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“All right.” He hated to watch her go, but he hurried to use the bathroom, brush his teeth, and put on a T-shirt, shorts, socks, and trail runners.
Jennifer was waiting for him downstairs with a small pack slung over her shoulder. She handed over a water bottle. “I can’t wait to go on a hike with Curt and Aliya,” she said for the benefit of the microphones, if anybody was listening at six a.m.
“You’ll love Aliya. She’s hilarious.” He escorted her out of the house, and they walked in the predawn dark through the edge of the village and then up the third mountain trail. About a hundred yards up, he saw headlights in the trees. His dad and Lieutenant General Cordon were waiting in a blue and gray Kawasaki Teryx. A red Polaris Razor with two guards was parked behind them.
“No,” he groaned, opening the rear door and helping Jennifer in. “I have to ride in this piece of junk?”
His dad chuckled. “It’s a quick ride in my favorite all-terrain off-road vehicle.”
Philippe smiled, accustomed to their banter about everything—the best off-road vehicle brand and model was a subject they never agreed on.
“Oh my, what a spoiled prince you are,” Jennifer teased as he climbed in the other side and did up the five-point harness.
“All the better for you to have to humble me, my dear.”
“I am fabulous at that.”
“Yes, you are.”
They were back to their teasing and devoted love. All was right in the world, or it soon would be. Tristan was ecstatic and felt more like himself than he had in eight months.
He caught his dad’s pleased smile as they pulled onto the trail. Despite the danger Henry and Leslie were still in, Jennifer back and loving Tristan was definitely something to smile about.
Everything became a blur of darkness and speed after that smile. Tristan would’ve teased he didn’t know a Kawasaki could move that fast, but nobody would’ve heard him over the roar of the engine. His dad pushed the Teryx to its highest RPMs. The usually twenty-minute drive to Curt and Aliya’s seemed to last moments, but they were vicious and uncomfortable moments as the forest and trail rushed past them and cold wind whipped their hair and stung their eyes. The lights of the other vehicle barely kept pace with them.
His dad loved fast vehicles, as evidenced by the eight million dollars he’d recently spent on his new Lamborghini. The king was a fabulous driver in whatever vehicle he chose, but Jennifer and Philippe were white-knuckling the safety bars and had to uncurl their grip when they finally stopped at the clearing in front of Curt and Aliya’s large cabin, where light spilled from the huge windows. Dawn was approaching, the sky tinged bluish pink and the trees and surroundings visible now, but the sun’s full appearance through those trees was at least an hour away.
“I forgot about the king’s insane driving ability,” Jennifer muttered.
“Is ‘ability’ the word you meant to use?” Tristan asked.
“Okay, you got me. Insane driving.”
His dad only laughed. He knew they were teasing and he was one of the best drivers Tristan had ever ridden with.
“I quite enjoyed the ride, sir,” Philippe lied.
Tristan had to hide his smile now. Philippe was a dedicated leader in their military, but quite the kiss-up with the king and Ray.
Curt and Aliya walked onto their porch. Aliya clapped her hands together. “Oh, yay! T’s lost love has come home and soon I’ll have another fabulous sister-in-law.”
Everybody’s eyebrows shot up. “Hold your horses,” Tristan teased Aliya. “You’re puttin’ the cart before the horse.”
Aliya giggled at that. “I’m rubbin’ off on you like the rust of a redneck’s truck bumper onto your favorite white blouse.”
“What language are you both speaking?” Jennifer asked him in an undertone.
He grinned.
“Don’t unload,” Curt said. “We’ll take the side-by-sides to the Austrian side of the mountain and hike from there.”
Jennifer gripped the bar again and murmured, “Please, I’d prefer the extra miles hiking.”
The king smiled knowingly. “Curt will have to lead the way, so it will be a more sedate pace.”
“Prayers answered,” Jennifer said.
They all laughed.
