"The guy with the long hair who told us I couldn't leave the plane for security reasons. His name is Steve, but everyone calls him Cap. He's the head of security for my entire family. He doesn't always travel with me, but some of the heads of security decided to meet and discuss… security things." He shrugged. "I'm not really sure what they were talking about. Probably something to do with the Games, but I don't actually know."
"It makes sense one of them would know where she is."
He watched as she tried to stifle a yawn and failed. Frederick released her hand and reached out to brush a bit of hair back off her face. "We should probably try to get some more sleep." He'd gotten a look at the clock on the far side of the room. "We have a few more hours before we need to be awake."
She nodded and pulled her blankets up around her chin, snuggling deep underneath them.
Frederick brushed his fingers against the hair at her temple a couple more times then pulled his hand away. If only he could truly find someone to share his home, his heart - everything.
Stifling a sigh, he rolled to face away from Elise and try to get some sleep.
It took longer than he would have liked to actually doze off, but he did feel more rested than he had before.
Quietly, he slipped out of the room and into the main cabin area of the plane.
Cap looked up from his tablet and tipped his head. “Good morning, Your Majesty.”
Frederick stifled a yawn. “Morning. Is there any word on when we’ll be able to leave for Southern Santiero?”
“About twenty minutes.” He looked toward the bedroom. “Will you wake Ms. Stephens or would you like me to take care of it?”
“I’ll wake her. Thank you.” Frederick turned to walk back toward the bedroom, but stopped and looked at Cap. “Do you know where my sister is?”
Cap looked up, an impassive expression on his face. “My apologies, sir. As you are aware, I am unable to share the location of protectees except under specific circumstances. That also extends to confirmation of knowing that location.”
If he’d had any doubt before, it no longer lingered. Cap knew more than he would say.
Frederick gave him a slight nod then went back to the task at hand. By the time he pushed the door all the way open, Elise was standing on the other side of the bed, folding her blankets.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” He stayed in the doorway.
“You didn’t.” She continued folding. “I was already awake, just not coherent enough to open my eyes.” A slight smirk crossed her face. “I’m still not overly coherent. Mornings aren’treally my thing, especially if I haven’t been able to get enough sleep.”
What he tried not to notice was how adorably rumpled she looked first thing in the morning.
When she finished repacking her bedding, they went back to their seats and, a moment later, they were taxiing toward the runway and Southern Santiero.
It took allof Elise’s willpower to keep from going wide-eyed and slack-jawed as Frederick ushered her through the wide halls of the Palace of Caledania. Yes, she’d been in the one in her homeland the day before, even slept there for a few nights.
But this was different.
She’d toured the home of the Second Santierian Dynasty several times as a child. It didn’t cover much of the palace itself, but did include a tour of a different part of the gardens each time.
It had been easier to be herself, to keep her astonishment visible but not overwhelmingly so, when Jacob, the new Prince Consort of Eastern Novigradia, was her guide around LyonSkye. After all, the new prince was also a commoner.
King Frederick was, well, the king.
Even if they had slept together, in the literal sense, just a few hours earlier.
And kissed the day before.
Elise gave herself a mental shake. Was it the day before? She had lost all sense of time, especially since they hadn’t stayed in Northern Santiero for a full night and arrived in Southern Santiero while darkness still ruled.
They reached a sweeping staircase and walked up it together. At the top, an aide waited, along with an older woman in a uniform of some sort.
Frederick turned to her. “This is where I leave you. Mrs. Powers will see you to a room. You are welcome to freshen up and go to your other accommodations or, if you’d prefer, you can remain here for the duration of your project.”
Elise caught herself blinking rapidly. Stay at the palace? She gave him a polite smile. “I appreciate the offer, but I will go to my hotel this evening. Thank you.” She dipped into a curtsy. “I appreciate your kindness in the last day.”
