Fireworks were going off in Rachelle’s dreams.

As she snuggled more deeply into the comfortable bed, a loud explosion sounded, the ground jarring as she bolted upright. Next to her, Darian was also sitting up, looking shocked. They weren’t given time to react as a team of palace guards stormed the room.

“Your Highness, we need to evacuate immediately. This is not a drill. Insurgents are making their move right now. Let’s go!”

Darian stood, his shoulders tense, his face cold as he made short work of dressing in front of the entire team. Luckily, Rachelle had asked for a pair of pajamas to borrow, and she was dressed in one of Darian’s shirts and pajama bottoms as she rose from the bed, unsure of what she should do.

One of the guards approached her.

“Miss, come with us now.”

He placed a firm hand on her arm, the group leaving with Darian surrounded as Rachelle was brought separately from behind. In a moment of clarity, she snatched her purse on the way out the door. They wound their way through the palace until they reached a back garage, where two cars were waiting. Rachelle’s guard pressed her in the opposite direction of Darian.

“In here, please. We’ll do our best to get you safely home.”

“I…I’m not wearing any shoes,” she said.

She felt stupid. It was the only thing she could think to say as her romance was torn apart and Phoebe’s worried gaze haunted her inner mind. Was she wrong to ignore her assistant’s warning? Would she pay for that mistake with her life?

She turned to look at Darian, who was already being pressed into another car.

“Darian!” she cried, and he turned to look at her.

His eyes were charcoal black in the darkness of the garage. He frowned, his expression like stone.

“It’s for the best that you put me out of your mind, Rachelle. Goodbye.”

With that, he was pressed into the other car, which instantly took off. Rachelle watched in disbelief as her own guard gently pressed her into the back seat of her car and slid in next to her. Their own driver sped in another direction.

“Why aren’t we going the same way?” Rachelle asked.

The guard kept his eyes forward, looking around for any sign of immediate danger beyond the vehicle.

“The royal family will be moved to safety. Since we don’t know you or anything about you, those whereabouts are to remain strictly hidden.”

“I’m in marketing,” Rachelle drawled, annoyed. How could they think she was come kind of rebel spy?

“No offense, miss, but that means nothing. Now, I’m going to take you to the American embassy, where you should be able to secure a flight back to the States. There isn’t a moment left to lose. For all we know, they could be grounding all the flights in a few hours.”

Rachelle swallowed, her throat dry. The last image of Darian’s hard stare was freezing her heart, even as she feared for her own life. How could he have ignored the warnings? What if they cost him his life, too?

Unable to think of Darian dying, Rachelle instead reached into her purse, checking the contents. She had always carried her passport and wallet with her, much to her relief. It would appear that the contents of her hotel room would be lost to her forever. She supposed it was better to lose a few items of clothing than her life.

Even the beautiful dress and jewelry that Darian had bought her.

They drove up to the high gates of the American embassy. When a guard approached them, Rachelle’s escort spoke.

“We have one of your citizens in need of sanctuary while we attend to military action against our country. Will you take her?”

Rachelle glanced at the man beside her in disbelief. Hadn’t he just said they would take care of her? She had assumed that meant they knew she would be coming. Now, she was like a lost puppy being left on someone’s doorstep. The guard looked at Rachelle.

“Do you have your passport, miss?”

Rachelle nodded, a wave of relief rushing through her. She reached into her purse and handed it to the guard, who took a thorough look at it before nodding.

“Please come in. We can help you.”

He opened the back door for Rachelle to get out. She was acutely aware of her bare feet as they touched the dirt ground. When she closed the door behind her, the two guards saluted each other.

“Thank you for bringing her to safety,” the American guard said.

Darian’s guard nodded, directing the driver to make haste as they headed back toward an unknown destination, leaving Rachelle effectively in the dust. She turned and looked up at the guard, who was doing his best not to stare at her unconventional outfit.

“We can get you a change of clothes inside. There are a few other Americans waiting to depart. We will have a convoy heading toward Zaradi’s neighbor, Nurabi. It’s a peaceful micronation, and we have a base there. If you just head inside, I’ll radio that you’re coming.”

“Thank you,” Rachelle whispered.

She walked as if in a daze toward the embassy entrance. By the time she got there, the door was already being opened for her, and a woman in jeans and a T-shirt wrapped an arm around her back as she welcomed her inside.

“My goodness, you came here in your pajamas! Let’s get you something to wear that includes shoes. Once you’re dressed, we’ll deploy the convoy. This way, ma’am.”

Rachelle was led to a small antechamber, where various articles of clothing were arranged in shelves, based on size. Rachelle quickly picked out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt before finding a comfortable pair of shoes and changing in a nearby bathroom. When she was dressed, she stared at the pile of clothing on the floor.

Regardless of how Darian had behaved as they parted, he had managed to capture her heart. How could she leave the one article she had left of him behind? Draping the clothing over her purse, she carried everything with her as she headed back into the main lobby, where several other Americans were waiting, their faces wracked with fear.

“I can assure you that the U.S. government has negotiated your safe removal from this hostile situation. The rebel army has no interest in angering us,” the woman announced, her voice loud and clear in the vast chamber. “If you could all follow me, it would be wise for us to evacuate sooner, rather than later.”

The group followed the woman outside, where a large green military truck was waiting. The back was open, and the inside was lined with bench-like seats along either side. The group piled in, each person taking a seat before the door was closed, and they traveled in the windowless, dimly lit truck to another country, hoping that they wouldn’t hear any more explosions along the way.