I don’t know what came over me but my head snatched up and my words with it. “She’s keeping tabs on who I sleep with?!”
“You’ve slept with her already?”
I tightened. “No, father but—I’d like to.”
It got a smile out of him if only for a moment. “And I’ve seen why. She has lovely curls.”
I smiled back but kept my stance solid with respect. “It’s not just that. She’s got a witty personality and a sense of humor unlike I’ve ever seen.”
“Yes, well, just be careful with her. You just got back you know?”
He was right and I started to lower my head. “I know, father and I will.”
“Good. So, what shall I tell your mother?”
Just the word made me tighten up even more and I became angry again that we were still talking about it. “To back off will suffice.” I cupped my left hand over my right fist and bowed before turning away.
I only made it a few steps before Izin bellowed out my name, nearly shaking the very stone under my feet. “Troy!”
I stopped before I got too far away and let Izin come to me.
He spoke more quietly but still with anger. “I didn’t take you in because I approved of you turning your back on your mother. I took you in because your father was my friend. I wanted to see his son turn into something that would make him proud. This country still misses their General and you can’t forget about that; about who you are or where you came from.”
How could I ever forget? I never would but that didn’t change how things are.
“I haven’t.” I slowly turned around and met his eyes with confidence. “But that life has long been over. You’re my father now.”
Izin pulled me closer and embraced me like the true father he’s always been to me. “And you’re my son. You’ve already made me proud.”
“Thank you.”
“Now go. Be with her. I’ll be very vague if she happens to ask again.”
I bowed to him and walked back into the bathhouse.
“Is everything all right?” I looked up and Jaylyn was watching me, trying to hide her worry.
She must have heard when he yelled my name but I put a smile on my face and got back in the pool next to her. “Yes. Fine. The yelling had nothing to do with you or any of this so don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
I kissed her forehead just to seal out her worry for sure but everyone was still looking at me. “What? Aren’t you going next?”
Darius nodded and started to get up. “Yeah, I guess.”
I felt for him. I knew Izin wasn’t talking to us about this but other things of other natures that may seem worse, especially for Darius.
Chapter 8
Darius
I didn’t know what they talked about but by the yelling, I knew it must have involved his mother and I was almost fearing what he would bring up with me. Yes, I do fear and it’s only ever been with Izin that I’ve truly felt it. I wasn’t quite sure why but my demeanor changed when I heard his lightened tone address me.
“Of course. Darius.”
“Did you want something in particular, father?”
“Just a little run through of what’s happening. Planning on getting through all of them tonight or have you already?”
I shuffled for the correct response, trying to wrap my mind around the answers to these unexpected questions. “Ah, no. I actually—”
I didn’t get to finish before Izin started to smile from my hesitation. “There’s a certain one?”
I started to smile back, trying not to have it rush too quickly across my face. “Maybe.”
“She’s simply gorgeous.” Izin moved so he could glance into the bathhouse probably at Ruby. “I’ve never seen anyone that fit you so well then again, I never thought you would want to stick with just one.”
If he only really knew. “She’s different. Maybe it would have been sooner if we looked for foreign to begin with.”
“Yes! Well, I’m proud of you. I grew up close with both your parents and they would have really liked her. They’d want you to be happy in this way.”
I wasn’t ready to hear it but he snuck in a quick remark about my parents and I lowered my head to take it respectfully. “Thank you, father. That means a lot to me.”
Izin put his right hand on the side of my neck, making me meet his eyes again. “I know it does and I knew this day would eventually come for you so go, make us even prouder.”
I smiled and nodded, bowing my head only quickly. “I will.” I walked back into the bathhouse with the smile still on my face. Things turned around nicely and I enjoyed it. “I don’t know what he said to you, Troy but he wasn’t the least bit pissed when he talked to me.”
“What did he say?” Ruby asked, watching me get down into the pool next to her.
“Oh, praising me as usual.”
“For what?” Zayden wondered.
His voice seemed curious but also a little annoyed already and I continued to smile and looked at Ruby. “For this hot, sexy piece of ass next to me. My words, not exactly his but he says we fit.”
