Chapter 9

9

Thala

A creature stared at me.

A mule.

I stood at the top of the steps. My nose scrunched up. Definitely nothing like Prince. At the thought of my horse, my heart squeezed. I couldn't wait to see him again.

The mule had come sauntering into the front yard from a bend in the road. On its back was a saddlebag of what appeared to be supplies.

It stopped right in front of the steps and for maybe a minute we sized up each other. He was dark brown with a lighter caramel color on his face. His eyes were alert, I would even say intelligent.

The door behind me opened, and I stiffened.

I didn't know when I started getting flustered around Hank. I ate alpha males for breakfast, but this redhead was a different breed. I could deal with pushy. But Hank was nice, considerate, protective, not to mention his physical attributes were a magnificent example of the male species and I was at a loss with how to conduct myself around him.

"Coffee?"

And now he was a dispenser of mood-improving morning brew. A steaming mug with an aroma that immediately put me in a chipper disposition appeared beneath my nose.

"Thank you."

He gestured to the mule in front of us.

"That's Edgar, my uncle's little helper."

"He's not very little. I don't see your uncle." I tasted the coffee. I may not know how to make my own, but I could judge a good cup and this was excellent.

"He's around," Hank said. "How did you sleep?" He had his own mug and took a sip.

"Good." I glanced at him furtively. When I awoke this morning, Hank was on his chest, and I could see the outline of his broad back. Since he was wearing a shirt with cut-off sleeves. His biceps and forearms were on full display, well-defined and not obnoxiously big. The sleeping bag must have been too hot for him even though it was a chilly night, because he was in shorts, and his leg muscles were impressive.

Since athleticism was my domain, I scoffed at men who thought the bench press was the only equipment in the gym. In my opinion, well-defined thigh and calf muscles were sexier than biceps that bulged to the size of grapefruits.

"Good? That's it?"

"It was restful." I took another sip of coffee. "Thank you for letting me take the bed."

Hank didn't say anything but made his way down the steps to check on Edgar. He released the strap that held the mule's load on his back and one-armed it off its back while still maintaining hold of his coffee without spilling it. I admired a dexterous man.

"Couldn't let that drop," he said. "There are eggs in there."

"Eggs?"

"I still plan to make you breakfast."

"You bought Pop-Tarts."

He patted the mule on its rump and sent it on its way. "Thanks, Edgar.

"That's just in case my uncle didn't come through."

Leaving the pack on the ground, he walked back toward me, rested a foot on the bottom step, and glanced up at me. "So, you want to switch sleeping arrangements tonight?"

It didn't escape me that he took a position of disadvantage. I didn't know how I felt about it, but decided not to over-analyze his every move because I didn't like finding him too perfect…

For me.

"I mean, I'm fine with it. I thought we made it clear. We're equals. And you were nice enough to take the bedroll yesterday. It's my turn." Though I admitted to sleeping on forest floors, I didn't have to admit an entourage of servants were the ones who set up a tent for me. I slept on the ground on a cushiony mattress surrounded by pillows.

"Nice." He raked his lower lip with his teeth.

"You said you were a nice guy. I believe you."

"Can't I continue being nice and continue sleeping on the floor?" His mouth twitching annoyed me.

"Now you're making fun of me," I retorted, and because I couldn't stand his penetrative blue gaze, I spun around and returned to the cabin. I probably should have offered to help with the pack, but I was getting to know Hank Bristow very well.

He was a gentleman and effortlessly chivalrous. It was in his DNA.

It was very hard to find anything wrong with him. I marveled at his skill with firearms. His evasive maneuvers while driving. Our airborne vehicle could have had a fatal landing.

My instinct to trust him was on point.

Even if he didn't trust me.

If he found out I was guilty of the assassination attempt on my sister, he'd turn me in.

Because he was that kind of guy. He would always stand for the greater good.

I turned to face him. He had the saddlebag of things on his shoulder as he entered the house.

"I need access to the internet. You have it, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just activated my satellite subscription. I could configure a burner for you."

"Any news on my brother?"

"I haven't gotten an update from G, but we should find out soon." He looked at me speculatively. "So, do you want me to configure your burner or do you prefer a five-star breakfast?"

"The burner. I've been looking forward to the Pop-Tarts."

"I'm offended. You're not looking forward to my cooking abilities?"

I'd never bantered with a man like this. We were venturing into flirting territory, and it was easy to forget why I was in hiding.

"As much as I want to sample your cooking skills, I think it's important we find out who's been trying to kill me and why."

The grin on his face died. "Gotcha."

Hank

The stick was back in her royal ass. Surprisingly, Her Highness ate Pop-Tarts without complaint, but I caught the way her mouth pursed and how she chased the overly sweet breakfast pie with black coffee. Still, I didn't comment.

I wanted to tease her, but it seemed she was reminding me she was with me to work on finding out who was trying to disrupt the monarchy.

I'd gotten her access to a tablet and a burner, and she was currently accessing Venusstea's parliament records.

