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“I have all the time in the world, I think.” She opened the door a bit farther. “Please come in.”

“It would be better if you came with me, ma’am.”

Not knowing what else to do, Bekah nodded and went with him.

They walked through the family’s section of the palace and down to the security offices. Justin assured her she had nothing to be concerned about, but when they took a seat in a conference room, and he told her their discussion would be recorded, she wasn’t so sure she believed him.

“We just need to discuss a few things, ma’am.” He opened the file folder in front of him.

They went through how she met her late husband, how he knew Steve and everything she knew about their friendship, then her friendship with Steve.

She didn’t know much of anything worthwhile - at least she didn’t think so, but Justin questioned her for what seemed like an eternity.

“I don’t know what you think I might know,” she told him. “He never really talked about much of it with me, certainly nothing I could have pinpointed as anything that would be useful to you.”

“I know. So do the king and Thor, but we needed to make sure. The Øyanordians will likely want to have this same conversation with you.” Justin seemed to be watching her closely.

Defeat settled around her shoulders. But then she took a deep breath and squared them. “If that’s the way it has to be, I’ll do it again.” Why? Why couldn’t they have only done this once? Couldn’t the Øyanordians just listen to the tape?

Or did they want to see if her answers changed in any significant way?

That was the good thing about telling the truth. It was possible she’d remember something if they asked a question another way, but she hadn’t lied about any of it, hadn’t obfuscated with any of her answers.

She’d be fine.

Wouldn’t she?

Her stomach started to churn a bit more, but a deep breath calmed her down. At least a little bit.

“When will they be here?” At least she’d know how long she had to prepare.

“You won’t need to speak with them until tomorrow.”

Just far enough away to give her a chance to stew and not sleep well worrying about it. “Thank you.”

He stood, and Bekah followed suit.

“I’ll have someone walk you back to your quarters.”

Bekah shook her head. “No. I’m okay. I know how to get there from here.”

“It’s no trouble, ma’am.”

She smiled at him. “I am quite certain I can find my own way back. And if safety is a concern, we are in the palace. I have full faith your team has already made certain it is safe.” With a slight incline of her head, she started for the main entrance to the security offices.

As she made her way back to the family’s quarters, Bekah suspected Justin or one of his team followed her - either on foot or more likely just out of sight while someone directed them via the cameras in the public areas of the palace.

It annoyed her, but at the same time, she tried to remind herself that it was to make sure she stayed safe and didn’t get lost. She hadn’t lived there very long.

How long would she continue to live there? Now that everything had been cleared up, would she move back to Serenity Landing? With Josiah - or without?

The idea of moving on without him didn’t sit well with Bekah. Somehow, over the last few weeks, he’d worked his way into her heart.

Her heart?

Or just into her life?

There were other friends she wouldn’t want to go an extended period without seeing. Could it be that Josiah had become one of them? Or could it be more?