The head eyed me, asking, “What’s his deal?”
Myles explained, “He’s definitely got a concussion. Probably needs stitches too. Is the royal physician inside with them?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, are you going to just stand there all day, or are you going to let us in?”
“Only you and the princess’s fiancé. It’s essential personnel only.”
The body holding up my right side stepped away, and I nearly crumpled to the ground as he uttered, “Fine by me.”
Myles grunted with the extra weight of supporting me solo. “Christ, Ryker, at least give me a warning.”
The floating head disappeared, and a side of the tapestry was pulled back, enough to reveal an open steel door. Maybe I wasn’t seeing things after all, as the head appeared to be connected to a body standing on the threshold of the concealed room.
Pulling me inside, Myles dropped me into a chair as I heard the unmistakable thud of the steel door closing and being bolted shut. I only had a moment to process where I was before the shouting started.
“Where the hell is my sister?!”
“What happened to him?!”
“Do we know who is behind this?!”
“How long are we expected to remain in here?!”
Grabbing both sides of my head, I screamed, “STOP!”
Well, shit. That seemed to do the trick.
Silence descended upon the room, and I jumped out of my skin when a hand touched my shoulder.
“Hey, it’s okay.” It was Amy.
Forcing myself to look up at the woman whose wedding was in the process of being ruined, there was nothing but compassion in her eyes.
“What happened?” she asked softly.
“Does everyone promise not to yell?”
Amy gave a pointed look to those gathered in this small room—clearly the designated panic room for the family. “We promise. Don’t we?”
There were various murmurs throughout the room, so I chose to proceed. “Lucy and I were in the car between the church and the palace, and we weren’t paying close attention to where we were headed. The car stopped, and by the time we realized we weren’t going in the right direction, I was being pulled out, and one of them grabbed Lucy.”
“One of who?” Amy prompted.
“The two security guards who were in the front seat of our assigned car.”
Liam’s voice was full of rage as he barked at Myles. “And where the hell were you?”
Myles kept his head held high, but he knew he’d fucked up taking his eyes off Lucy even for a moment in the midst of arguably the biggest security nightmare in over a decade. “Miss Sophie twisted her ankle. I stopped to help her up.”
“Sophie?!” Liam roared, causing a stabbing feeling like a hot poker to my brain. “You’re not paid to lay down your life to protect Sophie!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Get him out of here!” Myles headed for the door voluntarily, but when he got close enough, Liam added, “You are hereby relieved of your duties.”
Myles dipped his head in acknowledgment, and before I could blink, he was gone from the room. Liam ordered the royal physician to tend to my wound, and thankfully, the room grew quiet.
