The Summer Palace: A Captive Prince Short Story (Captive Prince Short Stories Book 2)

‘I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his people.’

Laurent said, ‘What?’

‘You were watching the road,’ said Damen.

And then of other things. His smile widened.

‘We can go riding if I can move tomorrow.’ The words, lazily, long minutes later.

In small ways, the cultures were mixing.

Damen started laughing.

He lifted his head and said, ‘Bring refreshments, something cool to drink.

I’m here to inform you that the King of Akielos has arrived.’

‘Thank you, I can be said to be faintly aware of that.’

The Veretian soldier who entered was no one Damen knew, and showed a remarkable lack of reaction to Laurent with the marks of lovemaking still on him.

‘What?’ called Laurent, pushing himself up on an elbow.