by C. J. Miller
Serena liked doing things for herself. But she trusted Iliana’s advice. “I’ll start by asking you, firmly, to please show me what I’ll be wearing tonight.”
Iliana flipped through the dresses in the wardrobe case and frowned. She checked the other luggage. “Don’t panic, but I don’t see the dress I brought for you for the party tonight.”
“I’m not panicking. Can I wear one of these other dresses? They’re all so beautiful.”
Iliana shook her head. “I have everything planned, the jewelry and the shoes. If you have to repeat clothes, it will reflect badly on Acacia. Don’t worry. I’ll check my suitcase and I’ll be back. Maybe I have a few items mixed up with yours.”
Iliana appeared rattled, but Serena was unconcerned. Iliana rushed to her room down the hall.
Serena returned to the living room and sat on the couch. She kicked off her heels and wiggled her toes. She couldn’t let small bumps in the road turn this weekend into a nightmare. Staying focused on her goal, which was to make her father proud, represent her country and forge a few associations with others, was key. The rest of it, what she wore and what she ate, wasn’t important.
A knock on the door brought Serena to her feet. Iliana had moved quickly.
Serena opened the door and came face-to-face with Casimir. He was wearing a black pair of pants and a crisply ironed, dark blue button-down shirt and tie. She had half a mind to grab the tie and pull him close.
He took her breath away. “Hey, you,” she said.
“Hey, you.” She stepped back and he came inside her room. If he lingered in the hallway, someone might see him and rumors would fly. Her guards were at their post and she hoped they would maintain their silence on the matter.
“Nice place. Much nicer than mine.”
“Iliana booked it.” Serena smiled.
“She’s with you?” Casimir asked, glancing around.
“In her room.” She was due back any second, but Serena didn’t want to trample the moment by telling him.
He slid his hands into his pockets. “I’d heard you’d arrived and saw the bellhop bringing up your suitcases.”
“How did you know they were mine?” Serena asked.
“Country emblem,” he said.
Right. Not exactly traveling discreetly, but discreet hadn’t been her goal.
“I saw you with King Warrington.”
“Are you here with Fiona?”
The questions were asked at the same time. They were circling each other, not sure where they stood.
“I’ve missed you. It’s been a few days, but I feel like weeks have past,” he said.
Her heart surged in her chest. “I feel the same.”
“You didn’t call. But I know you are busy.”
Was that hurt in his voice? Disappointment? “I have been busy.” But also unsure if she should call, when she should call. When they were together, it felt right, but with distance came questions.
“I took a chance and came to your room, talked my way past your security guards, hoping to see you, wondering if everything we had was in my head.”
So he felt it, too. “Not in your head.”
“Can I see you tonight, after the party?”
Her heart thumped hard and loud, onboard with whatever he was offering. “Yes, of course.”
Serena had so many questions, but she wanted answers to the one that roared the most: What did she mean to him?
Casimir’s past kiss burned on her lips and she wanted to be in his arms so desperately. Would he reach for her? How could she tell him what she needed?
Casimir removed his hands from his pockets and extended them to her. She rushed into them and he folded them around her. “Did you get shorter?”
She rose up on her tiptoes. It was now or never. “No heels. Now kiss me.”
He lowered his mouth to hers and she felt as if she was coming apart at the seams. Everything in her wanted this man in her bed. He made her feel so unspeakably precious. There was no comparison between Casimir and King Warrington.
Whenever she was with Warrington, she felt as though he was using her, as if he barely tolerated her. With Casimir, she felt part of something bigger and better.
Casimir’s soft lips moved across her cheek to kiss her below her ear. She tilted her head, giving him more, wanting everything from him.
“Oh, my God.”
He froze at the sound of Iliana’s voice. He brought Serena upright and she straightened.
Iliana was looking between them and the door, a dress in one hand and her other hand plowing through her hair. She shoved the door closed. “Serena, are you okay? Do you want me to leave? What is happening? What is this?”
Serena held out her hands. “I’m fine. We’re fine. Casimir stopped by to say hi.”
“Serena, you can’t do this. What if someone sees?” Iliana was hissing the words as if someone could overhear.
“No one will see. We’re not doing anything wrong.”
Iliana set the dress over the back of the settee. “I get it. I know where you’re coming from. Things with Warrington have been—” she made a so-so gesture with her hand. “But this would be a huge scandal if it leaked.”
“No one will find out. Especially not if you help us.”
Iliana folded her arms across her chest. “I’ll help you, but you know you are playing with fire. What about your guards? They know he’s in here. What will stop them from telling someone?”
She made a good point. “They work for me. My guards can be trusted. You know I would help you if you needed it.” Like if Iliana wanted to meet with a certain dictator and spend time alone with him.
Iliana heard her loud and clear. “Then let me return to my room so you two can finish...whatever this is.” Iliana looked at the clock on the wall. “But you have four minutes, tops, because someone is coming to fix your hair.” Iliana sighed. “Tell you what, I’ll turn my back.” She did and covered her ears, humming softly.
