Lord. Help. Her.
“This place is gorgeous.”
She wasn’t sure what she was expecting. But this wasn’t it.
All of the buildings were white. Some of them had domed ceilings with gold edgings. Everything was so pristine and clean.
“How big is the city?”
“Not huge,” Caleb told her. “Around a hundred thousand people live in the city. There’re only about half a million people who live in the whole country. Jescato, where we live, is the capital, and is flanked by the ocean on one side and the desert on the other. Some people live in villages further out in the desert. And there are other settlements along the coast. Escana is rich in natural resources. We don’t have tourism. People have to have a special visa to visit.”
She gasped as they pulled up outside a wrought iron gate guarded by armed men. But that wasn’t what made her gasp. It was the sight of the palace beyond. It was enormous. White like all the other buildings but sprawling. There were arches all along the front and steps that ran along the front of the wide, huge verandah. It had to be several levels tall and at the very top, dominating the skyline, was a large dome.
“Welcome to the palace,” Aleki told her. “Quite a sight, huh?”
“Breathtaking.”
Their driver, who’d been introduced as Ryall, was talking to the guards. Caleb lowered the window and a blond-haired, tanned man looked in.
“Hey there, boys. You’re back. And you picked yourself up a little lady. Hello there, darlin’. I’m Huxley Coalson the third, at your service.” He had a Texan drawl that she really hadn’t expected.
“Hello, Huxley. I’m Vivi.”
“Call me Hux. Well, Vivi, don’t know what you’re doing with these assholes, but whenever you get sick of their ugly mugs, you just come find me.”
Wolfe let out this nasty-sounding snarl which had her turning to him in shock. She’d never heard Wolfe make a noise like that. “Ours.”
Hux’s eyes widened. “So the Wolfe can experience emotions? I thought you were as cold as a statue, man.”
Immediately she bristled. Of course Wolfe felt things. He’d just protected himself from being hurt by not letting himself feel too much.
“Of course he can experience emotion. He’s not a robot,” she defended Wolfe.
Hux stared at her. “Well, I’ll be. You found someone to tame the Wolfe.”
“He’s not a wild animal.” She scowled at the man.
Hux held up at his hands. “No offense meant, darlin’. I just never thought I’d see the day.”
“Hux,” Caleb commanded. “If you know what’s good for you, stop eyeing up our woman and let us in. It’s been a long trip and she’s tired. Plus, you’re putting Wolfe on edge.”
Wolfe just stared at him coldly.
“Yeah, right, got it. Go on through. I’ll let Prince Kassim know you’re here. He wanted to meet with you before you go into your Marjarsom.”
She wasn’t really tired. She’d slept well for the first time in ages. And while she was sure she’d tire easily, at the moment she was filled with excitement. The fact that they lived in a place with armed guards and a huge gate didn’t scare her.
In fact, it made her feel safe.
“Marjarsom?” she asked as the window went back up.
“The twenty-one days where we have to woo you and make you decide to stay with us,” Aleki explained.
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell them she’d already decided. But that would be too hasty. She should make sure they were all on the same page. And that she could be what they needed.
“I’ll meet with Kassim while you get Vivi fed and settled,” Caleb told the other two.
“She needs to rest,” Aleki stated.
“I don’t need to rest.”
“The physician will need to check her over, too,” Wolfe said. “I’ll set that up.”
“I feel fine. I don’t need a doctor.”
“We also need to set down a time to talk about the schedule and rules,” Wolfe said.
“Set up a time and let us all know,” Caleb agreed.
“Guys!”
They all looked to her. “Did you think about maybe including me in the conversation?”
They stared at each other. Obviously not.
She sighed. “I might not be at my best yet, but I don’t want to be cut out of all decisions. I need a say too. Not to be spoken about like I’m not here.”
“Shit. Sorry, jelly bean,” Caleb told her, running his hand over his face. “We’re used to making decisions between the three of us.”
“Yes, I gathered.” She swallowed nervously. “But there’s four of us now, right?”
Caleb’s eyes lit up. Aleki smiled but it was Wolfe who spoke.
“Four of us.”
Caleb left Wolfe and Aleki fussing over Vivi at their house. It was separated from the main palace, but not so far away as to make it difficult to get there. Still, the princes provided golf carts to anyone who wanted to get around.
But Caleb was an ex-SEAL. Ex-SEALs didn’t use golf carts. It was some sort of rule.
So he quickly changed into lighter clothing, because the heat of the day could be torturous until you acclimatized. Then he headed to the main palace. Guards nodded to him along the way. Most of them he’d helped train. When they’d arrived here two years ago, he’d built the security force up almost from scratch.
It had been necessary. There had been a lot of dissension and poor training.
Now it all operated like a well-oiled machine.
He made his way to Kassim’s office. Kassim’s secretary, who was a pretty red-haired woman from New Zealand, smiled up at him.
“Hey, Pippa,” he said with a grin.
“Caleb, hear you brought yourself back a bride.”
“I did. I’ll have to introduce you. She could use someone to help her acclimate to living here. It’s a bit different from San Francisco.”
Pippa smiled. “Of course. I’d be happy to.” Pippa was always extra polite. To everyone. Aleki was the only person he’d ever seen her relax around. She didn’t like to rock the boat. But there was something in her gaze that told she was holding back.
“You’ll like her, Pippa,” he said gently. “She’s had a tough time of it and she’s feeling a bit battered. She’s been left with nothing. She really could use a friend.”
Pippa’s face softened. “Poor thing. I know what it’s like to be all alone.”
“You’re not alone anymore, though, are you?” a deep voice drawled from the doorway.
He’d seen Kassim walk up, but knew that Pippa hadn’t. She gasped and half-turned, looking up at the prince.
“Umm, no. I suppose not.”
Kassim’s gaze lingered on her. Caleb had often wondered if the other man had feelings for her, but he was a hard person to read. And it was highly unlikely he’d get involved with an employee.
Kassim’s eyes moved to him. “You look tired.”
Caleb ran his hand over his face. “I’m fine. Long trip.”
“Come in. Judd is already here.”