"You're my angel." He found his release and his body pulsed faster inside ofher.
She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat. She had no idea how long she slept, but she roused when she felt his right arm moving. She groaned a little as a wonderful shiver passed through her. "Marco, I don't care if I dienow."
He kissed the top of her head with a satisfied grin. "I won't let anything happen to you. I've almost broken the post. Help steady my shoulder if youcan."
She used her strength to hold his shoulder. With a last tug, his hand came free and rested on the mattress. She turned and asked, "Whatthe..."
He took his arm and slid it under her so her hands went around his neck. "Okay, I'm going to unwrap half of you fromme."
"I can move my arms." She was now looped only to his still-tiedhand.
She scooted to sit. He asked her, "Can you lift my other hand off the bedcorner?"
Right. If she used both of her hands, she’d push him off the frame. "Give me asecond."
Once he was freed he said, "Thanks." His arm slid out from her handcuffed wrists, and he unhooked his legs from theedges.
He stood and held her steady as she slid off of him, her ankles still cuffed together. Outside the hall it sounded like a hundred footsteps marched in precision. She grabbed the sheet off the bed. Now that they weren’t going to die, she remembered her modesty. "Marco! Thedoor!"
"Get behind me." He stepped forward, not caring if the whole world saw him naked. Without a protest, she slipped behind him. The door opened with a slam but Marco shielded her from view as he talked fast in a language similar to Latin. Then he wrapped an arm around her waist. "We're safe,Renee."
One of the soldiers handed him a key and Marco motioned for her to sit on the mattress. He immediately unlocked the handcuffs at her wrists and ankles. She massaged her chaffed skin and whispered, "Hand me mydress."
"None of your clothes are here." He shrugged and walked over to the bureau in his room, not caring that soldiers were still there and watching them. He threw on a pair of sweat pants and a shirt. "I have to get to my father. Come withme."
She tugged on his sheet that she wore like a toga. "I don't have myclothes."
He rummaged through his drawer and pulled out elastic-waist gym shorts and a blue shirt. "Here, put on my t-shirt and let'sgo."
Right. The soldiers all kept their gazes respectfully averted. She wiggled into the shorts and turned while she drew the shirt over her head. He took her hand and led her through the soldiers who turned to make room for them. Once they reached the front, men with shields brought them down the green hall. She laced her fingers with his and whispered, "Everyone knows we weretogether."
He tightened his grip on her hand. "I don't care. Doyou?"
Well if the world knew, her parents would too. Her father was addicted to cable news, even if he complained half of it was fake. She’d known about the exiled Aussa brothers all of her life from news snippets. Last night had been great—she was an adult with no ties and she’d done nothing to be ashamed of. "I'll grow thicker skin if gossip is the only worry we havenow."
"Good." He held her palm a little tighter and guided her down a flight of stairs. "I want you to know you're safe withme."
Marching forward with trained soldiers made her feel safer than she'd be without them. If she'd gone to her room, she'd have probably panicked her way into needing medication. Once they reached the bottom, one of the soldiers turned on the lights and she saw they were now in a stark white office. Marco urged her forward to a door wrapped in electronic wires. "Marco, why did they want to killyou?"
"I'm assuming this has something to do with theelection."
"What election?" She turned toward him, while he stopped at a desk and took out a pair ofkeys.
He jingled the keys in his palm. "I've been monitoring the vote for my parents to keep the monarchy, and most of the elements against them are getting funding from out of state." He guided her toward the door again. "There are a few plots meant to destabilize our small country so we don't become toopowerful."
"A few?" Her voice was higher than she meantit.
He unlocked the door. "Yes, there are foreign neighbors and anarchists. I've been so focused on the anarchists and Piotr Goosig that I must have missed something." He poked his head inside the room and dropped his shoulders. "Babik, there youare."
A general stood at attention. "We have rounded up the ten men responsible, YourHighness."
She began to slink behind him to let them talk, but Marco placed his hand on her back and tugged her forward. "This is Renee Brown. She's staying with me. Where are my brother andKristin?"
Good question. She must be an awful friend for not thinking about her bestie beforenow.
Babik nodded. "They marched in with the army, sire. They are with your parents, but Kristin intended to retire to her room when Ileft."
She released her clutched hands and said a small prayer of thanks at the news Kristin wassafe.