the vile woman who I used to call mother. You can do whatever you want, Lendir. So, brother, what do you want?”
Lendir held his glass up. “Right now? I want this wine.” He drank the entire glass in a single gulp.
Amelia and Eldan took sips from their respective glasses.
“Great start,” said Eldan. “Now that you’ve accomplished that, what’s next?” His face was becoming flushed and Amelia wondered how long it had been since Eldan had let loose and allowed himself some fun.
“More wine!” said Lendir. “More wine!”
The King went to stand up again but Amelia put a hand out to stop him. “Let me this time.” She went into the kitchen and opened a second bottle of red. Just as she was about to push through the door to the dining room, she heard Lendir say something that gave her pause.
“I like this one you know,” he said. “She’s good for you. You never used to be this fun before you met her.”
“I like her too,” said Eldan. “In fact I love her.”
“Do you now? How romantic.” He said the word romantic in a higher pitched, fluttery voice. “So she’s the right girl for you but a more important question is whether or not she is the right Queen for Meldania…?”
“I think she would be the perfect Queen,” said Eldan. “If that’s what she wants.”
“Of course it’s what she wants!” said Lendir. “What woman doesn’t want to be a Queen?”
“You forget, she had a life and a family before I met her. I can’t just expect her to happily give all of that up and rule a kingdom with me! Especially after everything I’ve put her through already.”
“You’re such a worrier,” said Lendir. “You get that from dad.”
“I know.”
Amelia took advantage of the quiet moment and walked into the dining room. “Here you go.” She poured more wine into each of their three cups and took her seat. “So then, what were you two talking about while I was in the kitchen?”
“Lendir here was telling me about how he thinks he would make great head of the defense board,” said Eldan. “He wants to take over the position from the guy my mother picked a few years ago.”
“I—uh—yeah. I did say that.” Lendir was giving his brother a mean look across the table. “Although, now that I think about it, being head of the defense board sounds like a lot of work and maybe it’s a job that should go to someone more qualified... “
“Oh stop it,” Eldan said, waving a hand in his brother’s direction. “There is no one better qualified to train and organize our defense military. You’ll be great.”
“But I—” Lendir started to speak.
“I for one think it’s a great idea,” said Amelia.
“I agree!” Eldan clapped his hands together. “Then it’s settled. I’ll have to double check with the council tomorrow, make sure they didn’t have anyone else in mind for the job, but I assume there will be no issues. You can start as early as tomorrow afternoon. Of course that means you’ll have to get out of bed before noon, big brother.” Eldan grinned. “You think you can handle that?”
Lendir was smiling too. “Sure. Sounds great, little brother. My first act as head of defense will be to require the King of Meldania to train along with all of the soldiers. It’s only fair, seeing as you’re their leader. How can you expect men to follow orders from a guy who couldn’t even beat them in a schoolyard fight?”
“Now wait just a minute…”
The two brothers bickered and snickered for the rest of dinner. Amelia tuned in and out. She was happy they were getting along and excited about the new possibilities for Meldania. On the other hand, now that everything had settled and she finally had some time to breathe, she couldn’t help but spend much of her time thinking about her friends and family, constantly wondering how they were doing and whether or not they were thinking about her. This past week Eldan had spent much of his time with the council, getting used to his new role as King. He’d informed her that the shifters in charge of District Eight were cracking down on runaways and ID fraud. The corruption in the police department is rampant and punishments for even small crimes are becoming increasingly more harsh. People are scared to even leave their houses for anything other than work or school, for fear they may be spotted by some dirty cop looking to pad his arrest numbers.
Amelia was torn between two loves, that for her family and that for Eldan, and she knew if she was forced to choose one over the other, it would mean closing a permanent door on the love she didn’t choose.
That night she stayed up late talking to Lia on the phone. Her little sister passed the phone around to all the other siblings and Amelia even spoke to her parents for a few minutes. It was awkward at first, mostly small talk and updates on each other’s lives, but soon enough Amelia’s mom started to open up and the conversation took an emotional turn.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear this,” her mother said. “But I’m so, so sorry. For everything. Your father and I have been struggling for years now and we let it affect the whole family.”
“We have so many mistakes to make up for,” her dad chimed in. They had her on speaker phone. “We know it is going to take us years to make amends, and we understand if you don’t trust what we are telling you right now. You have no reason to take us seriously after all the times we’ve lied to you.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Amelia sighed. “I’m not ready to forgive and forget.”
“Of course you’re not,” her mom said. “We don’t expect that so soon. We just wanted to let you know that we are trying and that you are always welcome back home, if you ever choose to return to District Eight.”
“Thanks,” said Amelia. “I appreciate that.” There was a voice in the background, someone calling for her parents. She recognized the voice. “Is that Victoria? Is she with you guys?”
“Yes,” said Gwen. “Vic is here with us.” Her mother sounded downtrodden. “Cat came down with something last week and we took her into the ER. Vic helped us, even though Cat is too old for a pediatrician. It was very kind of her. She’s been coming over to check on your sister every night since.”
