Page 31 of Keep Her from Them

I scanned the status she’d discovered. A royal fashion watcher had shared the website of a clothing designer, stating Princess Alexandra would be wearing their latest line today.

Then I clocked the timestamp. “This was posted before we got here.”

Riss gave a single nod.

I worked it through. “Suggesting that this was information provided ahead of time? Is that standard?”

“There is no standard as the princess is new to this role, but I checked, and she did not announce her outfit, and in fact changed her mind when dressing for the event. Whoever told the royal watcher what she was wearing did so between us leaving the palace and arriving here.”

That was a narrow window of time. We hadn’t left the city.

“Could someone have taken a picture while we were driving?”

“Perhaps. But I can’t find any posted, and that’s a big ask to work out which frock she has on.” Riss skimmed her gaze over Johnnie and Will who were across the gardens.

I followed her focus. In my conversation with Ben, I’d told him of my suspicion about someone on the inside. At that point,Jared had been my main concern. Now, I doubled down on wondering if it was one of the other men.

It was too early to tell the new team leader, though. I’d only been back a day. I needed more to go on if there were genuine threats to Alex’s safety.

She pursed her lips. “Stay with the principal. I’m going to make some calls.”

“Will do.”

Riss left me, and I followed the princess to the table of drinks and food. She picked up a glass and turned, spotting me.

Alex tilted her head. “Want one?” She held out the orange juice, moisture beading on the glass.

“Not while on duty, thank ye.” Even if I was hot as hell. Even as I subtly switched off my outgoing comms to allow a private conversation.

Her gaze travelled over me. “I’m glad you’re back. I wanted to talk to you.”

“I want to talk to ye as well. Obviously not here.”

She huffed agreement. “Obviously. Too many ears for what I want to say.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Aye, same.”

Alex’s fingers slid into her pocket once more and scattered crumbs.

I gestured at her action. “What are ye up to?”

She brushed her fingers clean on her skirt and regarded something distant. “Who, me?”

A robin and two tiny brown wrens flittered to her and pecked the grass.

“That thing with the birds. The big ones will be chasing ye soon.”

Something devilish gleamed in her eyes. “Wouldn’t that be strange? What an unusual afternoon if all the birds at the botanical gardens suddenly started chasing a guest, let alonea princess who won’t be able to make a speech because of it. Wouldn’t that make this afternoon the opposite of boring?”

She did a little pretend hair flip that made me grin. And my blood warm.

“You’re devious, princess.”

“How can I find you online?” she countered.

At the same second, a group closed in on the refreshments table, cutting off my ability to reply.

Alex turned on her heel and stepped away. The little birds followed, and the poultry appeared from under a bush in hot pursuit. More appeared. While the princess sipped her orange juice and chatted with someone who I guessed to be mayor by the chunky gold chain around his neck, the peacocks found her again. Then a flock of white doves descended from a tree.

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