My mother, brother, and I lived on the eastern wing of the castle, on the second floor. But down a back stairwell was the section of the castle dedicated to the business of keeping us safe, healthy, and happy. Filled with state-of-the-art Kylaen technology, it allowed my mother's private security to keep tabs on us through video and audio surveillance. On one of the twenty monitors that lined the back wall, my mother sat in her parlor with Filippa. The screen was tinted green and a bright red box stood out on Filippa's hip.
"What's that?" I asked the guard monitoring the feed. His name was Snyder, and he was one of the older guards. But even at sixty, he was still bigger and beefier than I was.
"Voice recorder," he replied. "She wears one every time she meets with your mother."
"Ah," I said with an understanding nod. My rooms were also visible on four screens, and I cringed at the thought of someone watching me put together the shrine for Martin. But none of the cameras were pointed at the inside of my bedroom; instead, they were posted outside the exterior windows.
"What are you doing here, Highness?" Johar walked out of a back office, clearly upset to see me standing there.
"I need a ride."
Her upper lip twitched. "Right this second?"
"I mean..." I glanced around. "Unless you want to tell my mom why I haven't gotten Olivia to talk to me?"
"Are the phones broken?"
"She hung up on me." I half-smiled. "Guess my charm doesn't work over the phone."
Johar grunted, and muttered some colorful curses. "Fine. But make it quick, I have somewhere to be later."
I followed her through a steel door into the underground parking garage. Normally, the cars were brought around to us in the upper level, but Johar, unlike Kader, cared more for getting the job done than keeping up appearances. There'd been a distinct lack of decorum since Kader had been reassigned.
We walked in silence, as usual, until we got to the car. I sat in the front seat, as I'd always done, and she glowered at me.
"Sit in the back."
"No, I like being able to talk with you."
"The glass is more reinforced in the back, and it's safer."
"Kader let me sit in the front."
"Kader's not here. In the back."
With a heavy roll of my eyes that I made sure she saw, I opened the car door and crawled into the backseat. "Fine, Mom. I'm in the back. Happy?"
She said nothing and turned on the car, putting it into drive and leaving the castle behind.
"So can we talk here?" I asked.
"No."
"No, we can't, or no, you don't want to?"
"Both."
I never thought I'd miss Kader. "Look, I'm not the one doling out shitty assignments, so if you're gonna be pissed off at someone, be pissed off at my mother, not me."
The car came to a stop at the front gates of the castle, and Johar let out a long sigh. "I apologize for being short with you. The investigation hasn't been very successful, and frankly, it's been difficult to locate a paper trail that could directly tie anyone to the attempt. They've been extra careful to cover their tracks. They must think their usual methods of sweeping things under the rug won't fly anymore."
"Because Grieg is losing power?"
Johar nodded, and caught my gaze in the rearview mirror. "Been reading the news lately?"
I probably should've been, being a prince and all. "No."
"There have been more unflattering stories than ever. Zygmont's been particularly harsh. Opinion pieces about Mael and closing it, about not sending aid to Duran. Five years ago, those stories would've been quashed before they'd even gone to print. Now..."
Somehow, the thought of my father losing control over the country seemed a bit scarier than him controlling it. We wanted him out of power, but complete anarchy wasn't the solution either. "So that's making the barethium miners jittery?"
"They've thrown in their lot with your father, and that's becoming a political liability. A few of the more progressive ministers have even talked about doing away with the monarchy altogether and there've been no repercussions."
"Probably because there's nowhere to imprison them," I said, watching the people on the street. "At least, nowhere like Mael."
"Fear is a powerful motivator."
I thought about what the country might be like if there were no monarchy, if we were a true democracy like the other three countries (well, Rave's democracy was a bit of a joke). There probably wouldn't be much of a difference in my own life, unless the revolt turned regicidal. I'd just continue working at the hospital, and Theo'd be by my side.
Theo...
"Have you heard from them?"
Johar again met my gaze in the rearview mirror. "Just the usual. Everything's fine right now."
I would've pressed further, but we'd arrived in front of a sleek building with Collins Shipbuilding Industries etched into the glass. Luckily, there were only a few photographers, although once word spread that I was visiting my "girlfriend," more would surely arrive. Johar helped me out of the car and walked me to the front door, where she bade me farewell and good luck.
"Thanks," I said with a grimace. "I have a feeling I'm going to need it."
The benefit to being one of the most well-known people in the country was that I didn't have to sign in at the security desk, and I was immediately whisked to the executive elevator and offered a bottle of water by a flushed-looking security guard who wouldn't quite look me in the face.
The lift doors opened directly into a long hallway, and the man held his cap between his hands and bowed. "Sire, I've got to get back downstairs, but Ms. Collins' office is at the end of the hall."
"Thank you," I glanced at the security guard's name tag, "Chuck, for helping me."
"My pleasure. Just let ol' Chuck know if you need anything, anything at all." Chuck bowed four more times before the elevator doors closed.
