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Thirty-four

The room fell silent as we tried to take in what Theo had just told us. I immediately frowned at him, but I knew it wasn't his suggestion as he looked incredibly guilty and sad looking at the floor. I then checked Caroline who looked equally as devastated and was even tearing up a bit more. She had told me she accepted me fully as a daughter of hers, and treated me completely equally with Theo and Luke, so I knew this would tear her apart. I then looked across to Andrew Toeskin, the man who worked with my father and initially hired me into MI5 and then to Kieran, the security manager within Buckingham. My own manager. They both looked like it was no big deal and was wondering what was with the dramatic reply.

Luke held me a bit tighter and I knew he was very quickly speaking to Theo telepathically as I looked across to Jack, who also looked horrified. Markie just looked down at the floor, trying to hide his emotions to keep me calm.

'No,' Luke simply said.

'Your Royal Highness, it would be for your own safety,' Toeskin said to us.

'I don't care if being with her would put me in danger, I'm not breaking up with her just for your peace of mind and to make your job easier,' Luke said bitterly.

'This was your idea?' I addressed him and he looked away, clenching his jaw.

'Someone, somewhere, is getting intelligence about both of you two, putting you both at risk. Luke, your danger level has gone out of the roof since she's arrived,' Kieran addressed him. 'Grace was assigned to get down to the bottom of this and now she's involved,'

'Whoever is my girlfriend would be involved in my family affairs, it's common sense!' Luke yelled at him.

'She is security,' Kieran raised his voice back.

'She's my girlfriend,' Luke matched his tone.

'She has a voice,' I joined in. 'I'm with Luke, fire me if it's that much of an issue. I was the one in this room that was kidnapped, I was the victim here, none of you lot so stop acting like a bunch of four-year-olds, stop trying to relocate us or get us to split up to stop you a headache and focus on getting Callus and his merry men behind bars,' I shouted at Kieran and Andrew who both looked at each other. Caroline looked up at me with a small smile on her face.

'Grace, it's not that we don't want you on our teams,' Kieran said, 'you are very good at your job, and you have provided us with leads no one else would have been able too,'

'Then what's with this punishment, eh?'

'It's for your safety, both of yours, Grace you have already been kidnapped by this madman who has a vendetta against one of you two, we can't risk anything happening to you both now that your relationship is in the media,' Kieran tried to lecture me.

'You sure this isn't way to sack me?' I asked Kieran and he sighed.

'You two better not have agreed to this,' Luke said to his Mum and Brother.

'No, of course not,' Caroline said back to Luke. 'But we do need to find a way to protect you two, especially as you are heading back to university Monday,'

'Thanks for telling us about that, by the way.' Theo said and I looked at Luke – he didn't tell his brother he was going to university? I knew that he didn't tell his parents that he went to university after he told them he applied for Bournemouth and he mentioned that he didn't tell his Dad until mid-way through the second year when they found out he was sneaking out to attend lectures three times a week (which I thought was fairly impressive) but I assumed it was something down to Edward's behaviour. But then why didn't he tell his mother and brother. Luke gently shook his head, telling me softly that it's not the time to argue about that.

'With this level of secrecy, we cannot leave anything to risk,' Andrew continued.

'Why can't they just be a bit more honest, and they can stay together?' Jack started arguing.

'Because they are both compulsive liars,' Andrew said.

Everyone started protesting in the room before Andrew realised what he said.

'What I mean is both of them don't tell anyone where they are going, they sneak around security who are there to protect them, and they hide things like pregnancies and going back to university from the people who are there to protect them, so how on Earth can we keep them safe when they are together? The answer is, we can't.' Andrew sighed.

'Okay, then you two has to be more open with your security people, and you two can stay together and live happily ever after.' Jack said to us and I nodded.

