Levi grabbed two highlighters from his desk drawer. “Want to help me mark the ones that are missing?”

“Sure.” She took one of the highlighters from him and sat at the table. “Now that we know my country’s succession agreement was the target, what do we do next?”

“That’s largely up to your family. My options are limited if I can’t bring Interpol and our local intelligence agency into the circle of need-to-know.”

“I know, but I don’t think there’s any way my father would agree to share such private information.”

“In that case, we increase our efforts in the search for possible heirs to the throne.”

“Do you think it’s possible this had anything to do with the shooting?”

“Right now, the only commonality between the two is Sereno. It’s hard to say if your family is having really bad luck or if someone is coming after you in two simultaneous attacks.”

“You think they are connected.”

“Yes, I do.”

* * *

Cassie walked in silence beside Levi as they emerged outside and headed for the stables. Her excitement about awarding the drilling rights had dissipated as soon as she’d seen the new evidence Levi had received about the robberies. The idea to eliminate the threat against her had given her hope. The theft of the succession agreement raised so many questions and left her wondering if it would ever be safe for her to return home.

“You’re quiet all of a sudden,” Levi said.

“I was just thinking.” She looked out at the lovely gardens and the Mediterranean glistening beneath the afternoon sun. “I’ve enjoyed my time here so much more than I ever would have imagined, but I miss my family.”

“I know, and I’m sure the information we were looking at wasn’t quite what we were hoping for.”

“No, it wasn’t, but like you said before, it’s better to know there could still be another threat out there, so we don’t let our guard down prematurely.”

“I’d prefer you not let your guard down at all,” Levi said.

“Do you think I can at least find a new normal that will let me feel like I’m not always surrounded by guards?” Cassie asked.

“It’ll happen,” Levi said. “We’ve been through this more times than I’d like to admit here in Meridia, but the royal family has found a happy medium between having security in place and still being able to live their lives as they choose.”

“I want that for me and my sisters,” Cassie said. “You asked me once what the differences were between me and my father, and I think that’s the one thing I would most like to change about how my government operates.”

“What? The security protocols?”

“Yes. I want my family to be able to interact with the citizens of our country without always feeling like we have to hide behind ten-foot walls.” Cassie glanced at him. “Do you think that’s even possible?”

“It’s possible. It takes time and planning, but it’s possible.”