I chuckled at his nerves then considered my own as I walked the length of the hall. I had no idea what I was going to say to Olivia, nor any idea how to convince her to give me another chance. I found her office easily enough—two glass doors opened into a large receiving area with windows that overlooked the blue sea.
In front of another pair of glass doors leading, I assumed, to Olivia's actual office, sat a man engrossed in papers at his desk. He glanced up once then twice, then finally stood with a look of shock, awe, and, if I were to guess, a little regret.
"Y-your Highness," he stammered, banging his knee on his desk as he scrambled out from behind it. "What are you... I..."
I waved my hand to silence him. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you get prank calls all the time from guys pretending to be me."
He coughed into his hand and blushed ferociously. "Unfortunately, Ms. Collins is very busy today. M-might I have you come back at a later hour?"
Despite myself, I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Not that I really cared, but I was the prince. Perhaps my father's dwindling power was affecting the Collins' shipbuilding offices as well.
"I mean, not to say that... It's just she..." Then again, with the way Dixon sputtered and blushed even harder, perhaps he was simply stepping out of line.
"G-Galian?" Olivia had heard the commotion through the glass doors of her office.
If I hadn't already been in love with another woman, the sight of her would've taken my breath. Her long legs were shapely in a pair of tall black heels, her skirt was ironed and pristine, and the cream-colored silk top showed off her muscular arms. The corners of her mouth had turned up in a curious smile, accentuated by velvet red lips and flawless skin.
"Your High—"
"No need for that," I said, stuffing my hands in my pants. "Can we talk?"
"Sure," she said, stepping back and allowing me entry. "Dixon, please hold all my calls."
Olivia's office overlooked the Madion Sea, which was a gorgeous aquamarine under the hot summer sun. I looked down the side of the building, marveling at how the barethium allowed Kyl
ae's architects to build bigger and bigger buildings. Now that we were without it, I supposed Kylaen engineers would have to devise some other way. The Herinese did it admirably, though they refused to share their technology.
"I take it this isn't a social visit?" Olivia asked, perching delicately behind her desk.
"Hm?" I said, looking back at her. "Of course it's social. What else would it be?"
"Considering how poorly our last meeting went," she said with a smile. "And considering that your brother's been trying to set up a meeting with my father for two months."
I reacted quickly, pushing my brow up in confusion. "Is he? Why?"
"Come now, Galian, I'm sure you're aware of what's going on in Duran."
"There was a tidal wave a few months ago," I said with a shrug then added, "It's been difficult to keep up with current events when I'm working twelve-hour shifts."
"I see," Olivia said, glancing down at the papers in front of her. "So you're telling me this is a social visit?"
Guess it was time to spit out the line I'd been rehearsing. "I've been an ass, Olivia. I'm sorry for that. To be honest, it's taken me too long to come over here and tell you to your face because I'm also a bit of a coward."
She sat back in her chair and nodded. "And for what are you apologizing?"
"Take your pick." I sat down on a black leather chair across from her. "The horrible way our date ended, not calling you for six months, the date in general—"
"I was under the impression you didn't like me very much, and I took it as that," Olivia said. "We do share very different opinions on a lot of subjects. I doubt that a relationship between us would work very well."
The memory of her talking about Rave as a petulant child rose up, and I swatted it away. "I'm not saying this to excuse my behavior, but I'd...been working a lot of really odd shifts, and I think I went a little crazy for a while. But now that Maitland is back, it's day shifts. So I'm at least a little more lucid."
She nodded but said nothing.
"And..." I clicked my tongue against my teeth. "To be frank, I still hadn't really processed what'd happened on that island. But I've been seeing someone who's helping me come to terms with it."
"Good," Olivia said, and nothing else.
Good wasn't the kind of response I wanted from her, especially delivered in such a frosty tone. She neither forgave nor liked me, but with my mother in my ear, I knew I couldn't give up that easily. I'd at least made it in the front door, which was more than could be said for Rhys and her father.
"So...was there anything else you needed?" she asked.
I could see the excuse on the tip of her tongue, ready to fly when I asked her out for coffee. I knew this game well enough. She was angry at me, so she'd let me squirm and dangle on the line. Then, when I was nearly ready to give up, she'd acquiesce and tell me she'd give me one more chance.
Olivia had all the power, and in true executive fashion, she wasn't going to give it up without a fight.
"Nope," I said, standing and enjoying the look of shock on her face. "I just wanted to do the right thing and apologize in person. I'm sorry I barged in unannounced, too." I glanced at the glass doors and offered her my most charming smile. "Apparently, your assistant thought I was a prank caller."
Her mouth twitched enough to let me know she'd been aware of my call. "I'll be sure to remind him of good phone etiquette."
"It's very nice to see you, Olivia. Please stay in touch."
She didn't answer either way.
FIVE
Theo
We'd been at this house for over a week and a half, and I was starting to feel the restless malaise that came from sitting still for too long. Even with the whole house to explore, the walls pressed in around me. I'd found the promised library on the second floor and lazily browsed through the titles. There were books on Raven history and lore, a few fiction novels, but mostly, military strategy and law. The house belonged to a general, perhaps. Reading his books was better than twiddling my thumbs for hours on end, but not by much.
