Page 40 of Her Royal Rebellion

“Ana, can you tell me where I am?”

She sank further into herself, and I worried she would collapse. “I’m so sorry, Your Highness.”

“You know who I am?” I wasn’t completely shocked, I was fairly recognizable but her behavior confused me.

She nodded and took in a shuddered breath. “My master said he had a guest in this room who needed breakfast. He said you were unwell and that’s why we needed to keep your door locked.”

Her gaze lifted to meet my own. “I heard that he brought an unconscious woman home last night, but none of us knew it was you. I’m so sorry, Your Highness.”

“Please, Ana, call me Isla.” I wanted to reach out to her, but she was so skittish I didn’t want her to run away. “Is your master Lord Marius?”

She nodded.

“Ana, I didn’t come here willingly. He drugged me and took me from my home in Lochland. I’m not sure what he has planned for me, but I need to let my family know where I am.”

Her eyes darted around the room. “I promise, Ms. Isla. None of us knew.”

“And none of you will be punished. We will help you all leave. If you need new jobs or housing, we will take care of you.”

Something in my words lit a fire in her eyes. “Really, Miss?”

“Yes, I promise. Everyone here, with the exception of Marius and any of his accomplices, will be helped.”

A new strength seemed to fill her. “My family has worked here for three generations. His family has kept us as slaves. He provides only the most basic necessities. If you can help us…”

“I promise, Ana. I will get you and your family away from him.”

She nodded. “I will be back. I will find a way for you to contact your family.”

“Thank you.” I threw my arms around her and hugged her thin shoulders. She tensed, and I took a step back.

“I’ll be back, Ms. Isla.” She turned and walked out of the room, and I heard the lock click back in place. I was putting my trust in a terrified young woman. Hopefully she believed me enough to help.

16

Logan

I stared across the bare plane to where Shane was giving the team updates and sharing what information we already had on Marius. I hadn’t been in a military plane in over two years, and after traveling around with Isla in the royal jet, it was a shock to be back. It helped me get in the right headspace, though. I was reminded that this wasn’t a vacation or diplomatic trip. This was a rescue mission, the most important one I’d ever done.

The king seemed to have aged ten years in the time it took us to get prepared this morning. After he spoke to the Suruso’s king and learned that Lord Marius had been dismissed from the court the year before and had spent his entire family multimillion-euro fortune, he knew we had our suspect. I wasn’t sure yet how this information didn’t come up in our research, but from past experience I assumed he paid someone to bury it. Their king had no idea Marius had come to Lochland and was appalled to learn that he was behind the kidnapping of our princess. Their military was heading to Marius’s remote vineyard, and we were assured we’d have their complete corporation. They didn’t want this to escalate into anything more than it already had.

King Leo was ready to declare war and call in the rest of the European Royals to back him, but luckily the queen was able to rein him in. We didn’t want to do anything to spook Marius and force him to make an impulsive decision.

“Logan,” Shane called out and when he had my attention, he continued. “Cian received a call from Isla. She is at Marius’s vineyard. She’s safe and Cian told her we’re on our way.”

Relief like I never knew was possible washed over me. She was okay. She was safe. She was exactly where we thought she was. The worst thing that could have happened was us wasting time flying to Suruso only to find they were in Columbia or somewhere else on the other side of the world.

“That’s great news. Has their military arrived yet?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

I was about to ask another question when he held up his hand, signaling that he was listening to the communication device in his ear. His eyebrows rose and he shook his head. “The palace just received a ransom request. Marius wants twenty million in exchange for the princess.”

“What?” My voice roared over the sound of the engines. All of the men looked up at me with concern. “He’s insane.”

Shane agreed. “The king is attempting to establish contact. They hope to distract him so the military can get in place, and we can get there.”

At least we knew that Marius had every intention of keeping her alive and unharmed for now. Did he really think this would work? That the king of Lochland could be bullied? That his daughter could be used as a pawn? He chose the wrong country to mess with, especially now that we had his own king on our side. There was no way this would end well for the lord. He’d be tried in both countries, although I doubted Isla would want him to remain in her country. He’d serve out his sentence with the people who turned their backs on him.