Royal Pain in the Ass (31 page)

“You
’
re . . . that
’
s remarkable.
”

“
What?
”

“
That you did that.
 
You just picked up and came over?
”

“
Pretty much.
 
I don’
t plan on staying forever, but I can
’
t leave until the king gives back my passport.
”

“
He took your passport!
”

“Yeah.”

“
Why?
”

“
Remember the headlines with Prince Ian?
”

“
Who doesn
’
t?”

“
That
’
s why.
”

“
Ah, that does make some sense.
”

“
So, until he thinks I can behave myself in public, I
’
m under close supervision.
 
Technically, I
’
m under house arrest right now.
”

“
Wait, what?
”

“
What?
”

“You
’
re under house arrest?
”

“
Pretty much.
”

Harper glanced at his phone.
  “
Then we really have to hurry.
”

“
What?
 
Why?
”

“It
’
s almost dawn.”

I paled slightly and gulped.
  “Oh no.”

I called Xavier just before we pulled up and he agreed to meet us outside.

“
What is the matter with you?
”
Xavier hissed.

“
What is the matter with her?
 
She needed some time to herself, that
’
s what
’
s the matter with her.
”
Harper snorted.

“
I don’
t believe I was talking with you.
”
Xavier growled.
  “
Juliet, I give you a little bit of slack and this is the thanks I get?
 
What in the world are you wearing?
”

“A disguise.”

“
That shows your shoulder?
 
You know you are supposed to keep that covered in public!
”

“
Give her a break, mate.
”
Harper growled stepping between Xavier and me.

“
Harper, I can handle this.
”
I snapped.

 “
No you can
’
t. 
You, you need to learn to listen.
 
I told you to be home by two am and yet here you are, it
’
s nearly six!
”

“
Give her a break.
  She
’
s dealing with a lot.
”
Harper cut in.

“
I am not speaking with you.
”
Xavier growled.
  “
Now, Juliet, as I was saying, this sort of behavior is not tolerable.
”

“
Who are you, her father?
”
Harper snapped.

“
I am her advisor.
”
Xavier retorted, drawing himself up to his full height and placing a hand on his chest.
“
Who are you?
 
The waiter?
”

“Xavier!”
I snapped.
  “
That
’
s enough!
”

“
Juliet, I will deal with you in a minute.
 
Now, you,
”

“Don
’
t talk to her that way!
”
Harper growled.
  “Don
’
t act like she
’
s some naughty little kid.
  She
’
s an intelligent, grown woman and you can talk to her like an adult.
”

“
When she acts like an adult, she will be treated like one.
”
Xavier chastised.

I looked up at him in shock.
 
Did he really just say that?
  “
Xavier, what is wrong with you?
”

“
Juliet, I will deal with you later.
”
Xavier growled.
  I
’
d never heard his voice sound so dangerous.
 
It frightened me.
  “
As for you,
”

“
Xavier, you need to calm down.
  You
’
re obviously freaking Juliet out.
”

I felt my face flush.  

“
You of all people need to not lecture people.
  You don
’
t have your own life together, let alone enough pull to help another out.
”

“
I have plenty of pull.
  Maybe I can
’
t pull royals out, but I
’
ve got my mates and they
’
ve got me.
”
Harper growled.

“
Lowlifes are not who I would have at my back.
 
Juliet, go to bed.
”
Xavier ordered, glaring daggers at me.
 
I looked up at Xavier in time to see Harper
’
s fist connect with his jaw.

Chapter XVII

“Don
’
t talk about things you know nothing about.
 
It makes you sound like a prat.
”
Harper spat.

Xavier
’
s eyes flashed dangerously as he turned to face Harper.
  “
Boys who don
’
t know what they
’
re getting themselves into should walk away.
”
He warned, his voice dripping venom.

“
Or what?
”

“Don
’
t tempt me, little boy.
”

“
I don’
t think you
’
ll do anything.
 
I think you
’
re all talk.
”
Harper goaded.

“
This is your last warning.
”

“I
’
m sure it is.
”

“
Both of you, stop it!
”
I snipped.

“
Harper, you need to leave before I do something rash and crass.
”
Xavier growled.

“Let
’
s see it.
 
You aren
’
t going to do anything but sit and run your mouth.
”

Xavier took a calming breath and turned to me.
“
Juliet, I think it
’
s best if you run along to bed.
”

“
I told you.
”
Harper egged.

I saw Xavier take another breath, I thought it was another calming breath, but before I had time to blink he spun around and punched Harper in the jaw.
 
I watched Harper fall to the ground.

“Xavier!”

“
What?
”

“
Why did you hit him?
”

“
He was asking for it.
”

“Xavier!”

“
You didn
’
t react this way when he hit me.
”

“
He didn
’
t knock you unconscious.
”

“
You son of a bitch!
”
I heard Harper shout, which surprised me almost as much as the punch he threw right past me to Xavier
’
s face. 

The next thing I knew I was shoved to the ground and the two of them were freely throwing punches at one another.
  “
Stop it!
 
Both of you!
  You
’
re acting like children!
”
I shouted as I picked myself up.
 
Neither of them were listening to me.
  “
Guys!
 
This is stupid!
” 
I sighed.
 
I was about to do something stupid.
 
I lunged in between the two of them, ending in both of them hitting me.
 
One fist connected with my side, the other to my head.
 
I let myself fall and groaned.

“JULIET!”
the both shouted and in a moment they were both by my side.

“
That hurt,
” I groaned. 
My head was pounding and it felt like I had cracked ribs.

“
Why would you do that?
”

“
What were you thinking?
”

“
That was reckless and foolish.
”

“
Jules, are you hurt?
”

“Stop! 
Noise hurts right now.
” I groaned. “
Now, listen to me.
 
First, help me sit up.
” 
I felt hands on my back and the two of them
helping me sit up.
 
Xavier traced around the sensitive spot on my face making me wince.
 

“
Juliet, look at me.
” 
I tried and he sighed.
“
How are you feeling?
”

“
Honestly, like a train ran over me.
 
Everything is spinning and I
’
m nauseous.”

“
I think you may have a concussion.
“

“
Okay, shut up and listen to me.
 
Harper, Xavier, both of you need to quit whatever pissing match you two are in because it
’
s really starting to piss me off.
 
I need to remind both of you that I have to sneak back inside, wash all twelve pounds of make-up Gwen put on me off, and be back in bed, now with an excuse for this.
”
I indicated the side of my face.
  “
And we have to do this in about all of thirty minutes as the sun is coming up and James is an early riser.
”

“She
’
s right, I have a feeling that
’
s usual for you.
”
Harper sighed.
  “
I think it
’
s best I
’
m off then.
”
Harper laid a gentle kiss on my unmarred cheek.
  “
Text me any time, love.
”
Harper stood, and Xavier mirrored him.
  “
Take care of her.
”
Harper offered his hand and Xavier shook it.
  “
Whatever this is, it isn
’
t over, but I know you
’
ll take care of her.
 
Feel better Jules.
” 
Harper started off back towards his car.

“I
’
m going to carry you inside.
 
If you do have a concussion, your balance will be off and time is of the essence as you reminded us.
” 
Xavier gingerly lifted me and I relaxed in his arms.
  “
How badly are you injured?
”