“What would lover boy think if he saw you in that tiny bikini, you’re highness,” he taunted.
His eyes burned a path across my body. I felt like a gazelle being watched by a hungry lion. Do I run to get away, and he will surely engage, or do I keep my head low and stay put, hoping he will ignore me and move along?
I guess Axel and I aren’t as inconspicuous as we thought.
“You know, you are a queen and can make your own decisions. It’s ok that you are afraid to admit that you want me. I will be here waiting for when you change your mind,” he said.
I wish I could say that I can’t believe he would say something like that, but then I’d be lying. But I needed to buy myself a lot more time back in the Morthlands to get my shit together. So I needed to play somewhat nice.
“Kennan, why don’t you go for a swim? You could see how long you can hold your breath. I’d love the quiet that would bring, and if you don’t ever resurface, then even better for me,” I told him.
He laughed at my words.
“That mouth of yours may get you into trouble one day, your highness.”
“That is what you think, Kennan, but one of us is the Queen while the other is waiting on two generations to pass before they can take over. That is why you have no trouble waiting for me to change my mind. You’d still be waiting forever for your grandfather and father to die. Or are you planning to kill them too and take over everything?”
I watched as Kennan’s face turned an angry shade of red. A vein in his throat became prominent, and his hands clenched into fists.
I really struck a nerve.
He looked like he would have jumped on top of me in the lounge chair and strangled me, but there were many witnesses around us. While Kennan liked a good show, this was not the kind he wanted to put on.
Kennan remained silent while staring at me. I studied him back, putting as much confidence into it as I could muster, but then I was saved.
Lilith plopped down right beside me and asked if I was enjoying her party. She personally made sure that Lacey would not be in attendance. I thanked her as I turned around to look back to where Kennan was standing.
While I didn’t think he would be dumb enough to hurt me in front of others, I know better than to underestimate my enemy.
Kennan wasn’t there, but a glance forward told me that he had jumped into the pool. He was gliding underneath the water. I wished I could reach down and hold his head under there until he stopped fighting, but witnesses.
Kennan left me alone the rest of the night; I began to enjoy myself again, as the class of 2019 enjoyed themselves with spiked Kool-Aid, pizza, and fireworks.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Iwoke up in my bed in Morthsoul with Axel sitting in the chair at my desk. He had several books open and looked like he would rather be doing anything else than reading them.
When I stirred, he looked up.
“Oh, good you’re awake,” he said.
I stood up and made my bed. I could feel his eyes on me.
“Yes, I am awake,” I told him.
“I can’t stay long. I have so much to get done today, but I have a hard time concentrating when you are asleep. I wanted to give you this before I go,” he said, handing me a small leather-bound book.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s another of Queen Victoria’s diaries,” Axel answered.
“Where did you find it?” I asked.
“I didn’t find it, Wisdom did. He said he found it tucked behind some books in the library. He also wishes to speak with you when you have some time,” he told me.
I took the diary, still resting in Axel’s palm.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll go see him soon,” I promised.
“I miss you,” Axel told me, taking a step closer.
It had been like this for days now. We’d been near each other, but we have both been so busy it’s like being miles apart. It is difficult going from spending so much time together, to hardly any. The reason I first began to love this place is because he is a part of it. Now I’m running the show, and I can’t see my first supporter in the crowd.
“I miss you too,” I told him.
I took another step forward and closed the gap between us. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on. Axel wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt my feet lift off the floor as Axel lifted me slightly and spun in circles with me.
I had missed him so much.
“Well, I must get going; I have so much to do today. Now that you are awake in the castle, I know you are safe. Try to stay out of trouble for me?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, I can’t promise anything,” I told him with a guilty smile. I couldn’t help that trouble always finds me.
“Well then, good day, my Queen. Also, congratulations on finishing your schooling. I am extremely proud of you,” Axel said with a smile and a quick kiss. He bowed and then left the room.
Just like that, the day seemed like it was full of promise. Axel missed me, and I’m done with school, so now I could handle anything else thrown my way.
I walked over to my desk with the diary still in hand. I sat down on the plush chair and opened the book. I breathed in the smell of old leather. I could almost imagine Victoria sitting at this same desk with this same book,writing away. I felt connected to this woman I’ve never met.
We were connected in more ways than one. Sure, we were blood-related, but we were connected through the delicate strands of the prophecy, and through this castle, specifically this room, which hadn’t been touched since her days in the castle. We were connected through our appearance, and now our love of this world, a place we both fit in.
I glanced at the pages and immediately recognized her handwriting. I had flipped to a page in the middle of the diary. I hoped she would have some wise advice on what to do. She knew this world better than I did.
Maybe she would have some information to fill in the blanks. So many issues have presented themselves within the past months.
Diary,
Today the Queen of Urbem Glacies and her husband, the King, welcomed their first grandson. I feel joyous for them. By now, I must be a grandmother of a child from my dear Agatha. It saddens me that I will never really know my firstborn or her children. I mustn’t let those sad feelings get in the way of the celebration this week in honor of the new baby. We have strong relations with the northerners now. I believe the Princess will ask me to be the godmother of her child. After all, she was my best friend in the palace until I introduced her to the Prince of Urbem Glacies.