Casimir laughed. “Is she always like this?”
“Most of the time. She’s the best.”
Casimir wrapped his arms around her waist. “I want much more time with you than two hundred and forty seconds. I’ll be thinking of you all night and counting down until our next rendezvous.”
“Me, too.”
He pressed another lingering kiss to her lips. Then he fled her room.
Iliana’s eyes were wide. “I am not judging, but I had no idea that was happening.”
“It’s not something that’s happening. It just happened.”
Iliana removed the dress from the garment bag. “I need to steam this. But please be careful, Serena. This could be very bad. And we don’t need anything else very bad to happen.”
* * *
Serena’s hands were shaking so hard, she couldn’t button her dress. She had only glanced at the dress when Iliana had hung it in her closet, assuring her it was the appropriate dress for a royal cocktail party. Serena couldn’t imagine how Iliana knew what was or wasn’t appropriate for a specific event. Maybe there was a book on the matter that Serena was unaware of. But she wished she had chosen a dress more carefully, say, a dress with a zipper.
She hadn’t slept well on the flight to Elion and now she had to attend the wedding festivities cranky, tired and nervous. Serena opened the door to the bedroom leading to the rest of the suite.
“Oh, Serena, you look a mess,” Iliana said.
Since she had spent the past two hours being primped by makeup artists and hair stylists, Serena didn’t want to hear it. “I’m fine. Just nervous.” Thinking about being with so many people was enough to bring on a full panic attack. Serena fought against it. She would keep her calm.
“I wish I could go with you, but the invitation did not include me,” Iliana said. “What’s making you more nervous, seeing Casimir or seeing King Warrington or having to deal with the crowd?”
All of it. She wished she could fast-forward to 11:00 p.m., a good time to leave the p
arty, especially with the wedding being held tomorrow morning. “I wish I was more like Danae.” She turned around so Iliana could button her dress.
“Stop that. You are not Danae and she couldn’t have been you. You each have your strengths. You’re far more sensitive to others. That’s a great skill. Use that.”
“How will my sensitivity help me?” Most people were keen to tell her to toughen up and be more firm.
“If you sense someone needs a friend, be that friend. Listen. Don’t worry about being entertaining. Half that room probably pays a therapist five hundred an hour to listen to their problems. You can do that for free.”
At the mention of therapists, her thoughts flew to Dr. Shaw. Her shoulders tightened and she felt ill. “Do you think assassins will come after me tonight?”
Iliana hugged her. “No. You will be safe tonight. You have your guards in addition to the security for the wedding, and King Warrington and Casimir. And me. I’m a text away if you need anything.”
Serena had come this far, she would go the distance. She would represent Acacia proudly.
As Serena entered the Great Hall where the party was being held, she was struck by its grandeur. She wished Casimir was beside her. She circulated through the crowd, clutching her handbag. It made her feel better to have something to do with her hands. In a room of famous faces and celebrities, she didn’t stand out and it was the way she preferred it.
As if they had an invisible draw between them, Serena found Casimir. He was standing across the room, wearing a tuxedo as if it was made for him. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. One of her guards was with her, walking close beside her. In a room of dashing, talented men, she only had eyes for Casimir.
Making it doubly a shame that King Warrington was in the room. He was speaking to a group and hadn’t acknowledged or noticed her. Making a beeline for Casimir would be terribly obvious.
But she caught his eye and she felt as though he was looking into her soul. She would have given almost anything to be alone with him, to follow her heart and her instincts and run directly to him.
She considered her options. As the heiress to the throne, she should feel free to do what she wanted. Except the opposite was true. In matters related to her personal life and her political decisions, she was utterly caged.
* * *
Iliana had never been to Elion before. She might never have another opportunity to be in the country again. Instead of lying in bed, watching television and worrying about Serena, she pulled on her favorite jeans and a sweater, grabbed her handbag and planned to take a walking tour of the area, or at least the parts of it that she could reach on foot.
She opened her hotel room door and came face-to-face with Demetrius DeSante. “Oh.” Her heart raced and her stomach dropped. Her handbag hit the floor and she bent to pick it up at the same time he did.
Their hands met as they were crouching on the floor. The air around them crackled and singed. They rose together, their eyes locked. Iliana struggled to compose herself.
Though he was flanked by two of his guards, she didn’t feel threatened.
“Were you waiting outside my door?” Iliana asked.
“A happy coincidence that I caught you on your way out,” he said. He had a lilting accent and her heart swelled a bit.
“Serena isn’t with me.”
“I am not here to see the princess. I am here to see you.”
Iliana felt sure her heart would explode out of her chest. He cut an impressive figure, tall and darkly good looking. His face was that of a warrior, stern and strong. “How may I help you?” This did not feel like a professional visit. This felt personal. But Iliana wouldn’t make the leap alone. He had to cross the line and then she would gladly cross it with him, if only for a night.
“Come with me to the party tonight.”
