Chapter 205

Andrew walked up the tarmac to King Frederick’s private jet. He was to greet King Frederick and his daughter, Princess Aurora, as they disembarked the plane and then escort them to the Lexington Hotel. Queen Johanna was originally going to join them, but due to a last-minute family emergency, she had to stay home.

Andrew stopped and took a moment to collect himself. He had not gotten much sleep the night before thanks to his fight with Crystal. Fortunately, he could hide the dark circles beneath his eyes under a pair of stylish sunglasses.

He straightened his suit and reached the bottom of the portable stairs that King Frederick and Princess Aurora were expected to descend. With the help of his guards, he made his way to the front of the gathered crowd, past the paparazzi, and showed his identification card to the police officers serving as security.

“Alpha King Andrew Dubois and his guard, here to escort King Frederick and Princess Aurora to their hotel,” Andrew announced himself.

The police officer glanced back at a man in a black suit standing at the foot of the stairs. The man in black shook his head almost imperceptibly, but Andrew noticed it. The officer turned his head back to Andrew.

“I am sorry, Your Highness, but you are going to have to wait behind the police line for King Frederick and Princess Aurora to appear,” the officer said.

Andrew felt a vein in his temple twinge.

“I am sure that there must be some mistake,” he said.

The officer looked back at the man in black—presumably King Frederick’s guard—who shook his head again.

“I’m afraid not, Your Highness,” the officer told Andrew. “You must—”

The crowd erupted into cheers. At the top of the stairs stood King Frederick. By his side, with her arm entwined in his, was 27-year-old Princess Aurora.

They glided down the stairs, waving to the crowd below. Their smiles glistened in the flash of the paparazzi’s cameras. Despite the questions being lobbed at them, they did not let anything throw them off balance as they reached the bottom of the steps.

“Alpha King Andrew Dubois!” King Frederick boomed from beside the man in black. “What are you doing behind the police line? Come greet us properly!”

Andrew did his best not to smirk as the man in black nodded to the police officer and the officer stepped aside to let him and his guards walk through. Andrew held his hand out to King Frederick and shook the royal’s hand firmly, forcing as sincere a smile as he could manage with his thoughts a swirling mess.

“Good morning, King Frederick,” Andrew said. He turned to Princess Aurora. “This must be your beautiful daughter.”

“Yes, this is my pride and joy, Princess Aurora,” King Frederick said, his grin broad. “Princess Aurora, this is my good friend, Alpha King Andrew Dubois.”

Andrew took Princess Aurora’s soft hand and raised it to his lips, kissing the back gently. As his sunglasses fell forward, his eyes raised to meet her bright blue ones. A light pink blush painted Princess Aurora’s pale cheeks, and she twirled the end of one of her blonde curls around her index finger.

“It is so nice to meet you, Alpha King Andrew,” she said, her musical voice tingling Andrew’s ears.

“The pleasure is all mine.” Andrew released her hand and stood straight. “Please, call me Andrew.”

Princess Aurora raised her hand to her lips and giggled slightly.

“Okay…Andrew.”

Something about Princess Aurora felt strangely familiar. Andrew took a discrete sniff at the air around her.

That was it! She was half-werewolf, like Crystal.

Andrew deflated internally. Crystal.

He could not believe that he had caught her with that beta-male—at best—accountant, Noah. Why would she betray his trust like that? And then to have the audacity to accuse him of having trust issues?

Andrew shook off these thoughts. He couldn’t be distracted by Crystal now. He had to pay attention to his duties.

“Come,” he said, motioning in front of him. “Let’s get out of here. The Lexington Hotel awaits.”

The back of the limousine was spacious, but Andrew and his guests still sat close together to foster a feeling of friendship and unity. Princess Aurora sat between her father and Andrew, her knee brushing against Andrew’s. Her heart raced at the sensation, and she dared to let her hand rest close enough on her leg for her pinky to touch him.

Yet Andrew did not seem to notice. He faced King Frederick and Princess Aurora, engaged in conversation with them, but his mind was far away—all the way across the city in Crystal’s apartment.

He could not get the image of Noah’s bare torso as he stumbled out of Crystal bedroom out of his head. Crystal had her excuses for why he didn’t have a shirt on and for why he had slept in her bedroom, but Andrew could not help jumping to the worst conclusions. His fingers dug into his knees as his mind processed the very thought of the two of them together…

“So, Andrew, how is that girlfriend of yours?” King Frederick asked, his nonchalant tone jarring Andrew out of his thoughts. “What was her name again, Jewel? Amber?”

“Crystal, Crystal Blanchard,” Andrew replied. His knuckles turned white as his fingers dug deeper into his knees. “She’s doing well, thank you very much.”

A frown momentarily flashed across Princess Aurora’s face, but it was quickly replaced by her signature dazzling smile.

“I did not know that you were in a relationship,” she said, trying to sound as pleasant as possible. “When will I get to meet her?”

Andrew did not look Princess Aurora in the eyes, glad for his decision to keep his sunglasses on in the limousine.

“I’m not sure. She’s pretty busy with her wedding planning business.”

“Oh, that sounds exciting! I’m sure that she does a lot of noble and royal weddings.” Princess Aurora brushed her hand against Andrew’s leg, her smile turning suggestive.

Andrew did not seem to notice. He could only think of how the end of Lisa’s wedding might affect Crystal’s and Ever After Weddings’ business prospects—and why he might even care about that when he was still so angry at her.

“I am sure that you will be able to meet her at the welcome banquet in a few days,” King Frederick interjected.

Andrew’s body tensed. He had not even thought about the welcome banquet. He had meant to tell Crystal about it the night of Lisa’s wedding, but then Bob was arrested, and everything went to Hell.

Now, he wasn’t sure if Crystal would even want to attend.

“I will see if Crystal’s schedule agrees with it,” Andrew said, the most diplomatic reply he could conjure at the moment.

He looked out the window and saw the Lexington Hotel fast approaching.

“Princess Aurora, come look. Your temporary home is rushing to greet you!” he said, motioning for the young woman to take in the view.

Blushing, Princess Aurora stretched over Andrew’s lap and watched the hotel grow larger and larger, along with the crowd of paparazzi awaiting them in front of it.

“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Andrew asked as he placed one hand on Princess Aurora’s hip to steady her.

Princess Aurora’s gaze drifted to Andrew’s hip, then up to Andrew’s face. The pink on her face deepened to crimson.

“Yes,” she said, “it is.”