My brows lift even higher. Whatever I was expecting him to say… it wasnotthat.
“For your Princess Guard,” he clarifies.
“Yes, we figured she wouldn’t be taking you on as a full-time sex slave,” Chloe drawls.
“Chloe!” I scold, but Riggs is grinning.
“So… is that a yes?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Did Bane put you up to this?”
He looks genuinely offended by the question. I can tell from the way his lip curls when I mention the commander’s name that he’s most definitely not a fan of the man.
“No, Your Highness. I came here on my own. I should’ve come before, when you first asked for help. Honestly, I’ve been kicking myself since that day.”
“Why?”
He looks confused. “Why what?”
“Why do you want to leave the King’s Guard and work for me? Don’t you see it as a demotion, of sorts?”
“Just the opposite.” He shrugs lightly. “Permission to speak freely?”
“Of course.”
“Seems to me, sooner or later, this Princess Guard is going to become the Queen’s Guard. Which means, if I wait long enough… I’ve just bought myself a free promotion. Pretty smart, if I do say so myself.”
I can’t help smiling at his logic. He’s not exactly wrong. Plus, there’s something extremely likable about him. A relaxed energy that puts me instantly at ease. He reminds me a bit of Owen, actually.
My smile falters at the thought.
Owen.
Every time my best friend crosses my mind, I’m hit with a wave of acute pain, straight to the heart. I haven’t spoken to him in weeks — not since he called to warn me about a possible threat at my coronation.
And how very right he turned out to be…
I’m starting to worry about him. All the calls I’ve placed to his old number have gone unanswered. His royal pardon is sitting uselessly in my desk drawer, mocking me.
What was the point of going head to head with Octavia to get him a pardon if he can’t even be bothered to use the damn thing?
Then again, if he keeps up his recent extracurricular activities with the anti-Lancaster faction… he may truly need it, eventually. I remind myself over and over that he hasn’tactuallybecome an anti-monarchist… that he only joined their ranks to find information about any nefarious plans… that he’s only doing this to protect me… but knowing something and believing it are different beasts. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get the image of him in that black bandana out of my head.
Death to the monarchy!
Chloe clears her throat, bringing me back to the present. I refocus on Riggs.
“I’ll have to make sure it’s all right with Galizia first,” I tell him flatly. “But assuming she’s okay working with you, I’ll give you a shot. On a provisional basis.”
“Oh.” He winces. “That might pose a problem.”
“Why?” I ask, confused. “Does Galizia have a problem with you?”
“Not exactly.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Elaborate.”
A quick, almost bashful grin spreads across his face. “See, the thing about Galizia is… She’s in love with me. Madly, deeply, head-over-heels in love.”