Everyone shared in my laugh and Adele came out of the closet all dressed. “Okay. I hope you’re done. I’m sure we all have something we need to do today.”
“We do?” Zayden wondered.
Adele rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Like you need to get dressed and go face the music downstairs by telling your father that you sent Bianca home.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Wait a minute.” Troy cut in. “Didn’t you kill her?”
Adele laughed. “Yeah but do you see that story going well with Izin? Not likely.”
“I don’t really see the other one going well, either.” Darius replied.
“It’s Zayden’s problem, okay? Let him deal with it.”
“Oh, gladly.”
“I’m going to find my father. Good luck.”
Zayden sighed as he looked back at us and we were all smiling, at least I was and quoted Adele but with a bit more humor. “Yeah, good luck.”
He was clearly exhausted and didn’t think I was amusing. “Five more minutes.”
He fell back on the bed with resting eyes but we couldn’t let him go to sleep. He needed to fix this.
“Not yet.” Darius said, easily getting him to sit up. “Sleep after you accomplish something.”
“Sleeping would accomplish something.”
“But not the something you should worry about first.”
He let out a long sigh and got all the way up to his feet again. “All right. Come on, Rift. Let’s go find father and get the yelling out of the way.”
Chapter 15
Zayden
I got to my room and put on clean clothes then went to find my father. I walked all around the palace with Rift easily being able to keep up this time because of how slowly I was going from being exhausted and we found him in the ballroom. He was standing with my mother and Aleksander while a bunch of servants were rushing around. “Father!”
“Zayden! We’ve been looking all over for you. Have you—” He paused and his eyes shifted down to my feet. “What is that?”
I looked down and Rift looked up at me, taking a slow step back.
“This is Rift. He’s mine.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
“Awe, he’s so sweet.” My mother knelt down to pet him but I was cautious about it.
“Careful, mother. I’m the only one he likes.” I guess I was wrong because Rift moved forward when she drew out her hand and he actually let her pet him. It suddenly sank in as to why. She was Ryon’s mother too. Rift must have felt him in her like he did with me.
I didn’t want to mention anything about it and my father didn’t seem to either. He sighed in this disgusted way and went on as if he never saw him. “Do you know the whereabouts of Bianca this morning? No one can seem to find her.”
“She’s not missing or anything, father. I sent her home.”
“You what!?” His voice echoed in the ballroom and sounded furious, making everyone stop and look over.
“Everything’s fine!” Aleksander assured them. “Continue on your way!”
They started moving again and I tried to explain more quietly. “She’s a wonderful girl but I can’t marry her.”
“We’re not having this conversation again. You seemed quite warmed up to her last night.”
I laughed a little shamefully. “Ah, yeah. That might have just been the wine. You must have been saving it for a while.”
“You’re missing the point! You’re supposed to be married. The whole country knows of your engagement.”
“I know, father but I have another Princess in mind.” I looked up at Aleksander and Adele came in looking for him. It caught my eye and I stepped towards her and took her hand, bringing her closer to me. “Mother. Father. I would like you to officially meet Adele.”
My mother smiled but my father looked at her with a cold face. His eyes locked on hers with an expression of displeasure. It made Adele nervous. I could feel her shake under my arm.
“I thought we’ve already talked about it?” My father said with his eyes still on Adele.
“Father. You can’t be serious. Things changed. This is what I want. She is a Princess.”
He laughed smugly behind his closed lips and entertained a half smirk, having yet to move his eyes from Adele. “She’s no more Princess than she is a lady. She doesn’t know how to be one. She’s disrespectful to everyone and knows not when to keep her mouth closed.”
I hoped Aleksander would have intervened here about these accusations my father was putting on her but he said nothing like he agreed. I had to do something.
“No. She just knows what she wants and I love that about her.” I looked at Adele while I continued and she looked right back, unable to stray her eyes from mine. “I love how she’s not afraid to speak what’s on her mind. She’s not afraid to take chances or risks and I wouldn’t change anything about her. She’s everything I could ever want in a woman. She’s perfect and I love her for all of those things. I always will.”
She was getting tears in her eyes but what I spoke of was true. She was everything to me.
My father let out a breath rather loudly, not like sighing but it was enough to draw my attention back to him. He didn’t look any different. His eyes were still casting a chilly gaze at anyone that looked.
“Your reasoning is neither appreciative nor tolerated. I said no and that is the last I want to hear on the matter.”
He walked away, leaving us all a bit confused. How could he be so stubborn? Did he really hate her that much that he wouldn’t even let me have her when we’re at peace?
I looked at Adele and those tears of joy turned into something else. It was a hate for my father or a hate for even being here at all and she turned away, leaving the ballroom in another direction.
“Pleasant morning.” Aleksander said.
