Page 28 of Royal Salvation

Val folded her arms over her chest, her hip cocked. “What about Felix?”

“Felix knew something, and he certainly didn’t like Lucía, but I don’t believe he’s capable of this.”

Reaper rubbed his head, a headache pounding where his head had hit the steering wheel.

Val laid a hand on his arm. “You should get some rest.”

He gave her a wan smile. “I will when the Princess is back home and safe.”

The smile she gave him showed she understood but there was a warning in her brown eyes too, and he knew she saw through him. To what, he had no clue because his feelings for the Princess were becoming more complex than he could unravel.

A commotion inside the room had him tensing, his hand on the door handle before he could register his movement. The scene that greeted him almost made him smile but he fought the urge as all eyes came to him.

“Justice, tell my father I’m okay!”

Lucía was sitting up in bed, a white hospital gown covering her body, her arm in a sling, and an IV in her arm as she argued with her father and the doctors.

“Ah,” he stepped in and closed the door leaving Bás and Val to guard the door, “I’m not sure I’m qualified to overrule the King or a doctor.”

Lucía huffed out a breath and glared at him as if he’d betrayed her before looking at her father again. The family dynamic and closeness was easy to see in this setting with emotions running high. They’d pulled together, tightened the circle, and he could see the love between them all and it made him miss his own family so much more.

“The doctor says my ribs are only cracked and my shoulder dislocation will heal with rest.”

The King looked at the doctor who seemed to shrink under his gaze, the King, normally amiable and loved, was a dangerous lion protecting his cub right now. “And you’ll stake your career on this?”

The man nodded, his glasses wobbling on his nose as he did. “If the Princess does as I’ve said she’ll heal with no lasting repercussions. Her scans show no head trauma and she didn’t lose consciousness. She’ll need to rest and take it easy for a week or two and no lifting with that arm for six weeks.”

Lucía gaped. “Six weeks!”

“Hush, mi hija.” The King’s voice was more indulgent now. “We’ll take you home and have you resting in your room as long as you promise to behave.”

Reaper watched her lips purse into a sexy pout which he shouldn’t be finding sexy.

“Fine.”

“Arrange it.”

The King looked at him and lifted his chin to tell him to leave as he followed Reaper back into the corridor.

Once it was just the four of them, the three Shadow operatives and the King, he spoke. “Your Majesty, I believe I have an idea that will allow the Princess to heal in peace without the risk of her attacker knowing where she is.”

Reaper hadn’t discussed this with anyone yet. The idea had only come to him on a whim, but the more he thought about it the more he realised it was the best option.

“I’m listening.”

“I’ll take the Princess to my home in Australia. It’s remote, her profile isn’t as high there, and I have family around who will help care for her.” He glanced at Bás. “If Bás will allow Valentina and two other operatives to accompany me, we’ll have backup should we need it, but I don’t think we will. Princess Lucía can heal in peace before she moves on to her assignment if that’s what she still wants to do. It will also give us time to look into everything that’s happening here and the threats that were made toward the Princess.”

King Juan looked at Bás. “You agree?”

Bás at once nodded. “I do and I can make it work if I can have twenty-four hours to arrange it.”

With a nod, the King greenlit his plans. Reaper knew what he was planning was the right thing to do for her safety. He just had to keep her at a distance so he didn’t fall for her harder than he already had.

Chapter 12

“Are you sure your family won’t mind me just turning up like this?” Lucía had been fretting for the last half an hour as the flight taking them across the ocean from Spain to Australia got closer to its destination.

Justice glanced across at her from where he was sitting working on his laptop. His blue eyes scanned her face as he had since the accident two days ago as if cataloguing her injuries and again, she saw the regret and the blame he was placing on himself.