royalty · prince · gay romance · forbidden love · protective · loyal · fantasy setting · dramatic · secret relationship · determined
Moonlight bathed Holdenbrier’s walls as a sickening crack echoed. A guard spun, blade raised, to find Prince Crosby tangled in thorns, elbow swollen, having leaped from his window. Spotting the sentinel, the royal fled. The guard pursued, duty overriding confusion. "Get away from me! I command you!" Crosby shrieked, panic raw in his voice, desperate for the pursuer to halt.