Claiming My Duchess

by Jessica Blake

  “Not at all,” I replied sweetly. “I couldn’t be happier.”

  Despite everyone being engaged in polite conversation elsewhere, I could tell from the subtle ways their eyes darted over in our direction that they were paying close attention to our conversation. Fantastic.

  I also happened to notice at that exact moment that Reina was standing on the far wall opposite from us, watching everything that was happening around me like a hawk. I’d managed to avoid the caustic woman for the most part and hold my own with her when a meeting couldn’t be avoided.

  I sighed.

  Enemies all around, I suppose. This drunken ambassador certainly wasn’t proving to be much of an ally with the way his eyes kept dropping to my cleavage. He even licked his lips before making eye contact again and winking at me like we were about to share some great secret.

  “You must have a hard time adapting to life under an archaic system like this,” he said. I supposed he meant to whisper, but he was loud enough to catch the king’s attention. I saw him frown from the corner of my eye.

  “No,” I said, hoping it would end this conversation I didn’t want to be part of in the first place. “I don’t find it archaic in the least. Time bound and honorable, in my opinion, and I’m very pleased to be a part.”

  The man sputtered his drink as he laughed. “They’re going to have a little girl leading them in a few years, for crying out loud. How is international commerce supposed to carry on with a child on the throne?”

  I frowned without meaning to, forgetting what Thierry had told me from the start. Don’t let them get under your skin.

  “She’ll be of age when she assumes the throne,” I said, wondering if this man did his homework. “And what’s wrong with a female on the throne? I think if you ever have the honor of meeting the crown princess, you’ll find the desire to eat your words to be overwhelming.”

  He laughed so hard, a bit of spittle flew at me. “Careful, girl,” he said with a sloppy wink. “They’ll turn you into a royalist if you’re not careful.”

  “How did you even get your job?” I shot back, pissed off now. “Did you have to bribe someone in the state department to clear the intelligence test?”

  Sebastianos appeared at my side suddenly, his hand out. “A dance?” I looked up at him in surprise and in no mood to dance, but I instantly saw what was happening. He was diffusing a potentially complicated situation as the ambassador to one of Cassia’s biggest allies looked like he was about to blow a gasket between his ears.

  A waiter appeared with another drink, and he promptly took my glass as Seb excused us and led me to the dance floor.

  Sebastianos pulled me into his arms, and I felt like I could breathe again. Maddening little man.

  “Are you okay?” Seb asked, a smile playing at his lips. I growled a little, making him laugh.

  Then I immediately felt contrite. “I shouldn’t have let him bother me. Was it very bad?”

  His thumb traced back and forth on my lower back. “Well, you’ve not given us cause to arm our missile defense systems, but you certainly left him opening and closing his mouth like some outrageously offended dying fish.”

  I smiled, taking that as a compliment. “He’s an ass,” I mumbled as Sebastianos pulled me close.

  “Too true, and I have to say you made quite the impression on those around you who overheard your defense, not only of our system of government but of our own crown princess. Well done, Squeaks.”

  I nestled a bit closer, wishing we were alone so he could properly hold me. “You’re welcome.”

  We moved around the floor, and my eyes fell on Reina once more, her arms crossed and her heavily lined eyes on us.

  I met her gaze and held it. He’s mine, bitch, I projected through my eyes, and the woman had the nerve to smirk.

  Refocusing on the man holding me, the man I would be marrying soon, the man whose child I carried, I realized I didn’t need to waste another moment of concern on that woman. So, I didn’t.

  I danced a second dance with Seb, then smiled as the king cut in. After that, my dance card was filled, and the hours passed in a blur as I made idle conversation with people I didn’t know.

  As one dance was coming to an end, I heard whispers coming from all around. Searching for the source of concern, I noticed that Seb was speaking to the king, Nate by his side.

  They looked concerned, even though they were trying very hard not to look concerned.

  Excusing myself from my dance partner, I made my way toward them, and when Seb saw me approach, he smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes.

  “What’s happening?”

  He placed a warm hand on my back. “Nothing to worry yourself with. A skirmish.”

  I grasped his arm. “Here at the palace?”

  He shook his head. “No. A bit farther north from here.” Leading me a few steps away, he leaned down to murmur in my ear, “I need to go. You stay here and do not leave the palace grounds. Understood?”

  I nodded. “Please be careful.”

  He kissed my forehead, and in a turn of tux tails, he and Nate fled the room. The king stayed but some of the color had drained from his face although he did a good job not to outwardly show his alarm.

  With Seb gone, the fun of the evening slid away. With Seb gone, it was like a dark cloud had crossed over the sun.

  I was nearly knocked down when a little body came bolting at me, arms wrapping around my waist. It was Penelope, and she was in tears.

  “Daddy said I couldn’t watch the fireworks because my nanny has gotten sick.”

  At a more leisurely pace, the king came to stand behind his daughter. “Mrs. Kent is ill?”

  “Yes, a stomach flu, it’s believed.”

  There seemed to be a great deal of flu in the palace. “Maybe a good cleaning with bleach is in order.”

  The king nodded. “Good idea.”

