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I looked around, noticing the airfield was basically empty except for our plane. It was hard to say for certain, but it appeared that the small airport was for the king and the king only.
“Not much of a royal reception,” I remarked.
Luc removed his tortoiseshell Clubmasters from his pocket and slipped them on. Despite the ten-hour flight behind us, he still looked the picture of cool professionalism.
“What, you wanted a red carpet, maybe some attendants playing trumpet for you?”
“Oh, shush. That’s not what I meant. I’m just curious why there’s no one here. Like… my father, for one.”
“The royal airfield is one of the most secure places in the kingdom—I’ve seen to that personally. Your father wanted your entry into Edoria to be smooth and hassle-free.”
“It’s nice and quiet here. I’m not exactly looking my best after that flight, anyway.” After I spoke, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a text from Hailey.
What’s up????
I fired back a quickhere safe and sound, so far. Will talk later. Reception had been spotty for most of the flight, none of the texts getting through.
Ahead of us, a sleek, silver luxury car, possibly the nicest car I’d ever seen in person, pulled onto the lot.
“Wow, nice ride.”
“Indeed, it is. That’s your father’s Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost—one of the most prized cars in his collection. I don’t want to speak for him, but knowing Alaric, that’s his way of letting you know that he’s happy you’re here. It’s a modern take on a classic design, with plenty of space in the back and a few amenities added by your father.”
“Is that right?”
“I sure as hell don’t get the Ghost when I come in solo.”
The car pulled to a stop. I’d never been much of a car girl, butdamnwas this ride nice. Sleek and smoke gray, I could see where its name had come from. A well-dressed woman stepped out of the driver’s seat, hurrying over to help the staff load our bags into the back. Luc held up his palm to the chauffeur, letting her know without a word that he’d open the door for me.
“After you, Princess.”
I slipped into the back of the car, my eyes going wide from the sheer futuristic luxury around me. The back of the car was large, with two bench seats that faced one another, a bar close at hand and a TV built into the side. Once we were seated, Luc looked out the windows, as if making one last check that everything was secure.
Once he was satisfied, he rapped on the partition between the front and back of the car. “Let’s move.”
Without a word, the driver pulled a U-turn, bringing us off the runway and onto the road leading away from the airport. The airport was a bit isolated, nothing but rolling, green hills on both sides and a view of Lausanne in the far distance.
“How are you feeling?” he asked again, his arm draped over the back of the seat where he was seated across from me.
“Honestly? Not sure. I’m a little jetlagged.”
“Have you ever taken a trip like this before?”
“You mean halfway across the globe? Never once. Hell, I’ve never been out of the United States. Furthest I’ve been away from Seattle was this road trip I took with Hailey to see Lana Del Ray in LA back when were teenagers.”
“Lana Del who?”
I opened my mouth to explain, but realized right away that, while I didn’t know what kind of music Luc listened to, Lana was almost definitely not his thing.
“Singer. If you’re nice, I’ll play some stuff of hers for you.”
He made a “hmm” sound, as if not quite sure what to make of my offer. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Anyway,” he began, “We planned your entrance to Edoria on the premise that you wouldn’t be used to this sort of change. We’re going to ease you into your role—part of your duties as a princess and future queen will involve travel and diplomacy.” He glanced down, regarding me over the top of his sunglasses. “We’ll work on your refinement at a later date.” His eyes flicked from my hair to my piercing to my shoulder, where my tattoo was hidden beneath my sweater.
“Alright, I get it, I get it—you hate my look.”
“Hate wouldn’t be the right word. But my opinion doesn’t matter. Whatever you want to call this style of yours, it’s most definitely not regal.”
