stuck out her hand. “I am Danika Lazos, King Christophe’s head of security.”
“Nice to meet you,” Lucas replied, shaking her hand. “This is Francesca Davenport,” he said, resting his hand on the small of my back.
“Hi,” I said. “Just call me Frankie.”
Danika nodded. “I have a car waiting if you’d like to follow me.”
Lucas took my hand, and we strode after Danika as she hurried off the helipad toward a large black car waiting nearby. She held the back door open for us and we climbed in. She followed us into the back and then the door closed behind her.
“Did you want to visit your family’s compound before we head to the palace?” she asked.
“The family compound?” Lucas asked, shock evident in his voice. “I thought it had been confiscated.”
Danika scowled. “Anastas confiscated it and handed it to one of his high ranking supporters, but it is abandoned now. It has probably been stripped also, so prepare yourself.”
Lucas exhaled roughly, and I reached for his hand, squeezing it in support.
“Do you mind if we wait until tomorrow to see it?” Lucas asked. “I’d rather settle in and meet with the king first.”
Danika nodded. “Of course. You and your fiancée are more than welcome to stay at the palace. King Christophe wanted me to assure you that you are both welcome to stay for as long as you like.”
“Thank you,” Lucas said and turned to stare out the window as the car wound up a steep incline.
The road was narrow and windy and steep, and the colorful buildings that were built into the side of the cliffs overlooking the jewel-colored sea distracted me. They weren’t the bright colors of Santorini, these buildings looked like they’d seen better days and age and neglect dulled their paint, but I felt a deep sense of potential. These were a people who’d weathered the storm and were finding their way back. It excited me to learn more about them and hear their stories. I smiled. I couldn’t help it. This would be the most amazing adventure I’d ever been on and I couldn’t wait to get started.
Lucas
Danika showed us through the castle to our assigned rooms—not the same room, but rooms next to each other. She didn’t give us a tour or point out any interesting architectural features. In fact, she barely spoke at all as she led the way.
The castle was not as grand as I’d expected. That is to say, the building itself was massive, built at the apex of the island and looking down on the town from one side and spectacular views of the sea on the other. But inside the castle it was rather…plain. There was very little art on the walls and any of the grandeur I expected to see was absent. I assumed it had to do with being under a usurper for so many years. Anastas no doubt stripped the castle of all its treasures. It had been two years since they had reinstated the king and from the evidence of our surroundings the rebuilding was a slow and arduous process. Rather than frighten me, it actually excited me—if excited was an appropriate word to use. I relished the chance to dig in and help this country flourish once more. It had been rich in both heritage and wealth when I was a child, which was probably why it had been targeted by greedy men. I wanted to see it restored to its former glory, and I wanted to be part of the restoration effort.
It did not, however, bode well for my family’s compound. If the palace had been so thoroughly and ruthlessly pillaged, then there was no doubt the Andino estate had been too. My parents could only take what they could carry and so had to leave a lot behind. Family heirlooms any bigger than what could fit into a pocket or luggage would have been sold off or destroyed by whoever took possession of the house and surrounds. Mother and Father rarely mentioned the compound, and I did not look forward to finding out what was left of it.
“This is Maddox, your valet,” Danika said when she entered the room assigned to me.
“Lord Andino,” Maddox said and inclined his head toward.
“Call me Lucas, please,” I replied.
Frankie had also been assigned a lady’s maid, and it made me smile to imagine how she would interact with the woman.
“The king would like to meet with you as soon as possible,” Danika said, “but he also understands