Page 32 of The Heart of the King

“Did you go over all of this in her security briefing?” David set the pieces of paper on his desk. “This has to be part of the security briefing, doesn’t it?” He hadn’t had a real one in years, which surprised him as he thought about it. Shouldn’t he have had a new, more detailed, one after he became king?

Randall shrugged. “I didn’t do her security briefing. I’m not sure who did.”

David leaned his weight on his elbows as they rested on his desk. “Does she even have a security team assigned to her yet?”

This time Randall shook his head. “She hasn’t gone anywhere on her own, and there’s still some upheaval from your father’s time. We’re still working on refilling some of the positions. Should she need a team to go with her, we’ll create a temporary one.”

He sighed in frustration. “I’ll talk to her.” Pushing back from his desk, he started to stand, but a message from Stewart stopped him, and he groaned. “I’ll talk to her after I have a video conference with Edward.”

A minute later, the screen opened with Edward sitting at his desk. “Good morning, Edward. How are you?”

His friend sighed. “I’m all right. Trying to get this treaty hammered out, even though there’s not much to do to deal with it. It’s just been a rough week.”

Of course. Edward’s first holiday season without his beloved Miriam. It had to be hard for him and the rest of his family. “You’ve been in my thoughts and prayers.” Sort of. Every time it crossed his mind, David said a quick prayer, but it wasn’t like he thought about Edward and the Cordovan family often. He should make a more concerted effort.

“Thank you.”

David adjusted his earbud. “Is the investigation complete? I heard bits and pieces, but I wasn’t privy to the security updates before the trial ended. I haven’t had a chance to look into it since then.”

“It is. There was no foul play.” Edward sighed again. “Just a tragic accident.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing.” David was glad to hear there hadn’t been anyone after the San Majorian family, but at least that would have a reason behind it and not chance.

Edward gave half a shrug. “In some ways.” He leaned forward and picked up his pen. “Let’s get this done.”

For the next hour, they went through the treaty, all the while Randall’s discovery festered in the back of David’s mind.

“Have you gone over this with Benjamin and Esme yet?” David asked the Edward on the screen.

“We finished last fall, but your father refused to take my calls. Unless you have any significant changes, they gave me the authority to finish negotiations on their behalf.” Edward scribbled a note. “Do you have anything else we need to discuss?”

“I don’t think so.” David struck a line through the last thing on his list. “Just those minor changes, and I’m good.”

Edward nodded. “Then I’ll have it fixed and sent out to the three of you. We’ll have the signing ceremony in a few weeks.”

David set his pencil down. “That sounds like a good plan. I’ll see you then.”

They disconnected the call. He looked down at the papers from Randall and felt his irritation continue to grow. Anger wasn’t the right word for the emotion he felt, but he wasn’t sure what label to put on it.

Standing, he walked into Jasmine’s office where she sat in one of the big chairs with her legs pulled up on it and criss-crossed.

She looked up from whatever she was reading and smiled. “Hi. What’s up?”

David held out the papers. “What is this?”

Taking it from him, she looked it over, flipping both pages over and studying them carefully. “My travel plans, I think. Unless there’s something else I’m missing.”

“What travel plans?” He already knew, but needed to hear it from her.

“Home. To see my family.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Like we talked about.”

“No. We didn’t talk about it.” He took a deep breath and tried not to let his voice get too loud.

Jasmine tilted her head. “Not three days ago you suggested I take a trip to Serenity Landing. So I made the arrangements.”

“You can’t justleave.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her.

“Ican’tleave?” Now both eyebrows were raised.

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