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Ser Andrew was not a knight in your direct service. He could often be found lining one of the many halls of the palace, guarding against whatever mayhem might attempt to invade the walls.
When he wasn’t there, he was usually in the training yard. That was where you first noticed him. He was quiet. Stoic. He trained the younger guards with a ruthless efficiency that you knew may just save their lives someday. You found yourself in the training yard more and more often when Andrew was present.
He didn’t notice the first few times, paying no attention to another lady in the stands. The first time his gaze locked with yours, color flared up the back of his neck. He yanked his gaze away but it kept finding its way back to you. It took him more than a week to confront you, but even then, he wouldn’t look at you.
“You shouldn’t come to the training grounds,” he’d said, voice low even though he’d ensured no one was close enough to hear.
“Why not?”
He looked at you out of the corner of his eye. “It’s not proper.”
You merely hummed in acknowledgment before saying, “Propriety is what I say it is, and I think it only wise to make sure my knights are being trained properly.”
When he said nothing further, you turned and walked away.
The next day, you found him guarding your chamber door. “What are you doing here? You’re not in my service.”
“Ser Stuart is ill. He asked me to fill in.”
You studied him for a beat. “Very well. Come along.”
He followed you as you fulfilled your obligations for the day. It was late afternoon before he spoke. “Are you not going to watch the training?”
“Why would I do that when you’re right here with me?”
Andrew had no idea what to say to that, so he said nothing at all.
The next day he found himself permanently assigned as one of your personal guards. He quickly became used to following you around, staying silent and just watching. His quiet, observant nature was what made him perfect for the position.
Then came the day three months later when everything almost fell apart. Andrew stood outside the door of the study of your father’s advisor. You were meeting with the man inside. Andrew didn’t like leaving you alone with the other man, didn’t like the way he looked at you. But all were forbidden from entrance without the High Advisor’s express permission.
Tension sat heavy on Andrew’s shoulders, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword. He was ready for a threat only he seemed to sense. A soft sound escaped the room and he turned his head in an attempt to hear more clearly. Nothing. Then you screamed his name.
The locked door posed little impediment to the knight separated from his charge. He slammed against it once. Twice. It gave way on the third. Andrew’s eyes raked the room, taking in the scene before him. The advisor held your wrist and had you pulled tightly against his chest. A scratch marred the man’s cheek. A defensive wound.
Fury filled Andrew as he registered your disheveled appearance and your obvious relief at his entrance. “Let her go,” Andrew snarled.
“Get out,” the advisor snarled. “Your mere presence in these chambers is an act of treason. I’ll have your head. Guard!”
Andrew ignored the man, his focus solely separating you from him. “Release her. Now.” He grasped the other man’s wrist in a bruising grip until he was forced to release you.
You stumbled backward, hand cradling your wrist. Your eyes found Andrew’s. “I’m okay.”
Like hell you were. He could see the lingering fear and he hated it. You were never afraid. You were confident and bold. Seeing you like this stoked that fire within him.
Andrew shifted his glare back to the advisor who once again yelled for guards. He pulled back an armored fist and struck the man right in the nose, hearing a satisfying crunch when he did so.
Soon hands were on him pulling him away, he let them force him to his knees as he kept his angry gaze on the man he wanted to kill. In that moment, if they released him, he just might.
“I want him dead. He invaded my rooms without permission and assaulted me,” the advisor snarled.
“We can’t just kill him on your say so,” Ser Stuart argued.
“You can and you will. I am second only to the king.”
“Excuse me?”
Andrew’s gaze shifted to you as he heard your voice, sweet despite the anger in it. You stepped forward, hands in fists at your sides as you stared down your father’s advisor. The man who had just tried to have Andrew killed, who had just attempted to place himself above you. You were stunning in your anger.
“Arrest Lord Nathaniel for assaulting a member of the royal family.” Everyone in the room froze as you tilted your head and took another step forward. “I believe that counts as treason, Lord Nathaniel. The penalty for which is death. And, unlike you, my word is enough for the sentence.”
Two of the men moved forward to seize the man. “You can’t do this. I am the king’s High Advisor. I order you to release me at once.”
Your hand came to rest on Andrew’s shoulder and he peered up at you. “Ser Andrew is under my personal protection. Any slight against him is a slight against the crown.”
He was released instantly and the other knights backed away with a bow of the head. When he tried to stand, you pressed on his shoulder to keep him in place.
“Place the High Advisor in a cell. I will explain things to my father.”
There was a flurry of “Yes, your highness” and suddenly the two of you were alone.
Your hand cupped Andrew’s cheek as you tilted his head for him to look at you.
He swallowed hard. “You didn’t have to do that. Place me under your protection, I mean. They would have let me go.”
Once royal protection was granted, it could only be rescinded with a decree. Andrew wasn’t worth all of that. Not for doing what he was born to do, protecting you.
“Thank you for coming to my aid.”
“I will always come when you call,” he said with no hesitation. “You are my purpose.”
Your lips curved in a radiant smile that had Andrew taking an unsteady breath. “And that is why you have my protection, Ser Andrew.”
He still didn’t understand. Not really. His brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Why? Because you are mine.”
And when you leaned forward and pressed your lips to his in a sweet kiss, everything was suddenly, perfectly clear.