way. Astrid would say hello but she obviously lost her manners,” Maddox joked.
Astrid rolled her eyes at Maddox and laughed it off. “Hello, Yuri! How was your trip?” She knew exactly why he brought his son all the way from Vovros, but it wasn’t happening.
“It was okay.”
Azaran elbowed the boy in the ribs and glared into Yuri’s eyes. Without saying a word, Azaran was every ounce the terrifying bully that h was rumored to be.
Yuri had been too distracted watching the party-goers. They danced and laughed, all of them together from different classes. No guards stood nearby and there was no apparent order in the celebration. He wondered how the Yantrans kept peace without control over their people. They could riot any second and nobody would be able to stop it.
“I mean the trip was incredible. I strangled a tiger with my bare hands. I have many riches.”
“Oh, Yuri. We have to work on those moves.” Maddox teased the boy whose father was seething with anger as the whole awkward encounter unfolded. Astrid could see the situation going from bad to worse.
“Yuri, would you like to dance?”
“No girl asks my son to dance!” Azaran stood up and pulled his son away from the party. No one could hear them over the music but Astrid could tell Azaran was screaming at the timid boy.
Across the dance floor, she saw Zander sitting with his adoptive parents. Everyone was mingling before the queen’s arrival. It was customary to wait for her before formally beginning the festivities, but while guests waited for her arrival, they enjoyed glasses of rose mead and yak butter tea. The mead tasted of roses, pomegranates, and papaya and it was quite strong. The musicians began playing a few practice songs at Astrid’s request. Zander gazed at Astrid and before she knew it he was slowly walking over to her.
“Please don’t wimp out.” Stella whispered to Astrid. She received an icy stare in return.
“I’m not a wimp.”
“Yeah… We’ll see.” Stella rolled her eyes. Astrid took a deep breath and prayed to have just an ounce of Stella’s courage.
As Zander walked up to Astrid, he looked more handsome than ever. His messy blonde hair, eyes bluer than the ocean, gorgeous smile, and beautiful gold and white wings made her heart race whenever he was near her. He reached for Astrid’s hand and asked,” Can I have this dance?”
“Yes. “ She smiled and followed him to the dance floor. He put his hands around the small of her back and held her close as they danced to one of Astrid’s favorite songs. If this moment went on forever, it would end too soon. She glanced up at him and suddenly before she knew it, he kissed her gently on the lips. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. She felt safe in his arms and relieved that the wall she put up for so long had finally been knocked down with his tender kiss, but her mind was racing. What should I do now? What if I have to excuse myself and he thinks I don’t like him? Maybe I should invite him to my table. Yes… That’s it.
She looked up at him with her big brown eyes and traced her delicate hands down his muscular arms to his wrists.
“Would you like to come and sit with me?”
“Of course I want to sit with you.” He twirled her around and gave her another quick kiss. ”I need to let my parents know, but I will be right there.” His words made her tremble.
Astrid was glowing as she crossed the dance floor, completely impervious to the countless eyes and dozens of whispers that were directed at her very public, very romantic encounter. After all, Zander had wings, which meant he was one of just a few suitable matches. By the time she reached her table, she turned and noticed everyone staring. Preta and Maddox were seated to the left of the queen’s chair that still sat empty. Preta leaned in toward Astrid, “Just breathe. They can’t stare forever.” Preta almost seemed kind. Her words certainly kept Astrid from running like a maniac into the woods. When Zander reached the table, Stella moved down to make room.
“Where’s your mom, Astrid?” Stella suddenly noticed the matriarch was missing from the extravaganza.
Maddox drank his mead and chimed in from across the table, “She said she needed to take a nap. Don’t worry. She’s never been one to miss a party, especially for her precious, little Astrid.” His eyes narrowed when he spoke. As he relaxed into his seat, feeling proud of the snide jab, a few last guests trickled in.
A ray of light appeared at the top of the hill near the pavilion as President Akinado, Miyuki, and her twin brother Shinji teleported into Yantra. The three walked towards the pavilion and as they approached the royal table to wish the princess a very lovely birthday, Maddox shuttered in complete shock. He was more concerned with protecting his secret than protecting his sister, and everything suddenly seemed out of control. Preta grabbed his arm, “What is it? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” Maddox stood up and greeted the dictator and, pretending to have never met Miyuki, he coldly bowed to the twins.
