by Anne, Melody
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Xander laughed as he leaned back. “Xander is just fine for my soon-to-be sister-in-law.”
Chris beamed and he turned toward the awed crowd who had come off the airplane to watch the drama. Even the pilots were standing there.
“I’d like to introduce you all to your future princess,” Chris said.
The crowd erupted into applause. Adara saw a number of people taking pictures and a few talking into their phones. She knew it wouldn’t take long for the entire island to find out what had happened.
Chris took her hand and led her to his horse. He helped her on before climbing up behind her and pulling her tightly against him.
“In a short time, you’ll officially be a princess of Rubare Collina, but in my eyes you have always been royalty,” he told her as the horse began galloping off.
“And you will always be my Prince Charming,” she said back with a giggle.
They rode toward the palace, and Adara couldn’t be happier. Fairy tales really did come true.
Epilogue
Are you sure this information is true?” Xander asked.
“Yes, brother. I’ve been researching it. It’s very true. I didn’t want to upset you and Bryan, so I didn’t say anything up until now,” Chris told him as he sat down.
“But why didn’t our father tell us about this?”
“He received the letter and asked me to look into this. He didn’t want to bring it up to the rest of the family until he knew it was credible,” Chris said.
“What are you two speaking about?” Bryan asked. “Why did I get called out here so urgently?”
“You’re going to need a drink, Bryan,” Chris told him. “I suggest a double.”
Bryan walked over to the bar and poured himself a double shot of scotch, then joined his brothers on the long couch.
Without a word, Xander passed over the file that Chris had handed him only moments before. After reading it, the look on Bryan’s face matched those of his two brothers.
“Who sent the letter?”
“I don’t know. But it appears we have missing family members in America and they want to know us.”
“But for what purpose?” Bryan asked, as frustrated as Chris was.
“That’s what I intend to find out,” Chris told him.
“So, this would have been our great-uncle?” Xander voiced it as a question, but yes, that’s who he would have been.
“From the information that I’ve read, our great-grandfather tried to have his youngest son executed, apparently for treason against the country, but the child escaped, and he raised a family in America. And it appears that the family has grown greatly and spread out.”
“I can read the damn report,” Bryan said, though he didn’t look too sure.
“I don’t know what the truth is,” Chris told him. “But someone knows the real story or this letter wouldn’t have found its way to me.”
“Then what are we going to do?” Bryan asked.
“I’m going to make a visit to America,” Chris said.
They all fell silent. Yes, the course was obvious. One of them had to go and find out whether there really were more members of the royal family out there.
It could be a great blessing, or a terrible nightmare.