Chapter one
Even just looking at a photo of Prince Dyfri Y Mhorrighanogi is enough to wither my nuts. Not because he is ugly. No, far from it. It’s because he is the most beautiful person I have ever seen and that makes me feel every single kind of inadequate.
And today is the day where I have to face him in person. In an hour, I will be staring into those dark eyes for real and trying to remember how to talk while desperately trying not to make a complete prat of myself.
God help me. God help us all. Because this isn’t just about me. This is about the fate of my country. The fate of humanity. This is an olde-worlde arranged marriage like something out of the history books. Actually, since it involves portals from other worlds and otherworldly beings, I guess it is more like a fantasy book.
Fuck my life.
How did this happen? How am I standing here in 10 Downing Street trying to put this bloody tie on, and about to meet a fey prince who I am going to marry? All for the sake of peace and prosperity.
I know I’m not dreaming, because my imagination has never been this good. I was never blessed with ambition either. All I’ve ever really cared about is my friends, rugby,and having a beer. Even Dad becoming Prime Minister was a bit too much for me.
Now, somehow I have to deal with all of this.
Suddenly, there is a sharp rap on the door behind me, then it swings open and Dad steps in. His brown eyes go straight to my fumbling hands, and he strides forward and takes over. I stand still while he knots my tie for me, and I try not to feel like I’m twelve years old again.
“I’m proud of you, Son,” he says.
I wince. That was definitely a line his aide told him to say.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
He finishes with my tie and moves his hands to my shoulders, where he squeezes.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says.
That sounds more like him. But I’m not sure if he is trying to reassure me or himself.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I blurt.
His grip tightens on my shoulders. “Yes. All my advisors agree. MI5 are very keen on it. They assure me they can learn far more than the prince will be able to discover about us.”
“But…”
“Jack,” he interrupts. “You don’t need to worry about any of that. All you need to do is be nice to him. Be your charming, affable self. Everything else will be taken care of.”
My shoulders slump. Dad is right. I don’t have the brains for anything else. The best I can do is to be the big, dumb distraction.
Dad’s hands drop away from my shoulders. His gaze drops to the floor, and he shifts position uncomfortably.
“I… I’m sorry,” he begins. “I’m sorry I asked you to only date girls and then, as soon as it suited me, asked you to come out.”
My breath stutters for a moment. “It’s fine. It’s all for the greater good.”
He looks up and flashes me a weak, sad smile while his eyes fill with grief. As if he is sending me off to war.
“Ready to go?” he says, far too brightly.
“Ready as ever!” I say, just as falsely.
The drive to Buckingham Palace takes five minutes. It’s one point one mile away. Before the fey invaded, traffic would make the journey take eleven minutes. Now, the streets of London are eerily quiet.
As we pull up, I wish the journey had taken eleven minutes. I would have had double the amount of time to brace myself. Although it probably still would not have been long enough.
Our security team open the car doors and quickly whisk us inside. My first glimpse of the interior of Buckingham Palace, shows that not much has changed. My stomach still rolls though. I’m under strict instructions not to ask what happened to our royal family. I’m not even allowed to mention them.
We are shown to a pleasant reception room, and my shoulders ease a little. This really is going to be as informal as everyone is claiming. Well, as informal as a meeting between invaders and a conquered people ever can be.
