"I think so too." He picked up his spoon, wishing he could kiss heragain.
They both ate in silence until they were completely done and sippedtea.
"I don't think I can eat another bite today." Amy rested her hand on her flat stomach. "I'm so full now and this was amazing. Thank you for sharing a piece of your world withme."
Seduction required being comfortable and Lucio had time. Right now, she wanted trust so he'd be open to conversation and getting to know one another. "We'll go tour the small village within the castlewalls."
"There’s a village?" Her blonde brow rose with surprise. "I'd love to see it, withyou."
He stood and offered his hand. "Perfect." She stood and tightened her grip rather than release his hand. "This castle was designed for defense, so we have a granary and the room for everyone in the village to fit underground, with fortifications to survive for a year-longsiege."
"Hopefully no one attacks us!" They walked out the door, arm to arm, their strides matched. "I'd hate for our magical day to end on such a sournote."
"Let's enjoy the late afternoon." He kept her close and for once in his life felt comfortable with a woman. Amy knew his quirky interest in physics, she hadn't believed that nonsense in the tabloids, and didn't stare at him like he offered a prize she might gain with seduction. Her innocence tempted him though he was grateful she wasn't avirgin.
Soon he'd have her as his own and she'd understand bedsport was fun. Today, though, he'd ensure she loved everything about their futurehome.
They walked down the grand staircase and he led her toward the back exit of the castle. Her fingers on his wrist made him feel confident that she wanted himtoo.
Tonight, they'd spend their first night alone in his room. He needed to prepare himself for how that went because he'd keep his word and wait for her to ask him—even if ithurt.
A small band played on the patio that overlooked the small park open to the locals. A child's laugh in the distance made him hold Amy closer, imagining his own family, as they walkedoutside.
Once he thought her a shy bookworm, but now he saw beneath the cocoon she’d wrapped in to protect herself from her parents. Amy was a strong, confident and rather funny woman that pierced a chunk of his own armoroff.
8
The evening airheld a chill though Amy was still quite warm next to Lucio. The edge of the moon began to shine in the sky while the sun dipped behind majestic mountains. They walked on a small village road full of cute shops, arm inarm.
Lucio was patient as she peered into the windows—a bakery, a coffee shop, a gift store. Another pebble caught in her heel and she stopped to release it, leaning against Lucio. "I should have changed into sneakers as the cobblestones don't like mywedges."
He waited until she was standing again and then turned around. "We'll head back to the castle then. We don't have to be out allnight."
The walked in companionable silence as the air around her cocooned her like a bubble. She was withLucioand today had been better than she’d ever dared to dream. They walked further up the street but this time instead of music from the tavern on the corner, they saw people staring at a news station. She tugged on Lucio's arm, "What's goingon?"
He had his eyes glued on the TV through the window too, and he must have wondered the same thing. He kept her close and held the door open for her while he said, "I don't know. Let's findout."
"No word from the royal family yet, as this breaking newsunfolds."
The television reporter stopped speaking. Amy looked to Lucio, then around the bar. Why was everyone sosad?
"What news?" Lucio asked the man at the nearesttable.
The man lowered his head, overcome, but his wife wiped tears from her eyes. "Your Highness, it seems gunmen have taken over an elementary school. The children are stillinside."
"It's evening." Lucio spoke as if in shock. "School ended hours ago." He backed up, took her hand, and said to the frightened patrons, "I had no idea." To her he said, "We must go,quickly."
Memories of the rude man who’d ordered a report on Avce in London sprung in her head. She'd have never recommended violence in a school, but she'd mentioned flaws in the education system. She touched her pearls as she walked faster beside him. "Lucio, I recently wrote areport-"
"I have to call my parents." He talked over her and led her to the gardens outside the castle, his mind obviously speeding ahead. "I’ll have to help save the children. What could the gunmenwant?"
Lucio in danger made her heart skip a beat, but she tried to be reasonable. If she’d somehow caused this because of that report, she needed to fix it but she could see he was in no mood to listen. "Yes, someone in the royal family should be there to counter this." He pulled her up the marble steps. "I think myreport-"
"I need you to be safe." He opened the doors to the castle himself and urged her inside. "Let's talk in ourquarters."
Right. She should have realized people might listen to them. Her face felt hot at her mistake, but she nodded. "Yes, good idea, let's talkthere."
"Your Highness, your father is on the phone." Nino, the estate manager, held out a cellphone.
