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CHAPTER 4

LIZZY

DON’T BE SARCASTIC WITH THE KING…

“Your Majesty, forgive me saying, but this is a little bit ridiculous.” I realized I was hissing, but I couldn’t really have a private call in the confines of the Wombats Arena. For the majority of those who might overhear, the conversation would certainly be confusing. For one player in particular, it would set off more red flags and alarms than the historic invasion of our home country by the Durnish forces back in the sixties.

“Eliza, I know it’s a lot to ask, but your particular skill set would suggest your ability to convince my son of his true place and convince him that it is time for him to come home. As soon as possible.” The Queen still spoke to me like the child who used to play with her son.

“It would be easier if I were allowed to jump him from behind and take him down with a sleeper hold first,” I said, “then I would have a better chance of accomplishing the goal.”

“Do not injure the prince,” the king said sternly. He did not sound ill, though his cancer diagnosis had been the event that prompted my own presence here. With the king ill and the heir looking somewhat unreliable, the spare heir was needed. As soon as possible.

“Of course not, I won’t hurt him.” I hated being on speaker at the palace. The king and queen tended to take my calls together, and it was somewhat overwhelming having all that royal direction at one time.

“This is a very delicate situation,” the king reminded me. “Declan needs to come back of his own free will. He cannot be coerced. And no one there can know his true identity until he has accepted his position here at home—it would put him in grave danger.”

“Of course, sir.”

“So what is the problem? We have arranged the perfect entry for you,” the Queen said, sounding slightly annoyed.

“The biggest issue is that I don’t know anything about PR. This entire set up is so far-fetched, I have no idea how I’ll keep up the charade in any kind of convincing way.”

“The team’s owner accepted it,” the king reminded me. Of course, there’d been a sizable donation to make it happen.

“Right, but what will the coach think when I spend hours lurking around doing ‘PR’ things and nothing really comes from it except maybe the loss of one of his most valuable players?”

“He will accept that the sovereign prince of Murdan was urgently required to return to his born duty. He will accept that an American hockey coach does not stand in the way of royal destiny.” King Erik had a way of phrasing things that made them sound already decided.

“Right. Sure.”

“Are you using sarcasm with your king?” The Queen asked.

“Just a tiny bit. Sorry.”

The king sighed. “I know this is a complex task, Lizzy. That’s why we chose you. Your record of service is outstanding, and your loyalty to our nation is unparalleled. If anyone can convince my son to realize that his real purpose is at home, and that he has little choice in the matter, I believe it is you.”

“Sir, is there any chance we are potentially conflating my performance in special operations with the need for someone who can act and persuade? My persuasion techniques generally involve weapons or torture.”

“Do not torture the prince.” The Queen was definitely sounding annoyed now.

“Of course not, I’m just suggesting?—”

“You are the person for the job. Convince him.” King Erik directed.

“Of course.”

“Check in tomorrow,” he said.

“Yes, Your Majesties.” I shoved my phone into my pocket and rolled my eyes. This was not exactly the cherry position I’d hoped would be mine coming out of the commendations I’d received on the tail of my last assignment. If a low-paid acting job surrounded by men who considered playing a game to be a respectable profession was my due, maybe I should have allowed that terrorist dictator to stay where he was… But no, I didn’t regret my past. Even though there was a good chance I was going to regret my future.

I deleted the interview I’d done with the prince. Not only did it not move me closer to my mission objective, it was useless in general. Somehow, I needed to put together a scintillating public relations campaign about this ice hockey team. Maybe I should start with why they’d been named after an animal that didn’t even exist on the North American continent.

Ah yes, Lizzy. Your instincts for compelling entertainment will serve you well. Who doesn’t want to learn more about wombats?

I was so screwed.