Chapter 9

I was standing with the guards when Mac returned. He gave me a quick glance, but I couldn’t tell if he blamed me or not for the scene in the hall.

Prince Leone stood off to the side with the Captain. I couldn’t see their faces at this point, so I wasn’t sure what about me they were discussing. Could they prevent me from being sent away to a doldrum post? Had sharing that my mate was one of their brothers helped or hindered the verdict? Both turned to look at Emil in unison. Well, at least I knew what they were talking about. Emil didn’t notice, he was too busy sending scathing looks at me.

I blew out a breath and glanced to the Captain and our Enforcer. They were both looking at me now. They looked amused. Someday, when my head wasn’t still reeling, I might find it amusing that a lowly guard was the fated mate of a Prince. I wasn’t there yet.

The Captain motioned for me to come over.

Felix looked down at me, one eyebrow raised.

“Nice working with you.” I mumbled and headed to face Captain Rafael. He jerked his head toward the door. I went without comment, trying not do something girly and juvenile like throw myself at his feet and beg to keep my assignment.

Once outside I noticed Prince Leone had come with us.

“First,” the Captain cleared his throat, “you are not being reassigned.”

I struggled to maintain my erect posture and not slump in relief. “Thank you.”

“Actually,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “I’m wondering if we need a guard for you now.”

He turned to his brother, who shrugged.

“I don’t understand.” My heart started skipping inside my chest.

“You’re my brothers’ mate.” He stated simply.

Protocol went out the window, I started waving my hands around. “That doesn’t change my job. I’m here to protect the royal family.”

He considered my words for a moment and nodded his head slowly. “That doesn’t change the fact that if they got to you, it would affect this family.”

I looked from him to Leone. “It’s not like we’re mated...”

Rafael laughed quietly, “I’ve learned that doesn't matter.” He glanced into the room on the other side of the glass. “Judging by Emil’s reaction earlier, he’s aware, or will be soon.”

“I’m pretty sure the only thing he feels for me at this point is distain.” I cleared my throat, “Sir, if we could keep this between ourselves for now...”

This time Leone chuckled, “it’s a hard secret to contain.”

I took a deep breath, not sure where to go from here. “I understand.” I didn’t, but I needed to respond.

“Okay,” Rafael nodded, “we'll keep it between us for now.” He glanced in the room again, “and for now no guard, but you are not to go wandering alone from now on.”

I frowned, “I’m not?”

“You have experienced how far Arwan is willing to go to get rid of our mates.”

I nodded slowly, “Yeah. Okay. I get it.”

“Good. Now let’s go in there and see what the next step is.” Rafael motioned to the door.

“Better be food, I’m starving.” Leone said as he went past us and back into the solarium.

I went back in and took my place with the guards. A few of them gave me curious side eye. I shook my head letting them know it wasn’t of importance. That was a lie, but I was not ready to explain. I watched the royal family moving around the room, all while processing what had just happened. I was a guard. I didn’t need to be guarded.

Rafael went over to Emil and spoke. Emil glanced at me for a half a second then back to his brother. After a moment he inclined his head and then went over and sat in a chair in the far corner.

Focusing on the floor for a second, I dug deep to clear my mind. I needed to be present, not pondering things I could do nothing about. I also couldn’t give into the urge to levitate something heavy, only to drop it on Prince Emil’s head.

Mental lecture completed, I glanced back up to see the remaining family members coming in the door. Back to business, Kin, I instructed myself.

~

Prince Michael came in carrying a small box. He set it on the table and took out a phone. Pausing he checked the screen and held it toward his mate. She went over and took it. He then handed her a porter.

I glanced at my wrist and realized I’d most likely drowned the one I was wearing.

With a jerk of his head, the Captain told me to go over to his brother as well.

I waited until he’d given all the royal women new phones and porters, then took off my old one and held it out to him. “I don’t know if you fix these or...”

Captain Rafael came over and leaned closer to his brother. “Does Kinsley’s porter have a tracker?”

Michael frowned and looked at him. “Trackers are for...”

Rafael nodded his head quickly, “she needs a tracker.”

Moving slowly, Michael looked to me for a second before looking back at his brother. “She needs a tracker?”

“Yes, a tracker.” My captain repeated.

They exchanged another look. “Okay, I’ll—uh, get a new one with a tracker.” He cleared his throat and handed me the porter. “Use this one for now.”

I nodded and took it.

“Here’s your phone.” He avoided looking directly at me, “the family numbers are in, you will need to add any personal ones.”

I hadn’t even thought of my phone. I held my hand out, then he pulled it back and looked at Rafael again.

“Does she need anything else?”

“The group call app, an ear bud.” Rafael said quietly. “She’s going to be working with us going forward. I have a new guard for Rena.”

“I see.” Michael cleared his throat and handed me the phone. “I will get Paisley to download the app after we’ve eaten.”

