Page 19 of Royal Salvation

“She’s very safe there. The people love her and as it’s so close-knit, nobody gets past the neighbourhood watch. She has her own personal army with the villagers.”

The King seemed pleased by this news. “Good. Will you join Lucía as her escort to dinner and to the ball tomorrow? I’d feel happier knowing she has someone with her at all times.”

“Of course, it would be my pleasure and as I said, Bás and Valentina will also be there in the background.”

“Thank you, Mr Carson. Please keep me abreast of the situation and I will handle the other things we talked about on my end.”

Reaper nodded and stood, making his exit, pleased the King had listened and taken on board what he’d said. He didn’t know if he believed him about Felix but the King had the knowledge now and could speak to Princess Maria to corroborate if he so wished. He only cared about Lucía and how she was treated, and in front of him it would be with respect or heads would fucking roll.

Wanting to take a shower, but knowing he needed to brief Bás and Valentina on his meeting with the King first, he headed for the gate.

Chapter 8

Stepping into the black satin heel of her Jimmy Choo’s, Lucía felt marginally better after the relaxing soak in the bath. The scented bubbles and hot water soothed her tense body. The last thirty-six hours had been testing, to say the least, but time alone brought perspective. She knew that she could either allow this to get to her and let these assholes win or fight back, and she was nothing if not a fighter.

A knock on her door had her tummy fluttering with nerves as she smoothed the non-existent wrinkles from her calf-length, A-line skirt made from black silk. A fitted blouse of deep teal that she’d paired with it complimented her complexion. Answering the door, she pasted on a smile as Justice looked at her from head to toe, his gaze moving slowly in appreciation before landing on her face.

“You look beautiful, Princess Lucía.”

Lucía inclined her head. “Why thank you, kind sir, you look very handsome yourself.” And he did in a dark grey suit and white shirt, with a deep green tie that almost matched her top. She knew she shouldn’t compliment him nor he, her. It was against protocol for them to be so familiar, but she didn’t care about that at this moment. Justice made her feel giddy like this was a date when really, it was dinner with her family.

“Shall we?”

He held out his hand for her to proceed him and she nodded, wishing she could take his hand or his arm instead, but he wasn’t hers to have and never would be. That thought made her sad, not because she’d fallen in love with him or anything crazy. They’d barely known each other a week and most of that was spent fighting or being civil, the other half giving each other searing looks which would scorch the earth. It might be worth it to take his arm if it gave Felix a coronary because the little man certainly wouldn’t approve of that.

“What are you smiling at?”

Lucía bit her lip and grinned wider. “Nothing.”

“Secrets will get you in trouble, Princess Lucía.”

She stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to him. “Justice, promise me when we’re alone it’s just Lucía.”

She didn’t want to be a Princess around him, she just wanted to be herself.

As if understanding, he nodded. “Of course.”

“Did you meet with my father?”

“I did and he knows everything.”

Lucía sighed in resignation. “Did he pull the plug on my trip?”

“Not at all. He fully understands what it means to you and wants it to go ahead as long as it’s safe.”

That surprised her and she wondered how much of that was Justice’s doing, but she didn’t betray any of her thoughts openly. “And will it be? Safe that is.”

Justice stopped outside the dining room door and touched her arm, before pulling away. “Lucía, I promise you on my life I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? Just like that?”

“I trust you so if you say it’s okay it will be. If you say it isn’t then I’ll worry, but you need to promise you’ll be honest with me.”

“I’ll always be honest with you.”

“Good, that’s important to me. There are too many lies and untruths in the world, or at least in mine, and I hate it.”