Page 11 of A Valiant Prince

He holds up a hand. “Fine,” he mutters as he pushes the IV line on its metal wheeling rack behind me as I walk toward the door and open it with one hand. Anna feels like air in my arms. I realize just how small she is, like a child almost. She burrows more against my chest, and I wrap the blanket I grabbed with her more snuggly against her to keep her warm.

Nurse Ratched is walking toward us and starts to protest, claiming a hospital policy, but one look from Pete and me has her shutting up and stepping out of our way.

“Where to?” I ask Pete.

“Go left. There’s a service elevator we can take. It’s on floor four,” he says.

I press the elevator button and look around.

“It’s safe,” he says to me. “Lucas just did a perimeter check for me.”

I nod, and we enter the elevator.

“I take it you will not be staying in a separate room,” he says to me.

“No,” I answer.

“Fine,” he says on a sigh as the doors open. “To the right. Room four-seven-two.”

I walk down the empty hall and find the room. Pete pushes the door open, and I gently lay Anna down on the bed. It’s only when I pull away from her that she stirs in her sleep.

“Logan?” she murmurs.

“I’m right here, baby. I just need to use the restroom,” I say and kiss her forehead. She nods and falls back asleep. I look over at the built-in shelf in the room and see her computer lying there.

“I brought it up for her,” Pete says.

“Victor didn’t see?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “No one saw me. Do you think he’s involved?” Pete asks.

I shrug. “Aside from the three of us, Auggie, Chris, Mia, Lucas, and our fathers, I don’t know who is involved,” I admit as I walk to the en suite bathroom. I see new scrubs laid out, so I shower quickly and put them on. I walk out to find some snack food on the bedside table.

“Thought you might be hungry,” Pete says.

I scarf down a bag of chips and chug a can of soda. After brushing my teeth, I realize I finally feel a little human again. I walk back out and look at Pete.

“No one but you and Lucas, and her immediate family are to be left alone with her,” I say.

“I work for the royal family, not you, Logan,” he says. His tone tells me he’s not being rude but pointing out the obvious.

“I know that, Pete. And if you do, then you know how important it is that you follow my instruction on this,” I tell him.

He runs a hand over his face. “I know,” he says. He glances over at Anna. “That young woman is like my little sister. I’ve watched her turn from a little girl into a gangly teenager into the young woman in that bed. I wouldn’t let a hair on her head be harmed, and neither would Lucas.”

“Good,” I say.

“Logan, get some sleep,” he says.

“What about you?” I ask.

“Lucas will come to relieve me in a bit, we’re taking shifts. He’s sleeping next door in the room meant for you,” he says, giving me a pointed look. I roll my eyes and climb in next to Anna, who immediately curls herself around me. I pull her closer. She rests her head on my chest, and I breathe in her scent again. I can still smell the fire in her hair. I close my eyes and remember the carefree princess who sat on the same cushion on my boat every night, watching the stars come out in the sky. I only hope that she can be like that again when this is all over.

My sleep is filled with dreams, and I wake with a start the next morning. The sun is shining through the window, and Lucas now sits in the chair. He’s looking down at his phone, but his head pops up when I move.

“Good morning,” he says.

“Morning, Lucas,” I say to him.

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