I looked at the phone. It was nothing like the one I’d lost. “Thank you.” I said quickly, then turned to go back to the group.

“Kinsley.”

I turned back to Captain Rafael, wondering what else there could be.

“See Mitz about ordering a good leather set for combat.” He held my look, “one with a few more panels for protection.” He motioned to the door. “I’ll get you a new blade after this.”

Leone had been standing close, came over. “You work out in our gym from now on too, not at the yard.”

I was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. “Yes, sir, Prince…”

“Leone.” He smirked at me, “I think dropping the titles from here on out is a good idea.”

I held my breath for a moment before nodding and going to where the guards were standing.

Felix winked at me. “Welcome to the royal fray.” He grinned, “there’s never a dull moment.”

I briefly acknowledged him, busying myself putting on the new porter.

“Mitz will be here with the food in a moment.” Queen Alona came in. “We had to settle her down after she found out what happened.”

King Chase was immediately on his feet. “I thought you were going to rest?”

I clenched my jaw trying to think of these people without their titles. The talk with my Captain—Rafael and Leone could have been a whole lot worse, so I needed to comply with everything they wanted.

Alona gave him a brief hard look. “I am fine. We are all fine. I am also hungry.”

“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Then food you shall have.”

Alona smiled. “So glad we’re on the same page, my king.” Lifting her chin, she glanced around the room, “and I have a request—as a Queen.”

All eyes were on her.

With a soft smile, she motioned around the room, “not one word will so much as be thought about confining us ladies to the palace or closed quarters.” She looked to Paisley, then Bethany, “we handled it and are all still here.”

Autumn patted Michael’s chest and went and sat down, she leaned forward on her knees and looked at me. “None of us would be here right now if it weren’t for Kinsley.” She pointed to a chair across from her. “She goes where we go from now on.” Nodding she pointed to it again. “Sit, you can eat when the food arrives.”

I looked from her to the Captain, he shrugged one shoulder slightly, so I took that as a yes and began walking to the chair.

“In fact, all the guards can grab some eats.” Autumn nodded and glanced quickly at King Troy, then back to the guards. “Yeah, go get some food. If you want to bring it back here to eat, and listen in, go for it.”

I stood beside the chair and watched the guards, my friends, trying not to smirk as they walked from the room.

“Sit.” Autumn shoved the chair out.

I sat down and felt like I was on display as everyone stared at me.

“So, thanks.” She leaned on the table and looked at me. “I was pretty close to freaking out in there.” She frowned, “I’m not good at swimming.”

I tried to shrug it off, even though I’d had my own moments of panic. “I wanted out of there as much as everyone else.”

Prince—Victor and Crissy came into the room. Crissy dropped her bag on a chair, then came running over. A few feet from the table, she launched herself at me and all but landed in my lap. The chair slid back with the impact. 

“Thank you.” She squeezed my neck.

I looked at Autumn to see her smirking.

The Justice came over and gently unwrapped his mate. Enclosing her in his arms, he inclined his head. “I am in your debt.” He looked around at a few of his brothers, “we all are in your debt.” Then he walked over and deposited Crissy on the chair beside him.

Mitz came in carrying a tray and the room was quieted as they watched. Setting it down, she turned and looked around the room. It wasn’t hard to see the affection she had for them all. She paused and looked at me, a gentle smile reflected in her eyes. “I'm brewing some green tea for you, love. I’ll bring it along with the rest of the food.”

There was no hiding the shock on my face. “Thank you.”

She walked out of the room again.

I glanced to Autumn, she grinned at me. “Mitz is a peach.”

“All right, everyone, grab your food and sit down.” Troy stood in the door. “We have a lot to cover and a date with some unsavory people later on.”

“Can’t wait.” Chase got up and hovered near the table that held the food. “I gather you’ve processed all you saw?”

His twin nodded slowly, “I was just comparing notes with Elder Udela, confirming a few locations.”

“A few?” Autumn looked excited, “that’s great.”

Queen—Daxx came in carrying a tray. “Is that jerk at any of these locations?” She set the tray down, “the one that tried to drown us.” She gave her mate a hard look.

“Pretty sure he knows which jerk you mean.” Quinton went over and picked up a plate.

Daxx shrugged, “just making sure, there’s a lot of jerks out there.”

Autumn stood up. “Come on, let’s get some food.”

I got up slowly, “I don’t mind waiting.”

She snorted, “you have to eat when you can around here.” She glanced at me over her shoulder, “same goes for sleep.”

I nodded, knowing how crazy things had been lately. I felt awkward and a bit overwhelmed. First, the royals all seemed normal, in ways I’d never imagined. In my whole life I’d never thought I’d be sitting down to eat with them. Then, as I noticed Emil scowling at me from his chair was if I should retire now, and go home to wear my mother’s frilly clothes.