was married to a princess in the royal family, that someone had shown up and taken care of all four men without a second thought was frightening in and of itself.
Kostya moaned and I leaned down. “We’re almost to the hospital. Just rest. We’re going to get you help.”
I thought he nodded slightly but I wasn’t sure and breathed a sigh of relief as we pulled up to the emergency entrance of the hospital. It was small, but the only one within an hour’s distance, so we had no other choice. I watched worriedly as someone came out with a gurney and Axel helped them put Kostya on it.
“Let them help him,” Axel said, putting a gentle hand on my arm. “They know what they’re doing.”
“I thought sure he was dead,” I whispered, leaning against the wall.
“I’m glad I was able to get to you in time.”
“Did you…kill them?” I looked up at him warily, unsure whether or not I wanted to know the answer.
“One of them. The others were unconscious. I tied them up and left them for the authorities to deal with.”
“They won’t,” I said sadly. “While I’m glad you saved Kostya’s life, things are probably only going to get worse for us.”
“Focus on one thing at a time,” he said, his deep voice soothing. “Xander will be here soon and maybe he can help.”
I flushed. “I don’t even know him. I don’t regret calling because that’s probably the only reason Kostya is alive, but now I feel…foolish.”
“You don’t know him?” Axel frowned. “I’m confused.”
“Well, we’ve met of course, but—” I cut off as a doctor approached me, talking about Kostya needing surgery and a punctured lung. I was in tears by the time he walked away, and I sunk into the nearest chair.
“What did he say?” Axel asked me. “My Limaji is rudimentary at best and he was speaking way too fast for me to catch much of it.”
“They broke several of his ribs and one of them punctured his lung, so he’ll need surgery and…” I burst into tears all over again.
“It’s all right, hon.” He put a big hand on my shoulder as I sobbed, again, the day’s violence catching up to me. “They’re going to take good care of him.”
I was crying too hard to respond and I didn’t resist when he pulled me close, hugging me tightly as he murmured soothing words I didn’t even understand. Was he speaking French?
I’d never hugged a stranger in my life, but somehow this felt right. I was tiny compared to him, my much smaller frame dwarfed by his massive one, and for the first time all day I wasn’t afraid. I didn’t know this man, but my gut told me I could trust him, and in this moment, that was all that mattered.
Eventually, my senses returned and I got myself together enough to stop crying and blow my nose. Then we just sat there in silence, waiting for the doctor to come back out or someone to bring word about what was happening at the café.
“Solange?” Xander’s voice, what felt like an eternity later, startled me and I looked up.
He was as handsome as he’d been the night he’d come into the café, badly beaten, telling me a story about how he’d been mugged. I now knew that hadn’t been true, that he was actually one of the Royal Protectors, the bodyguards to the royal family. He’d also recently married Princess Elen and—holy shit, was that Prince Sandor with him? I didn’t know how to behave in front of a member of the royal family, and while my gut instinct was to curtsey, I was too shocked to move.
“It’s okay, they don’t bite,” Axel murmured in my ear.
“Th-thank you for coming,” I said to Xander, unable to even look at Prince Sandor. Poor women like me didn’t meet members of the royal family; they definitely didn’t call them because their families were being attacked.
“You look like you’re about to pass out,” Xander said gently. “Let’s get you something to drink. Axel, can you find her some coffee or something?”
“Sure thing.” Axel got to his feet and lumbered down the hall, leaving me with Xander and Prince Sandor.
“Sit,” Xander said gently. “And tell me everything.”
I sank down beside him, unsure where to start.
“So you kept my phone number,” he prompted me. “What made you call tonight?”
“It’s been happening all over the city,” I whispered. “We’re so far from Hiskale, from civilization, with just farmers and a few