“I’m not bothered.”
I don’t believe that for a second, but I say my goodbyes and hang up without responding to that comment.
I can handle this.My shoulder twinges, enough that I have to roll out the discomfort left from an old injury. It doesn’t get too bad when I have the chance to work it out, like sparring with Hex and Sander, but I won’t get as much opportunity to do that as I have the last month.
Now that I’m the princess’s official protection agent, my focus has to be her. Assuming she allows it.
After ten minutes of me waiting in the empty hallway, Freya storms through the doors and passes me without a word. I glance into the room, making eye contact with the queen, and she gives me a look that seems to be wishing me luck.
Guess my job has officially started.
Though I stay hot on her heels, Freya doesn’t acknowledge me until we’ve rounded the corner, but even then she speaks back to me without turning her head. “I will make this as clear as I am able, Mr. Reid. Your job is to protect me. Not to criticize or judge or offer your opinion. Am I understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You will address me as ‘Your Highness’ and nothing else.”
I hold back a snicker. I have it on good authority—AKA her brothers—that she hates being called by her title, so this order is strictly to put me in my place. “Got it.”
“You will be privy to the most vulnerable parts of my life,” Freya continues, “but that does not make you my friend.”
“I’m not looking for a friend, anyway.”
She stops, whirling around to gaze up at me. As before, I hold my gaze just over her head, partially because it seems to annoy her but mostly to keep an eye on our surroundings. “Why are you here, Mr. Reid?”
For reasons she doesn’t need to know. “To ensure your safety, Your Highness.”
She huffs. “You cannot evade me forever. If you wish to keep this position, I need to know I can trust you.”
“What about my response felt untrue?”
“Your sass will not help you stay,” she warns.
I can’t help but meet her eyes, which blaze with irritation and what looks an awful lot like curiosity. She thinks I’m sassy? My old ODA would get a kick out of that one. I was always the serious one in my Special Forces detachment. The man with the plan. The guy so focused on the mission ahead that I never deviated.
The one time I did, it ended in disaster.
As a weight settles on my shoulders, I force a smirk and tell myself I can’t get lost in memories. It won’t do me or the princess any good. “No sass,” I say, as if repeating an order. “Anything else I should know?”
Freya lifts her nose high. “I do not need you always a step behind me. Especially not here in my home.” She makes a little shooing motion with her hands.
I hold my ground. “With all due respect, Your Highness, there are enough people with access to the palace that I will have to disagree.”
“All of them have been vetted and have the proper clearance,” she argues with a frown.
“Markham Grimstad has access to the lower court, along with the rest of the House of Commons.”
“The lower court, yes, but not the upper levels.” Freya folds her arms as she continues to study me. “Do you expect me to be the first casualty of the Candoran royal family?”
She makes a good point. In the history of modern Candora, the royal family has never been in any true danger, though Gregor would argue that is because of security heads like him. Still… I fold my arms to match her. “I expect trouble as the election gets closer, and so should you.”
“My safety is the least of my concerns at the moment.”
Is she serious? “It should be at the top.”
“I see you have already forgotten my first order.”
I roll my eyes, making her scoff. “To protect you? That’s all I’m doing, Princess.”
