Page 34 of The Heart of the King

A small smile finally made its way to her face. “That does sound pretty awesome.”

“It is,” he confirmed. “But with that comes the possibility of threats. And with that comes ever-present security.”

“Which is why I can’t fly home by myself.”

“I may not always be able to send you to the States in a private plane, but you will be able to fly first class, and you will be accompanied by at least two members of the security team.” He fiddled with the corner of the paper. “I wish you could go home this week, but it’s just not possible. For one thing, Gabe and Esme are coming.”

One of her eyebrows snuck back up. “Then why didn’t you say that? Why did you come in here ordering me around?”

David blew out a breath. “Because that’s how my father always did things? And my grandfather? And everyone let them.”

“Well, I’m not going to,” she told him. “I understand your rationale, and I’ll cancel the trip, though I would like to go soon. But coming in here and barking orders isn’t the way to make this relationship, any relationship, work.”

“I’m starting to see that.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jasmine. I shouldn’t have approached the situation the way I did. Can you forgive me?”

Nodding was easy. So was actually forgiving him. Jazz needed to remember that he didn’t have good role-models growing up. She needed to be patient. “It’s already forgiven.”

“Thank you.” He stood and reached a hand out for her to take.

She slid her hand into his and let him help her stand.

His arms came around her, holding her in a loose embrace.

Jazz clasped her hands at the small of his back.

“If I do it again, you’ll have to let me know,” David told her. “We need to have some sort of innocuous but not ridiculous code word so you can use it in public if you need to.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “How about first class? I could always say something is first class. Or you’re a first class… fill in a blank based on where we are. Nothing derogatory, but like you’re a first-class health wizard or something if we’re at a medical clinic.”

“Or a first-class wuss about needles.” He chuckled. “Or maybe not. I’m not sure the public needs to know that about me.”

Jazz laughed.

“But I like that. It’s subtle enough no one else should pick up on it.”

“It will likely also be accompanied by a look of some sort, so if you’re paying attention, you’ll pick up on it.”

A knock sounded on his office door.

“That’s the signal that I have another meeting to take care of.” David kissed the side of her head. “I know this wasn’t pleasant, but I think it was necessary. I’ll see to it that you have a security briefing as soon as possible as well.”

He gave her a kiss on the cheek, and Jazz watched him as he walked to the door to his office.

The last statement wasn’t wrong. It hadn’t been pleasant, and for a few seconds, she’d honestly planned not to return. But with the necessary conversation came greater understanding of each other.

And that made the rest worth it.

Even before Davidtook his seat at the head of the table, he knew this was going to be a very long two hours.

Occasionally, Council meetings ended in their alloted sixty or ninety minute time slot. Far more often, they lasted much longer than they should have.

Everyone else sat down as he did. The seat to his right, the King’s Seat, remained empty.

“As chairman of the Auverignonian Council, I’m calling the first meeting of 2022 to order.” The chairman pounded his gavel once. “The first order of business…”

David did his best to keep the frown off his face as the first order of business was not to welcome the new king. By law, that was supposed to be the first thing on the agenda when there was a new monarch.

Did he protest? Did he let it go? Were there legal consequences if he wasn’t recognized as the new monarch?

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