“What’s does she have? Is she going to be okay?”
“Well, um.” There was the sound of two people muttering but it was muffled, as if her mom had put her hand over the receiver. “I don’t really understand what it is she has. Victoria has tried to explain it to me multiple times, but I don’t get all the technical medical jargon she uses. It’s something in her chest which is making it hard for her to breathe.”
“Can you put Vic on?”
“Sure, honey.”
Amelia heard muttering again and the sound of the phone being passed around.
“Amelia?”
“Hey, Vic. What’s going on? Is Cat going to be okay?”
“She’s fine for now,” said Victoria. “But she needs better treatment. Your parents already blew all their savings on her first ER visit and there’s only so much tinkering I can do with the paperwork before it becomes outright fraud. Don’t get me wrong, I would do it if it weren’t for these recent crackdowns. They could haul me in for life if I get caught.”
“I understand,” said Amelia. “Thank you for doing what you can.”
“Any chance that King of yours could help us out?”
“If I know him, I know he’ll sure as hell try,” said Amelia. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know what he says.”
“Okay,” said Vic. “Before you go, Cat wants to say hi.”
Again the phone was passed.
“Ame?”
“Hey, Cat.” Amelia had to work to keep her voice steady. “How are you feeling?”
Her little sister started to speak but had a coughing fit instead. It went on for quite some time before Victoria picked up the phone again and said Cat couldn’t talk. She promised they would talk tomorrow and then had to go help hook Cat up to her new oxygen tank that Amelia was sure her parents couldn’t afford.
It was highly possible Victoria had covered the costs herself.
The phone clicked and the line went dead. Amelia got out of her own bed, where she’d been laying and talking, and headed to Eldan’s room. She didn’t feel like sleeping alone tonight. She had been sleeping in her bedroom the past few nights seeing as Eldan had to get up to take his pain meds every three hours, but tonight she just needed to feel him next to her.
The lights were out and the King’s heavy breathing told Amelia that he was already asleep. She tiptoed to the empty side of the bed and slid underneath the sheets. She would talk to Eldan first thing in the morning and he would figure out a way to get Dr. Ivan over to see Cat, or at the very least there had to be a way to wire money to Amelia’s parents, legal or otherwise. She repositioned herself so that she was lying closer to Eldan, their backs just barely touching. At her touch, the King turned over and wrapped his arm around her stomach.
“When did you get here?” he whispered sleepily.
“Just now,” she said, pulling his arm even tighter around her. “I’m sorry to wake you. Go back to sleep.” She knew her voice sounded strained and not just because she was trying to keep quiet. She hoped Eldan wouldn’t notice and that they could just fall asleep like that without talking about it. Of course, if her King were that oblivious to her emotions and needs, he wouldn’t be Eldan.
“What is it?” he asked, sitting up on his elbow and looking down at her. Her eyes adjusted to the lack of light and she could just see the outlines of his face. “Is everything okay?’
She reached up and took his face in her hands. “I love you,” she said.
“I love you too.”
She pulled his lips down to meet hers. He tasted like mint and he smelled like the roasted vegetables they’d had for dinner. Amelia was trying to soak all of him up, with all of her senses, in hopes they would consume her and she could forget about everything else besides him for a while.
And it worked.
He kissed her back softly and stroked the side of her face. She started with her tongue first, taking things from a romantic place to a sensual one. Taking the hint, Eldan moved his hand down her body and then back up, underneath her shirt. He cupped her breast in his hand and lightly pinched her nipples until they were hard with anticipation.
Amelia sat up, still kissing him, and pulled her shirt off. He guided her back down on her back with a gentle touch on her shoulder and slipped his hands in the space between her skin and her underwear. He pleasured her with his hand while kissing her neck and running his tongue along her body. Amelia was lost in the ecstasy of it all and it wasn’t until Eldan’s mouth found its way between her legs that she was brought back to reality with the sweet sting of a full body orgasm. She moaned loudly as she came. Eldan kept penetrating her with his tongue until she was near a second climax.
Between heavy breaths she said, “Come to me. In me.” He pulled his underwear down and she guided him inside of her. She gasped with delight and the two of them breathed together, perfectly in sync as if singing a duet. She came again, showering his member with the proof of her pleasure.
She managed to maneuvering her way on top for the final throws and the King called out her name as he finished. She stayed on top of him for a while. He got himself into a more upright, seated position, still inside her, and kissed her all over her neck and shoulders. He told her he loved her and that he would do anything for her.
Eventually, they detangled from one another and fell asleep.
Amelia dreamed only of Eldan that night. It was the best sleep she’d had in years.
14
Long Live the Queen
Eldan undid his tie for the third time and tried once again to re-tie it. He couldn’t get the knot just right and it was driving him crazy. Frustrated he pulled the whole thing off and threw it on the bed.
“Arhg! This is ridiculous.”
“Problem, sir?” Garcia had entered the room unannounced.
Eldan shook his head and stared at Garcia’s reflection in the mirror. “It’s nothing, never mind. I’m just not going to wear it.”
