“All of us?” I squeaked.
“Like a sleepover,” Max called out, winking as he walked by. “Good to see you, Anna.”
I gave him a faint smile before whirling around to Johanna. “What is going on here?”
She shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I just called Arthur.”
“It’s better this way,” Arthur announced as he walked into the room. “We don’t all have the same schedules. We can make sure that you are protected at all times.”
“I don’t think you should go to class either,” Max said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “For at least a day or two.”
I stared at them, my hands balled into fists. “I’m glad you all have my entire life figured out once again.” The last time they had all been in this mansion together, my future had been in their hands and it seemed like it was once more.
“Anna, please,” Arthur said in a soothing voice. “We aren’t the enemy. We are trying to keep you alive.”
I choked out a laugh, seeing Royce’s eyes narrow. “Keep me alive? Really? When did you all turn into some sort of security detail?”
“Trust us,” Max added. “For just a little while. Your damage to the headmistress should start to make an impact over the next two days or so. I heard they were flying in some high names for a full inquiry. Isauros’ head will be on the chopping block and she’s not going to take that lightly.”
I clenched my jaw, looking over at Arthur. “Show me my room then.”
He gave me a nod and I quickly said goodbye to Johanna. “Are you sure I can’t talk you into staying?” I asked as she hugged me tight.
“With the kings?” she laughed. “No, I think I will go back. After all, I have a part to play and more than likely will be called by the inquiry to give my account. I need to keep myself distanced from you for that reason.”
“If I call for help, you better come running,” I whispered before letting her go.
Johanna winked and started toward the door before turning back to look at the kings. “You better keep her safe or I will be coming after your asses, kings or no kings.”
Her words touched me, even the violence, and I fought back sudden tears. Johanna clearly thought I was someone special to her.
“This way, Anna.”
I didn’t bother looking at Max or Royce as I followed Arthur up the stairs to the second floor, where I knew his master bedroom was located. “I guess I can’t talk you into staying with me,” he joked as he passed by the doors.
“Not likely,” I answered. “Thanks for letting me stay.”
Arthur’s hand landed on a knob, turning back to look at me. “Anything, Anna. I’m at your disposal.”
I rolled my eyes, some of the weight lifting from my shoulders. “You sound like an overdressed servant.”
He pushed open the door, his dimple showing. “I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor. Here is your room. My house is your house, Anna, and all the kings will stay on this floor, flanking your room.”
He didn’t add the just-in-case, but I knew he didn’t have to. It was only a matter of time before I would have to go back, but the kings were hoping that the storm would blow over quickly. “Thanks.”
Arthur stepped back and I walked into the expansive room, setting down my bag in the process. “Can I ask you one question?”
“You know you can.”
“Whose idea was it really?”
He chuckled. “You already know the answer to that, Anna. Lounge as much as you would like. I’ve got class in an hour.”
I listened to his footsteps fading down the hall before I allowed myself to look around the room. I knew in my heart of hearts who had set this up, but just like my feelings, I didn’t want to admit it.
I still didn’t.
Chapter 13
Royce
I waited for Arthur to appear from showing Anna her room, my hand clenched around the glass. If he didn’t show up in ten seconds, I was going up there. I had wanted to be the person who took her to her room, but it was Arthur’s place.
“Careful, man, your horns are showing.”
I forced myself to relax, at least on the outside, before turning to Max. The damn king was grinning at me like he could see everything I was struggling with. “Why are we here again?”
Max shrugged as he poured himself a drink, something we had been doing for the last hour. “Because pretty boy has the best mansion out of the three of us. You said it yourself.”
The words had crossed my tongue, but I still didn’t want to believe I had actually said it. When Johanna had told us that someone had tried to break into their room, I knew that we needed to get Anna out immediately.
Anna was in danger.
Isauros was unhinged.
I wanted to whisk Anna off to another country, just the two of us, until this shit died down, but the other kings had held me back, stating that Anna was not one to run away from a fight.
This wasn’t some hallway brawl. This was her fucking life and she could die if Isauros had her way. The headmistress clearly wanted to see her husband’s bastard pay for the crimes of Anna’s mother and father.
I forced myself to take a drink, feeling the brandy burn a path down my throat and to my stomach. The look on Anna’s face when she had realized what we had done to her was permanently etched into my brain. I wanted her to trust me, but at every turn, we were inserting ourselves into her life, doing what we thought was best.
She would never fucking trust us at this rate.
Finally, Arthur appeared in the doorway, a smug smile on his face.
I wanted to crash my fist into it.
“She’s settling in,” he stated, crossing his arms over his chest. “You know you two don’t have to stay. I can take care of her myself. After all, I was the first one to step up.”
“We stay,” I growled. There was no fucking way I was going to let him be alone with Anna again. The first time hadn’t turned out so well for her and now that I’d had my time with her, I wanted her nowhere near the Frenchman. “That’s the plan.”
Arthur’s good-natured smile turned lethal. “What’s wrong, Whitehall? You look like you could shit a brick.”
“He’s in love,” Max muttered before throwing back his drink.
There was that word again. I didn’t fall in love. My family didn’t show emotions and I had grown up the same way.