Page 65 of Trained Royal
They exited the room together and found Nina and Felix in conversation. Kieren hid his smile when Felix lit up at the sight of Brett. He’d always known there was a connection between the two men, but they were only professional while at work. How they did that when they worked side by side with Christian and Oscar as their detail, he’d never know. It was bad enough keeping his own feelings out of the picture when Patrick was around him, and that didn’t turn out well. The media was having a field day about “the bodyguard and the prince” in their articles. He supposed it did sound like something out of a romance novel.
“Do you mind me guarding you?” Nina asked as they wandered back towards where Patrick was.
“I don’t mind, but it’s weird. I’m not used to being on this side of it.” He glanced at her. “How are you finding it? You’ve only been with us for a couple of weeks.”
“It’s been a trial by fire. Put it that way.” She rolled her shoulders.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I hadn’t planned for this to happen a week after you arrived, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“It’s a bit nerve-wracking protecting a bodyguard with many years more experience than me,” she admitted.
“It doesn’t matter how many years under your belt you have, as long as you trust your instincts, listen to those around you and do the best job that you can. If you stick with those, no one can complain about what happens, regardless of the outcome.”
“Thanks.”
“Besides, I’m not as important as the royals, so really, you’re being eased into it.”
“Kieren Young! Get your backside following me right this minute!”
Kieren flinched at the strict, no-nonsense tone of the king. Even Nina’s eyes widened. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He followed in King Andrew’s footsteps, Nina a few steps behind, probably trying to stay out of sight. They entered the king’s rooms, and Nina stayed outside while Kieren stood as straight as he could without hurting himself.
Andrew whirled around and put his hands on his hips. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Have a seat, Kieren.”
Kieren did, sighing as it took the pressure off his injury. Andrew paced in front of him, and Kieren could honestly say he’d never seen the king as agitated as he was right then. He wanted to ask if he was okay, but he didn’t want to make him angrier. Because that’s what was wafting off him. But anger at what? Kieren didn’t think he’d done anything wrong. Was it because of the media attention? Maybe he didn’t want Patrick and Kieren together.
“I can see the thoughts tumbling through your brain, Kieren. Relax. I have no issue with your relationship with Patrick. In fact, I wholly agree and accept it.”
Kieren cleared his throat. “Then, could I ask what the problem is?” he said hesitantly.
Andrew paused in front of him. “My problem is what you told your bodyguard.”
Kieren frowned, trying to understand what he’d said to Nina that would cause such upheaval. Andrew huffed and sat down, crossing his legs.
“You told her you weren’t as important as the royals.”
Kieren still didn’t get it. “I’m not.”
“My dear boy, you are just as important as us. If not more.”
“That’s not—”
Andrew interrupted, his voice lower but no less significant. “What do you think happened when Louisa died?” The man didn’t meet Kieren’s gaze.
Kieren didn’t know how to answer that because he wasn’t entirely sure what the king was asking.
“My life was destroyed. That’s what happened.” He stared into the distance. “Louisa was the air I breathed, my reason for waking up every morning, the reason I fought so hard for everything we believed in. She was my life, my soul, my everything. Don’t get me wrong. I love my kids with everything I am, but when you meet the other half of you,” he faced Kieren again, “they become your world.”
The pain in his voice sank deep inside Kieren, and if he had been sure he would welcome it, he would’ve wrapped his arms around the man.
“When she died, I lost my tether. I lost those reasons to live every day. It was only the thought that she would want me to continue, to be there for our children, to see our plans through that I was able to continue breathing each day.” He coughed. “Being royal is a pain in the ass. But having someone beside you, supporting you, makes it bearable, worthwhile.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Thatis why you are important.”
Kieren didn’t know what to say. The lump in his throat stopped him from being able to do anything but breathe through the tears that wanted to fall.
“I had been worried about Patrick. He and Henry are the most emotional of us all, but Henry found his tether in Robert. Patrick was floundering. I doubt you missed that.” Kieren nodded once. “Victoria had come to me with her concerns, but we weren’t sure how to help. Until we noticed the change in your relationship. At the time, I don’t think even you or he were aware of it, but it gave us hope. And now, you are Patrick’s tether. I’m not saying that to make you change your mind if you plan to leave, although I hope you would reconsider, but to make you understand how important you are. We, as royals, need someone—or several someones—to love us for who we are and what we have to do. The weight of royalty is not light, even for those who are further down the line of succession.” Andrew sighed. “I feel like I’m pushing you into something you might not want.”
“No! I do. Want it, I mean. Patrick is…my everything,” Kieren said, echoing Andrew’s words about his late wife. “I hadn’t expected it to happen, but I’m glad it did. We need each other. He’s all I have, and I don’t want to let him go unless I have to.”
