep Genevieve safe, even when she didn’t really want you to. Please let us know what we can do for you.”

Ryker nodded. “I will, ma’am.”

As she left, the king took a seat on the stool the doctor had used. “Now that they’re all gone, how are you really feeling?”

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