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“What is it?” he asked after she didn’t say anything for what seemed like an eternity.

“We? If it’s over, I can go home, and you can be released from your obligation to protect me. There’s no need for us to be ‘we’ anymore.”

The realization slammed into him with nearly enough force to knock him over. “No,” he replied slowly, vowing not to loosen his grip until she did. “I don’t suppose there is.”

Her arms dropped to her sides so Josiah let her go as she stepped back. “Thank you,” she told him, not looking his way. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support since the accident.”

“It’s been my pleasure, Beks. I’m glad I was there to help.”

She nodded and turned away from him, going into the bedroom and shutting the door behind her.

With a groan, he collapsed into the chair. That could have gone better.

Before he could go after her, someone knocked.

His brother and Thor stood on the other side.

“We need to talk to you,” Benjamin told him. “Both of you.”

Josiah glanced at the closed door behind him. “I’m pretty sure Bekah’s taking a nap.” It seemed like a reasonable assumption.

The other two men shared a look.

“Can you come with us then? We don’t want to bother her.” Ben led the way out the door. Josiah followed behind Thor.

When they were in the same outer room as a few nights before, they all took seats.

“What’s going on?” He looked between his brother and stepfather wondering why they looked so somber if the Athemtis issue had been resolved.

“We still have to deal with everything on our end,” Thor told him with a sigh. “You were still on vacation with a known separatist who was committing espionage. Your wife’s late husband was in league with him. We know those things. But is there anything you could have said or done that would give those separatists knowledge about the Quatremaine family or the inner workings of our government or security measures that they could pass on to dissident groups here in Eyjania?”

Josiah shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’ve always been careful with what I say and who I say it to. I haven’t even shown Bekah the tunnels yet.” He probably shou...

No. If she wanted out of this marriage now that the threat was over, he wouldn’t stop her - and she wouldn’t need to know how to get to safety if something happened.

Even if he’d always remember how he’d wondered what it would be like to kiss her.

“We still need to talk to both of you. The protection team leader from Øyanord is on his way. He wants to talk to both of you, too.” Thor leaned back in his seat. “I know it’s unlikely that you let anything slip, but they have to follow procedures, and so do we.”

Josiah blew out a breath. “I get it. I’m sure Bekah will, too. Doesn’t mean we have to be happy about it.”

“We aren’t either,” Ben agreed. “But it still has to be done.”

Standing, Josiah started for the door. “I’ll let Bekah know. Where do we need to meet you?”

* * *

When Bekah emergedfrom the bedroom a few minutes after she’d entered it, Josiah was nowhere to be seen.

Odd.

Before she could decide what her plan would be, there was a knock on the door.

She opened it to find the king’s head of security standing there.

“Do you have a moment, Your Royal Highness?” He inclined his head her direction.

Would she ever get used to that? Would she need to?