In the war room of the royal palace of Avce, all three royal princes were gathered around a table that was also a computer screen. Remy had never seen the technology put to use.

She’d left the palace after her hair and makeup, then gotten into his waiting limo en route to Bei Giardini Manor where her tailor waited with the wedding gown.

However, his limo was crashed into and the driver was in the hospital now.

Being here felt like a waste of precious time when he wanted to act—but all information came here first. The police and the army were investigating the scene of the crime, and his blood was cold.

She hadn’t changed her mind or run away—someone had taken Cassidy on their wedding day.

He’d failed her.

His phone rang and Grannie’s number appeared. She probably wanted an update, so he stepped away from the command desk and answered, “Hello.”

Instead of a normal reply, Grannie immediately said, “We’re heading over to the palace now. Lucinda’s phone number is +13865552671.”

His entire body went numb. “What?”

“Lucinda. What is her phone number?”

His grandmother made no sense. He quieted his voice and scrolled through his contacts, matching what Grannie said. “That’s a new number than what I have for her, but that doesn’t matter. We’re trying to find Cassidy.”

“She has Cassidy,” Grannie said. “Chelsea will explain when we get there.”

Lucinda! A zap raced through him. He jotted down the number and handed it to General Babik at the table. “Can you track this number?”

He nodded, but said, “Give us two minutes, maybe longer. The best IT person we have is missing.”

Cassidy was far more than IT. She was sweet and kind and full of life. He couldn’t imagine his own without her. He patted the general’s shoulder. “My wife doesn’t even know she’s my wife right now. I just need to get her back.”

Grannie hung up, but at least she sounded like her old self. Before she started dying of the influenza that never quite left her body, she’d been the most competent person he’d ever met. He had to believe she was that again.

Cassidy needed him and he’d get her back.

Babik announced, “The phone with that number is currently in Nice.”

France. It had been too many hours before he’d known she was missing, and they’d gotten far. He lifted his phone. “I’m calling my pilot. Can you put the tracker on my device?”

“Give us a few minutes,” Babik answered.

Remy told his pilots his plans so they could get the paperwork in order and then handed the phone to Babik. “Hurry, please.”

He paced as the princes all discussed treaties. He didn’t care about any of that. His blood boiled that he needed to bring Cassidy home.

A tall, skinny man with nice hair and a bright smile walked in with his head down. He said, “Cassidy was so excited to wow you with our work today. I wanted to stop by and say I’m sorry.”

Her stylist, Michael. Remy had read his statement when he’d first arrived at the palace and now shook his hand. “Thanks.” Hair and makeup didn’t matter. Cassidy’s sweet face came to mind. He told Michael to be polite, “Her hair yesterday was soft though she’s prettier without makeup.”

Michael winked. “Only the good husbands say that.”

Suddenly his grandmother walked in the door with Cassidy’s sister. He kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “Grannie, that was fast.”

Grannie pushed Chelsea forward. “Tell Remy and the royal princes what you told me, if you don’t want to be in more trouble.”

Her face was white but Chelsea lifted her chin, stubborn to the end. “Look, I was getting ready to go to the wedding. Michael even did my hair.”

“I did.” The stylist added, “She left fifteen minutes after Cassidy.”

The accident would have happened too fast for her sister to be there.

Chelsea took a deep breath and let her arms fall to her side. His grandmother must have put the fear of God in Chelsea for this sudden change.

Chelsea met his gaze. “When I was leaving the palace, Lucinda called me and told me she was with Cassidy and that my sister didn’t want to marry Remington. As I don’t think they love each other, and my sister is a big believer in love, I was happy with her decision.”

Her words stung, but he widened his stance and gazed down at her. “You were happy to be the next Countess of Paston.”

She bit her lower lip, met Grannie’s gaze for a second, and said, “No, well, yes—no. I want a dowry where I can choose my husband and good men will want me. There is nothing wrong with that.”

He glared at her. “If you kidnapped your sister-”

“Do you love Cassidy?” she asked, talking over him. “If you loved her and she loved you then she wouldn’t have gone off, but I don’t think either of you really care.”

Now his skin felt like it burned off his body. He glared at her. “That’s not your business.”

Chelsea hugged her waist. “Look, we don’t get along, but she’s always been a sucker for happy endings and true love. It’s why she helped all the princes here.” She waved into the room with a huge table that had computer images shining on it while the princes spoke more about treaties. She put her hand down and said, “She was even telling me she found my true love. She won’t be happy unless you love her.”

This conversation was for Cassidy to bring up but even his hair prickled. He told everyone, “Her safety matters first.”

Babik handed him back his phone. “Your phone is programmed, Lord Sky. Prince Marco is going with you.”

“I’m on my way,” Remy stared at the blue dot on his screen.

Chelsea grabbed his arm as he walked past. “What’s going to happen to me? I didn’t know that Lucinda planned to kidnap my sister.”

He took his arm back. Her words about Cassidy hovered in his mind—she did believe in love, but he couldn’t make false promises. He stared at the other princes in the room. “I’ll let the palace, and then Grannie, decide.” He stepped away from the ladies.

Gigi then called out to him. “Remy, wait.”

“Yes?” He held his grandma’s hands and released a deep breath. She’d been dying, and now Cassidy was gone. He couldn’t lose either of them.

Her hands trembled. “Bring my Cassidy back to me.”

Yes, Grannie loved them both. He hugged her. “Grannie, you’re my pillar of strength. But rest now.”

“I’ll take care of all the other details for you. Cassidy is going to want another wedding, and you need to think about what Chelsea told you.” His grandmother spoke so only he could hear.

He shook his head. “I don’t care what Chelsea said—Cassidy and I have a deal.”

Grannie walked with him to the door and kept her voice low. “You should. She’s her sister and for better or worse, she’s right. Cassidy believes in love and so do I.”

Cassidy had always been part of his family, part of his life. And yes, they were right that she had a soft heart. He patted her arm. “I have to get her back, Grannie.” At the exit, he turned around and met one of the prince’s stares. “Your Highness, can you make sure that Gigi gets in her limo to go home?”

Antonio nodded. “It will be my pleasure. Keep us posted. We’re going through the embassies to ensure our police can arrest Lucinda for kidnapping. Marco knows how to handle foreign governments, which is why he’s going with you, but our issue is that Lucinda’s not an Avcean, so the laws are different.”

His heart sped fast. It was time to go, but he nodded his acceptance of the situation. “I don’t care about any of that. I just want Cassidy home.”

“We’re with you on that one.” Antonio gave him a salute.

Prince Marco joined him at the door. “Let’s go.”

A royal limo waited for them outside to take them to the airport. While it was good that his government cared about finding Cassidy, he needed to wrap his arms around her and hold her so she never left his side again.

He’d do whatever it took to ensure her safety. Lucinda was clearly even more of a mistake than he’d realized. His own vanity had caused Cassidy’s pain and it was time for him to change his own priorities.