Page 55 of Royal Guard

“If there’s ever anything I can do for you,” said the President, “I hope you’ll ask. One more thing: I understand you have a Mr. Garrett Buchanan with you?”

I froze. Then swallowed and leaned slightly so I was in shot. “Yes, Mr. President?”

“Mr. Buchanan, you did a good thing. And I’m a big believer in second chances. Just... bear in mind that you’re representing America over there. Okay?”

I nodded. Awe was winning out over my distrust, and easily. “Yes, Mr. President,” I managed.

He ended the call. A moment later, everyone started craning their necks to look at something on our left, just becoming visible through the trees. “What is it?” I asked.

Kristina’s voice was thick with emotion. “We’re home.”

39

KRISTINA

I’ve always lovedthe palace, with its slender towers and pointed roofs. When the sun hits the white walls it almost glows, pure and bright, like nothing bad could ever happen there. Now, though, it was different. Only one of my parents was going to be waiting to greet me.Don’t cry, don’t cry.

To my relief, Garrett distracted me. “What’sthat?”he asked, pointing to what looked like a massive stone wall in the distance.

“A dam,” I told him. “It generates the power for half the city. My father had it built, just after the war. He wanted to send a signal that it was time to scale back the military and look to the future.”And it looks like he was wrong. And now I might have to take my country to war.Suddenly, the palace didn’t seem welcoming. I was terrified.I’m not ready!

As I stepped nervously down from the SUV, the palace guards bowed low and then swung open the doors. My mother was waiting just beyond them and Iran to her. We hugged... well,Ihugged; she stood there stiffly. But I’ve learned to accept the way she is now. I still remember what she was like before the war, when she smiled and laughed andloved,and that helps. I know that she’s still in there, somewhere.

“What’shedoing here?” she asked as soon as she saw Garrett.

“Mother! He saved me!”

“And he’ll get a fistful of silver, or pounds, or whatever they have in America. But it’s not appropriate that he’s here. Only the roy—”

“Heisa royal guard. I made him one.”

She gawped at me, then crossed her arms and glanced at Jakov. “It was bad enough when you and your father insisted on hiring a Garmanian to guard you. But an American?” She narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on, Kristina?”

I felt myself flushing and prayed it wasn’t visible. “Nothing!”

Garrett arrived behind me and bowed politely. My mother just glared at him, then wheeled around and stalked off.

Aleksander ran over and embraced me. He, at least, was capable of giving me a real hug. He turned to greet Garrett, too, but faltered when he found himself eye level with Garrett’s chest. He recovered fast, craning his neck back to meet Garrett’s eyes and warmly shaking his hand. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” he said, “But there are things you must attend to. As soon as your maid has had a chance to dress you in something more appropriate—”

I held up my hand. “Before anything, I need to see my father. Where is he?”

Emerik took Garrett off to find him a guard’suniform. Aleksander led me to an elevator and took me down. Due to the bitter winters in Lakovia, people have always built down into the earth. The palace has several floors of cellars, including the palace dungeons and a medical facility.

Dr. Glavnic, the head of the palace’s medical staff, showed me into a private room. He was in his sixties, a bear of a man with a thick silver beard, and he’d been looking after our family for decades. He even helped to deliver me. “There’s no change,” he said sadly. “But talk to him. There’s some evidence that it helps.”

He and Aleksander left me alone and I walked slowly towards the bed. My father looked so peaceful: aside from the bandages on his chest, he could have just been sleeping. But the shrill beep of the machines made it impossible to pretend.

I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck. And once I started to cry, I couldn’t stop. It was the first time I’d been alone since I became Queen. When would I next be able to let it out?

So I sobbed. I cried until the sheet covering him was damp. “I don’t know what to do!” I whispered to him. “I’m not ready to rule, not even close! And there’s no one I can talk to, not one person—”

The door creaked behind me.

I turned around.

The dark blue of his royal guard uniform was like the very last light of the day, just before true dark. And its gold braid, when it caught the light, was like the first kiss of dawn. I’d been around royal guards my whole life but I’d never seen the uniform look likethisbefore, the snow-white shirt stretched tight over a chest so broad. He was born to wear it. His shoulderswere so strong and wide as they pushed out the jacket, his waist so tight and muscled above the leather belt. I knew that Emerik would have tried to tell him that all royal guards are clean shaven, but Garrett had clearly drawn a line because his cheeks were still dark with stubble. Strong, honorable... andrough.Willing to break the rules, if that’s what it took to protect me.

I’d been wrong. There was still one person I could talk to, even if we couldn’t be together. I ran to him, threw my arms around him and he hugged me into his chest for long minutes. We only separated when we heard Aleksander’s footsteps in the hallway.

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