The Lost Princes of Ambria 06 - Taming the Lost Prince by Raye Morgan Page B

unreliable in superficial ways, but when I make a promise, I keep it. There was no call for you to send spies to watch over me. I don’t like it.”
    She was shaking her head, looking at him as though he’d lost his mind. “I don’t have anyone following you,” she protested earnestly. “Really, Max. I swear.”
    His anger seemed to pulse in the small room. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He knew he was over-the-top and taking it out on Pellea wasn’t going to fix anything. This wasn’t really her fault. He’d been angry when he thought it was, but her outrage told him differently, and he began to cool down. If he were honest with himself, he knew his own doubts and insecurities were more to blame for this outburst than anything the queen could have done. He needed to get a grip.
    “I was just down in the courtyard, in among the trees, and someone was there watching me. I know it.”
    She shrugged. “There may have been someone watching you, but I didn’t tell them to. Believe me, Max. I wouldn’t do that.” She made a face. “Not yet, anyway.”
    He looked at the ground and shook his head. For someone trying to learn to act like a prince, he was doing a lousy job of it. He looked up with a rueful smile and made a slight bow toward her.
    “Your Majesty, please forgive me. This was rude and uncalled for. I had no right to attack you like this and I’m sorry.”
    Pellea’s smile lit up the room. It seemed she knew earnest regret when she saw it. “Of course I forgive you. This is not supposed to be a fight. We’re both on the same side.” She rose from her desk chair and came out to throw her arms around him and then kiss him on both cheeks.
    “Listen to me,” he told her. “I will make you a pledge right now. I won’t do anything behind your back. If anything happens, I’ll tell you. If I decide I have to leave, I’ll tell you. No secrets.”
    She nodded. “Good.” One last pat on his cheek and she turned. “And in the spirit of openness, sit down. I’ll give you the rundown on our latest outreach to Mercuria.”
    He sank into a chair across from her, but glanced back at Kayla. She gave him a wink and a tiny approving smile. Ridiculously, he suddenly felt much better.
    “All right, here’s the news. We’ve sent our ambassador to Mercuria.”
    Max nodded. “And what message does he take with him?”
    Pellea shuffled papers on her desk and brought up the pertinent ones. “In answer to their charges, we respond thusly—it is our understanding that the airplane was given to Prince Maximillian, formerly known as Max Arragen, in payment for his help in establishing the Mercurian Air Force and therefore not an item that can be reclaimed.”
    She looked up for his approval, and he nodded.
    “As for the horse, we made it clear that we feel there was a misunderstanding and a wrong done to the horse’s owner, who now has regained possession of the horse. If they like, we are prepared to pay damages for the loss of it to the Mercurian government.” She nodded toward Kayla. “I’ve had that whole episode explained to me. Kayla repeated what you told her this morning.”
    He glanced back at Kayla again and nodded. “Sounds reasonable.”
    “As for the historical artifact, I let them know that we have no idea what this might be or how it might have come into your possession. We shall await clarification. Barring that, we are unwilling to count that as a serious charge against you.”
    “Wow. I’d say that pretty much covers all the bases.”
    Pellea nodded. “Now we wait to see how they take it. We should have their response tomorrow.” She gave him a significant look. “And then, we’ll see.”
    He heard the warning in her voice. She was seriously worried about this.
    “You’ve said the Mercurians were a big help in the fight to regain Ambria for the DeAngelis royal family,” he said musingly. “What made them come in on your side?”
    Pellea shrugged. “As you know,