Page 17 of Cinder's Trial

“Yes, sir. He’s currently reading a biography on Mötley Crüe, of all things.”

“He’s not your classic prince,” Levi remarked. “No signs of trouble?”

“Nope. Gerome is patrolling the hallway while Sully and Pike are keeping an eye on the elevator and stairs via the cameras.”

“Be sure to close the bathroom doors in the suite. Wouldn’t want any rats to surprise you.”

“We’re on the twenty-fifth floor,” Hannah pointed out.

“And? The rats we encountered today weren’t the regular kind.”

“Closing the shitter doors now.” Three in total, given the prince had a two-bedroom suite with a living and dining room area.

“And the sliding glass door?—”

“Already shut and locked. Windows are secured. The prince wasn’t happy about keeping his bedroom door open for bedtime, but I told him it was that or I’d be sitting in a chair watching him sleep.”

“He’s definitely chafing at all the security,” Levi agreed.

“More like he’s not used to it. So I have to wonder, why now? You can’t tell me this is over a treaty for honey and wine.”

“My guess is he’s the only eligible prince at the moment, making him in high demand, not just from potential Cinderellas but also every other Grimm story featuring a prince.”

“Woe is the royal who has hundreds of women throwing themselves at him.” Hannah chuckled.

“Not all of those tales are about marriage,” he reminded. “We need to ensure he doesn’t end up dead to satisfy a darker plotline.”

“Understood, boss. When will you be getting back?”

“In the morning. I’ve got something I need handle. Call if anything happens.”

“Will do. Night.”

Levi hung up and reclined the seat in his SUV, which he’d parked in a pocket of shadow—that he created by busting a streetlight—watching the top floor of the house where Cinder lived. A woman not part of his mission, yet his gut insisted he stick close to her. She’d scoffed when he’d suggested the rat incident might not be about the prince but her. However, he had to wonder. Especially since Gerome found a basilisk skulking under her car.

Did Cinder have enemies?

If she did, they’d have to go through him.

With that final thought, he half shut his eyes and slumbered, doing his best to not think about the princess who wasn’t meant for him.

6

I woke the next morning with a stretch and a smile. I sang as I showered and made breakfast. I fed my friends their breakfast before I ate my bowl of fruit smothered in thick cream.

Once dressed, I headed outside, just before seven, already planning to call a taxi if Levi wasn’t?—

He stood leaning against his blacked-out SUV parked in front of the house. Sunglasses covered his eyes, but I didn’t need to see them to notice he looked as rigid as ever. Unlike the expression he wore in my dream last night. Remembering the things he’d done made my cheeks flush.

“You okay?” He pushed away from his car with a concerned expression.

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“Your face is awfully red.”

It turned brighter at the fact he’d noticed. “Fine. I’m just hot.”

“It’s sixty-five degrees.”

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