To make matters worse, Kader's reports had become repetitive—still watching the baker, not wanting to make a move yet, unsure if he was who he said—and I was beginning to dread the sunsets that would bring him back to the basement.
Finally, he arrived with something new.
"Gibbs saw two men leaving his bakery after midnight last night. She was able to confirm they worked for Anson," he said. "So we paid him a visit this afternoon."
"What did he say?"
"He wasn't surprised that you wanted to meet with Anson, which means our messages have been getting through their system," Kader said. "But he won't talk to me about your plans. He said he wants to put eyes on you and hear it from your own mouth."
I couldn't help myself—I smiled. So my voice still had weight, after all this time.
"But I turned him down," Kader said, averting his gaze.
"You...you did?" I said. "Why?"
"It's a risk to bring you out into the open, and Odolf wants to meet you in the middle of the day."
"Why can't we just meet him at night?"
"Because he's testing us. Testing you. Seeing how badly you want to meet with Anson." He rubbed his chin. "I'm willing to call his bluff. The only person I want you to meet with is Anson."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Why the hell am I here if I'm not going to do anything?"
"Do you wish to return to Kylae?" Kader asked coolly.
"No. Yes. I don't know." I stood and began pacing.
"If you go back to Kylae and wait, and there's a small window to meet with someone here—"
"I know."
"Not to mention you couldn't be with Galian. Not if you wanted to meet with the rebels—"
"I know, Kader. But I just feel trapped. We've been here for two weeks and we've done nothing. We've done nothing for six months. You dragged me across all four Madion nations just to let me swelter in an empty house and amuse myself by reading."
"You could swelter on top of a roof, but it would be less comfortable than the library."
I made a noise and balled my fists, needing release, but not knowing where to find it.
"I know you miss Galian—"
"Galian is the last thing I'm worried about right now," I said, and I hated that it was true. I missed my amichai, especially after reading that sappy romance novel I'd found in one of the bedrooms, but this anxiety was based in something else.
"I can see it on your face, of course you're worried about Galian," Kader said. "There's no shame in missing him."
"It's not about that," I insisted. "For seven years, I did what I thought was the right thing. I gave up my childhood. I followed Bayard blindly. I lied to children and told them their sacrifices weren't in vain. And what did that get me? Thrown into a bomb and accused of treason. Now, I'm following another person blindly, and it's like I'm back in Emilie's office, folding my hands and waiting for the opportunity to make a difference while—"
"Tell me how you ended up on that island."
I blinked at him. "What?"
He sat against the back wall, his expression unreadable and eyes fixed on me. "Tell me how a pilot who'd survived seven years in the Raven air forces crashed her plane on a remote island."
I clenched my jaw. "You know how."
"How'd you know that the pilot you were flying after was the princeling?" He stretched his hands behind his head and stared at me.
I sighed impatiently. "Radio dispatch said they'd heard his voice. There was a plane flying strangely. I took a chance."
"You took a chance," Kader repeated. "Knowing with no certainty that the plane you were flying after was the princeling, you risked your own life and plane."
"What's your point?"
"Why would you risk it on a hunch?'
I paused for a moment before responding. "I thought if I shot down the princeling, I might've gotten a promotion and maybe a reassignment out of harm's way."
"So y
ou were desperate."
"No shit I was desperate."
"And you're desperate now, which is making you antsy." To my wordless glare, he chuckled. "Desperation makes smart people do stupid things, whether it's desperation to get out of a forward operating base, or desperation to be useful. What I don't need is a desperate partner who's willing to screw up six months of hard work because she doesn't trust me."
The word 'partner' took the anger from my chest. I'd long considered myself a chore to Kader, but that he considered me his equal was a bit of a shock. "I trust you."
"Do you? Because you just compared me to the person who put you in a bomb."
I slumped onto one of the makeshift seats. "I'm sorry. I just...I feel like there's so much bottled up, and if I don't do something—"
"So do something. Talk."
"Talk? Talk to whom?"
"To me, for starters." His face softened. "You aren't the only one who worries about the direction of the mission."
I compared Kader's stoicism to the emotional hurricane roiling inside me. "You don't look affected."
"I worry about Korina's plan. I know her heart is in the right place, and she's a brilliant strategist, but there are so many spinning wheels in Norose. The missions we do are so delicate, so dependent on what happens over there, that we could do all this work and nothing could come of it." He paused, and considered his words for a moment. "But we do it, because it's better than waiting for someone else to do something. At the end of the day, at least we can say we tried to make this world a better place."
I nodded and exhaled the weight off my chest. I hadn't even realized how much I needed to hear his words until he'd said them.
A wry smile curled his lips as he added, "And I hope you'd know I wouldn't be giving up my time with Rosie just to take you down a path I didn't believe in."
I hadn't considered that either.
"Like I said, desperation makes smart people do stupid things. This won't last forever, Theo. Just be a little more patient, and trust that I'm doing all I can so we can both get back to our lives."
The Complete Madion War Trilogy Page 47