The Reluctant King

by Rachel Higginson

Page 47

 

  Ten minutes later we piled into Eden’s Land Rover and on our way to Kingsley. It was a Saturday so the school grounds were supposed to be empty. I had borrowed the key from Victoria Woodsen, the drama teacher, in order to pick up some things from her classroom.

  “What do you need at Kingsley?” Amelia asked in a small voice.

  “Eden suggested the party be Moroccan themed. One of the teachers at Kingsley spent some time there and has a generous collection of throws and oversized pillows. Eden says they will be perfect…. ” I trailed off. I didn’t really have an opinion on the decorating, so at this point I was just following orders and trying to get Amelia alone.

  “I’ve never been to Kingsley,” Amelia commented in a voice just above a whisper.

  “Really?” That was hard to believe. I thought everybody had been to Kingsley at one time or another. We had other schools around the world so that students could study close to wherever home was for them. But Kingsley was the coveted academy. Not to mention it had become somewhat of a tourist destination after Amory died and Eden and Kiran got married.

  “Nope, never. Bastian and Kiran promised me they would let me join them once I was old enough, but by then everyone was confined to the castle and well… you know how that story ends. I ended up finishing school at Briar Rose because it was close to home,” her tone was almost sad. I glanced over at her, silently asking for more of the story and she blushed a deep red. “Before he died, I always had to stay with Uncle Lucan,” she finally whispered. “It was like he didn’t even trust my own parents to keep me safe. He was never cruel to me…. never…. inappropriate or anything. But it was like he needed to…. possess me or control me. I was just another thing in his bag of tricks. ”

  I was silent for a minute, thinking that over. In all honesty, I didn’t know what to think. Maybe she cared about her uncle? Blamed me for his death? “I’m sorry Lucan had to die,” I finally offered. And it was the truth. I hated the whole scenario and I would never rejoice in the necessity of an Immortal’s death, not even Lucan’s.

  Well…. maybe I would rejoice a tiny bit if I could ever get my hands on Terletov.

  “You don’t have to do that,” Amelia’s head popped up and her eyes grew large with sincerity. “I didn’t mean to make it sound like…. I’m glad he’s dead; I mean I’m glad you’re King. You are what our people need. You are the best thing for us. I mean… for them. ”

  She looked away quickly, her eyes trained on Omaha flashing by as we drove toward Kingsley. I tried to keep the smile from tipping up my lips, but I was not successful. At least she was looking out the window.

  “Thank you,” I somehow managed to reply seriously without too much pride lacing my tone. I also had to force myself from fishing for compliments. Not that I didn’t already know I was great, but there was something about hearing Amelia tell me how incredible I was that sent me buzzing with exaggerated confidence.

  We were silent a few more beats and I eventually turned the Land Rover into the circular drive of Kingsley. I smiled as Amelia took in the red brick buildings with an expression of awe. The bell tower stood in the center of the cluster of buildings chiming the hour and the trees that lined and landscaped the property had turned to deep fall tones that blended nicely with the color of brick. Kingsley looked prestigious and well-kept. I was weirdly proud to get to be the one to show Amelia around.

  “Well this is it,” I gestured toward the Administration Building. My voice sounded loud in the quiet, confined space of the car.

  “It’s beautiful,” Amelia whispered in admiration.

  I pressed my hand against the ring box in my pocket and smiled to myself. This was as good of a place as any. I had to have courage. I had to lay it all out for her.

  I looked back up and started when I realized Amelia was staring at me now instead of the school. I convinced myself not to gulp but I was pretty sure she caught on to my mental pep talk. Luckily, the ring was in the farthest pocket from her and I was very confident she couldn’t see it with my palm pressed against it.

  “Ready? The English and Arts Building is that one right over there,” I pointed it out and hoped she followed my finger.

  “Avalon, maybe we should talk first,” she interrupted me, but her tone sounded regretful and careful. This was not the girl that was going to say yes to me, this was the girl that was going to try to explain away her feelings and convince me I did not want to be with her.

  “Sure,” I gave her a casual smile. “But later, I want to get in and out before anyone sees me. ”

  “It doesn’t look like anyone’s here,” she objected. “And what would you care if you’re seen?’

  “I uh, don’t want to deal with fans,” I bullshitted my way right through that one. Better to sound like an arrogant ass than have the “it’s not you, it’s me talk” again.

  She snorted and I relaxed a little. That was the Amelia I loved, the one that didn’t let me get away with any of that stuff. “You’re worried about fans?”

  “Always,” I fed her some more half-truths. “I don’t know if you’ve paid attention lately, but I’m a pretty good catch. The ladies are always trying to corner me…. you know, get me alone…. ” I trailed off and left her to her imagination.

