Page 4 of The Bodyguard

“Her wedding is scheduled to take place in two weeks. Strohamden can’t be without a determined successor to the throne before my retirement. Under proper advisement, Roger will fulfill his duty. And who knows, maybe with time and experience, he will be a king worthy of Strohamden. And my daughter will be able to love him as her husband.”

The king sighs heavily and puts his head in his hands before he starts talking again.

“The duke is a rigid man,” he continues. “Uncompromising. Old fashioned. He has always had his eye on Strohamden,” he says, a hint of disgust lacing his voice before he swallows it down. “I’m afraid I am at his beck and call because Strohamden has no male heir to replace me. The only other male is my brother-in-law, Neil, but I strongly believe he lacks the ability to run a country despite the work he does toward the throne. But the duke’s son will make a viable connection for Strohamden.”

I know the king is not telling me everything. Something else is prompting him to concede to the duke. It only becomes my business if his life is threatened.

“The duke wants her to still be a virgin when she marries his son, or the union is off. When my daughter heard of her impending marriage, she didn’t take it too lightly. She’s threatened to do away with her virginity just so the duke will deny the union. I need you to remove her from the palace and take her to your safe house, where she won’t have any opportunity to do as she has threatened. My daughter is a force I can’t seem to handle lately.

“She wants me to rewrite the rules of Strohamden, but I can’t change our customs or what was written in history,” he says looking down. A sign of him not telling the truth. “I can’t bring myself to disrupt centuries of law and traditions. But I believe her when she says she will lose her virginity just to stop this marriage. She has been nothing but obedient until this point, and I fear I may have unleashed her rebellion.”

The king quite uncharacteristically jumps from his chair and begins to pace the floor. I rise slowly to my feet.

“Heaven help me. I don’t know how to deal with her any longer. Take her away. Keep her safe and return her in two weeks for her wedding. There’s a car ready for you with her luggage and some provisions until you get settled at least.”

The king grips my arm. “Kayne, do whatever is necessary to ensure she remains a virgin on her wedding day. And I mean whatever it takes. Do you understand?”

“Sir?” I’m not sure I do.

“Dammit, man, I mean I am hereby giving you permission to… to… spank the princess if you need to contain her. Good luck. She’s upstairs, asleep in her room. She won’t go quietly. Again, use whatever means you deem necessary.”

I have never seen him this rattled before.

He’s also permitted me to spank his daughter if she needs it.

Fuck.

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