Chapter Nine

Zar slid in to sitnext to Anna in the backseat of the sedan and closed the door. The driver pulled away from the doorway while the irritating photographer continued to take pictures. Normally, he’d be angry that someone like that had figured out where Zar was and managed to grab some photos of him with a woman. But this time the woman was Anna, and being seen with her was no trouble at all.

“I really hope you know the guy driving the car,” she said to him, laughter in her voice.

He glanced up to catch one of the royal family’s long-time driver’s gaze in the rearview mirror. Maurice had been in charge of the handful of drivers for the Lerasian royal family for about ten years. “Yes, I do.”

“That’s good,” she said on a huge yawn. “Where are we going?”

“Oh, not far.” He wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her since she’d seemed reluctant to go to the palace the last time he’d mentioned it.

Unfortunately, his mother and siblings were insistent that he come home where they could keep an eye on him for at least a couple of days.

Anna gave him a narrow-eyed stare, or was she just falling asleep?

“Will there be food there?” she asked, rubbing her face with both hands.

Definitely sleep. “Yes. Is there something you’re hungry for?”

She yawned again. “Pancakes.”

Of all the things she could as for... “Really?”

“Yeah.” She smiled more than half asleep. “Whenever I had to work a really long shift at the hospital I always treated myself to pancakes. It’s tradition.”

“Traditions should be respected. Pancakes it is, then.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Wake me when we get...wherever.”

Her body relaxed against him, and he put an arm around her so she wouldn’t slide away on any of the corners the car would soon be turning. His castle was located high above the city below, and the road was long and twisty.

By the time the car pulled up at the secure rear entrance of the castle, Anna was fully asleep with her head nestled in his shoulder. He didn’t move until Maurice came around to open the door, then gathered Anna up and managed to slide out without jostling her too much.

He took a step toward the door and discovered his next oldest sister, Gabriella, waiting for him.

So, that’s who they sent to scout out the situation.

He walked up to her with Anna in his arms and said, “Look what I found in France. Can I keep her?”

She rolled her eyes and hissed, “What are you doing, Zar? She’s not a kitten.”

“No, she’s a hungry surgeon who’s been blown up. Twice.” He let his smile slip away. “I’ve never met a kinder person in my life, and I promised to find her a safe place to sleep.”

His sister’s eyebrows rose. “So, you thought you’d just bring her home and tuck her into bed in your room?”

“I’ll sleep on the settee.”

“You’re too tall.”

“I don’t mind if my feet dangle over the end of it.”

“Put her in one of the guest rooms.”

“And if she wakes up and has a panic attack?”

“Do trauma surgeons have those?”

He sighed. “Get out of the way, Gabby.” He passed her and walked up to the door.