Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I knew exactly what Bear wasn’t saying—that it was killing him to know he wouldn’t be hovering over me, ready to throw down at the slightest provocation. I didn’t like it, either, to be honest. But I hated seeing Bear so worried even more.
“Got it,” I assured him. Then I added, “I can hug people like Bodhi, though, right?” My voice trailed off as I saw the fierce look on his face.
“Bodhi is on the suspect list, Zane,” he snarled. “Fuck, no. No touching anyone, especially Bodhi.”
I wasn’t sure if it was jealousy or fear for my well-being making his eyes so wild, but I couldn’t deny how good it made me feel.
“Can I touch you?” I asked in a voice low enough not to be overheard by the driver and Boomer up front.
Bear’s eyes heated, but he stayed on task. “You stay within arm’s reach of me, Lou, Boomer, or Dennis. If you need to take a leak, one of us goes with you and clears the room first. You need to accept a gift or something, keep your hands in your pocket and nod at one of us to accept it on your behalf.”
I stifled a sigh. “These are mostly people we know. It’s an already vetted group. Can’t we just…?” I swallowed and looked out the window when I noticed his glare.
He was right. I knew that. I just didn’t want to look like a prima donna at this event.
“Do you know if the whole royal family is coming?”
His face finally softened. “Yes. Gerhard and Gisella are bringing the kids. They’re desperate to meet you.”
“I’m excited to meet them, too.” I leaned toward him. “Can I eat the food?” I asked as a way of breaking the ice further. “I’m kind of hungry.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes. You can eat the food. The security around the catering is plenty strict, thanks to the royal guard.”
I hadn’t thought of that. “With the royal family there, I’ll be doubly protected. Those are your people, right?”
“You’re my people. They’ll be busy protecting King Gerhard, not you.”
“You know what I mean. It’ll be a safe space. Even safer than usual. The safest.”
He moved his foot until it pressed against mine. “Please don’t let your guard down, Zane.”
Bear’s voice was less gruff, almost pleading.
There was nothing I could say to that but “Okay.”
He nodded before looking back down at his phone and typing a message to someone. “Lou’s at the entrance. She’s going to walk with you while I greet and escort the royal family in.” He rolled his eyes again. “Ventdestinian protocol. I’m the highest-ranking member of Violet’s team here, so naturally, I’m the one who has to escort them.”
I personally thought it had more to do with the royal delegation knowing and trusting Bear… and the fact that it was impossible not to feel safer with Ryan Galloway around.
When we arrived, a crowd of screaming fans greeted us and pressed in from the sides of the street. My nerves resurfaced since Bear had insisted on reminding me that there was an actual threat against me.
I hated that. Hated thinking one of my fans wanted to scare me.
So I pushed down the fear and waved through the closed window in case they could see through the tinted surface.
The limo slowed to pull into an alleyway blocked off by security personnel and orange barrels. Once we were past them, the crowd disappeared behind us, and we approached a roped-off side entrance to the arena.
Lou and several other people met us, escorting me inside and down a long hallway to the room reserved for the VIP reception.
Several musician friends were already there, and I quickly approached them to say hello. Bear had been right—it wasn’t just their habit to shake hands or hug; it was mine, too. I tried to remember but failed in several instances. Buck Olson was there, and we hadn’t seen each other since playing a festival together a couple of years ago. He’d brought his new wife, who I was eager to meet. Alana Vasa was also there with her wife. She had agreed to play the violin at the show tonight, and I couldn’t help but give her a big hug in thanks since she was interrupting her solo tour to play with us.
There were several familiar faces—big-name politicians, celebrities, and friends—and I immediately felt more at ease. VIP receptions like this were well vetted ahead of time since access was limited. Thankfully, I’d remembered Bear’s rules and had stepped back to a respectable distance with my hands in my pockets before he came in with the royal family.
The king was a tall, robust man in his late forties with a ruddy complexion and salt-and-pepper hair. Trailing after him was a veritable entourage, which shouldn’t have surprised me. Bear was busy talking to the king himself, but another tall man walked on the other side of him. He was closer to the king’s age and wore the all-black uniform of a member of the royal guard. I recognized the same kind of simple medal insignia on his sweater that Bear had worn in old pictures.