“What happened?”
He hesitated. “She ran away. It turned out well in the end. She married Prince Kardal and they’re very happy together. However she and her father have only recently reconciled.”
Zara got it right away. “So after twenty-plus years, they’re finally starting to connect, but she’s still bitter about all the years before. I show up out of nowhere and he welcomes me with open arms.”
“Exactly.”
Zara leaned back into the bench and groaned. “I’ve been in the palace less than three hours and I already have an enemy. What’s going to be next?”
Rafe found Prince Kardal in the security briefing room going over plans.
“Do you know how expensive the planes are going to be?” the prince asked when he entered.
“Yes.” Rafe slid into the seat across from his boss.
Like most modern rulers, Prince Kardal wore a suit rather than traditional garments. When he was home with his own people, he frequently returned to the old ways, but not while visiting a head of state—and his father-in-law.
Kardal, a tall, dark-haired man, tossed the plans to the table. “Technology isn’t cheap. I miss the old days, when we could patrol our country on camels.”
Rafe laughed. “Kardal, you’re barely in your thirties. You’re too young to remember those days.”
The prince grinned. “Perhaps.” He stretched. “I know why you have come to see me.”
“I bet. You heard about Zara?”
“Is that her name?”
“Yes. Zara Paxton. She’s a college professor from the Pacific Northwest. Some small town near Idaho.”
Kardal raised his eyebrows. “Is it true? Is she Hassan’s daughter?”
“Maybe.” He shook his head. “Probably. The king needs to be sure, which means blood tests. But right now he’s too excited to think logically. You know how he gets.”
Kardal reached under his shirt cuff and touched the thick, gold slave bracelet there. “Yes, I know. Has Sabrina met with her?”
Rafe nodded. “She came by Zara’s room about an hour ago.”
“She cannot be happy about her father’s enthusiasm.”
“No.” Which brought Rafe to another awkward point. “He’s asked me to watch over Zara. Be a temporary bodyguard.”
Kardal didn’t say anything for a long time. Then the corners of his mouth turned up and he laughed.
Rafe shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Yeah, it’s a real knee-slapper. Thanks for the support.”
Kardal didn’t bother to apologize. He laughed a little longer, then finally spoke. “What is she like, this college professor?”
“Scared.” He thought of Zara’s pretty face and the questions in her eyes. “She’s overwhelmed by all that has happened. I don’t think she was expecting to be moved into the palace so quickly.”
Zara was as prepared to handle this as a rabbit was prepared to take on a pack of wolves. If she wasn’t careful she was going to be eaten alive. He couldn’t believe he was actually worried about her, but he was, dammit. What was wrong with him? He wasn’t a good person. He didn’t have altruistic feelings.
“Do you like her?” Kardal asked.
“I don’t know her.”
“You know what I mean.”
Rafe did know. His boss wanted to know what Rafe felt in his gut. Was she someone to be trusted?
“She’s all right,” he said grudgingly.
“Such high praise will turn her head,” Kardal teased. “So the king has requested you guard the treasure that is his daughter. We have at least three weeks until we return to the City of Thieves. I believe I can spare you, if you wish to honor the king’s request.”
“We both know it wasn’t a request,” Rafe grumbled.
“You are not his to command. You may certainly tell him no.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You tell me no constantly.”
“That’s different. You can be reasoned with. Hassan isn’t acting like a king, he’s acting like a father. I don’t want to annoy him just as we’re setting up the joint air force.”
The corners of Kardal’s mouth twitched again. “So the mighty hunter will be forced to guard a mere woman. However will your pride survive?”