The assassination attempt was shaking the country to its core. Riley’s head was still reeling from it. Never in a million years had she thought that she would be a target of something that violent. The Tariq debacle was the closest she thought she would ever have to deal with aside from that. She wasn’t sure exactly what made her important enough to garner so much attention. She couldn’t help but feel a little guilty over it all. Drake and Justin had been shot, Lady Kiara had been stabbed, and Bastien had been hurt in a way that he might never be able to fully heal from.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0itBccs9O
“You okay?” Drake asked as he took Riley’s hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. She hadn’t realized just how quiet she had gotten, or how much she had been fussing with her ring.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZ3qcba6wY
“I will be be.” She answered with a weak smile. “I’m still trying to process it all.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKfCdHdLZO
The armored SUV jolted as it drove over a pothole making her jump. Drake winced as the movement had momentarily disturbed his injured shoulder.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP1ZJR3ZsD
Hana slid closer to Riley to put a reassuring arm around her friend. Riley let out a slow breath that she hadn’t realized she had been holding. “We’ll get back home and figure this out.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjXQ4B2cDq
“I know we will. I think the sleep deprivation is rattling my nerves.” Riley replied with a light chuckle trying to shake off the uncertainty buzzing through her mind.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswI6wksaT2
“That would be my fault.” Drake smirked and leaned over to brush his lips against Riley’s temple. Riley rolled her eyes but smiled as the memory of the night before danced across her mind.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Tz9KzzKi
Maxwell turned in his seat in front of them, throwing his arm over the back of it. He made a face at Drake and shook his head as if trying to shake some unpleasant thought from his mind. “No one needs to know these things!”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ1FS1zgo7
“No one was talking to you.” Drake replied with a shrug, wincing again from his injury.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFMfRq7U6W
Maxwell put a hand over his heart dramatically and gasped. “Well I never!” He teased drawing a soft chuckle from Riley and Hana before the SUV became silent again.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNaGQPF08H
“How come Liam and Bertrand took another vehicle.” Hana finally asked after a moment, toying with the hem of her dress.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0yy9XMgdj
“I think it was just more… comfortable this way.” Maxwell replied, clearing his throat awkwardly. Drake shifted in his seat, his eyes drifting to the window. Riley’s eyes drifted down to the ring on her finger and felt a pang of guilt move through her.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8AFep8siH
“Oh…”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1grsUk2wR
Another moment of silence fell over the group as the SUV stopped at the gate of the Palace. The entrance into it was swarmed with security. Riley closed her eyes and took a deep breath. They all exited the vehicle and Riley kept hold of Drake’s hand, fixing a smile onto her face as they all entered the Palace.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjBbJnPThs
Riley found herself wandering through the Palace, unable to find any sort of calm. Drake had finally fallen asleep. He needed the rest, even if though he had been protesting it. The sun was just setting and Riley needed a distraction. She ambled through the halls deep in thought.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMChN3l1YX
Maybe we could still leave. Maybe we could move to the states. We would be much safer there. She thought to herself. Drake didn’t want to be a noble and she understood why, though part of her knew he wouldn’t want to leave his sister and nephew behind. She couldn’t blame him for that. She didn’t want to leave them behind either.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4bzyVliaS
“You shouldn’t be wandering alone on your own, your Grace.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtOM3Zlmu8
Riley spun around wildly. Her heart raced, blood pounding in her ears. Her fist was cocked back, ready to strike within a moment’s notice. She threw her body weight into the jab only to have her swing blocked and a strong hand grip her wrist.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9khU4pq9wa
“You’re quick.” Bastien replied, releasing her wrist as her features softened and her body relaxed. “But I’d prefer you not walking around on your own right now without making someone aware of it.” His teeth clenched as he took a step forward.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmNnHqkYhu
“And you shouldn’t be walking around on that leg.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgXqBTG8gs
“It’s fine, your Grace. My main concern is you and the King’s safety.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZG1dhyjkZ
Riley cautiously reached for Bastien’s arm to lead him to a bench nearby. His body stiffened at the contact and refused to budge. “Please sit down.” Riley tugged on his arm again, her jaw set. “You need to sit.” She added with a bit more force in her tone.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBkhSvWb2b