“For you, Princess.” The dictator handed Astrid a gift. It was a black box with a purple ribbon tied around it. Maddox glared at Miyuki, feeling like a fool.
Astrid reached for the gift and thanked the dictator. “Zander, this is President Akinado and his children, Miyuki and Shinji.” Zander stood up and bowed to them.
“It is such a pleasure to meet you. Please sit with us.” After the words left his lips, he realized he’d spoken out of turn and while Astrid gestured to the remaining chairs, Maddox shot Zander a look that could have killed.
It was considered rude to open gifts in front of guests, so Astrid set the box down in the middle of the table. As the band began to play one of her favorite songs, Stella asked Shinji to dance. That was typical Stella. She never had any reservations and certainly never cared whether or not she was rejected. Shinji took her hand and the two moved wildly across the dancefloor.
“You should ask Miyuki to dance,” Preta whispered into Maddox’s ear.
“Only if you insist,” he kissed Preta’s hand and he got up to take Miyuki to the dancefloor.
He walked slowly over to her, extending a hand. “Care to dance?” Miyuki took his hand and walked with him out on the floor. He put his hand around her waist and they stepped in unison. She leaned in and whispered into his ear, “What happened to our plan?”
Maddox was in shock. He thought he would never see this worthless peasant girl again and here she was dressed like royalty with precious gems hanging from her stunning dress; she certainly wasn’t the girl he thought she was and now she wanted an explanation. His destiny as a powerful world leader was at risk. “Wait a minute… You aren’t the poor peasant girl you lead me to believe. You want me to admit to something? That’s not going to happen.” He didn’t know her angle and if she was fishing for an admission of guilt for the murders of the Seraphi royals and plotted murder of President Akinado, she wasn’t going to get it.
Her sultry voice rose from a whisper,” I want the same things you want.” He twirled her away and pulled her back. “I am a spy for Akinado, and if …I mean when anything happens to him I am in command. I want him gone as much as you do. He’s no father of mine… I’ve never been anything more to him than an assassin and a spy. It’s no time to get sentimental.”
Suddenly, a clink against a glass summoned the attention of the crowd. Preta sauntered over to Maddox with the marriage officiant in tow. “Everyone! We have an announcement!” Preta could barely contain her excitement. Without any hesitation, Maddox acknowledged Miyuki’s pleas as he turned to Miyuki and secretly entrusted himself to her with a quick whisper of, “I’m with you,” In the same breath, he said the words he had been rehearsing over and over in his mind all night.
“When I met Preta, I knew I had found my one true love. She’s my anchor- the part of my spirit that was missing for so long, and now that I’ve found her I will never let her go. Preta will you be my wife, my friend, my eternity?”
“Yes.” Preta stared deeply into his eyes, smiling at the crowd’s dismay.
“Do you
, Preta, take Maddox to be your husband and confidante, bound by love and truth, forever?” The drunken officiant asked.
“Yes.” Preta replied.
“Prince Maddox, will you love, honor, and respect Preta as long as you both shall live?”
“Absolutely,” The prince said. His lustful gaze met Miyuki’s from across the room as he pulled his new bride close for a passionate kiss.
As the two danced, Astrid moved slowly with Zander, whispering into his ear, “Why didn’t they wait for our mother?”
“We should check on her. Something is wrong here.”
Back at the banquet table, Astrid watched Stella float across the floor with Shinji. Astrid had only met Shinji once before when they were children. He had a warm and accepting charm that eluded his father and sister. He was seven feet tall, with spiked blue hair, rose gold skin and dark glasses that looked innocent enough from the outside but played a continuous intelligence report on a small screen on the inside. Shinji and Stella came back to the table, out of breath with huge smiles across their faces.
“Your mother is still sleeping?” Stella asked with the little breath she had left.
“Yes. We were just going to check on her.” Zander, Shinji, Stella, and Astrid rose up to go to the treehouse.
“Can I come along?” Preta said very meekly.
“Sure.” An eerie feeling overcame Astrid. She
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