Garcia went to the bed and picked up the tie. “Your father never showed you how to tie one of these?”
“He tried, probably a dozen times.” Eldan laughed sadly. “I never listened. I hated dressing up. I only did it when he asked me to. I never thought about what I would do when there came a day I had to wear a suit and he wasn’t around anymore.”
“May I?” Garcia asked, holding up the tie and approaching Eldan.
Eldan turned around and let his assistant wrap the tie around his neck and tuck it under his collar. “I have some news,” he said as he flipped one end of the tie over the other. “It seems your mother had a mole planted in the security team whose job it was to listen in on phone calls.”
Eldan nodded. “I’m not surprised. Did you get rid of him?”
“I transferred him, yes,” said Garcia. Eldan had been dealing with the remnants of his mother’s cruel and unjust reign for days now. He didn’t feel comfortable firing the people she hired as spies, seeing as they were just following orders from their Queen. Instead, he opted to have them transferred and given a stern warning regarding what would happen if they went back to their old tricks. “Before I left him, however, I was able to get him to reveal some of what he heard while listening in on other people’s telephone calls.”
“Anything good?”
“If by good you mean good news, then yes there is one piece of good news,” he said. “I know you’ve been a little worried about your brother’s loyalty and whether or not he is to be trusted. Well, a few days ago he received a call from you mother.”
Eldan frowned. “She isn’t supposed to be able to call here. Her line is only supposed to be for others to call in. She can’t call out unless it’s an emergency number.”
“Yes,” Garcia said. “That is what I’ve been told as well. It appears she found a way, as she tends to do. Your mother had many faults but stupidity is not one of them.”
“I thought you said this was good news?”
“It is!” Garcia’s facial expression softened. “Your brother only spoke with her for a minute or two, during which he informed her that he had no interest in being a part of her schemes and that he fully supported you as King.”
“Oh,” said Eldan. “That is good news.”
“Now,” Garcia said. “On to the bad news. It has to do with something he overheard a few nights back regarding Amelia and her family. It seems one of her siblings is sick.”
Eldan nodded. “Yes, she told me.”
Garcia finished up the knot and tightened it snug but comfortable against Eldan’s neck. “I see, well I had a few ideas as to how we might be able to help them out.”
Eldan smiled. “I’m way ahead of you. Why do you think I’m so dressed up?” He stuck his hand into the pocket of his dress pants and pulled out a small, blue velvet box. “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
Garcia gawked at him. “Sir?”
“I know it’s a big decision, but trust me, I’ve been thinking about it for a while now and I know it’s what I want.”
“It’s not that, sir.” He shook his head. “It’s just… Well, to be frank, you cannot propose to this woman wearing this tie.”
Eldan looked down at his chest where the bright purple tie with yellow polka dots hung. “What’s wrong with it? Lendir gave it to me for this very occasion.”
“I’m sure he did.” Garcia reached out and started undoing the tie. “I’m sure he finds this all very amusing. Stay here. I’ll grab you a different one.” He pulled the silk ribbon from Eldan’s neck and disappeared into the closet.
“If you ask her to marry you, she will be Queen,” Garcia said returning. “Which means according to the agreements between Meldania and District Eight she will be allowed to travel freely between here and the District.”
“Exactly.”
“She still won’t be allowed to bring her family or
anyone else across the border without paperwork.”
Eldan nodded. “Yes, I know, but at least she’ll be able to see them. And besides, if there was anyone who could sneak a whole family out of the District without getting caught, it would be her. She’ll do anything for the people she cares about.”
“I believe you are right, sir.” Garcia finished tying the new tie. “Which is why she will make an amazing Queen of Meldania.”
Amelia awoke that morning with a tingling sensation spread throughout her body. It was similar to the pins and needles feeling one gets after her arm falls asleep and she must shake it awake. For some inexplicable reason, she felt like today was an important day. Something was going to happen that day. But what?
King Eldan had already gotten up and left for work, or so said the note he left for her by the coffee pot in the kitchen, so she had to eat breakfast alone. Ever since she told him about her family’s situation, Eldan had been spending much of his time with the Council, trying to figure out a legal way for her family to come to Meldania. So far, they had come up with zilch. She was starting to feel very desperate and very helpless. She was worried that one of these nights the nightmares of Cat dying from lack of oxygen were going to prove too much and she was going to pack up her stuff and walk across the border.
She called home every night to make sure everything was okay. Victoria was staying with her family overnight now, taking care of Cat any time she didn’t have to be at work. The last time they spoke, Victoria said there was a new treatment that she thinks would do wonders for Cat’s infection—only it costs more than Amelia’s family could make in a decade. At the present, Victoria was working out a plan to steal the stuff from the hospital on one of her less-busy red eye shifts.
Luckily, the kids at the nursery kept Amelia busy that afternoon, which kept her mind from wandering too far down these depressing lines of thought. She was scheduled to meet up with Eldan on her lunch break but when twelve o’clock rolled around, he was nowhere to be seen.
Sold to the Prince of the Meldanians Page 15