Iliana looked down at her jeans. “I have nothing to wear.”
“You look perfect in that.”
Iliana laughed. “You are the only man to think that, I am sure.”
“What can I say to change your mind? Of all the women I have ever known, you are the most difficult to persuade into doing what I want.”
Everything the man said sounded sexual. “I can’t go, tonight, Mr. President.”
“Call me Demetrius. Please.” He was looking at her with such intensity, she looked away for a moment and collected herself.
When her eyes returned to his, he was watching her. His tie was crooked and she reached for it.
His guards tensed, but he held up his hand. “I don’t think she plans to strangle me.”
Iliana shook her head. “Of course not. Your tie is uneven. But I like it. Very fashion forward. Where did you get it?”
“I have no idea.”
“You don’t do your own shopping, then?” she asked.
“No. For now, I have a personal shopper. One day, I will have a wife to perform that duty.”
The word wife echoed in her brain. He wasn’t speaking of her, but it did funny things to her heart. Iliana had never been a “take care of your man” woman. She was independent, lived alone and had never bought a man clothes. How could she imagine herself in that role, and for a dictator, no less? “Serena left for the party a while ago.” Shouldn’t he be there as well?
“Then I will be late.”
“I was surprised to hear you were planning to attend,” Iliana said.
“The duke is an old pal. He will understand if I am tardy.”
It was strange to hear him speak of anyone as a friend. From what she had read and heard about DeSante, he was cold and fierce. While she could see that side of him, he was showing her another side, too, one that was compassionate, warm and funny. “I should probably get going.”
“Where are you going?” The question sounded casual, but she heard his concern.
“Touring the city.”
“Would you allow me to accompany you?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Except in some world where only they existed. But with the politics and the social issues between them, a relationship with Demetrius, especially a public one, would cause trouble for Serena. Serena didn’t need more trouble.
“I will never force you to do anything you do not wish. But if you change your mind, here is my phone number.” He took her phone from her sweater pocket and typed something into it.
She was startled by him offering the connection. She had called his office before and had thought that number was exclusive. This was beyond that. “Thanks. Thank you.”
He bowed to her before leaving. When he’d disappeared down the hall, Iliana looked at her phone. He had typed Yours. And then his number.
* * *
Serena didn’t like attending the party without a date. She should have considered this more carefully. It wouldn’t have been appropriate to bring someone like Casimir, but she could have brought her uncle with her. King Warrington had technically attended alone as well, but he was not at a loss for company.
Serena circled the perimeter of the room and observed. Perhaps she would run into another wallflower and she could strike up a conversation. Her guard followed her, which made her feel a little less lonely, except like most of the other security present, he stayed silent.
Serena spotted Casimir speaking with Fiona. He was her date for the event. Her heart sank. Casimir could change his mind about Fiona, get swept away into an affair with the beautiful countess. Serena turned away, not needing to torture herself by watching them, and considered leaving. She had shown up. No one was tracking her. No one seemed to know she was there.
Her cell phone buzzed and she opened her purse. It was a call from the castle. Strange at this hour. She stepped out of the Great Hall into the hallway.
“Serena, I am so happy I caught you.”
“Uncle Santino, what’s wrong?”
“Are you safe, darling?”
She looked around. Her guard was hovering nearby. “I’m fine. You sound upset. What’s wrong?
”
“Terrible news. Someone tried to assault me!”
Serena’s body tensed. “Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
Her uncle was breathing hard. “I’m fine now. I wanted to have a quiet, private dinner with an old college friend and asked my guards to wait in the car. I left the restaurant after my meal, walked to the car and someone jumped me from behind. I have a terrible headache and feel out of sorts.”
Everything in her screamed in alarm. Another attack. “I’m coming home now,” Serena said.
“No, no, there’s nothing you can do. I only called to ensure that you were okay. I worried it may have been a conspiracy to strike out at the royal family again. After what happened to your father and your sister, I worry for you.”
Serena shivered in the air-conditioned hallway. “I’ll be okay. Are you sure you don’t want me to return home?”
“No. Stay close to the king, though. He will keep you safe.”
Serena frowned. Many, including her uncle, seemed to believe she had this amazing connection and relationship with King Warrington. Yet, a few hours ago, she had been kissing another man. “The king is quite busy.”
“Never too busy for you. Remember, Serena, people will only treat you as badly as you let them.”
“I’ll do my best.” That rarely seemed to be enough. “Please call if you change your mind and make sure your guards stay close,” Serena said.
“It was a wise move to be out of the country. Give the dust some time to settle and give the police time to find who is behind these vicious attacks. You take time with the king and regroup. Your country is counting on you.”
* * *
The city was so beautiful. Even with the heavy fog and light drizzle, the views were striking. Old buildings restored to maintain their character and charm lined the streets. No clutter littered the roads or sidewalks and every window had greenery to match the open fields and wide expanses of land surrounding the small town.
Iliana would like to live in a quiet place like this. She guessed everyone knew each other here and they were a close-knit and warm community.