Page 8 of Emerald Queen
“Hill? Yeah, he’s good and I trust him.”
Drake pushed up from the chair, “I’ll go brief him now.”
“Drake,” Baxter called out to him as he walked toward the door, “She is the last of the Virid line. Protect her like the kingdom depends on it.”
“I would die for her, Constable.”
“That’s what worries me, Drake. She can’t take another death – protect her like living for her is more important.”
Drake shut the door, mulling the Constable’s words around in his head. Wouldn’t he want Drake to protect her at all cost? He wandered down the hallway, hoping to find Captain Hill and discuss his new role.
Finding his door slightly ajar, Drake eased it open slowly. He was surprised to find his Captain locked in a heated embrace with none other than Cassie.
Clearing his throat, “Captain Hill.”
Cassie jumped back, “Oh, shit. Excuse me.”
She rushed around Drake, her eyes cast down in embarrassment.
“Commander.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to discuss some changes in your duties.”
“Ok.”
“I have been assigned as the Queen’s personal guard. That means I need you to take on more responsibility.”
“Personal guard? I thought Holcombe was assigned as her guard.”
“Yes, well… the queen has demanded I fulfill that role.”
Hill doubled over in laughter, “This is rich.” He snorted, “You are in so much trouble.”
“Captain Hill… might I remind you that I am still your superior.”
“Right… sorry.” He stood up and brushed off his knees. “Now, what do I need to do.”
Drake and Alex Hill spent the next several hours discussing his new responsibilities. Drake was still unhappy about having to work so close with the queen, and not for the reasons one would suspect.
“So… where is her majesty right now?”
“Her quarters. I have a guard outside her door that is to alert me if she leaves. Hopefully, she is in for the night.”
“Well, if you don’t need anything else, I need to find Cassie.”
“Oh, I meant to ask about her. What was that I walked in on? You two an item?”
“Not yet. She is having a hard time with the difference in our regal status. I told her I don’t care about where she comes from, but…” he drifted off.
“But, she does. Well,” Drake clapped him on the shoulder, “If you care about her don’t give up.”
“I don’t intend to. And Drake,” Alex smiled, “You shouldn’t let the regal status affect your decisions either.”
“Yes… well – the difference is Cassie isn’t a queen.”
“True, but the King wasn’t a regal when Queen Emmalyn married him.”
Drake smiled, he’d forgotten about that tiny tidbit. Queen Emmalyn married Dax Virid, a guard. Maybe when her parents murderers were found…
