Evolution of a Queen

Telling Cam

Ash’s POV

I watched as Winter walked away, and I couldn’t help but smile. She was so aggressive and had confidence around her that she didn’t have in the castle. 

“Who is she?” Cam grunts from the floor. I don’t answer, and Cam glares at me, “Who did you bring here? I’m your second I deserve to know!”

“Cam can I trust you?” I kneel at his head.

Cam immediately struggles onto his knees. Looking into my eyes, he says, “Always. My loyalty is with you first and other people second.”

I smile, “Good. Follow me; I think it’s time you learned more about Winter.”

As we started walking out of the training center, Cam looked at me suspiciously, “She’s not your girlfriend, is she? That’s dangerous in our line of work, you know.”

I shake my head, “No she’s not my girlfriend. I will tell you about her, but we have to get to my office first. Her identity is a secret that can’t be public news.”

“Then why are you telling me? If it’s a secret, wouldn’t it be better if only you knew her real identity?”

“Normally, yes. But I need your help Cam,” I put a hand on his shoulder, “I need your help protecting her and training her. She needs to be good enough that she can even beat me in a battle.”

Cam looked at me in confusion, “Why are you doing this, Ash?”

I looked ahead and didn’t meet his gaze, “It’s so she can protect herself when she goes back to that place.”

Cam stayed quiet for the rest of the way. I could tell that he was confused by what I said, but he refrained from saying anything. My office was on the opposite side of the building, so it took us a few minutes to reach it, but when we did, Cam opened the door for me and let me enter first.

“Now tell me what’s going on. Why are you so secretive?” Cam closed the door and folded his hands over his chest.

I sigh and sit down in my chair, “First you have to promise me you won’t go running to tell the royal family what I’m about to tell you.”

Cam walked closer to me, “I told you didn’t I? My loyalty is with you first, before even the royal family. You saved my life, so I’m going to spend it repaying you. I promise I won’t go tell anyone what you’re going to tell me.”

I didn’t speak for a few minutes as I was trying to gather my thoughts. I didn’t know how much I would reveal about her; I don’t know how much Winter would like me to reveal about her. She did kick him, so I assume she doesn’t like Cam. All I knew is that I needed his help and that he would have my back.

“Winter’s not her real name. Her real name is Princess Lilly. She ran away from the palace to get away from her father.” I sigh and lean back in my chair, “He won’t stop till he finds her, and she can’t protect herself without our help.”

Cam stepped back in shock, “Why in the world is she running away from the king? He loves his family! And what is the princess doing in a place like this?”

I bark out a laugh, “He doesn’t love his family; he loves the power he has over them. Lilly almost died a couple of weeks ago, and it would’ve been the king’s fault.”

“What happened to the princess that she needs to hang out with riff-raff like us?” Cam sat down in the chair across from me.

“I was hired by Princess Seriah to protect Winter, but I could never protect her from the abuse she suffered from the king. The king took it too far this time, so I had to step in and help her escape. I let a murderer from the Red Wolf Gang escape from jail to intercept her so I could be the knight in shining armor. I killed him when he was going to harm her to gain her trust. I brought her here where the king would never look.” I stand up and grab Cam by his shoulders, “You must never tell anyone else what I have told you today. It will endanger Winter.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” Cam pressed his fist to his chest and looked down. After a minute, he looked up at me, “Why are you calling her Winter? Her name is Lilly, the second heir to the throne.”

I step away from him, “Lilly is dead, she died the moment she escaped from the palace. She chose the name Winter, and she chose this new life. If you ask her, she may tell you why she chose that name. I don’t know all the reasons she chose that name, but it is a good name. I had her change her name for her protection. Once the news of the missing princess spreads, everyone will be looking for a girl named Lilly. What would happen to her when she showed up here with the same name as the missing princess?”

“I don’t think her name is the only issue,” Cam looked thoughtful.

“What do you mean?”

“You need to change her image,” Cam stood up, “Die her hair a different color, give her a couple of piercings, and put her in some leather. Right now, she stands out here because she doesn’t look the part. It would be best if you made her look like she’s been a part of our crew her whole life. Teach her how to act here, although she’s feisty and probably won’t need much help in that department.”

I groan, “Of course! Why didn’t you think of that? Cam take her out today and fix her up. I have some work here to do,” I quickly scribble a note, not listening to his protests, “Give this to her and tell her I told her to go with you.”

“What work do you have that I couldn’t do for you?” Cam crossed his arms in protest.

“The email that the king sent said to send our best warriors, so I’m going. Your job is to look after her for today and change her look,” I opened a desk drawer and pulled out my leather gloves and both handguns.

“Why can’t you go?” He glared at me.

“It would be good for you to spend quality time with Winter and get to know her. You are, after all, going to be her second mentor. Now take this note, go find Winter, and change her image,” I glare back, my tone left no room for arguments.

Cam huffed and glared at me before storming out of the room.