Garrett wrapped me into his arms. I closed my eyes, put my head on his chest, and just let him hold me. I was physically and emotionally exhausted: having him almost leave, then almost losing him, now this….

One thing I knew: I needed this man in my life, no matter the cost. I ran my hands over those arms that made me feel so safe. I had to finish what we started, get him to open up so I could help him. “Look,” I said. “We have to—”

There was a knock at my bedroom door. When I opened it, Aleksander was there. “Your Majesty,” he said apologetically. “I’m so glad to see you’re alright. And you, Mr. Buchanan. And I’m sorry to ask when you’re still weak, but….”

“What is it?” I asked.

“The President of Sorvatia will be here in half an hour,” he said. “I was going to take the meeting on your behalf, but I thought I should ask, now that you’re awake….”

I nodded. “I’ll meet him.” I wasn’t really up to it, but we couldn’t win the war without Sorvatia’s help and it was my job as Queen. “I’ll need to change.”

Garrett stepped outside with Aleksander. “Your Majesty, I’ll be right outside your door.”

My strength was slowly coming back but my legs still felt rubbery. I took a quick shower and then clumsily laced myself into a corset and gown: meeting with a head of state called for the full, traditional look. Normally, I would have got Caroline to help me, but I couldn’t bring myself to call her, not when she was so upset about Sebastian. I did my make-up and pinned my hair up. The final step was to slide the crown carefully onto my head. Then I opened the door.

Aleksander was gone, but Garrett was right outside, just as he’d promised. When he saw me, his lungs filled, that strong chest rising. “... wow,” he whispered at last.

I glanced down at myself. I hadn’t thought there was anything special about it: he’d seen me in gowns before, though maybe never in red. This one was deep scarlet and deeply traditional, certainly not revealing or anything. If anything, with my hair pinned up and everything corseted and buttoned up tight, I looked super-formal. But the way he looked at me lit a warm glow inside me. “Thank you,” I said.

He led the way downstairs and then Aleksander showed us to the Great Room. The dark oak table had been polished to a mirror-like shine and decorated with gold candelabras.

President Belliani, the head of Sorvatia, rose to meet me. He was in his late fifties, with a greasy, balding pate and a slight pot belly hanging over the front of his expensive pants. He kissed me on both cheeks and then took my hand. “I am so glad to see you’ve recovered, Your Majesty,” he told me. “It’s been too long. When I last met your father, you were just a teenager.”

I nodded politely and we sat. As soon as I sat down, a wave of tiredness hit me. After everything I’d been through, I probably shouldn’t have been out of bed, never mind negotiating. But I needed Belliani’s help. I glanced over at Garrett, who’d taken up position behind Belliani. He must be exhausted, too. But he stood ramrod straight, hand clasped behind his back, ready in case I needed him.

“There is very little time,” I told Belliani. “Tomorrow, soon after dawn, we’ll attack Garmania. To defeat them, we’ll need to send our troops through your country so that we can attack from the north as well as the south. Will you allow that?”

Belliani nodded. “Of course I will help you, Your Majesty.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Thank God. “Thank you, Mr. President. Now—”

“I will help you as I helped your father,” he said, “last time you had a war.”

Had a war. As if it was some game we chose to play. But I nodded in thanks. “Now—”

“My roads will be bombed again,” he said. “My infrastructure damaged... again.”

I opened and closed my mouth a few times, caught off balance. “We are indebted to you, Mr. President,” I said sincerely. “And of course we’ll pay for—”

But he waved aside my offer and leaned forward. “I help you because our countries have always had a special relationship. A relationship I consider very important.”

“As do I.” I smiled gratefully, but I was flustered and confused. I didn’t see where this was going. What the hell did he want?

“You will have my help,” he said. “Your troops can pass freely through my country. And when you’ve won your war, I look forward to you visiting my country.” He smiled. “Have you been to my villa in the mountains?”

I shook my head, smiling back at him. “No, but I’d lov—”

And then I froze. He was staring into my eyes in a very particular way.

“It’s very private,” he assured me. “A chance to get away from the public.”

I’m imagining things. He’s not—He can’t be….

“Would you like that, Your Majesty?”

He was. I could see it in his eyes, just as clearly as if he’d been some drunk in a bar propositioning me. He was offering passage through his country... but only if I promised to sleep with him. And as soon as the realization hit, it was confirmed: a twitch, at the corners of his mouth. He knew that I knew. And it amused him to see me struggle with it.

My first reaction was shock. He’d gamble with my country’s future, with millions of lives, just so he could say he’d bedded a queen? Then anger. How dare he? Of course I wasn’t going to—

Then my stomach lurched. What would happen if I didn’t do it? Even as a teenager, I’d followed the last war closely enough to know that moving our troops through Sorvatia had been vital to our victory. If I refused him, I was condemning us all.

This was my duty. I was asking my soldiers, male and female, to lay down their lives for their country. All I had to do was endure an hour lying on silk sheets in a country house. No one would ever have to know.

My mother was right. This is what she’d meant: a queen’s relationships aren’t for love. I’d sleep with Belliani and, eventually, I’d marry a man like him to prevent some future war, or secure Lakovia’s safety for the future. That feeling I’d had, ever since the war... it would never go away. Because even when I married, I’d still be alone.

I swallowed and lowered my gaze. I could feel Belliani smirking. He knew what my answer was going to be.