When I decided to come to Starkland, I figured it would be a fun, easy vacation. We’d do some sightseeing, maybe go to some museums, probably eat some new foods.

I never thought I’d end up sleeping with the king, let alone watching him kill a man.

I’d never seen death before. I’d actually never seen someone shoot a gun. It was loud, really loud. Nothing like in the movies at all. The gun had looked dangerous and powerful, not like one of those little peashooters in the movies.

I couldn’t believe it had happened. As I sat there alone in my room, George just outside the door, I kept going over the moment in my mind.

Trip had grabbed me and pushed me away. That was his first instinct, to protect me. Next, he dove down on top of me, further protecting me. He almost got killed because of that.

And then he grabbed that gun and shot back.

If he didn’t have that gun, we’d be dead. Al wouldn’t have gotten to us in time. We just wouldn’t have survived without Trip.

Only minutes before, I’d felt the best I ever had. In his arms, blissed out on an orgasm, I felt so at peace and incredible that it was hard to describe. Trip made my body feel things I never could have imagined.

And then that damn assassin had to go and ruin all of that.

I sat down on the couch and flipped through Starklandian television. It was a little weird, but I couldn’t understand anything they were saying anyway. In the castle, people mostly spoke English, or at least they did around me. It was easy to forget that people in Starkland didn’t speak English as their primary language.

I sat there staring at the television, trying to forget about what I had seen. The man’s body, lying on the ground. He was tall and thin, with a large, crooked nose and dark, scraggly hair. He hadn’t said a word, just began to fire as soon as he saw us.

Those moments played through my mind, again and again, over and over. I wished I could go see my parents, but I knew I had to be confined to my room as long as the castle sweep was ongoing.

Minutes trickled by and turned into hours. I should have gone to sleep, but I was way too wired for that. I thought about texting Trip, but he was probably busy enough.

At around two in the morning, I heard a soft knock at my door. I got up and pulled the door open.

George nodded at me. “I wasn’t sure if you were awake, miss.”

“I’m awake.”

“The king is on his way down. Just thought I’d warn you.”

“Oh. Okay. Is everything okay?”

“The lockdown is over,” he said. “We’re safe.”

“Thanks,” I said. I went back into my room and waited for Trip.

My stomach was a knot of tension. I wondered if he had taken my advice or if I had overstepped the line by even offering it. That didn’t matter, though. Ten minutes later, there was another knock, and then Trip came into my room.

“Trip.” I went to him and threw my arms around him.

He looked tired. “You shouldn’t be awake,” he said softly.

“Oh well,” I said.

“Listen, Bryce. We need to leave the castle.”

I pulled back. “What?”

“I have a house in the country. Well, it’s more like a fortress,” he said, laughing. “We’ll go there for the time being.”

“Are we in danger?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I spoke with Max, Richter, and Lynette. We agreed that I would go to the country with my closest advisors until we can figure this out.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do whatever you need.”

“There’s one small issue.”

“What’s that?”

“We can’t bring your parents.”

That felt like a hammer blow to the chest. “Why? I can’t leave them here.”

“They’re safe here,” he said, “but we can’t risk bringing them.”

“Do you think they’re involved?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why not bring them?”

“Because I don’t want to be accused of anything. It’s bad enough that I’m bringing you. Frankly, I had to insist, and quite loudly.”

“Trip,” I said softly, “I can’t just leave them behind.”

“I promise on my life, nothing will happen to your father and your stepmother.”

“I know you wouldn’t let it, but I would feel horrible leaving them. I just—I can’t.”

“You will,” he insisted. “I need you, Bryce. You already provided me with good counsel when I was in an angry state and couldn’t think properly. I need you close by right now to keep me centered.”

I stared at him, completely taken aback. I didn’t think I had done anything special, but apparently I had. I couldn’t believe he was saying that he needed me, but there it was.

Could I really leave my parents behind? Trip would keep them safe; I was sure of that. He would never let them get hurt. But I would be such an awful daughter if I left and they were forced to stay behind.

I was so torn. Trip needed me, but I wanted to be a good daughter.

“It will only be temporary,” he said. “We can bring your parents when things calm down. A few days at most.”

I frowned. “That’s a little better,” I said.

“Please. Come with me.”

I looked into his intense eyes and knew that I had no other choice.

“Okay,” I said. “Let me say goodbye to my parents.”

“Good. Pack now. George will bring them in. I’ll be back to get you soon.”

Trip turned and quickly left.

I sighed, shaking my head.

This whole trip had gotten so far away from me. I couldn’t really believe it, but it was happening. I had never expected to go from a normal American girl to being so involved with the king so quickly.

But events were moving so fast, and I couldn’t slow them down. I couldn’t slow down myself, or else I’d risk getting left behind.

I began to pack. I’d say goodbye to my father and Lucy, and I knew they’d understand.

They’d be safe here. They had to be.

The better question was, would I be safe with Trip?

My stomach felt empty, and worry filled the rest of me.