Page 14 of The Spy

“You didn’t give me much notice.” She mumbled into his shirt but did not end their hug for which he was grateful. “So I have some things I couldn’t shift around.”

He ran his palm up and down her back. “No, I don’t want you to. I need to be put to work. Let’s see how monarching sits with me, shall we? Go to your meetings. Have your assistant book me in when you can.”

With a sigh, she moaned. “That all sounds so formal.”

“We aren’t at training anymore, but I know we can make this work.”

At length she pulled herself away and he immediately noticed the loss of her in his arms. “Ok, you get settled, and I will get to work. I’ll see you for dinner, later on the roof, and any other time I can squeeze in today. Then tomorrow I have booked us the whole afternoon.”

“Excellent! I’ll be ready.”

As she walked away, her staff immediately chattering to her, with Ferdinand at her side, he knew he would become bored in about ten seconds. But he would find something to do, find a way to be useful in this new palace life.

He turned around to search out a staff member when one stepped out from around a corner. “Ready to find your quarters, your highness?”

Lucan jumped. He was not used to surprises, had not noticed this man trailing them, his arrival, or his seclusion in the hallway. That unnerved him. His senses hyped up as though preparing for a mission. Many moments later, controlling his breathing and following after this man, he started to come down off of the fight or flight instinct.

The man held the door open to a wonderful suite of rooms, overlooking beautiful gardens, and he smirked inside, thinking of the west rooms in his own palace where they had placed many a prospective girlfriend. Still on high alert, he analyzed them from a security perspective and found them perfect. One entrance. One balcony. But both could easily be watched. He nodded to the silent staff member and closed the door.

After about thirty minutes of setting up his own surveillance in the room, he turned around with satisfaction. Now, he could do the same in certain areas of the palace. One thing he would ensure, was their personal safety.

He lifted up a phone that sat on an end table.

A male voice answered. “Sí, your highness, how may I help you?”

“I wonder if I might speak with head of security?”

“We thought you might. He is on his way.”

Impressive. This man reminded Lucan of himself. A knock sounded.

When Lucan opened the door, the man glanced around the room. “We noticed you set up your own surveillance in this room.”

“I did.”

“I understand of course why you would do such a thing, but it will not be necessary elsewhere in the palace.”

“Oh no?”

“No.”

“Might I see what you already have set up?”

“Of course. I have come to escort you, at the Queen’s request.”

Lucan grinned. She knew.

Their security set up was excellent, the systems in place almost better than his own. He felt his concern ebb away. “And your staff?”

“They have either been with us for decades and we monitor their homes and families, or they are new and have significant background checks.”

“And the Queen?”

“Has security detail, her own set of personal body guards, people watching her day and night. She never leaves without the same.” The man’s eyes narrowed as though to remind Lucan.

He held up his hands. “I’m happy to hear it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Inside, he already planned ways to sneak out without their knowledge. Surely he and Sammy would be able to spend some time alone outside the palace. But the head of security didn’t need to know that.

“She has a tracker on her at all times. As will you.” He held up a small device. “Please keep this with you. It’s for your own safety.”

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