'Well,' Andrew said and I immediately rolled my eyes. 'That doesn't stop the threat against them and as Luke is part of the Royal family, he takes priority over Grace,'

'No, Grace is part of the family too. She is my daughter. And Jack and Mark are my extended family and they shall be treated as such,' Caroline butted in and ordered the two security gentleman and they bowed their heads. 'So they are no more of a threat to each other when they are together, or when they are apart,'

'Your Majesty,' Kieran sighed.

'I'm not having any more of this bullshit,' Caroline said. 'I thought you had a good security idea in order to protect these two and their future child, and I am horrified you wouldn't run anything like this passed me,' she sighed. 'Would you split up my two sons if they were security threats when they are together?

'No, your Majesty,' they both said simultaneously.

'Then why are you trying to split up Grace and Luke? Especially when they have a child on its way,' Caroline said, rubbing her forehead.

'It was just an idea,'

'No, it was more than just a suggestion,' Theo shot back. 'You told us you had a plan that would involve moving them away from us, not moving them apart. We know there are people after them, and they got to Grace one time because we didn't declare their relationship because, like normally people, they wanted privacy. We've learnt the lesson. Stick them both with security guards and armed police if you have intelligence suggesting an attack. Grace has a license to carry a gun, correct? You issued her with one when she started and Luke wanted her as his "driver" or whatever they used to cover up their relationship?' Theo asked and Kieran nodded. 'There we go then, give Grace a gun, and make security follow them around, you do not need to break them up,'

There was silence in the room.

'I don't see how that would affect them, and if you are concerned about their wellbeing, then move them to a location that is in the middle of the sticks,' Theo added.

'It could work, but someone is still getting intelligence about both of you,' Kieran said.

'They shouldn't be able to get intelligence if it's off the books,' Caroline said, 'Treat it black ops, I will not have my son, my daughter-in-law-to-be and my future grandchild, in any more danger,' She ordered. 'That's enough for now,' Caroline said and the security lads bowed before walking out the room. The silence was heavy.

'I'm so sorry, Luke, Grace,' Caroline said softly and I shrugged. Luke, realising how upset, gently tugged me to stand up. He gently took my hand and led me out of the room, walking upstairs into Jack and Markie's bedroom, closing the door behind us before pulling me into a hug. I fell into his chest, bursting out crying as he hugged me tightly. After a minute or so, with him telling me it'll be alright and so on, he realised I wasn't going to stop crying for a while and he picked me up gently, sat my on his lap on the edge of the back and rocked me gently. It took about fifteen minutes for me to calm down.

'You won't leave me, will you?' I sniffed, shivering against his chest.

'Of course, I won't Grace,' He whispered back to me. 'No chance in Hell, you're stuck with me,' He said, his cheek against the crown of my head.

'Even if we are forced too?'

'I will find you, Grace, they can try and split us up but I won't let them. I will get married to you tomorrow if that is what it takes for people to realise I am not leaving you,' Luke mumbled gently. 'I promise,'

'Okay,' I said, snuggling up against him. There was a knock on the door and Caroline walked in.

'Grace, Luke, I am so sorry,' She said. 'I had no idea… they just said they had a plan to keep you two safe and the baby safe as well,'

'It's alright, it wasn't you saying it,' Luke said and Caroline smiled.

'I'm so glad you're understanding,' She said softly to Luke. 'I'm sorry for getting you caught up in the affairs and dramas of our family, Grace, especially when you are pregnant. It's not the stress you need,' Caroline told me softly.

'It's not your fault,' I whispered back, still leaning into Luke's chest where I felt like home.

'Theo and I are going to head home, Luke, you are more than welcome to come back to Buckingham if you want too, or just return to Windsor. Just… text me and let me know what's going on,' Caroline whispered, before coming over and kissing Luke on the forehead, and then myself. 'I wish there was a way for me to protect you both,' She said sadly before walking out the room.