He sighed and allowed her to guide him over to the bench and gingerly lowered himself down on it. Bastien glanced down at her hand still holding his arm and allowed a soft smile to move across his features. “So, he finally did it.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EmIX8f2TR
Riley cocked her head to the side before following his gaze down to the engagement ring Drake had given to her. She raised her eyebrows.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBreeod5SX
“That ring had been in his pocket for quite some time. I’m glad he finally asked. I told him he had nothing to worry about.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ceSGfMAAY
She released his arm and wiggled her fingers, watching the light reflect off of the main diamond and onto the wall next to them. “How long?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHloPsUBbs3
“That would be privileged information.” A corner of his lips quirked up knowingly.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xx20kngY4
“But, I am privileged.” Riley retorted with a soft laugh.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp2oBpqILx
Bastien shook his head. “Sorry, your Grace. My lips are sealed.” He twisted his body around to hold onto the arm of the bench in an attempt to get back on his feet. His jaw clenched, his knuckles going white.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn6IwKcY1c
“Sit for a bit longer.” Riley gently urged putting her hand on his shoulder lightly. Bastien shrugged her hand off and stood. “I can see where Drake gets it from.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3395c1SScR
“Gets what from?” Bastien shifted his weight to his good leg fixing his face back into a more neutral position though his muscles were still tensed.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8xMB0nKX1
“His stubbornness.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU0uMswzC7
“It comes with the territory.” Bastien offered his arm to her. “We should get going. If someone notices you are gone there will be a lockdown that will scare everyone half to death.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKcwUvSijQ
Riley reluctantly took his arm, bringing her shoulder in closer so he could lean on it if need be. She furrowed her brow as they began walking, mulling over what he had just said. “It comes with the territory? What does that mean?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVURGH1DSQV
Bastien’s expression faltered for a moment. It had happened so quickly she was unsure if it had even been there at all. “It means you need to get back to your room before Drake notices you are gone and goes into a panic looking for you.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yparNTr0U
“You know that isn’t what I meant.” Her eyes didn’t leave his face though his focused straight ahead avoiding contact with hers. “You really aren’t going to tell me, are you?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJy98srhUq
Bastien reached his free hand over to pat her hand lightly in a rare show of affection. “Let’s just get you back to your room.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48AjBqvEQC
They slowly made their way back to Riley’s room in companionable silence. Riley wanted, no, she needed to know what Bastien had meant by his off hand comment.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrBbLdXH1G
"Here you are. Please, don't go off on your own anymore." Bastien said firmly as he stopped at her door.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y1aWuuHyb
“I won’t.” She replied, releasing his arm before turning to fully face him. Her eyes searched his features, hoping to catch sort of answer in his expression though he gave nothing away. She had been furious with what he had done during the social season, but now all she could think about was how he had protected her and Drake instead of running to Liam’s side.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZKxAT3WHJ
Riley stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for everything you have done.” Bastien’s body went rigid as he brought a hand up to awkwardly pat her back. Just as Riley loosened her grip and moved to step back his body relaxed and he brought his arms around her to give her a quick squeeze.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvyN9TnNnX
“No, thank you for saving his life.” His voice was soft as he stepped away from her and smiled briefly. “Get some sleep, your Grace.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt1PqTHLRD
She nodded and returned his smile before slipping into the dimly lit room where Drake was still fast asleep, snoring softly. Riley slid into bed, being careful not to disturb Drake before pressing a gently kiss to his forehead and curling up against him, the conversation with Bastien still filling her mind with more questions than she had ever had before.
Author’s Note: I hope you enjoy this new story! Thank you to all the beautiful readers out there that have given me so much love and support over this hard time I’m going through. I especially want to thank those that have urged me to continue writing even though I’m in a rut. You guys were right, and I definitely feel more normal getting back to the old grand. I love you all to the moon and back!
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