I turned to him, a little angry myself but calm enough not to let my eyes change. “How could you just stand there? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I gave you my blessing, Zayden but it’s not up to me to give you his.”
“Mother?” I turned my eyes to her. She’s always been on my side even when I didn’t know it and I hoped she would be again.
“I think this is something best discussed in private.”
“Okay.” I was ready to find that place but she stopped me.
“I meant just Aleks and myself. You should find Adele.”
“But I—“
“Go. We’ll find you.”
It was a bit unsettling to have to listen to her. I guess I just wasn’t used to it. I grew up telling her what should be done and now she was the one telling me.
I nodded respectfully and turned to find Adele. I knew where she would be and went right to her room. She was alone but she wasn’t happy.
“Love, listen—”
“Please don’t say a thing!” She snatched. “I know! He hates me and I killed that poor girl for nothing!”
“It wasn’t for nothing. I promised I’d have you and I will. My mother and your father are going to speak with him. He’ll change his mind.”
Her mood lowered as she sat. “No. I don’t think he will.”
“If that’s how he really feels about it then I’ll go back with you. I’ve done it once. I can do it again.”
“Zayden, no. I never liked the idea of you walking away from your responsibility for me and I still don’t.”
“He won’t be giving us another choice. I’m not going to lose you.”
There was a knock on the door and both our heads turned as Aleksander stepped in. “Good. You’re alone.”
“What did he say?” I demanded the answer so maybe we could get somewhere with this faster.
“I didn’t speak with him but I know his problem.”
“What?” Adele asked.
Aleksander took a long breath and closed the door to come farther into the room. “It’s your mother.”
Adele looked at me, confused. “My mother?�
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“I know that it’s been a long time but he’s not over it and he blames himself.”
“Not over what?” I asked.
“I only had the privilege of meeting Cynthia because she is who Izin chose to bring when we decided on expanding our group.”
“What are you saying?” Adele asked. “Mother was with Izin?”
It seemed he went over the question in his mind before answering. “Sort of, yes.”
“And you were with my mother?” I asked.
He laughed. “Kathryn and I? No. We just grew up together, knew the same people. She was with Ryon’s father for years until she got pregnant and he bolted but we were only just friends.”
“Then what happened?” Adele asked. “Mother ended up with you.”
“It didn’t end badly with them. He just saw how drawn she seemed to me and just wanted her to be happy. They remained friends and he began to get close to Kathryn after that.”
“So, why does he blame himself for letting you have her?”
“It wasn’t that. The night of the raid, it was hectic. We were all trying to find someone we cared about so they could get to safety. Izin has never forgiven himself for sending Cynthia across the border into Kalu. He blames himself for her staying and her—dying.”
“But mother just grew ill. No amount of medicine could have helped her.”
“I know but he thinks that if he had just sent her into Seni that never would have happened because I would have just followed her and we’d be living here.”
“But if that happened, you’d never be where you are and I never would have met Ruby or Jaylyn.”
“No. Things would have been much different—for all of us.”
“And that’s why he won’t let us marry?” I asked.
“He sees Cynthia every time he looks at Adele and the guilt and blame comes back to him. He never wanted Cynthia back in his life to make him feel that. He’s not ready.”
“But I still want this. How do we get him ready?”
“We don’t.”
Our eyes turned to Adele and she was utterly and completely unsure. “Me!? No. I can’t. I can’t talk to him and especially if I’m supposed to do this alone.”
“Adele, I’m going to be open about something.” Aleksander said. I had a feeling I knew what this was about but didn’t know if she was ready yet either. “I was told about the incident you think happened.”
“The incident? Sure, you could call it that. I’m not going anywhere near him alone.”
“Listen to me. It was only a dream. He never touched you in the way you think he did.”
Her face just went blank like she was trying to understand it. “What are you talking about? I was there.”
“And I was shown what really happened. He didn’t touch you. Would I make peace with the man that abused my daughter in such a way?”
“I never thought about it. I didn’t think you knew.”
“I did know and I’m not the only one.”
Of course she looked right at me and I guess we were talking about it now. I just hoped she would believe us.
“You’ve seen?”
“Ryon showed me. He went a little nuts when he heard about it because of how well he already knew my father. He didn’t think he could have and he was right. Whatever you saw, whatever you remember, didn’t happen.”
“But—”
“Do you remember before that, when he took you away from me and Kathryn was trying to comfort you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember taking something from my father and drinking it?”
Her eyes became distant like she was trying to look into the past on a night she never wanted to remember. “I remember crying nearly uncontrollably and yes, he did hand something to me with saying it would help and I tried to drink it.”
“It was a tonic to help you relax. Everything you remember that happened off of that couch, didn’t. You collapsed there and he carried you over to the bed.”
“Why did I wake up naked?”