I remained curled up in Luke's lap for another hour or two until I was completely calm, and about twenty minutes in Luke gently started telling me stories of his childhood knowing how much it calmed me down earlier in the day. He kept asking me question to which I didn't reply, but it didn't faze him.

'So, when I was about nine, I had these friends – I say, friends, they were some fancy rich kids of some Lord's or something – and we were placed together in a science experiment about photosynthesis and if a plant would last longer in the sunshine or in a cupboard. So it was me, Adam, Sebastian, Tyrone and Peter. All very boring names, but hey ho. Welcome to the extremely upper class - dull names to suit the family tree. Me and Theo can't speak, can we? Anyway, our science teacher, Mr Kibinson, always had this trench coat in his cupboard at the back of the class where we were hiding the place, and it was myself and Tyrone, we thought it was hilarious to fill the jacket with soil in all the pockets, and there were quite a few pockets, and we planted loads of seeds in it. We left the plants in their bags as it was self-containing for about three months, and we went back in and his favourite coat was absolutely covered in plants. It was the funniest thing when you were nine.' Luke said to me softly.

'What do they all do now?' I asked Luke and he kissed my head. Our relationship didn't have much time to meet and greet friends or extended family; we were hiding our relationship for a substantial amount of time and during that time, my two friends didn't know about Luke. I knew Luke had quite a substantial amount of friends he was constantly texting or meeting up with but I couldn't meet them. After I got kidnapped, Luke didn't want to leave my side. I had met a few of his friends as they came around to see who I am and was surprised that most of his friends weren't stuck up their own arses or rolling in cash.

'I still am close with Tyrone and Adam. I lost touch with Peter at sixteen when I changed schools. I don't know what happened to Sebastian, he left when he was thirteen and I haven't heard from him since. Tyrone and Adam aren't anyone fancy, though, they were just people whose parents had money to send them to a private school. They're lovely. Remember the sandcastle building competition?' Luke asked and I nodded. 'They were two of the guys who went down with me, the other was someone I went to university with,' He sighed.

'You're going to miss your mates, aren't you?' I mumbled to him, wondering if persuading him to transfer to Surrey was the right thing.

'I didn't have many good mates, believe me. Status gets in the way of that. People pretend to be your mates in order to get in the papers or to brag. You know your real mates when something awful happens,' Luke sighed.

'You're on about your deployment, aren't you?' I whispered to him and he nodded sadly.

'Yeah, there was a group of around fifteen lads, from about four different courses, and I thought they were all my good mates. I told them I was going abroad with the army and they seemed quite alright with it. It was when I got injured, that's when I found out who my real mates were. Theo told all of them for me when I was in a theatre being operated on urgently but only two made the journey up to see if I was alright.'

'Jamie and Serena.' I stated, remembering. Sure enough, Luke's gentle talking to me about anything and everything helped me out of my crying state and made me feel a bit more human again. He knew the way around me.

'Yeah, they were the only two who bothered, so I only have like… five mates?' Luke said softly. 'It was Jamie, Serena, Tyrone and Adam who helped me when you were taken too. I think they all want to meet you, but I said you may not be up for it yet.'

'I'm sure we can find time to meet up?' I whispered to him and he nodded. 'Which ones were Savants again?'

'Jamie and Serena, they're Soulfinders. They've known since they were twelve,' Luke said gently. 'Must have been awful finding that out so young, no one is in their prime at twelve.'

There was a gentle knock at the door and Jack popped his head through the crack in the door. 'You two alright?'

'Yeah,' I said, and Jack smiled sadly at me.

'We're just about to head down to the supermarket, need some stuff, want to come with?' Jack asked and I frowned before looking at Luke.

'Yeah, might be good to get some air,' I ended up saying for us and Luke nodded.

'Alright then, get your shoes on,' Jack said gently leaving the room.

