Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

48

KENNEDY

Grinning, I put my phone down. I just talked to Thayer. I hadn’t realized how much I loved him until he

was miles away from me. God, I missed him already, but I also missed being with my friends.

“So, you’re leaving?” Siena asked, pouring a liberal amount of milk into her coffee.

“Since when do you prefer a cow over almond?” I looked down at her creamy cup.

“Since today. What’s your deal, Siena?” Serenity asked, curling her bronze hair around her finger.

“Nothing. Just our friend is gonna be in the other part of the world with her prince charming,” she said

incredulously.

“We can just be supportive and be happy with her decision.” Her brow arched.

“She loves her job, Serenity. Then prince charming came along. I mean they barely know each other

and now look at her. She just broke up with her asshole ex, yet she’s like under the prince's spell. How

convenient? Now, she’s in love. isn’t it crazy?” She snorted into her coffee.

“Love moves in a mysterious way. I think a prince like him can have a woman he wants, or his family

can arrange someone for him, but he finds love in our friend.”

“And look at those two scary men in suits.” Siena glared over my shoulder. “It’s weird that they follow

you wherever you go.”

“Just ignore them and let them do their job,” I told them, bringing the cup into my lips.

“And damn, that’s a huge stone.” Serenity glanced at my engagement ring.

“Do they have a diamond mining in Capria?”

I chuckled. I remembered how I told Thauer to give me a small stone instead of what I was wearing.

“Not that I know of. But he told me that he request the rare blue to resemble the color of my eyes.”

“God, he’s so head over heel’s in love with you.”

“He’s wealthy and powerful. Of course, he can have anything he wants. Besides, he’s the second in

line. He has to show off.” Siena rolled her eyes.

I felt hurt. I couldn’t believe she had this opinion of Thayer and me.

“In his defends, Thayer isn’t just the second in line. He’s a hard-working person.”

She pursed her lips. “Don’t get me wrong, Ken. I’m happy for both of you. Truly. I just hope he won’t

hurt you like Prince Charles to Princess Diana and Prince William to Kate. I know you’re a risk-taker.

Just take care, and whatever you do, love yourself for doing it. You don’t have to prove anything to

anyone, okay?” She put her hand over mine.

“How’s it to live there?” Serenity asked to break the tension around.

“It’s just the same as here. I haven’t been everywhere. Thayer took me to his father’s county and

Guardion. We sailed where he proposed.”

Serenity giggled. “Oh, my God! That’s so romantic. Did he down on one knee?”

“No. At first, I turned him down.”

“What?” Her eyes grew big as she leaned back. “Why did you do that?”

“It’s a long story.” I smiled, remembering how I wore the ring. Our story was nothing alike like most

couples. I thought that made ours special.

“Miss, are you Kennedy Gilby?”

I turned my head to the young woman behind me in big black-rimmed glasses. “Yes?”

“Oh, my God! Can we have a selfie?”

“Miss?” One of the bodyguards was already behind me.

“It’s okay,” I told him before I looked back at the girl in glasses. “Sure.”

I smiled at her camera phone. Once we were done, she giggled. “Thanks. You’re so beautiful and kind.”

“That’s so sweet of you. You’re welcome.” When I got back to Siena and Serenity, they were just

staring at me. “What?”

“Wow. You’re completely a different person. I mean in a good way. What just happened?”

“Well, I learned a few things. It’s not easy, but I think I can do something and make a little difference.”

“As long as you’re happy and he’s not forcing you to do anything you don’t like, Serenity and I will

always be here with you.” Finally, her tensed expression eased as a smile genuinely spread on her lips.

I would have said the same thing if she was in my shoe because it may be enthralling, it could also be

terrifying knowing you would be in public scrutiny most of the time.

“So, here we thought since there’s no guarantee when we could give you your bridal shower, we plan a

small surprise for you.” Serenity clasped her hands together.

“And you can’t give us excuses. Think of this as our last party together before you’re gonna be Mrs.

Prince Thayer.”

“Oh, my God. Why do I suddenly feel nervous?” I looked at both of them. In the next few seconds, we

were both laughing uncontrollably.

***

“Are you sure this would work?” I asked both of them as I dressed into a baggy hoodie. I wanted to get

away from the men in suits so that we could have fun without them reporting our little plan back to

Thayer.

“This would. Remember, we have every two tickets, but instead of going to Hollywood, we’ll be leaving Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

in an hour to Vegas, okay?”

I nodded at Siena. “Got it.” I sent a text to Thayer earlier that I wouldn’t be able to answer if he called

me. I knew he would be pissed at those guys, but I was sure nothing harm would be done during our

trips.

Five hours later, we landed in Las Vegas. An hour later, I was staring at myself in the mirror in a red

mini dress with a bride-to-be sash.

“Are you ready?” Siena was ecstatic and looked stunning. She was wearing a blue mini dress.

“Let’s go, girls! Our VIP is ready!” Serenity barely stepped out of her comfort zone, but tonight she was

like a newly transform in a black dress and just showed off a lot of cleavages.

Once we entered the VIP they rented, a mix of excitement and anticipation made me a little jittery. I

was still blindfolded, but I smelled the drinks and an intense male perfume. I also felt the coldness of

the room. Then the pop music started playing so loud, I jumped.

“It’s okay. Just relax,” it was Serenity whispering into my ear.

“You didn’t hire a stripper, did you?” I laughed.

“It's a surprise. Okay, take a seat.” She guided me to sit down. Once I was seated, she asked,

“Ready?”

When I nodded, she pulled off the tie at the back of my head. The blindfold fell. I blinked and allowed

my pupils to adjust to the blinding light around me. For a moment, I thought I was brought to a fairy tale

land because the theme was a magical kingdom. And then, on the stage were three men in a prince

costume with cheap crowns.

I laughed out loud. Serenity and Siena raised their glasses at me from the counter.

Seina mouthed. “Enjoy.”

The waiter placed a pink cocktail on the side table. I picked it up and mouthed thank you at them. I took

a sip, placed it down, and readied myself.

The production started.

I couldn’t help but laughed as these guys played Magic Mike princes. They reminded me of Thayer.

I averted my gaze at Siena flirting with the bartender while Serenity focused her gaze on the three

princes.

“I thought of something more naughty!”

“Just wait and see!” Siena yelled back.

I was barely able to fix my seat, the blond prince at the center started stripping off. He threw his crown

first, and then the royal military uniform came next.

I covered my mouth with my hand to hold my laugh.

The other two princes followed. It seemed that the blond was the heir prince.

In one rough swift pulled from the two guys, the blond prince was only in his faux leather pouch T-back

thong underwear.

“Oh, my God!” I was startled in my seat.

Siena and Serenity laughed at my reaction. The magic mike princes started strip dancing.

“Holy cow!” I laughed out loud. I wanted to cover my eyes, scared that they might have wardrobe

malfunctions.

The image of the sex club sprung in my head—those moans, groans, the smell of sex thickening in the

air. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin.

I grabbed my drinks. My hand trembled slightly. I downed the cocktail empty, allowing it to burn in my

throat.

Magic mike number one walked down. He had a good physique. I got it, that was how he got paid, but

damn he had ripped muscles, washboard abs, and nice pecs. Wait a minute. Why was I thinking about

this man’s body? I blinked rapidly. My gaze dropped at the cocktail I just drained.

Crap.