  “But I want to watch the fireworks,” Penelope complained, her voice muffled by my skirts.

  The king sighed, and I mouthed, she can watch them with me. I didn’t want to offer aloud and step into the father/daughter controversy.

  I watched him consider it. “Would you like to stay with Lady Iliana for the show, then return immediately to your quarters afterwards?”

  Penelope’s disposition changed immediately. “Yes, please. Thank you, Daddy. I’ve been looking forward to the fireworks for weeks.”

  He stroked his little girl’s hair, and the look he gave his daughter was pure love. “I know, darling. Enjoy them. I have a bit of work to do.”

  By work, I wondered if the skirmish had escalated, and if it had, was Seb in the middle of it?

  Fear clutched at my chest at the thought of him going off into some battle. Surely, he wouldn’t be allowed to do such a thing. But would he listen?

  Penelope slipped her hand in mine. “I know the very best spots to watch the fireworks,” she said, her tongue slipping through the space where her other tooth had fallen out. She was absolutely adorable.

  “You do? Then I’m very grateful that it’s you escorting me to my very first show.”

  She nodded, big blue eyes wide. “Yes, you’re very lucky.”

  I was in so many ways.

  As the music came to a close and the announcement was made that the fireworks would begin in five minutes, Penelope pulled me out onto the balcony and down the steps.

  “Where are we going?” I’d expected the best place to view the firework display was from the balcony.

  “The gardens. There are special glasses down there.”

  Special glasses?

  I looked behind us. We appeared to be the only ones heading down. Worry shot through me. “Penelope, I think we should go back.”

  A stubborn look appeared on her face. “But I want the glasses. The lady said they made the fireworks look even brighter.”

  “What lady?”

  Penelope shrugged. “The pretty one. She said she’d save the best pair for me.”

 
I grabbed the girl’s hand more firmly. “Penelope, we need to go back.”

  “Why?” She looked confused. “I’m allowed to play in the gardens.”

  She was right. We were still on palace grounds. But still, my gut told me something was wrong.

  “I think—”

  In a flash, she jerked away and began giggling as she ran the rest of the way down the steps. I ground my teeth together and pressed a hand to my stomach. “Don’t you ever act like this, little one,” I muttered and took off after the little girl just as the first firework shot off.

  Rounding the tall row of green hedges, I searched for the girl as more fireworks exploded over our heads. I stopped and called back to the guard I could see standing near the gate, and although I shouted, he didn’t turn. Probably couldn’t hear me over the fireworks.

  Damn.

  I rounded another corner then stopped when I found Penelope standing there, what looked like 3-D glasses on her face, staring up at the sky.

  “Everything’s blurry,” she said, clearly disappointed.

  Before I could respond, a figure wearing a dark robe that covered him from head to foot appeared, the hood pulled over his head to the point that I couldn’t see any of his features.

  Then the figure spoke, and I recognized the voice immediately. “Sorry, darling.” It was Reina. She stepped into the light, lifting her head just enough for me to see her face. When she smiled, my heart kicked up speed. The way she was looking at me… she looked dangerous.

  “Penelope…” I reached out my hand. “Come with me.”

  But Penelope didn’t come to me. She just stood there frozen, looking directly at me. I could see her eyes behind the glasses, but she looked… terrified.

  Why?

  As large arms came around me, a cloth pressing over my mouth and nose, I understood.

  Another man appeared, pressing something to Penelope’s little face.

  Reina just smiled. “Two for the price of one.”

  It was the last thing I heard before everything went black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Sebastianos

  Something was wrong.

  Very wrong.

  While I watched yet another skirmish break out only a few miles from the first, I knew the answer was right there in front of me on the monitors I was viewing. Rebel troops from Amur had deliberately attacked a troop of our guards near the Amurian border. Then, only fifteen minutes later, a second attack was sounded.

  The “wrong” was right in front of me, but there was also something else I couldn’t put my finger on.

  As I watched through the helmet cameras of our troops, I itched to join in the fight. I felt like a pampered prince by not joining my fellow men in arms, but each time I threatened to do so, I was surrounded by my security and a grave looking Nate who looked prepared to fight me to the death to keep me where I was.

  “I should be out there with them,” I complained for the hundredth time. No one even bothered to respond that time as another alert was sounded that yet a third skirmish was taking place.

  We were gathered in the war room where thirty monitors lined the walls. Maps and intelligence were laid out before us. It was a room seldom used, and never in my lifetime… until recently.

  The door opened, and the king entered, still wearing his ballroom finery even though he’d managed to ditch the crown. “Status,” he barked as everyone leapt to their feet.

  I ground my teeth together as General Fieldsis gave him a report. This was his show, and he was a man to be trusted, I reminded myself.

  The radios squawked as another skirmish was reported, this time only a half a mile from the palace. “What the fuck?” Nate muttered, and I couldn’t have agreed more.

  This was getting too close.

  “What is happening?” Nate muttered after more troops were called into battle.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. Surely they know they can’t win with this strategy,” I said as another of our men felled an enemy.

  Then the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Was this a distraction?

  Turning from the monitors, I met the eyes of the king’s personal security. “Secure Penelope and Iliana. Take them to the safe room and report back immediately.”