“My mother got you out of the dress and she and my father spent the rest of the night in the bathhouse with the bath she initially drew up for you.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Ryon was with you all night. He watched you, that’s why he was so in disbelief when I told him what you told me and he looked back on it with me present so I could see it too. Even Darius was there.”
“So, everyone knows about my stupid nightmare?”
“Is that what you think it was?”
“I wouldn’t think that both of you would stand here and lie to me just to make me feel better about talking to him.”
“Of course not.” Her father said. “You had to know the truth so you would stop being afraid and help Izin see that you were made for his son.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“Just talk to him.”
“About what? Sorry I look like my dead mother and it makes you uncomfortable?”
“Less direct but perhaps.”
“Please, Love. If this is what it takes to make it happen, isn’t it worth it?”
“But just instantly stop being afraid? How can I?”
“Think of it like this.” Her father said. “He’s more afraid of you but be warned, he’s not going to show it. He’s probably going to be mean and make you look down on yourself but you know the truth, you know why he’s acting this way and you just have to call him on it. Be strong like the woman you are. He’ll see that you’re not your mother and you’re right.”
“I’d like to think I’m like her.”
“You are in some ways. I see it every day, more so when you smile but you’re not going to show him that side. You’re going to show him the side you grew into.”
“You want me to tell off the Senian King?”
“We want you to be yourself and stand up for what you want. Take another look because he’s standing right here.”
She looked at me and I was seeing the true her again; strong and confident. I knew she wanted this. I always knew but now she did too.
“Where do I find him?”
Chapter 16
Adele
Kathryn showed me to the room I thought I’d never find myself back in. She was sweet. A part of me was glad nothing ever happened but I still felt like it was real and being back in this room didn’t help.
I didn’t see him at first but she assured me he was in here and dropped a pair of gold and diamond cuff links in my hand before slipping out without a sound.
I stood motionless with an open hand, waiting for something to happen then his voice echoed farther in. “Kathryn! Have you seen my favorite pair of—” He stopped still with those familiar eyes in wonderment and maybe even a little angered. “Cuff links.”
I fought myself from smiling. I didn’t come here to show that side of me. “Looking for these?”
Those eyes slightly narrowed but he didn’t approach me to get them. “It’s fine. I have plenty others.” He turned to a wall of drawers and opened the thinnest one that had rows of different cuff links inside.
I knew one thing for sure, this is definitely where Zayden gets his stubbornness from. It annoyed me in a normal way and I approached him, taking his wrist and turning his hand so I could put them on him myself. “They’re your favorite. It shouldn’t matter who delivers them.”
He stood still and let me. “What are you doing here?”
“I think you already know.”
“The answer is no.”
I aggressively took his other wrist and put on the other link. “I love your son and no matter what you say, that won’t change.”
“Perhaps but no matter what you say, you’ll never be right for him.”
“Why because I’m like my mother?”
He paused briefly before bellowing his voice. “You are not Cynthia! In fact, you’re nothing like her! I knew it the first time you ever spoke to me and I’m sad for you.”
&
nbsp; “Why?”
“You have her serenity and kindness running through your veins but you’ve turned your back on it to become a killer and that’s fueled with your inseparable hate and rage.”
“Well, that hate and rage led me to Zayden and I wouldn’t take it back.”
“You need to leave. Pack up your belongings and get out of my city.”
He walked around me like he was going to leave. I couldn’t let him. It wasn’t about me being like my mother, it was about me not being like her and I turned, raising my voice at him in a way that showed even myself that I wasn’t afraid. “You’re being selfish!”
“Am I?”
“Yes! You’re trying too hard to make sure she’s not a part of your life when she always will be!”
“Not in you.”
“But she is. I never turned my back on her ways. She taught me how to love no matter what the circumstance and I’ve loved Zayden for longer than you really know. I won’t let anyone stand in my way.”
“I know where you’re coming from, I really do but you’re not prepared for this as much as you think. Being a Senian Princess isn’t just about getting Zayden. She has duties and responsibilities she must maintain to show her people her commitment, her devotion to her role as the country’s leading lady. They don’t know you and what they do know, sends them into silent chaos and panic. You weren’t built for this life.”
“I grew up in this life. I can behave like high society. I just chose to leave it because of my job.”
“And your job is what is going to make everyone always fear you. It’s far too late to hide it.”
“Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it as long as you let me have Zayden. Please. I need him. My future needs him.”
He was silent but nor was he looking at me. “I am sorry.”
Even after this he still refused. I didn’t know what I could do but say the one thing I hoped I wouldn’t regret. “If you’re not going to do it for me or even Zayden then do it for the life of your grandson.”
He looked at me this time rather abruptly. His eyes were wider than I’ve ever seen like he was in disbelief.
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