DangerouslyHis by A.M. Griffin Page A

for sure.
    “I won’t keep you long. You’ll be back in your room before
anyone misses you.”
    “Promise?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll meet you.” I can’t believe I’m going to do this.
    “I’ll be waiting.”
    She turned off her com-link and looked around the room. No
one was paying attention to her. It was the perfect time to sneak—
    “Princess, where are you going?”
    Saia jumped. She turned to Milin. She hadn’t seen her
waiting behind her.
    She placed a hand on the side of her head. “I have a
headache. I’m going to lie down for a while.” When Milin started toward her,
Saia stopped her. “No need. I’ll call you if I need assistance.”
    Milin dipped her head. “Yes, Princess.”
    As Saia left the room, she expected the guard Taio had
appointed to her to follow, and he did. They didn’t talk as she made her way
back to the royal apartment.
    Taio had explained many cycles ago, when she was younger,
that her guards were there to protect her, not befriend her. She found that she
still liked Taio’s guards better than the ones Olo assigned to her. The Drazlan
royal guards were not particularly loyal to her, only to the crown. Regardless,
Olo rotated personal guards every three lunar cycles so she wouldn’t get
attached to any, and they wouldn’t get attached to her.
    The guard entered her apartment behind her and posted by the
door while she took the winding staircase up to her private room. Once inside,
she engaged the lock on her door and changed clothes. She put on another dress
that would blend more easily with those worn by every other female on Sonis. If
she stepped out in her woven, jewel-encrusted gown, she would be recognized
from any distance.
    At the doorway to her balcony, she hesitated with her hand
on the knob. Taking a deep breath, she turned it and stepped outside. The
balcony was actually another room, fully furnished. The only thing missing was
a ceiling. If she wanted to entertain out here, she could do so with ease.
There was enough seating for twenty comfortably. At the point in the day when
the suns became too hot to withstand, she could activate an awning that would
block out the scorching rays.
    There was no need to block out the suns right now. Instead
she stood under the bright rays and scanned the royal gardens for any sign of
JB.
    The landscape hummed with various sounds. The gardens teemed
with animals. They scattered in and around the abundance of foliage. Taio and
Eva were so proud of the gardens. They were situated on a large parcel of land
that spanned from the royal apartment to the four guest apartments, enclosed by
a large security fence.
    Taio wanted a piece of oasis outside his window. Eva shared
his vision and continued to build and stock the gardens with various plants
that would thrive in the heat. The gardens took a considerable amount of time
to tend. She could see workers meandering here and there, keeping everything
alive in the harsh desert conditions.
    Her heart dropped as she searched the landscape. How would
he be able to meet her here? The royal gardens were highly secured. Had Taio
given JB full access?
    She glanced down again, frowning. Just when she was about to
leave, she heard a small rustling near the bottom of the stairs.
    “Are you alone?” she heard JB whisper.
    He made it.
    She took a step, squinting, trying to see where he was
hiding. “I’m alone.”
    “Good, come down.”
    She began taking the stairs two at a time but caught herself
before she reached the bottom. Don’t look too anxious. The last few
steps were slow and deliberate. Back straight and chin up. She could hear her
mother’s voice guiding her in her head.
    After reaching the bottom, she followed the path deeper into
the foliage. He stood off to the side, hiding behind the large purple leaves of
a tola tree.
    “I didn’t know if you were really going to come.” He smiled.
    “I said I was.” She found herself smiling back. “I don’t
know why though. I really