"Petros and I are in favor of giving PragueCog leasing rights to mine the area of the Venusstean valley. The area is dead. Just rocks with no greenery. It's rich in stean ore. A rival to the mineral coltan." She tapped on the map. "We had our own environmental team do a study of lifting the deposits from there and so far they don't see a negative impact to its ecosystem."

I glanced at the place she was pointing to. It almost looked like a caldera of a volcano without a lake. A sizable fissure on one side prevented water from accumulating.

"Why is the queen opposed to it?"

"That's what's so frustrating. She hasn't given a rebuttal even when she sent a separate environmental team to inspect it. She won't discuss the report given by her own team. Petros and I think she's holding on to a smoking gun that would block a PragueCog deal."

PragueCog was short for Prague Conglomerate. A mega corporation with diversified interests in shipping, real estate, and electronics.

"Surely your brother as prime minister can push her to reveal the results."

"Prime minister is a position used to appease countries who are against a constitutional monarchy."

"Are you saying your brother is just a figurehead?"

"No," she said. "It's hard to explain, but my sister has final say. But between me and Petros, both of us could sway parliament and put the pressure on Amadea. We're close to it."

"You're saying it makes little sense that your brother is behind this?"

"Yes." She studied the screen. "There has to be something more to this."

"There is." I leaned back in my chair. "You want another Pop-Tart?"

"I'm good. I'm just pissed that I couldn't do anything. The solution is to talk to my sister and Petros." She brought up the news. "I'm surprised there's nothing more about our incident yesterday."

"Nadia—that's Garrison's wife—helped me take down the videos of the shootout yesterday." I was good at this shit, but Nadia was at genius level.

"Was that what you were doing in the middle of the night?"

"It was more early morning." Nadia and I had been at it for two hours. "And so far, Levi reported no suspicious activity where your tracker is pinging."

"Do you think they've given up?"

"I don't think so. But maybe they've changed tactics seeing how it had caused a brief spotlight in the news." I made a clucking sound with my tongue. "Are you certain your sister wouldn't do this?"

She shook her head. "Having me killed to prevent PragueCog from doing business in Venusstea doesn't make sense."

"It doesn't. But how about PragueCog?" I said. "Who's the one dealing with them?"

"Our trade minister and Petros."

"And what's your role?"

"I'm just a vote in parliament."

I pushed back from the counter and got up to get more coffee. "Let's say this entity behind all the attacks was successful in assassinating the queen. That makes it a clear shot for PragueCog to do business in the country."

"Yes." She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "But why get rid of me?"

"Sympathy votes," Hank said. "Your brother could say this is what you would have wanted."

"That would point to Petros being the culprit. I don't see my brother doing this either."

"Despite the tracker in your earrings?"

"Like I said, we employ a huge castle staff. I don't lock up my jewelry. The antique jewelry that cost millions of euros are in a bank safety-deposit box. I've only used it for special occasions like Amadea's coronation."

"We might find out the truth soon."

"Who is meeting my brother in the hotel room?"

"Garrison and Levi. He tried to call you again before he got on the plane."

"Any news on my sister?"

"Her flight is almost at Venusstea."

"Are they going to arrest Ramsay?" She stood. "Tell Garrison I want her security replaced."

"Garrison vouches for Ramsay."

"And I'm supposed to just trust that? Ramsay used to work for homicidal warlords. He's a corrupt mercenary and sells his services to the highest bidder. How sure are you PragueCog didn't plant him in Amadea's security?"

"Weren't you part of verifying his employment?"

She looked away. "There was a rift between Amadea and me that time."

"What rift?"

She walked toward the window. "Petros and I were pushing for the abolishment of the constitutional monarchy." She turned to face me. "The monarchy is a symbol in most countries now. I don't understand why Amadea wants to stay in power. It's hampering growth."

I walked over to the computer, woke it, and brought up my data on Venusstea's economy. "Yet your country's GDP per capita is in the top ten of Europe. I'd say your queen is kicking ass."

"I'll admit that the mystique of our realm contributes to the boom in tourism."

"And this movie promises to bring more."

"I…" She glanced back at the window. "I feel like I'm in a circus."

I'd been sensing it in Thala, and I sympathized with her predicament. She wasn't a figurehead, and she genuinely wanted to do good for her country and it wasn't in the capacity she was serving. To entertain the tourists.

I sat down and continued digging. My instincts were telling me the threat was coming from outside Venusstea. Many members of PragueCog's board were oligarchs involved in the energy business.

"What were you doing at the energy summit, and why did Petros stay behind?"

She turned away from the window and walked back to me, her brows knitting. "Key members of the PragueCog board were there. They wanted to meet with Petros. Amadea and I made an appearance to show solidarity for the natural gas pipeline that's running through our borders."

I brought up the topographical map again. "It's close to the Venusstean valley."

"Yes, so?"

"Princess, I'm sure you don't need me to spell it out that when energy infrastructure is involved, especially for a landlocked continent like Europe, there's a lot of geopolitics at play."

"You're saying this might have nothing to do with the stean ore basin?"

"It could be related."

"Okay." She sat beside me and looked at my screen. "Who do we investigate?"