Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1
?Xavier POV
“I’m going to be a motherfücking king!”
I didn’t look up from the book I was reading,
trying to calm myself down before I killed
Daniel. My best friend and his whole ‘I’m
making a grand entry’ thing always gave me a
heart attack.
How do you calm down again? Something about
counting backward?
I heard a scrapping noise and I knew he was
sitting in front of me. I sighed in relief. Finally,
he must’ve realized where we were –
“Didn’t you hear me?” I’m pretty sure there were
only a few people next door who hadn’t heard
him. “I’m going to be a king.”
I started counting, refusing to look at him.
Because a) looking at him made him real, and
that meant I had to deal with him. And b) you
do not just look up from a good book. Did
Daniel not know how hard it was to find one –
And just like that my copy of Sports Illustrated
was stolen from me.
“Calm. The Fück . Down.”
I wasn’t entirely sure if I was talking to him or
to myself.
“I’m going to be -”
“A king. Yep, got that.” I massaged my temple.
To say that my best friend was excited was an
understatement. “Now. I want you take a deep
breath and look around. Where are we, Danny?”
Daniel did as he was told. There was absolute
silence in the library. Twenty extremely
annoyed heads were turned in his direction.
He had the decency to look sheepish.
“Come on,” I shook my head, smiling despite
myself.
I got up and led the way outside, Daniel
following at my heels like an obedient puppy.
Once we were outside, we went to the cafe
across the street. It was a homey little place
with potted plants and old school red-
checkered tablecloth. The waitress was a
twenty something blonde, who thankfully didn’t
try to flirt with me or Danny as I ordered us
both some coffee.
“Six minutes and twenty one seconds. I’m
impressed.” I said, after she left. Not a word
had come out of Daniel’s mouth in that time.
He was actually sweating with the effort. “Go
on.”
“Your father is stepping down and the
coronation is next month and you’re going to
be king which means I’m going to be king in
your place.” Daniel said, in one breath.
My brain took a minute to process that. “He’s
stepping down. Why?”
“Ask him yourself. You’re coming with me.”
“What? !”
I hadn’t seen my father or my home in twelve
years. I definitely didn’t want to break that
record now.
“He needs to see you. He asked me
specifically to bring you with me.” Daniel
hesitated. “He isn’t doing well, Xavier.”
“He’s sick.” I thought about it. “Is he dying?”
Daniel glared at me. “Don’t you dare talk to me
about this like it’s the fücking weather. I know
you two have your problems but that man is
the only reason we’re alive and you know it.”
It was my turn for a deep breath. I could easily
disagree with that. If daddy dearest wanted me
alive and well, he didn’t have to send a trained
professional with a gun as a birthday gift.
You’d think a note with some cake would be
fine?
Naw, I’ll preorder a grave and send you a few
bullets to make it extra special .
But I didn’t want to ruin my morning talking
about my father. The ruining could wait until I
had my caffeine.
“We will talk about this later.” Before Daniel
could open his mouth again – and man, was he
furious – the waitress came to our table with a
tray.
“So how’s life back home?” I asked, casually.
“It’s fine. I guess.”
“You miss me?” I teased him.
“Of course, I miss you, you bloody idiot! I’m
miserable. This isn’t what I signed up for -”
“How’s your girlfriend, Danny?” Cutting off
Daniel mid rant wasn’t usually effective, but the
waitress was still there.
“Well, we broke up.” He said, silently fuming.
“And no, it was not because she was suddenly
interested in women like the last one.”
The waitress set down two cups and left us. I
think I saw her smile at his answer.
“Listen to me very closely.” Daniel said, dead
serious the minute she left. “The minute that
crown’s on my head there’s no going back.
This little game we’ve been playing ends there.
So I’m asking you to think about it. Are you
sure you don’t want to come home?”
I sipped my coffee, unusually calm.
Considering the fact that he was asking me to
decide what I wanted for the rest of my life.
(And there was that ruining I was talking
about.)
Did I mention I was the firstborn Prince of
Vetresca? Must’ve slipped my mind.
Royalty didn’t mean being born with a silver
spoon and pampered to the point your farts
smelled like roses. Quite the contrary, my life
was just a cruel joke to the Others from day
one.
I ran away from the castle when I was
fourteen. I came to New York and I worked at
a restaurant as a dish boy. Glamorous, I know
but I had no choice. I needed a new start.
So how does a royal family cover that screw
up?
Daniel was my best friend since I was five. He
was no DiCaprio, but he had a talent for acting
and the same dark hair and blue eyes as me.
At that age, no one could even tell the
difference.
So my best friend became my imposter.
I looked at Daniel. Looked at him properly for
the first time today.
It struck me how different we’d turned out. I’d
bleached out my hair and worn green contacts.
Danny’s eyes had dark circles under them and
his hair was tousled. I was down to my last
sweatshirt and jeans and I’d been skipping
meals to make up for rent. Danny wore a
tailored black suit but he still looked more
tired and gaunt than I did.
I wondered when was the last time he slept.
“I’m not coming home, Danny.” I said.
“Congratulations. You’ll make a fine king.”
He laughed without humor. “Xavier, I can’t
handle a woman. You want me to handle your
people?”
“You’ve done it so far -”
“Your father did it so far. You can argue with
me about his – choices – but he was d–n fine
at what he did. I was born to serve you, not
rule a kingdom.”
“I consider this a service.”
“So what happens when the council finds out?
They’ll imprison me for the rest of my life.
They won’t touch you but me -”
Daniel stopped short as the waitress returned.
“Yes?” He snapped at her.
The girl jumped a little. “I-um-Do you need
anything else?”
“No, thank you.” I gave her a smile to make up
for Daniel’s temper. “Oh, but could you get the
bill? I think we’re done here.”
“The hell we’re done -” Daniel started.
“We’ll discuss this later.” I said, pointedly.
After she left, I turned to Daniel. “I can’t do this
shît sober. Does your jet have a bar or do I
need to go broke to afford some vodka?”
Danny was about to yell at me again when he
understood what I was saying.
“Does that mean you’re coming to Vetresca?”
“Well, that depends. We could go to Tahiti if
you’re up for it. You get the sweetest sangria
and I’m all for body shots -”
“Quit jerking around.” Daniel was all about
snapping today. “Are you serious about this?”
I sighed.
After that lovely speech about him
getting behind bars, unfortunately, I was
serious. I definitely didn’t want the throne, but
this was no place to discuss that.
“Lead the way, your highness.”
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