  Her eyes narrowed, flaring with heat. I didn’t know if she was jealous or irritated with me, but either way I could safely say I got out of her talk. I opened the door and jumped down from the SUV before hurrying to her door so I could open it for her. She sat in the passenger’s seat kind of stunned by my behavior and I couldn’t help but take her hand and help her down from the cab.

  “How about I give you a tour?” I suggested when she pulled her hand from mine.

  “I thought we were worried about rabid, horny females?” she asked sarcastically.

  “We’ll just keep moving,” I explained as gravely as I could manage. “They shouldn’t be able to keep up with us if we don’t stay in the same spot for too long. ”

  “Right,” she mumbled.

  “Come on, Amelia,” I dropped my voice an octave to appeal to her own rabid, horny, female pieces. “I promise this will be the best tour you’ve ever taken. ”

  Chapter Thirty-six

  We wandered through the empty Kingsley hallways. Our footsteps and voices echoed off the high ceilings and against ornate staircases. I pointed out the theater to Amelia and then made her laugh by telling her the story of Eden and the blown out windows in front of Sebastian. She hadn’t known that Eden and Sebastian didn’t get along at first. I explained how he was always bothering her and she was always overreacting. I also explained Eden’s temper, something she hadn’t been fortunate enough to witness yet.

  Mrs. Woodsen, I couldn’t think of her any other way. Even though I was now King and she was technically my subordinate, she would always be a frazzled teacher to me. I remembered her especially as Mrs. Woodsen when I stood in her chaotic classroom.

  She had boxed up what Eden needed from her collection and placed it all by the door. We carried the boxes down to the Land Rover and loaded them in the trunk. Then I led Amelia over to the Administration Building for the official “tour” portion of our afternoon.

  We walked through the lobby and Amelia stopped to look at the pictures of Immortal dignitaries and old Kings that still lined the walls just inside the door. Even though she wasn’t here I avoided Mrs. Truance’s desk. She scared me, plain and simple. I would always respect her attachment and loyalty to Amory, but the woman scared me.

  We went upstairs and peeked in office doors, the teachers’ lounge and then paused outside of Amory’s old office. The office was completely different than I remembered it. I appointed Charles Lambert as principal as soon as I was King and he made the place his own. Lucan had made Seraphina’s father head of the school after Amory’s death. Even though Seraphina’s alliance had shifted, her father’s hadn’t and he was on a watch list for Lucan supporters I thought could c
ause problems.

  I was glad the office was different, glad that it no longer resembled Amory and his old world ways. Still, I stood outside the door, not even able to make myself go inside. I was reminded of chats and impromptu planning meetings while I attended school here, or even just stopping by to say hi. I could easily picture him behind his desk, reading old documents in extinct languages or doling out orders to me or Charles Lambert. For the first time in a really long time, I was hit by the injustice of his death and the loneliness of leadership without him.

  I sucked in a breath and struggled to get my emotions in check. I wasn’t in danger of breaking down and weeping or anything, but I was very close to forgetting my purpose for bringing Amelia here.

  “Are you Ok, Avalon?” Amelia asked and I hated that my face betrayed any emotion.

  Her soft, sweet voice pulled me out of my self-indulgent funk though and my head cleared. I looked down at her and let go of Amory. The ring weighed heavily in my pocket, the same ring he left for my inheritance…. for my future wife.

  He hadn’t left me alone, not really.

  “I’m fine,” I sighed. “This was Amory’s old office. ” I cleared my throat and continued. “There are just a lot of memories here. ”

  “I barely knew Amory,” Amelia admitted solemnly. She peered in the office as if she would find him there and when she turned back to me she was thoughtful. “When he was around my family he spent most of his time with Kiran and Sebastian. Any my uncle obviously hated him. ”

  “You would have liked him,” I smiled pushing beyond the hurt of the past and into the promise of the present. “He was a bleeding heart too. You two could have saved the world together. ” I took her hand, slipping it into mine when she wasn’t paying attention. Or maybe she was paying attention and was going to let me get away with it.

  “I’m hardly a bleeding heart,” she rolled her eyes at me.

  “Oh so you attend conferences on AIDS research and summits about Human Trafficking out of the cruelness of your heart?” I teased.

  “Showing up at meetings is hardly saving the world. It’s more like a bunch of rich people throwing money at other people so they can save the world. I’m not doing anything personally to help those causes,” she explained humbly. She shot me a look that told me I better agree with her.

  “No, I completely agree with you,” I announced. “Funding the cure for AIDS is probably the worst thing a person can do. ” She made a sound that was somewhere in between a long sigh and a grunt of frustration. I moved toward the back stairwell, deciding we could continue with our tour. “Why don’t you wear diamonds Amelia?”

  “Because they’re ugly,” she mumbled and I knew she was lying. She kept her hand in mine but I felt the way she became keenly aware of the connection. I wondered if she would pull away, but she didn’t.

  At least not yet.