Page 24 of The Bodyguard

Chapter Eleven

Sophia

I can’t be here when I have to be somewhere else entirely.

For the second time that evening, I spring up from my chair as if I’ve been burnt.

“I’m… I’m sorry. I have a terrible headache.”

Roger rises instantly, so does Minister Carlten.

“Of course,” Roger says sympathetically.

“I’m sorry,” I say again. My father is at my side. The duke has turned blood red.

I ignore them all. I can’t even bring myself to care anymore.

I walk up to Igor, who is standing straight, feet apart against one side of the wall.

“Take me to him,” I say. I don’t monitor the volume of my voice but my words are delivered softly and agonizingly from my thick and unquenchable throat.

“Your Highness,” Igor says and I know he is going to say no.

“Take me to him. Right now,” I say more forcefully. I don’t wait for an answer. I march off. In the background, I can hear my father making excuses for me.

I’ve been poorly. Working too hard. Migraine.

I don’t doubt that Igor will follow me. I wait for him at the entrance. He seems highly agitated and that’s a feat because he’s the epitome of calm.

He stares me down. I don’t back down until he grunts in annoyance. He takes out his phone and sends a message. Is he texting Kayne?

I hold my breath. Minutes tick by. But then I realize he texted Rachelle when she comes half walking, half jogging toward us. She hands me a red cape.

“You can’t go out looking like a princess, Your Highness,” Igor says as Rachelle drapes the coat over my shoulders and the hood over my dark hair.

“Thank you,” I murmur to them both.

Igor takes his own car. He understands this is a clandestine operation.

Sitting beside him in the passenger seat my mind floods with thoughts.

I have no idea what I’m doing but instinctively I feel I’ll know when I look at Kayne again. When I look him in the eye and ask him what I did wrong that he refuses to be near me. Refused to not so much as reach out a hand and pat my shoulder and tell me everything was all right. Even if he lied.

I need to know why he became so cold toward me… afterward.

Igor drives to a block of apartments. He tells me to wait in the car. I listen to him but a few minutes later he comes back.

“He’s not home. Perhaps I should call him.”

No. I don’t want him to know I’m looking for him. He’ll just try to avoid me anyway.

“Do you know where he is?” I ask. It’s eight in the evening, he could be having dinner somewhere.

“Your Highness—”

He knows where Kayne is. I can see it on his face but he’s reluctant to take me there.

“Take me there, Igor,” I say, knowing full well it comes across as an order.

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