Page 63 of Trapped with the Undercover Prince

Zar glanced at Anna. She’d lost all color in her face, and a fine tremor ran through her body.

“We’ve been driving around in it all day,” she whispered in a strangled voice.

“I need to take Anna home,” he said to the officer. “Perhaps a bomb tech and mechanic inspection of the car would be warranted.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The officer waved at his car. “I’ve been asked to take you and the doctor to the castle.”

“Please,” Zar said with a nod.

The officer got them into his car, Zar electing to sit in the back with Anna.

No one spoke.

At the first gate, a guard looked in the backseat, and they were quickly waved through. At the second gate, the guard spoke to the officer, then the rear window rolled down.

“Your Highness, any problems or threats?”

“None, but I left the car with the police in the city to search it for explosives.”

“Very good, please go on through.” The guard returned to the gatehouse and the gate opened for them.

Zar explained how to get to the back entrance, and the officer dropped them off there.

As soon as he and Anna were out of the car, Jean Paul was at his side.

“Your Highness, any issues with the car?”

“No, but it’s being checked over now.”

Jean Paul blew out a breath. “Thank God.”

“An explosive device was found in one of the general use cars?”

“Yes, sir. The other one like the one you took out today.”

“So, it was chance?” Anna asked, her voice tight. “He could have grabbed the keys for the one with the bomb in it and we would have died?”

Jean Paul pressed his lips together before nodding. “Essentially, yes.”

“How could anyone have gotten in here and done this? Security is too tight. It had to be someone who was doing legitimate work in the garage. We have a traitor in our midst.”

“I agree.”

They all turned to find the queen standing in the doorway. “Come to the library so we may discuss this, Zarius.” His mother’s tone was cold and hard.

“Of course,” he said.

He took Anna’s hand, and they followed his mother inside.

“Tea and something to settle our stomachs,” the queen said to one of the staff.

The young man peeled off toward the kitchen.

His mother walked no faster than she usually did, nor did her posture reflect any worry or emergency. She’d had too many years of practice to show her concern.

Anna squeezed his hand, and he looked at her.

She smiled, but it didn’t warm her eyes. Then she said, “Don’t worry. I think your mom has this covered.”

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