Victoria Lane
I remember Wisdom telling me that the north wouldn’t want to get involved in the war. This Kingdom isn’t the same now as it was under Edward’s rule. Maybe I could be a diplomat like Victoria and get them to join us in this battle? The grandson mentioned in Victoria’s diary must be the current King. Axel told me that the old King died just last year unexpectedly.
I got up and tucked the diary into my safe place underneath the loose stone in the floor. It rested right next to Eduard’s temporary home. I also previously placed the emeralds in my pocket here as well for safekeeping.
I still haven’t told Axel about the emeralds I stole. First, the timing wasn’t right, but then Kennan left me alone for the most part, until yesterday. Maybe I would revisit that point, now that I have an apartment where he could stay with me. It would have been awkward trying to keep him hidden from my mom in our house.
I exited my room and walked into the library. I always seem to find Wisdom there. To my surprise, Trin was in there as well, talking with him.
“Hello, Violet,” they greeted me as I entered the room.
“Hey, guys. Wisdom, Axel told me you wanted to see me.”
“Ah, yes. Trin and I have decided that you need to go through more etiquette training, now that you are Queen. Your people will expect you to behave like a Queen. Not that you don’t act like one, but most Queen’s I’ve met don’t run down the halls
in muddy slippers giggling after their younger cousins,” he said.
I was guilty as charged. My second night in the castle, I chased two of my younger cousins, Star and Luna, through the gardens. It had rained only hours earlier, but they wanted me to help them catch frogs. I had just gotten on their good side; I didn’t want to lose their approval already. They were my family, and my mom taught me early on that family is everything.
I was blessed to have my family here. I had more cousins than I could count, and I loved having them around. At dinner, they would share stories of when they were young or their time spent with Victoria.
I felt lucky to hear the stories, as I might never learn all there is to know about her. I also felt disappointed that I would never meet her, I have a feeling she and I would have clicked.
Apparently, catching frogs around here was a family tradition, which is why Star and Luna insisted that we go frog catching so that I can be ‘part of the family.’
“Okay, I see your point,” I told him.
I still have no regrets about catching the frogs, though. That was fun, and Star, Luna and I are now ‘friends for life.’
“I assume Axel gave you Victoria’s diary,” Wisdom asked.
“Yes, he did,” I told him.
I walked around the other side of the desk and stood next to Wisdom. I found a pen and a loose piece of paper that didn’t look too important.
‘I think we should invite the King and Queen of Urbem Glacies to the castle. I think they could be a valuable ally’, I wrote.
While I had started writing, Trin had started talking about the different types of training I needed. She told me that Beetie, my great aunt, agreed to help me through the training.
Apparently, the lessons she gave me in Wisdom’s cabin weren’t enough.
While I wasn’t looking forward to having to re-learn everyday routine tasks ‘the proper way,’ I was happy to get the opportunity to spend some time with Aunt Beetie.
Wisdom took the pen from me and wrote underneath my line.
‘According to Abraham’s records, they tried reaching out to the royal family of Urbem Glacies several times with no luck.’
‘Victoria wrote in her journal that the Kingdom’s used to be close. Edward was missing something I have, knowledge. My knowledge will be how I get them to agree’, I wrote.
“Very well then,” Wisdom said, nodding in my direction. He would see that an invitation was sent directly to the royal family.
Wisdom slid the sheet across the desk to Trin, who picked up the sheet and read quietly. She looked up from the paper, understanding what needed to be done.
“Very well,” she repeated after Wisdom. “I’ll go get your great aunt,” she said.
CHAPTER NINE
Aunt Beetie walked into the library slowly but gracefully. She stood as straight as her aging body would allow, and wore a smile that lit up the room.
“Hello, my dear Violet,” she called halfway across the room. She opened her arms wide for a hug. I quickly crossed the distance between us as gracefully as I could. I walked straight into her arms and relaxed into her embrace.
For all intents and purposes, this was my second grandmother. I only know my Mom’s mother, she was the only relative still alive and in Arlington besides my own mother. So in my heart, I had room for another Grandmother.
“Great Aunt Beetie, it’s good to see you,” I told her.
“Good to see you, my dear, how are you adjusting to having a large family? We are always around, and we are a handful,” she said.
“It’s a lot to take in. The cousins are great, and your children are nice too. Although I don’t think Martha likes me very much,” I said honestly.
“Don’t mind, Martha, she has a bitter taste in her mouth. She feels that I should be Queen leaving her to be the next in line for the throne as she is the oldest of the girls,” Beetie explained.
“That explains it,” I said.
I had offered Beetie her rightful place before I even killed the King. When I first learned who she was, I told her the throne was hers if she wanted it. She told me that I was the one the prophecy spoke of, so it was not right for her to take the crown.