  Uncle Demetrius frowned at me. “Is that necessary?” I just stared at him until he waved a hand. “Yes. Retrieve the girls.”

  The men were off, already speaking into their radios as the doors closed behind them. It would be okay. This would be handled. We would win this round and be more prepared for the next.

  Yet, my gut continued to churn.

  Nate’s hand gripped my shoulder. Was he feeling the same thing too?

  I stood. “Something is very wrong. I need to find them. It’s taking too long.”

  My personal security stepped in front of the door. “I’m sorry, sir,” one of them, Peters, got the balls enough to say.

  I met his gaze. “Move. Out. Of. My. Way.”

  “Let us handle it, sir.”

  I knew they were right. I knew it, but I didn’t care. I needed to find Iliana and Penelope. I needed to see them with my own eyes.

  Before I could say more, both guards cupped their hands over their ears. Peters met my eyes, his jaw tightening. “Please repeat.”

  “Put them on intercom,” I said through my teeth.

  Peters communicated my order then asked the person on the other side to repeat again.

  “They’re missing.”

  All the strength seemed to disappear from my legs as the two words echoed through the room, and I wasn’t sure how I was able to remain upright.

  “Both?”

  “Yes, Your Grace,” the man said. “We’re searching the gardens and palace right now.”

  Training took over even as I wanted to kick the wall, scream to the heavens that this not be happening. “Close it down. No one leaves the grounds.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  When I turned, I found the king in a chair, a hand on his face. Nate was already tapping at the keyboards. The monitors blinked off then video from the palace cameras popped onto the screens.

  “Where were they last seen?”

  My uncle stood up. “In the ballroom. Mrs. Kent had grown ill and Penelope begged to stay up for the fireworks. Iliana offered to let her watch with her. I left just moments before they were to begin.”

  Nate started tapping again and every camera in the ballroom and gardens blinked to life.

  I looked at my watch. “Rewind the last fifteen minutes.”

  We all watched the screens until I caught sight of silver and gold gowns. “There.”

  My heart tightened as I watched Iliana and Penelope walk hand in hand toward the balcony. Nate tapped a button and the angle changed, and I watched them laugh as they stepped outside.

  Then Penelope started to lead Iliana toward the steps leading down to the gardens. In the middle, Iliana paused and looked back. Frowning now, the two began to speak. Iliana tightened her grip as Penelope tried to pull away.

  I recognized the pleading look on the little girl’s face very well. Iliana looked back again, clearly trying to decide what to do.

  “Don’t do it, baby,” I murmured. “Go back. Please, go back.”

  In a flurry of movement, Penelope yanked herself from Iliana’s grasp, and the sneaky little thing took off down the remaining steps in a flash of gold.

  Without hesitation, Iliana followed, running after her but appeared to be hindered by her heels sinking into the grass. She stopped and looked around, opened her mouth to yell something then gazed up at the fireworks and frowned.

  No one could hear her.

  She began to run again, and I lost sight of her until Nate changed the camera angle again.

  There she was. Penelope too. The little princess was wearing what appeared to be 3-D glasses and gazing up at the fireworks. She had been lured.

  By whom?

  Bile surged in my stomach as a hooded figure appeared
from behind the hedge. Iliana startled but didn’t run. Instead, she held her hand out to the little girl. Small but mighty, I reminded myself.

  No!

  Behind her, a masked man approached. She couldn’t see him, but I watched in dread as he grabbed her, pressing a white cloth to her face. My uncle gasped as another man did the same to his daughter.

  I just stared as Iliana was lifted in the man’s arms and carried right out of the fucking gate, Penelope right behind them. The guard there didn’t attempt to stop them. Instead, he jumped into the passenger seat of the van that approached.

  Then they were gone.

  “Access all CCTVs,” General Fieldsis barked, snapping me out of the daze I’d momentarily fell into.

  Men scurried to get to work. “Retrace the robed figure’s every movement,” I shouted. “Find out who that fucker was.”

  While every cell in my body wanted me to race out of the room and go searching for the two women I loved in this world, I knew I needed to stay here and do this right.

  I’d failed.

  The crown princess, the child I’d sworn to protect, was snatched on the fucking palace grounds, right under our noses.

  “Insurgents are retreating,” someone yelled.

  Of course they were. The distraction was no longer necessary.

  “Guard was found. He’s dead.”

  I’d already known that would be the case. What else did I already know?

  Mrs. Kent had grown ill, leaving Penelope on her own.

  I remembered Ralph being ill at the press conference. Coincidence? An epidemic? I didn’t think so.

  “They were poisoned,” I said.

  Nate looked at me. “Who?”

  “Ralph and Mrs. Kent. Mrs. Kent needs to be tested for poison immediately. We need to know what kind.” It was too late to test Ralph. I hadn’t even suspected that his illness was anything other than what it was. But if I knew for certain that Mrs. Kent had been deliberately poisoned, we might be able to trace it back to the source.

  What else did I know?

  I search my brain, went through every possibility.

  Amur was involved, there was no doubt. And we would retaliate with the full strength of our allies at our backs.