Page 63 of His Runaway Princess

“Ryker!” Amalia wanted to run toward them, but couldn’t know for certain Dexter had been fully restrained yet.

A second later, they practically carried Dexter off leaving a couple with Ryker as he lay on the ground.

“Ryker!” Amalia ran the few steps between them and dropped to her knees at his side, not caring about the blood beginning to soak the ground.

“Move back, ma’am.”

One of Ginny’s protection officers shouldered her out of the way as he attended to Ryker.

Hands pulled at her as she tried to get out of the way. She found herself with Ginny and Ollie’s arms around her.

“What happened?” Tears ran down her cheeks as she looked at her sister then her brother-in-law and back again. “What happened to Ryker? He’s bleeding.”

An SUV bounced over the ground as quickly as the driver likely dared. Help was coming.

“Is he going to be all right?” She collapsed against Ginny. “Please tell me he’s going to be all right.”

“He’s got the best people in Øyaord with him right now, Amalia. They’re taking good care of him.”

Amalia turned her head into her sister and prayed she was right.

* * *

Everything hurt.

Ryker couldn’t focus on anything but the pain in his leg.

And his head.

Something else tried to push its way to the front.

Amalia.

He opened his eyes and blinked before squeezing them shut. He tried to speak.

Cotton balls.

His mouth felt like it had been filled with cotton balls.

“Here.” A quiet voice he didn’t recognize came from nearby. “Take a sip.”

Ryker did as instructed. Just enough to wet the inside of his mouth. “Amalia?” he managed to get out. “How’s Amalia? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. The doctor wanted her to get some rest.”

He managed to get one eye open a little bit. Then the other.

It surprised him to realize he wasn’t in the hospital. “Where am I?”

“The royal family’s suite at the hospital.”

That explained the decor.

Managing to turn his head just a bit, Ryker started when he realized who sat next to him. “Your Majesty!” He started to sit up, but Queen Mother Eliana easily held him down with one hand.

“I told your wife I’d stay with you while she gets some rest. You’ve been through quite an ordeal.” She gave him another sip of water from the straw. “We were on our way to Øyanord with Benjamin and Gen for a tourism meeting.”

“Thank you for sitting with me.” He tried to push up to sit. “Could you raise my head?”