“Galizia,” Bane barks. “What are you still doing here?”
The female soldier doesn’t look at him when she responds, her voice clear and strong. “Waiting for orders.”
“Your orders were to leave.”
“Not from you, sir.” She pauses, still staring at me. “From her.”
My stomach flips.
Could it be…?
“Galizia, so help me…” Bane takes several strides toward her, getting right up in her face. I wait for her to duck for cover, to back down, to run for the hills. But she simply lifts her chin higher to meet his scowl head-on.
Like I said — either very brave or very stupid.
“If you don’t get out of my sight within the next five seconds,” he growls, “I promise you’ll be scrubbing bathroom floors for a week.”
“All due respect, sir… that’s no longer your call to make.”
“Galizia!GALIZIA! Where do you think you’re going—”
Stepping deftly around her screaming commander, she walks right up to me. Her expression is totally unruffled; you’d never know a man mere feet away was yelling at the top of his voice. Her indifference only seems to incense him more.
“You’re going to regret this, Galizia! You hear me? You should be kissing my boots for even allowing a woman into this unit… No one wanted you here, but I tolerated it… and this is how you repay me? With desertion?”
Up close, she’s striking — tall as a supermodel with that rare, no-frills, natural kind of beauty that doesn’t require an ounce of makeup. If I had to guess, I’d peg her in her late twenties or early thirties.
My pulse pounds in my veins. My mind is reeling with questions. But she does not appear to share my uncertainty. Her eyes never shift from mine as she slowly lifts her right hand to her temple in a solemn salute. When she speaks, her voice is full of such conviction, I know she means every word.
“Your Royal Highness, I’m Second Lieutenant B. Galizia. And, if the offer stands… I’m at your service for as long as you require it.”
There’s no hesitation in her words. No mockery.
She’sserious.
She actually intends to walk away from the King’s Guard. To risk the wrath of Bane, to forsake all the men she’s spent years training with, to upend her plans for a lifelong career in the castle…
Forme.
In that moment, I want to take back my own request. To tell her,I’m not worth it, you’d be an idiot to do this for me. And yet, at the same time… I’m so unbearably grateful, I want to yank her into my arms and squeeze the shit out of her. (Since I’m pretty sure that would be breaking about a zillion military protocols, I bury the impulse.)
Somewhere in the depths of my psyche, one of Lady Morrell’s many etiquette lessons must finally click into place, because I manage to summon enough decorum to nod in a dignified, regal manner. At least, IthinkI manage to.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Galizia. I appreciate your service more than words can say.” My gaze flickers to Bane. He looks fit to be tied, still spouting profanities and promising retribution if she dares to abandon her post. “Now… Shall we get the hell out of here?”
Galizia’s solemn expression doesn’t change, but I swear I see her lips twitch a little. “That seems wise, Your Highness.”
And so, with my heart racing at twice its normal speed and a man cursing my name… I leave The Gatehouse behind with my one-woman Princess Guard in tow.