Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Read Free Book Online Page A

their medical bills, or marry whomever they love, or not get shot at school. Or, in this case, if kids with cancer have enough books to read at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
    He and Henry and their collective hoard of security have taken over the floor, flustering nurses and shaking hands. He’s trying—really trying—not to let his hands clench into fists at his sides, but Henry’s smiling robotically with a little bald boy plugged full of tubes for some bullshit photograph, and he wants to scream at this whole stupid country.
    But he’s legally required to be here, so he focuses on the kids, instead. Most of them have no idea who he is, but Henry gamely introduces him as the president’s son, and soon they’re asking him about the White House and does he know Ariana Grande, and he laughs and indulges them. He unpacks books from the heavy boxes they’ve brought, climbs up onto beds and reads out loud, a photographer trailing after him.
    He doesn’t realize he’s lost track of Henry until the patient he’s visiting dozes off, and he recognizes the low rumble of Henry’s voice on the other side of the curtain.
    A quick count of feet on the floor—no photographers. Just Henry. Hmm.
    He steps quietly over to the chair against the wall, right at the edge of the curtain. If he sits at the right angle and cranes his head back, he can barely see.
    Henry is talking to a little girl with leukemia named Claudette, according to the board on her wall. She’s got dark skin that’s turned sort of a pale gray and a bright orange scarf tied around her head, emblazoned with the Alliance Starbird.
    Instead of hovering awkwardly like Alex expected, Henry is squatting at her side, smiling and holding her hand.
    “… Star Wars fan, are you?” Henry says in a low, warm voice Alex has never heard from him before, pointing at the insignia on her headscarf.
    “Oh, it’s my absolute favorite,” Claudette gushes. “I’d like to be just like Princess Leia when I’m older because she’s so tough and smart and strong, and she gets to kiss Han Solo.”
    She blushes a little at having mentioned kissing in front of the prince but fiercely maintains eye contact. Alex finds himself craning his neck farther, watching for Henry’s reaction. He definitely does not recall Star Wars on the fact sheet.
    “You know what,” Henry says, leaning in conspiratorially, “I think you’ve got the right idea.”
    Claudette giggles. “Who’s your favorite?”
    “Hmm,” Henry says, making a show of thinking hard. “I always liked Luke. He’s brave and good, and he’s the strongest Jedi of them all. I think Luke is proof that it doesn’t matter where you come from or who your family is—you can always be great if you’re true to yourself.”
    “All right, Miss Claudette,” a nurse says brightly as she comes around the curtain. Henry jumps, and Alex almost tips his chair over, caught in the act. He clears his throat as he stands, pointedly not looking at Henry. “You two can go, it’s time for her meds.”
    “Miss Beth, Henry said we were mates now!” Claudette practically wails. “He can stay!”
    “Excuse you!” Beth the nurse tuts. “That’s no way to address the prince. Terribly sorry, Your Highness.”
    “No need to apologize,” Henry tells her. “Rebel commanders outrank royalty.” He shoots Claudette a wink and a salute, and she positively melts.
    “I’m impressed,” Alex says as they walk out into the hallwaytogether. Henry cocks an eyebrow, and Alex adds, “Not impressed, just surprised.”
    “At what?”
    “That you actually have, you know, feelings.”
    Henry is beginning to smile when three things happen in rapid succession.
    The first: A shout echoes from the opposite end of the hall.
    The second: There’s a loud pop that sounds alarmingly like gunfire.
    The third: Cash grabs both Henry and Alex by the arms and shoves them through the nearest door.
    “Stay down,” Cash grunts as he slams the