“We’ve been trying to cut back on bad press,” Xander said.
“Why do you think I’m the computer nerd of the group?” Jonas said. “It’s safer.”
“Are you a Royal Protector?” Solange asked him.
He smiled. “I am. My specialty is cybersecurity, though, so while I’m skilled in hand-to-hand combat and weapons and all that, my focus is eventually going to be protecting the royal family from cyberattacks, and the government’s computer network from hackers. Once we have a full staff, that is.”
“Things like social engineering and DDoS attacks?”
“Exactly.”
They went off on a tangent about network security and I was pretty impressed. Solange was no virgin when it came to computers and I wondered if Elen’s offer was really feasible. I’d thought she was just being nice, but there was actually something there. Solange lit up when she talked about computers, much more so than when discussing cafés and bed and breakfasts. The royal family usually only hired the most skilled people, with advanced degrees and years of experience. I didn’t know what Elen had in mind, but the new, exclusive private school she’d mentioned was where the kids in the royal family would attend. It was an international baccalaureate school that would be opening in the fall and Elen had been busting her ass to have it ready to go.
Shannon was going to be the new headmistress and they were struggling to find qualified candidates to work there. From teachers to the administrative staff, everyone had to be fully vetted and their backgrounds checked thoroughly before they would be granted access to the children in the royal family, including Crown Prince Luke. Jonas had been in the process of setting up a secure internet network in the school, but it took a lot of time he didn’t have, and with something as sensitive as the school records, hiring Solange to help might be a win-win.
Solange, Shannon, Jonas and Elen moved off to one side of the table after dessert, talking about the school and computer things, and I went to the sideboard to get myself another cup of coffee.
“You changed your mind, huh?” Xander leaned against the sideboard and smirked at me.
“Shut up,” I grumbled under my breath.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Duh.”
“I’m telling you, there’s something in the water here.” His eyes danced with mirth and I chose to ignore him. For Solange’s sake, if not my own.
“Look, it’s a couple of dates,” I said, taking a sip of coffee. “We’ll see what happens. I’m sure before long, a pretty thing like her will get bored with a guy who doesn’t have much time for her.”
“If you believe that, you don’t know nearly enough about women,” Ace said, shaking his head.
“He knows nothing about women,” Daniil said, smirking.
“Says the man who used to be married to a man,” I shot back. Daniil and I were close enough for him to know I was kidding and he obligingly shot me the bird. Daniil was bisexual and had been married to a man, but had been single since his divorce.
“Another one bites the dust,” Ace chuckled, singing under his breath.
“Would you guys cut it out?” I asked quietly. “Jesus, we’ve had two dates.” Did going down on her count as a date? I wasn’t going to ask. Instead, I wandered over to where she was talking with the others and she looked up with a smile.
“I think we may have a potential network administrator,” Shannon said with a smile. “She’s going to go with Jonas the next time he goes up to the school to work on the computer system, and once Solange has had a chance to talk with her parents, Elen and I are going to figure out the best way to keep her busy until Jonas can train her.”
“It’s temporary,” Solange said quickly. “Something for me to do until we figure out what’s happening in Vinake.”
My gut told me she was far more excited than she was letting on, but I wouldn’t say anything until we were alone.
“That’s great,” I said aloud. “You ready to go? I have an early shift tomorrow and I thought we might take a walk before turning in?”
“Sure.” Solange nodded.
“I’ll see you for breakfast,” Shannon told her, smiling.
“Thank you. Good night.”
We bade everyone good night and headed out. Solange took my arm as we walked and looked up at me. “What was with kissing me in front of your friends? Is that some antiquated way of staking your claim?”
“It was more my awkward attempt at letting you know I’m not playing games with you. I don’t want the basis of our relationship to be me sneaking into your room at night for a quickie.” I paused. “Although I’m totally down for that too.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “I see.”
“You’re okay with this?”
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“I did want to go on a walk, though. Thought I’d show you all my favorite places in and around the palace.”
“Okay.”
I took her hand and led her down the stairs and over to the other side of the palace. Though there were central portions of the building, like the main kitchen, the formal ballroom, security offices and some of the conference rooms, the palace was split into two portions. The north side was the king’s wing, with the family’s private quarters, offices and guest suites. The south side was the royal family’s wing, and that’s where the rest of us lived. Sandor and Lennox had the biggest suite of rooms, with three bedrooms, a living area, a small office, two bathrooms, and a pool. The other suite of rooms was supposed to be Xander and Elen’s, but they’d moved to a private residence fifteen minutes from the palace, so it was now empty and there was something special about it I wanted Solange to see.
“Where are we?” she asked as I unlocked the door.
“This is an empty suite of rooms,” I replied. “Xander and Elen were going to live here but they moved to Elen’s childhood family home.”
“Who lives here now?”
“No one. The king said it’ll be used for special guests, families and such. In the meantime, there’s a view I want you to see.” I walked towards the double doors that led out to a patio.
“Aren’t we on an upper level?” she asked, looking around in confusion.
I smiled. “Yes. But remember, this is literally a palace. There are four swimming pools on the grounds. One is the king’s private pool, the second is an Olympic-sized indoor pool for use by everyone in the winter, the third is attached to Sandor and Lennox’s suite downstairs, and this is the fourth.” I opened the doors and let her walk out ahead of me.
“Oh, Axel, it’s amazing.”
17
Solange
The view in front of me took my breath away. There was an infinity pool that went to the edge of the patio and overlooked the city. The cathedral in the center of Hiskale was lit up and it was magnificent. The city itself, from up here, was a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and movement.
“You like it?” Axel put his arms around me from behind, and rested his cheek against mine, his beard tickling my skin.