“Yes, yes, now let’s get down to it, shall we?” she asked.
“Yes, we might as well,” I told her.
“Well, Mother told me that you need to look and act like the proper lady, even if you didn’t feel like one. I think this might apply to you. You grew up without any knowledge of what this was like. It might be a disadvantage now, but I think you can make this play out in your favor,” Beetie said with a wink.
“Okay, so what comes first, looking or acting like a proper lady?” I asked.
“That’s a matter of speculation,” she smiled, trying to hold back a laugh at my question.
“I believe that acting like the lady comes first,” she replied.
“Well then, make me a lady,” I told her.
“It’s hard to tame a wild dragon, my dear, but I will continue my previous work and make a lady of you,” she said.
A look of knowing was in her eyes. This woman understood me in ways I could have only dreamed. I wouldn’t compare myself to a dragon, though, maybe a tiger.
“First, have a seat over here,” she said, pointing to the chair Wisdom had been sitting in a few minutes before. He must have left the room when Beetie and I were talking. He had things to do, I assume. He had a small magical army to teach, after all.
I walked to the chair and plopped down in it. I had a feeling it wasn’t the proper way to sit, and I would be scolded.
“Oh no, my dear, you sit down in front of another King or Queen that way, and they will be thoroughly judgmental of you,” she said.
Beetie pulled out another chair from the long study table nearby.
“You must sit like so,” she said.
She gathered her skirts in her right hand, and gracefully bent her knees. She never made a sound as she sat in the chair. Once her full weight was in the seat, she crossed her right leg over her left and spread her skirts out evenly over her legs.
That was a lot of work just to sit down.
“Now you try,” she told me.
I stood back up and gathered my skirts in my left hand. I eased myself into the chair without making a sound. I crossed my left leg over my right and smoothed my dress skirt over my legs.
“Are you left-handed, dear?” she asked me.
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered.
“Incredible so was Mother,” she said.
“Well, you learned that fairly quickly. That was a large improvement from that dive into the seat you took before,” she teased.
“I imagine so,” I teased back.
I spent the rest of the afternoon with my great aunt, learning how to act, how to present myself, and how much I reminded her of her mother.
Dinner came and went. Axel sent the twins to keep me occupied for the evening so that I couldn’t get into too much trouble. I might never have known about their little arrangement if Star didn’t mention the extra desert waiting in her room from Sir Axel.
He was sneaky sneaky, but he forgets little kids are bad at keeping secrets.
I let the twins keep me company, as what else did I have to do? I had to pretend everything was normal, and that there wasn’t a spy in our midst. I instructed my inner circle to keep this knowledge secret. Not even my family was to know. I’d hate to find out what the spy would do once he knows his secret is out.
Axel was with the knights, trying to whip them into shape. We have not yet announced the imminent war with Corone or Tate, but we are biding our time, and doing what we can to prepare ourselves. That includes making sure our army is the best.
Wisdom recruited some magic workers from around the Kingdom and is training them to be our secret weapons. While I have done an excellent job of keeping my magical abilities in check, Wisdom continues to teach me control over my magic in secret.
The fewer people who know
of my powers or the extent of them, the better.
While Wisdom’s magic worker super team was great, they were still limited in their abilities. My abilities were ever-expanding and would be the trump card in the war to come.
Trin was around too, preparing in her own way. She also spent time looking for any hidden tunnels or any secret knowledge about the castle, its people, and our spy. We all had our own separate tasks to keep us busy, and it was taking its toll.
Axel and I barely see each other unless it is Kingdom related. He takes his duties very seriously, and he often comes in from training after I am in bed. He sneaks into my room to keep silent watch and then leaves as I am waking so that he can start his day all over.
Our schedules and tasks have caused some distance and issues that we are doing our best to work through. Now that I am spending the majority of my time here, I hope that resolves itself. I hate the tension that sometimes makes itself known between us when we disagree on how to approach something. Not to mention, we barely get time alone without being interrupted, and it makes it hard to keep the romance alive.
I was hoping that after I became Queen, Axel and I would have more time to get to know each other, but so far that hasn’t panned out. Like me, he takes his job seriously and is sometimes out of the castle for days at a time recruiting.
Don’t get me started on Trin. She truly has been my saving grace. I felt lonely after we had all been given our tasks, and she did her best to help combat that anyway she could. She’d have the chef bring me little treats on a particularly rough day, or have a new custom gown made for me to project the role of Queen.
Someone said that the top is lonely, and boy if I didn’t learn that the hard way.
CHAPTER TEN
Trin
It has been two weeks since the Queen decided we should reach out to the royal family of Urbem Glacies. His majesty Thanian and her majesty Clarissa Lemonte graciously accepted the offer right away.
This came as a bit of shock to me. All attempts made by Eduard went unanswered. I received an immediate response from the royals. They stated they would arrive at the castle in two weeks. Those two weeks had flown by in a hurry.
Emerald Mountains (The Dream Traveler Series Book 2) Page 5