I knew I couldn’t cuss in front of the queen. Remembering what Lincoln had said about always accepting a royal invitation, I tried to sound grateful for the offer as I responded, “I’d be honored, Your Majesty.” I couldn’t help backpedaling. “However, if I lived at the palace, would I still have my freedom?”

The queen smiled as if she knew what I was getting at. “Yes. Of course. You can leave the palace whenever you like. But you can only go as far as the Court gate.”

Forgetting formalities, I blurted out, “Wait, what? Why?”

“Because you are in great danger, my child. You were nearly killed, and it happened inside the protective walls of this Court.” She shifted her icy gaze to Hudson, making him grimace. “I will not take any more chances. You’ll be guarded by these two.” She gave pointed looks to Officer Warwick and the guy standing next to him. “Officer Brad Warwick, whom you probably already know, and this is Officer Joseph Hudson.”

Had she just said Hudson? I looked at Commander Pete Hudson and he winked at me. Holy Poseidon! Were they brothers?

“I will protect her with my own life, Your Majesty,” Officer Warwick said with a voice filled with determination, and I could see that he meant every word.

“However, I’d like to appoint one more person to guard you.” Queen Rhea signaled to the Palace Guards and they opened the door, revealing a girl with blond hair and similar facial features to the queen. “This is your additional guard, Scarlet Christoulakis.” She paused for a heartbeat before adding, “My daughter.”

My jaw dropped and I noticed Hudson’s did too. Hudson was the first to recover. “Scar, what are you doing here?” From his tone it was clear that he knew her, and from the way he used a nickname instead of her title—Lady Scarlet Christoulakis—it was also clear that he had known her for quite a long time. Scarlet was not a princess because according to our law, the next queen would be chosen by the gods, not by lineage.

Lady Scarlet only looked a little older than me. I couldn’t believe that Queen Rhea had a daughter so close in age to me. I guess the queen just looked much younger than she actually was. Pure Royal beauty treatments, I supposed.

Scarlet smiled. “Why, Petros? Do you really need to ask?” She gave me a once-over. “Time to put my training into practice, of course.”

Petros? Why did that name sound so familiar? I looked at everyone, expecting someone to tell me that this was all some kind of joke. Instead, the queen concluded the meeting just as abruptly as she began it. “You all may leave.”