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“Integrity can be bought and sold just like anything else, your Majesty,” she started.

“And I’ve always known I have none. I grew up stealing cars and running cons.

I loved the adrenaline and the money—and the prestige.

I’m a shallow kinda girl. So I go where I’m sent and pretend to be what people expect. And I try not to blow too much up.”

There was a beat.

“Except my son’s yacht,” the Q’sar said gently.

“Ah. Yeah,” she gave a sheepish grin. “Except that.”

“Hated that boat.” The Q’sar didn’t look the slightest bit angry. “Go on.”

Zynara was still watching her. Still waiting. Lottie owed her the truth at the very least, even if telling it might cost her everything.

She laid every single card on the table. She was sure he knew, but she said it anyway. Fuck, when had this game become so real?

“I work for an intelligence operation that serves at the bidding of the Queen of England. It is run by the Nightingale.” The Q’sar nodded, but Zynara’s face didn’t change. “I was sent to ensure that Malik is removed from the line of succession and that your daughter Zynara takes the throne.”

Under the table, Zynara moved her foot away, and the place where it had rested on her thigh became cold.

There was a long silence. In it, all Lottie’s blood drained out of her heart and left her dizzy. Zynara wasn’t saying anything. She was just… staring. In panic, Lottie started babbling and found she couldn’t stop.

“I’m a spy. I’m nothing. I’m an order and a gun— or at least, I was. And I’ve never really had a place either, or a home, or a cause. I’ve never even wasted a thought on anyone’s happiness except my own. But then I met your daughter, your Majesty, and everything changed, and I’m so confused.”

She ignored the twitch in the corner of the Q’sar’s mouth. She needed to say this.

“I want to complete my mission and put this woman on the throne because she is fucking brilliant and Ain Zargiers needs a strong woman like Niz at its helm. But I also feel her fear like it’s mine, and I want to run away with her and set her free.

I want to run with her forever so she can be all the incredible things I know she can be, and I want to be right here at her side while she saves the whole damned world.

I want to protect her with my life. I want to give her my heart.

I want to be everything she needs and everything she loves. I want to hold her, love her— I want—”

She hiccupped to a stop.

The Q’sar was outright grinning at her now, and Zynara’s eyes were wet. She still didn’t touch her though. Lottie sniffed. She had no idea what Zynara was thinking.

“I appreciate your honesty, Lottie Finch. I’m prepared to overlook your interference in the governance of my country because I understand you were doing a job.

I will be having words with your Nightingale and the Queen of England.

But you must accept that I will object very strongly to any attempt to abduct my daughter. ”

Zynara snorted. She rested her hand, palm up, on the table, her face still carved from marble, but Lottie could see she was trying very hard not to crumble.

That was okay. Lottie was making enough mess for both of them.

She slipped her hand into Zynara’s and felt something inside her click into place when Zynara shifted her grip and laced their fingers.

She squeezed her hand and Lottie suddenly knew everything was going to be fine.

“I think you’ve found a good one,” the Q’sar told his daughter.

“I like her,” Zynara murmured. She still looked haughty.

And Lottie, who was rubbish at emotion, who flirted, lied and ran, blurted out such a relieved guffaw that both Zynara and her father looked at her with alarm.

“Oh, thank fuck for that,” she sobbed. She wiped a hand under her nose, but she took her cue.

“Of course you like me though. Princess, you love me. You are so gone for me. Totally understandable. I mean, how many times have I saved your life this week? It’s hero worship, plain and simple.

You idolise me. Adore me. Babes, you can’t keep your hands of me—”

The Q’sar coughed. “I see what you were saying,” he said to Zynara.

“Never shuts up,” Zynara agreed. “It is supremely annoying.” A very dangerous tone edged her voice. Lottie loved it.

They all smiled stupidly at each other for a moment and everything felt right.

They were drinking mint tea and enjoying orange syrup basbousa when the Q’sar asked his most important question.

“Have you completed your mission, Lottie?”

She didn’t miss the tension that immediately flooded back into Zynara’s body.

“I’m failing dreadfully,” Lottie admitted. “Because committing her life to her country shouldn’t be anyone’s choice but Zynara’s.”

There was a squeeze of her fingers.

The Q’sar grunted. “It is my everlasting misfortune that the two of my children best suited to follow in my footsteps were always more interested in gardening and in science. And the one who wants to rule…” He trailed off and turned to look at a portrait on the wall—a woman who could only have been Zynara’s mother.

“I miss her so much, Niz,” he murmured. “She’d know what to do. ”

There wasn’t much to say to that. Zynara sniffed, and the Q’sar shook the mood away.

“I’ve been feeling better,” he announced. “Well enough to appear in public again. I think I will join you all for the closing of the summit.”

“Only if you’re well, Baba. What do your specialists say?” Zynara asked.

“They can say what they like.” The Q’sar lifted his chin and looked proud, and Lottie instantly knew where Zynara got it from. “It’s two days from now. The people and the world—and my good for nothing son—need to see I’m still Q’sar. I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t think—” started Zynara, but the Q’sar turned to Lottie.

“Back me up here, Finch,” he said with a grin and a truly wicked glint in his eye—and Lottie’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “If she thinks she’s going to be bossy, she can do it from the throne. Until then…”

It turned out the Q’sar was an unbearable tease, and Lottie had just found a kindred spirit.

Zynara didn’t stand a chance.