Page 63 of The Royal Flame
The place is noticeably quiet, except for a clock tower chiming in the distance. River joins me, tells the driver to please wait for our return, then lacing our fingers together, he steers me toward the entrance.
My nervous are humming as we hike down the path that dips into the trees. When I cast a glance over my shoulder at the parking lot, I spot an SUV with tinted windows pulling in. The driver door swings open and my bodyguard hops out. I’ve seen him a few times and he’s intimidating for sure, tall and muscular. He scans the area and when he spots me, he starts to stride in our direction.
“My bodyguard is coming over here,” I hiss, tugging on River’s hand.
River stops walking and turns, his gaze snapping in the direction of the bodyguard as he reaches up.
“What are you doing?” he growls out to me, his eyes frantically scanning the overly flourishing landscaped area. “It’s too dangerous for you to be here, especially this late.”
“I’m meeting my mother—my ex-mother,” I clarify. “I need to ask her some questions.”
He shakes his head. “No way. You need to get into the limo. Or you can ride back to the academy with me.” He reaches to grab me.
I step back. “Don’t touch me.”
“Just stop being a brat and get into the car.” He tries to grab me again
River swings in front of me, blocking my view from him. “She said don’t touch her.”
The bodyguard laughs. “You seriously think you can stop me?”
He has a valid point. He’s twice the size of river and he has a gun in a holster that’s peeking out from his jacket.
I could surrender.
Ishouldsurrender.
Instead, I dial Grey’s number.
“What’re you doing?” the bodyguard barks out at me, attempting to dodge around River.
River sidesteps, again blocking him.
The bodyguard releases a frustrated exhale. “I don’t give a shit what you’re last name is. If you don’t move, I’m going to move you myself.”
“Hey, Grey,” I say loudly into the phone as he answers.
“Maddy? What’s going on? Where’s Jerry?” Grey says, his voice laced with urgency.
“He’s right here and he’s being an asshole,” I tattle on him. Normally I try to avoid doing that, but right now, I want answers, so I’m breaking the code that was engrained into me:we don’t narc.
He pauses. “How?”
“Because…” Crap, I didn’t think this through. Now I have to tell him what I’m up to. Perhaps that can be a good thing. Maybe he’ll want to help. “I’m meeting up with the woman that raised me. She’s going to give me information on why she did and about Ellie.”
“Where are you right now?” he asks over the sound of shuffling. “Fuck, you’re in The Royal Park.”
“How did you…” My gaze drifts to Jerry who’s texting on his phone. “Never mind. Apparently tattling is in the air tonight.”
“Maddy.” Fear echoes in Grey’s tone. “You need to get away from that park now.”
“Why? It’s in the Royal City,” I point out. “Not north side.”
“You’re much safer in north side than in the Royal City,” he explains. “The people who would hunt you would be from Royal Families?—”
A object flies by my head. I instinctively duck. So do River and Jerry, both of whom scramble to get to me. River makes it to me first and covers me with his body.
“What the hell was that?” he hisses, as he keeps me protectively tucked under his arm while edgily glancing around.