/\\\\/\\\\/\\\\/\\\\/\\\\/\\\\

It was about half nine by the time we left the house and it was freezing. It was only a few weeks until Christmas and the temperature was freezing up accordingly and we had to wait a few minutes to get the very thin frost from the cars, despite it only just about being night. We all got into Ruby, being the most modern car with all the little attachments of decent heating as so on, before we drove to the nearest supermarket, only about a five-minute drive from Jack's house.

However, the car park was deserted – the place must have been able to hold around five hundred cars when full, but not only held about six of the graveyard shift workers. Luke pulled into a random car park space.

'Think it's closed,' I said to Jack and he frowned.

'Markie – you said it was open?'

'Er, I lied. I need to tell you all something,' He sighed, getting out the car. He slammed the door behind him and we all sat inside for a second. I turned around to Jack and the worry was clear in his eyes. Before I could say anything to him, Jack got out the car.

'What is happening?' I whispered to Luke and he shrugged, leaving the engine running but getting out the car. I did the same, and we all met on the drivers' side of the car.

'What do you need to tell us?' Jack asked, sceptical.

Markie sighed, pacing slightly. It took about fifteen seconds for him to come out and say what was on his mind.

'I think I might have been the source of the information against you two,' Markie said, looking up at myself and Luke. 'I didn't mean to be, I never even thought I would be getting anyone hurt,'

'What do you mean?' Luke and Jack said at the exact same time.

'Oh my God,' Markie said, still pacing and covering his mouth with his hands. He rubbed his stubble, looking to the sky as if asking for help before turning around. As if on cue, it has started to sleet, covering the floor with sticky slush that was melting before it could settle. I put my hood up against the weather but Luke and Jack did nothing to protect themselves from the weather.

'You know every Sunday, my family has a roast dinner, right?' He addressed the question to Jack but he didn't budge. He looked furious. With his arms crossed, you could see the muscles rippling. 'You don't often come, you don't like my Uncle's and Aunt's which I don't blame you. They, they can do this thing where they make you speak,' He addressed it to me and Luke, 'It's against the rules of the Net, using your gift forcefully, it violates another person,' He said.

'Jack told me that you got a job inside Buckingham Palace, Grace. I was so happy for you, and then he told me you found your Soulfinder and I was over the moon. After all the pain you have had, you deserve that piece of happiness, but Jack never told me who it was. So two Sundays over, my uncle, Nikos, was there. He's the one who can make you speak. He asked me how Jack was and I said it was okay and then he went into my head, done the thing, and I told him you had a job within MI5 in Buckingham, and you met your Soulfinder. I cannot remember what happened next. I never do, you see, I just start remembering from dinner.' He looked at us for any kind of sign. Jack was the one who replied.

'That was meant to be secret,' He hissed.

'I didn't know I told him,' Markie said.

'Then how do you remember now!' Jack shouted back and it echoed across the carpark. Luke tightened the grip around my waist.

'I don't know, Jack,' Markie whispered back and Jack started pacing.

'So came the night that I met you for the first time,' Markie said, 'Remember after we had dinner and we were sitting around, drinking, I had a phone call I said I had to take. I said it was Sasha,' He said and I closed my eyes, knowing exactly where this was going. We were sitting around the table still, laughing away. I was on my fourth glass of wine. Markie got a phone call, pulled out his phone and saw the caller ID, said it was his sister before running upstairs to answer it. We didn't think anything of it. 'He's powerful, Nikos, he really is. He can do it now just by conversation. He asked me who was there, and I said it was Jack's sister and her boyfriend, and then he got out of me you were the Prince. He asked me what time you were leaving. I told him I had no idea and he then asked where you were going. I said that Grace was drunk so Luke would be driving back to Buckingham in the early hours.'

'After Grace was kidnapped, Nikos didn't call anymore. Until three days ago, when he asked when you were coming down to visit us, to stay with us. He asked me where you were sleeping when you stayed over. He wasn't asking about Luke, he was asking about you. Grace, he knows you are here, you need to go. Now.' Markie said in tears.