“I know.” He took her hand. “I’m here for you though, and so are my friends.”

The plane came to a stop. Only a couple minutes passed before the pilot emerged from the cockpit and opened the door.

“Ready?” Levi asked.

“Do you want an honest answer?”

“I know the honest answer,” he said. “Let’s go anyway. I want to get you home.”

Cassie stood. She collected the pastry boxes and waited while Levi retrieved the silver case he had brought into the main cabin with him. He led the way outside, blocking the entrance for a moment as though making sure it really was safe for her to exit. After a moment, he nodded to her and motioned her forward.

She stepped onto the aircraft stairs and looked out at an SUV parked at the bottom, a woman in her twenties standing beside it. A man who appeared to also be in his midtwenties carried suitcases to the back of the SUV and loaded them inside.

Levi escorted her to where the woman waited. Though she expected him to introduce his friend, Levi simply opened the back door for Cassie, who slid inside. Levi closed the door, and the tinted windows hid her from view.

She looked behind her, where Levi and his friends were loading more luggage. After a couple minutes, the door opposite where she sat opened and Levi climbed in.

The couple took their positions in the front seat, the woman behind the wheel.

“Princess Cassandra, these are my friends, Noelle and Jeremy Rogers.”

“Nice to meet you in person,” Noelle said.

“I believe this is for you.” Cassie passed the pastry box from Patrice between the two front seats.

“Is this from Patrice?” Jeremy asked.

“It is.”

“We’re going to eat well today,” Jeremy said.

Noelle put the car in drive and started forward.

“Are you going to share?” Levi asked Jeremy, who now held the box protectively.

“You have your own box,” Cassie said.

“Yeah, but that was for on the plane.”

“You didn’t eat anything on the plane,” Cassie reminded him.

Levi jerked a thumb toward the front seat. “They didn’t know that.”

Noelle slowed at the security gate long enough to wave to the guard. “It was a nice try, Levi.”

Levi put his hand on Cassie’s knee. “Cassie, you need to work on keeping secrets.”

“You didn’t tell me there was a secret to keep,” Cassie said, amused.

Jeremy peeked at the pastries he now held. “Muffins and croissants? Oh, man.” He looked at his wife. “I really love your mom.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Noelle glanced in the rearview mirror. “We’ll be to the palace in fifteen minutes. Are we still keeping Princess Cassandra’s presence a secret from the household staff?”

“For now,” Levi said.

“What about the royal guard?” Jeremy asked.

“What is the latest on the background checks?”

“Only one name flagged. Leon Cordova.”

“I understand he was one of the casualties the night of the shooting,” Levi said.