Page 52 of Defying the Crown
Erik's hand rests on my shoulder, steady and familiar. "You were trying to protect yourself. To have something real."
"And look what it cost him!" I gesture wildly at the TV still broadcasting our private moments. "I exposed him to exactly what I was hiding from. The press, the scrutiny, the judgment - I've thrown him into the spotlight without any warning or protection."
"We can help protect him now," Erik says softly. "But first, we need to get you somewhere safe. Your father-"
"To hell with what Father wants! When has Father ever given a flying fuck about what I want!" The words explode from me with surprising force. "I need to find Daniel. I need to explain-"
"Harald." Erik's grip tightens on my shoulder, his voice stern. "He needs time. And right now, you have responsibilities that can't wait. We need to go."
The weight of my title settles back onto my shoulders like a lead cape, suffocating and drowning me. But all I can see is Daniel's face, twisted with hurt and betrayal, as he realized the extent of my deception.
Act III
Chapter 21
Daniel
I stumble out of the Peninsula's revolving doors, my legs trembling beneath me. The morning sun feels too bright, too harsh against my tear-stained face. My phone vibrates non-stop in my pocket – a constant reminder of the nightmare unfolding around me.
A crowd of photographers materializes, their cameras clicking like insects. Flashes burst in my face.
"Daniel! Over here!"
"Are you Prince Harald's boyfriend?"
"How long have you been dating the Crown Prince?"
My chest constricts. The air feels thick, impossible to draw into my lungs. I duck my head and push through the wall of bodies, their questions becoming a deafening roar. My hands shake so violently I can barely pull up my hood to shield my face.
My phone won't stop. Notifications flood the screen – texts from coworkers, Instagram tags, Twitter mentions. CNN's headline glares up at me: "Danish Crown Prince's Secret Gay Romance Exposed." There's a photo of us kissing on the Wonder Wheel, another of us walking hand in hand on the boardwalk. My stomach lurches.
Harald's name lights up my screen. Again. Again. Again.
"Daniel, please let me explain."
"I never meant to hurt you."
"Pick up, kæreste. Please."
I silence the phone and shove it deep in my pocket, bile rising in my throat. The sidewalk swims before my eyes as I break into a run, desperate to escape the pursuing cameras. My heart pounds so hard I think it might burst. Every breath comes in short, painful gasps.
I duck into the first subway entrance I find, practically falling down the stairs. The fluorescent lights flicker overhead as I collapse against a pillar, sliding to the ground. My whole body trembles, fingers tingling with pins and needles. The phone keeps buzzing against my thigh – Harald's desperate attempts to reach me. I squeeze my eyes shut, but the tears leak out anyway.
Crown Prince. He's the fucking Crown Prince of Denmark. And I'm just... me. The foster kid. The insurance drone. The fool who fell for another beautiful lie.
I pull my hoodie tighter around my face as I emerge from the subway, scanning the street for cameras or curious eyes. A woman walking her dog does a double-take, staring at me with dawning recognition. I duck into a bodega, pretending to browse magazines while my heart hammers against my ribs. The cashier glances up from his phone, his eyes widening.
"Hey, aren't you—"
I bolt before he can finish, abandoning any pretense of normalcy. Three blocks from my apartment, a group of teenagers point phones in my direction. I cross the street abruptly, taking a circuitous route through back alleys I've never used before. By the time I reach my building, sweat soaks through my shirt despite the cool morning air.
The moment I unlock our apartment door, I hear the TV blaring. My stomach drops.
"—Crown Prince Harald of Denmark seen in New York City with a man now identified as Daniel Ramirez—"
I freeze in the doorway. Jayda and Caleb sit on the couch, their faces illuminated by the flashing images on the screen. My face. Harald's face. Our kisses played on repeat for the world's entertainment.
"Danny!" Jayda jumps up, rushing toward me. Her black-painted nails reach for me, her face twisted with concern. "Oh my god, we've been trying to call you!"
