“Let him go!”
Marcus said, “Ma’am, you sure?”
“Release him, yes,please.”
The guard with his knee on Torin’s back said, “We confiscated their swords, not comfortable giving them back.”
“Just let him go, please.”
Torin gasped out, “This man accompanying me—” He groaned as the security guard wrenched his arms. “—is Max, Princess. Ye need tae release him as well.”
I said, “Release both of them.”
A guard cut Torin’s zip-ties, but before they could cut the zip-ties on the other man’s wrists, he lumbered to his feet andlurched towards me across the dark porch. The guards shifted, stepping in front of me, hands raised, shielding me.
Marcus said, “Step away, asshole. Don’t come any closer,” but the man ignored him and dropped to his knees under the porch light. I could see him, truly. He was broad-shouldered, soaked from the storm, but carried himself regally. His chin lifted, his voice commanded, “Ye art Alexandria? Daughter of our father — my sister?”
I was frozen, stunned, shocked?—
A look of anguish crossed his face, he shook his head. “Och, daena answer, I can see it, ye hae the visage of our mother. Tis enough tae break m’heart. I hae found ye at long last. Praise be tae the Heavens, I hae been delivered tae yer door.”
Marcus tugged my elbow. “Want us to remove him?”
“No…” I shook my head. I couldn’t stop looking at the man kneeling in front of me, but drew my eyes away to say, “Actually, can everyone leave, please? I need the porch.”
Marcus said, “You’re sure, ma’am?”
“I’m sure.”
He said, “We have a shift change anyway. I’ll leave two guards to walk the perimeter.”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
My security detail left the porch, most of them left my property.
I stepped closer to the man. “Are your knees bothering you, do you want to get up?”
“Nae I wish tae remain on my knees.”
“Can you please continue?”
He looked up into my eyes, the porch light accentuating the sharp planes of his face. “…when Torin told me he had found ye, I asked for assurances. I dinna fully believe him, yet here ye are — Alexandria, standing afore me.”
There was something achingly familiar in the set of his jaw, the tilt of his eyes.Oh.
Who are you? Are you…?
But my heart already knew long before he said it.
“I am Maximilian.” His voice was firm, almost solemn. “Prince of the Kingdom of Riaghalbane. I hae searched long years for ye.”
Tears welled up. My voice was small and scared when I asked, “Who do you think I am?”
He said, “I ken ye are Alexandria, Princess of Riaghalbane, ye are wearin’ her locket.”
My hand went to the locket. “This?”
“Aye, tis from our kingdom. Och nae… as yer brother I swore tae protect ye. I dinna, I am ashamed tae say, ye were stolen away. I couldna… I dinna ken how tae find ye. I hae searched, tryin’ tae find ye, but — I was not good enough.”
