I shrug. A girl has to try. Keller sits next to me, then reaches for my hand and pulls me onto his lap, looping his arm around my waist and kissing my cheek.
“Where’s Ottar?” Keller asks as he brings his drink up to his lips.
“Setting up signal detectors,” Lara says. “And before you think you need to help him, don’t. We all want you to take it easy. It’s been a tough couple of months, let us handle everything.”
“Please listen to her,” I say quietly to Keller, and thankfully, he nods.
“Okay,” Keller says, but I can tell it makes him slightly uneasy. He likes his control. I learned that very quickly.
“He started early anyway,” Lara says. “He should be done soon.”
“Do you want me to check on him?” Keller asks.
Lara and I both say, “No,” at the same time, causing Keller to grumble.
“Seriously, Keller. Take a second to breathe. What you just went through is extremely traumatic. Just . . . relax. Spend the day not worrying, sitting on the couch with Lilly, maybe play a game or something. You have me and Ottar. We have everything covered.”
“You know it’s not in me to relax, right?”
“Yes,” Lara says. “But I think it’s time that you learn how to do it, because I think not relaxing got you tangled up on the wrong path before the wedding . . . right?”
“She’s right,” I say, my arm around him.
“You know, you two need to stop talking to each other. I don’t like this two-against-one bullshit.”
Lara and I chuckle. “Get used to it,” Lara says. “Your hero days are over. Now, you need to be the prince who shakes hands, smiles for the cameras, and tries not to kick little schoolgirls.”
“I didn’t kick her,” he groans just as the door to the castle opens.
“It’s me,” Ottar calls out. He works his way through the living room and into the kitchen. Decked out in all black, he’s wearing a shoulder holster carrying two guns, and his hands are carrying two monitors.
My oh my, Ottar.
I catch Lara’s quick perusal and the small pull of her lips in approval before she says, “Everything set up?”
“Yup. I secured the perimeter and was able to drive a mile out each way and set triggers. I checked to make sure everything was working. We should be good to go.”
“Anything on the roof?” Keller asks.
“Yes,” Ottar says. “All four corners. We’re covered.”
“Thank you,” Keller says, relief in his voice.
“Did you get some good sleep?” Ottar asks. “You looked exhausted last night.”
“I did,” Keller says. “It’s good to be back here.”
“It is good to be back here,” I say. “Maybe we can do some more carving or history lessons in the back room.”
“If you want some more history, I can bore you just as much as the first time,” Keller says with a pinch to my side.
“Actually, I barely survived the first session. Not sure I can do another.”
Ottar pulls a phone out of his pocket. “Theo texted this morning. He wants to FaceTime with you. Are you up for it?”
“Yes,” I say, reaching for the phone. I prop it against my cup of coffee on the table and then say, “Oh wait, who do I call?”
Ottar chuckles and then picks up the phone. He dials Theo and places the phone back against the coffee cup as it rings.
