little longer on top, looked slightly disheveled. Light scruff covered his strong jawline, and aviator sunglasses covered his eyes. He was straight out of casting a lead for a sexy-as-hell bodyguard.
“Shocker.” Theo rolled his eyes. “Lennox, I want you to meet Spencer.” Theo stepped back down the steps, tugging me with him.
I couldn’t see his eyes, but I felt his gaze through the sunglasses. Cool. Detached. Assessing.
“Lennox Easton, Spencer Sutton.” Theo nodded at both of us. “Lennox will be taking lead on my security now.”
“Nice to meet you, Lennox,” I replied politely, shooting Theo a questioning look, bluntly asking. “Where’s Dalton?”
It was very uncommon for nobles to change their main guard unless something horrible happened, especially in Great Victoria. We were very loyal to tradition. They built a relationship and awareness with each other. Most stayed in the same family until they retired, going from father/mother to son/daughter.
“Don’t worry. Dalton’s still one of my guards,” he said to me, then smiled at Lennox. “You’ll get used to her candor.”
“I protect you, Highness. What she says is not my concern.” Lennox’s massive shoulders lifted slightly, his expression blank.
My lids narrowed. He didn’t really insult me, but it still prickled the hair on the back of my neck like a hissing cat.
“And Spencer, you will get used to this brusque arsehole.” Theo chuckled, linking his free hand with mine. “He’s better after a few shots of whiskey, a boxing match, and some porn.”
Hearing the prince say porn caused me to jerk, darting a glance at him, once again seeing the distinction between the boy I went to school with and the man who stood next to me now. “Porn, huh?”
“I’m innocent. That was all him. I only thought of you.” Theo’s eyes widened, his hand on his chest. “The prince would not do something so vulgar.”
“Bullshite.” Lennox snorted, covering the scoff with his hand.
“Sorry, don’t buy it either.” I laughed, leaning into him playfully. He might have been royal and raised to appear proper, but he was still a red-blooded male who thought about sex a lot. Hell, I thought about sex a lot. It was the only line we hadn’t crossed yet, but I thought that line would soon be disappearing.
“So, you guys met at the academy?” I motioned between them.
“Yeah.” Theo nodded, clearing his throat. “We were bunkmates, and he was my navigator/co-pilot during training. We spent a lot of time together.”
Silence filled the space after Theo’s response. Lennox stayed silent and aloof, with his arms crossed in front, his legs out wide.
Dalton wasn’t warm and fuzzy, but hell, this guy was making me miss him. Dalton, at least, was polite enough to respond and talk to me, acting human. This guy was a robot, and I might have accidentally turned off his switch.
A buzzing noise came from Theo’s pocket.
“Guess who that is.” He sighed, grabbing his phone with one hand. “I have to answer this.” He curved away, walking a few feet, leaving me alone with the new bodyguard while he talked to his father.
Lennox looked straight ahead. Thorny silence pricked at my skin.
“So any fun, embarrassing stories you can tell me? Blackmail on the prince I can be part of?”
Lennox’s head jerked enough to know he heard me, his lips slightly pressing together, but he stayed mute, like I was beneath his response.
Silence. Awkward.
I was bad enough with people, but this guy brought out my bristly, snarky side.
“Wow. I can already see how much fun we’re all going to have together.”
“I’m not here to have fun, your ladyship. I’m not a fucking clown for your entertainment. I’m here to protect the prince. That’s it.”
I jerked back with an inhale, anger flaring up my throat like acid. What the fuck was wrong with this guy? How could he already hate me?
“I detest clowns. Nothing I hate more.” I stepped closer, my voice low. He didn’t move, not even a flinch, but I could feel his eyes trained on me. “But I think I might still prefer one over you.”
“Good.” His lips twitched with a cruel smirk. “Then we know exactly where the other stands, don’t we, my lady?”
I watched him for a beat, fury huffing out my nose before I responded. “We. Sure. Do.”
Chapter 6
Rolling, lazy green hills gave way to the bustling city life. Pavements, buildings, and air thicker than the countryside’s, heavy with pollution and energy.
My eyes were trained out the window but not really capturing anything. My nervous energy concentrated on the plastic water bottle in