“Put me to work.”

“Do you really have time to help?”

“Actually, yes. King Eduard asked me to set aside some of my other duties to help with the investigation into the assassination.”

“Have you found anything?”

“I’m glad you asked.” Janessa reached for her oversized purse and slid a file out. “Did you know that both of the assassins used to work for Pantheon?”

“What’s Pantheon?”

“It’s a private security firm. It just so happens that it provides security for a lot of oil companies.”

“You know about the bidding war for the Sereno gas field.”

“I do. I also know Cassandra is responsible for putting forward the recommendation of which company will be awarded the contract,” Janessa said. “Since Cassandra took over the energy commission, King Alejandro has followed her recommendation every single time.”

“Can you get me a list of oil companies that contract with Pantheon?”

“Jeremy is supposed to send it to me. As soon as I get it, I’ll pass it along, assuming he doesn’t send it to you too.”

“Thanks.”

Janessa stood, and Levi followed suit. A flash of amusement sparked in her eyes. “Don’t think I missed the way you were looking at our guest.”

“Sometimes you see too much.”

“Part of my charm.” Janessa flashed him a grin. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“That you will.” Levi watched her go and sat at his desk again. He wasn’t sure how Janessa had picked up on his attraction to Cassie, but he didn’t need to reinforce whatever suspicions she had brewing in that head of hers.

Five minutes. He’d give Janessa that much of a head start before he went back to Cassie’s room. Attraction or not, she was still his responsibility. He would keep her safe. If he could keep her safe and happy, so much the better.

CHAPTER 17

Cassie stood on her balcony and watched the waves rolling over sand. Levi had checked in on her several times already, but she had spent the past three hours since lunch alone. The rhythm continued, the roar of the surf a constant background noise.

A lawn mower rumbled in the distance, and two groundskeepers spoke on the sidewalk below her window. Two more groundskeepers worked in the garden, pruning roses and planting new flowers near the swimming pool.

The simplicity of the scene made her long for the past when she didn’t understand the evil in the world, when she still had her parents and didn’t fully realize they wouldn’t always be here.

A year from now, she would likely be an orphan, an orphan who would be expected to rule with the same grace and commitment as her father and grandfather before her. Could she even do the job she had been born to do? Would she survive long enough to find out? And if she did, would she be destined to rule alone, or would she someday find the opportunity to fall in love and marry?

Another weight pressed in on her. Being with Levi had unlocked those secret dreams of finding her own fairy-tale ending, of having a family of her own, but in truth, she barely knew him. Would he want to pursue a relationship with her once this ordeal was over? Could he stomach the constant scrutiny of the press and the lack of privacy?