Royal Rock:A Bad Boy Royal Romance(34)

"Recall the army," I said to Max.

There was a pause as the three men looked at each other.

"Is that wise, Your Highness?" Max asked me.

"Yes."

"Why?" Richter asked. "Shouldn't we crush that army now more than ever?"

"That army isn't the real target," I said. "That army was a distraction."

"You think they used the army to draw our attention away while Corvin grabbed the girl," Max said.

"Exactly. I think that army is going to melt away into the night as soon  as we get close, and we'll look like we were chasing shadows. Recall  the army. We're going to need the manpower."

"Your Highness," Max said, "I don't think that's a good idea. Even if  they were just a distraction, the army is still out there. We're getting  reports that they've been on the move lately."

I glanced at Al. He nodded. "They're getting worse and worse, Your Highness," he said.







"Doesn't matter," I said. "It's a distraction. There is no real threat."

"Sir, I think you're letting your personal feelings blind you," Max said.

"Believe me, Max, I'm not. Look, there's nothing of strategic value out  in the east. All of the reports have been of the army roaming around,  robbing peasants. Does that sound like a real attack?"

"No," Max admitted.

"They're baiting us. I'm the only real target out here, and they went after Bryce to go after me."

Max nodded slowly. "I can see that," he said.

"Recall the army," I said again. "Don't make me order you one more time."

"Yes, Your Highness," Max said, and he stood. He quickly left the room.

I looked at Al. "How's it going finding them?"

"Sir, the grounds are patrolled by drones day and night. If someone came  or went, it's in the drone footage. It needs to be analyzed."

"Very well. Get people on that."

"Very good, sir." He stood and left.

I was alone with Richter. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I don't envy you one bit, Trip."

I raised an eyebrow. Richter had only ever called me by that name once or twice before in my entire life.

"Why do you say that?"

"All of this, it's one hell of a mind fuck. I mean, they kidnapped your mistress for fuck's sake."

"She's not my mistress," I said.

"Fine. Your woman. I don't care what she is. I just wouldn't want to have to make these decisions if I were you."

He was right. I had to choose what was important to me, and my choices  would effect all of the Starkish people. If I went after Bryce too  aggressively, I could allow the rebels to win some important battle  because of my inattention. Or, if I didn't pursue Bryce immediately, I  could risk losing her forever.

I was in a quandary, and yet I didn't really feel like it. In truth, the decision felt simple.

I was as responsible for Bryce as I was for my people. I brought her  here and I ignored her at the dinner last night. I could have done more,  gone to see her, something. But instead, I let my sense of duty  override what I really desired.

I wasn't going to do that again. I wanted Bryce, and I was going to get  her back. It didn't matter if the democrats sent their entire force  against me to keep her; I was going to cut them all down one after the  other.

I wasn't letting Bryce go. I could do everything possible for the  country and still make some mistake. I had an entire force of ministers  who wanted to steer the ship. It was time to listen to advisors and do  what I needed to do.

I was going to go after Bryce. I was possibly making some mistake, but I  didn't care either way. The only thing I cared about was getting Bryce  back and making her mine.

"The decision is easy, Richter," I said, standing. He stood along with me. "I'm going to get my woman back."

He grinned at me. "Well said, Your Highness."

"I just hope I don't burn the country down in the process."

"Oh, I doubt that. The country has survived worse, sir."

I smiled, nodded, and left the room. Richter saluted as I went.

I felt good as I moved down the halls toward my private rooms. For some  reason, I really craved a shower. The idea of hot water rinsing away my  hesitations appealed to me.

But in the end, I had made my choice. I was choosing Bryce, and I wasn't looking back.





33





BRYCE





I woke back up in the room, my head swimming.

I was alone. The light was out and I could see my surroundings better,  but I couldn't seem to concentrate. I was still tied and bound to the  chair, and there was no wiggle room as I flexed my arms and my legs.

I tried to scream. This time, I had a gag in my mouth.

I bit down on the damp-tasting rag and tried to breathe deeply through  my nose. I couldn't give in to my fears and panic too hard. I wasn't  hurt, or at least not badly hurt. I probably had a ton of bruises from  where Corvin had hit me and where my body was pressed up against the  hard frame of the vehicle they transported me in, but really, that stuff  was minor.

I closed my eyes. I took a deep breath. I gathered myself.

Trip was going to come for me. I had no doubt in my mind that Trip was  going to come and rescue me sooner or later. All I had to do was survive  until he got here, and then I knew I'd be okay.

Survival seemed like a problem, though. I wasn't ready for this,  couldn't handle it. I was a regular person from a normal family. I never  imagined I'd be a political prisoner and that I might get tortured. I  had no clue if I could even stand up to that, or what they wanted from  me.







It wasn't like I knew anything. Trip never shared any state secrets with  me during pillow talk or anything like that. Hell, I couldn't even  speak their language. Even if I wanted to learn something, they mostly  spoke Starklandian around me, so I couldn't follow it anyway.

I opened my eyes and looked around the room. A single, large light  floated up above me, a lot like in the movies. The walls were bare steel  with beams at regular intervals, and the ceiling was at least twelve  feet high. Otherwise, there was a drain in the floor below me and  nothing else.

What the hell was this place? From what I could tell, it was built for  torture. Everything about it screamed industrial body horror or  something like that. I couldn't believe a place like this could exist.

Just then, the only door in the room opened and then shut. It must have been behind me, because I couldn't see it.

Prickles ran down my spine as footsteps echoed on the ground.

"Hello?" I asked, though it came out muffled.

"Hello." The voice was right in my ear. The breath was hot on my neck. A hand yanked the gag from my mouth.

I flinched and swallowed a scream.

Corvin laughed and walked around me. "You're awake. Good."

"What do you want from me, Corvin?"

"Straight to business. I like that."

"I can't tell you secrets. Trip never told me any."

"Oh, I know that. Our king may not be known for his brilliance, but he's  actually much smarter than the people realize. No, I know Trip would  never reveal something important to you."

"So what do you want?"

He smiled at me, his hands behind his back. Corvin wore a denim  button-down shirt left open over the top of a white undershirt. His  jeans were faded and fraying at the base, and he was wearing work boots.

"I want you to say some things for me," he said.

"What things?"

"I want you to denounce the king on camera. I want you to tell Starkland  how much of a tyrant he is and how he needs to be deposed."

"Why?" I asked, barely a whisper.

"Because if the king's own foreign whore denounces him, he must be  pretty shitty. At least we hope that's what people will think."

"I won't do it," I said. "I won't betray him like that."

"Why?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. "You barely know this  man. He's only brought you trouble. Why would you be willing to risk  serious injury for him?"

I swallowed hard. "Because he has given me something."

"What?"

"I can't explain it," I said.

"Don't tell me you're in love with the idiot."

"No," I whispered. "Or maybe yes. I don't know. But I know that I couldn't go against him."

Corvin laughed, shaking his head. "I suspected you'd say that at first."

"What do you mean at first?"

He slowly moved his hands out from behind his back. He was holding two  long, wickedly curving knives. A disgusting smile spread across his  pig-like face.

"I'm going to give you plenty of chances to change your mind," he said.

"Please, Freddy," I said.

He laughed again. "You remembered! But don't call me that. You can't appeal to my humanity here."

"Why? I'm just a girl. I don't belong here."

"You do belong here," he said, coming closer. "You belong here, you wicked bitch."

"You're so pathetic."

He crouched down in front of me. "Maybe," he said, "but you're tied to a  chair and I can do whatever I want with you." He rested the tip of one  knife on my thigh. "Isn't that right?"