“I’m really looking forward to finding out.” Ruby stretched her neck up to me and we kissed, it only made the topic of it all the more sweeter and I couldn’t wait until I could get her alone again.
“Well, that’s great.” Zayden sighed, starting to get up. “He praises you and he’ll condemn me. Just watch.”
“I’ll take you up on that bet. It’ll be the first thing he says to you.”
I laughed to Zayden’s expression while he walked to the edge to get out. It was like he already knew I was right but I only joke about it to make light of the topic. Zayden hasn’t really been happy since we’ve been back with the news of what was to become of him. There were only moments when Adele helped but there were other moments like these, that made the reality of it all the more real and he’d find himself in that place again; a place no one ever wanted to be.
Chapter 9
Zayden
I dreaded it the whole way. This was pointless. I already knew what he was going to say and how he was going to say it. I didn’t let it drag out for a second when I saw him waiting for me.
“Well?”
“I just wanted to make sure that you haven’t forgotten about your engagement.”
I turned the other way and put my hands to my head. I couldn’t believe that he was mentioning this now. I knew he would have but maybe I was hoping for something else and hoping Darius would have been wrong. “No, father. I haven’t forgotten and I knew you were going to do this.”
“I know this isn’t what you want but I can no longer wait until you find love. There won’t be time for that if you continue to leave home for months at a time.”
I looked back into the bathhouse at Adele the moment he said the word love. It’s what I’ve been calling her and what I may have been feeling from the moment I’ve first laid eyes on her.
“I see.”
“What?” My head quickly snatched back and I tried focusing on what he had to say.
“She is beautiful. It’s like I already know her but she’s below you. Fate shows no son of mine wed to a female soldier.”
“How is she below me? She’s just like me. She’s perfect.” I looked back over at Adele and felt it stronger more than ever. I had to have her.
“Zayden, tell me you’re not in love with this girl.”
This was my chance. I looked back at my father, not with full certainty but a vague question. “What if I am?”
“No! She would not make a sensible wife for you! You’re a Prince and as such you must be wed to a Princess!”
“How can you praise them for this but not me?”
“They are not from my blood. Yes, I love them but they don’t have the responsibilities you have. You’ve always known that.”
“But it’s like you don’t even care if I’m happy. How do you expect me to fall in love with someone I don’t know? Where’s the happi
ness in that?”
“You will grow to be happy and you don’t know this girl. She is not the one for you. One who has seen the things she’s seen and done the things she has done, could not come near to what a wife should be.”
“And what knowledge do you have, knowing about what a wife should be?” My father became silent and turned away. I don’t know where those words came from but I regretted ever saying them and took a step closer. “I’m sorry, father. It wasn’t my place.”
He turned back around with clear anger on his voice. I only made things worse instead of better. “You’re right. It wasn’t. We’re done here. You can go back but remember this, your bride is arriving soon. Don’t get too attached to this one. I saw what happened on the balcony earlier and I will not have this girl get in the way of your future. Am I clear?!”
I lowered my head and sighed lightly, trying not to make it noticeable. “Yes, father.”
“Dinner is in thirty minutes. I’m expecting you to be there and ah—bring the girls. I’d like to get to know more of why my sons are so intrigued. An attendant will be in their rooms waiting to dress them. See that it’s done.”
I watched him leave, sighing to the thought of them having to go to dinner. The timing wasn’t right but what could I do? It was my father’s request and I had to see it through.
I walked back inside and saw Troy laughing about something I didn’t get to hear from being a little occupied myself. “What are we talking about?”
“Nothing.” Darius said firmly.
“We’re talking about how many people in the city Darius has slept with.” Troy smiled.
“Oh.” I sat on the edge of the pool and jumped in. “So, what’s that like half?”
“It’s not half! Do you know how many people half actually is?! It’s a lot! It’s not half!”
“Okay, it’s not half but it’s still a lot.”
“All right, I won’t lie. It’s a lot but don’t make it seem like I’m the only one that’s been with a list of women taller than they are. You two aren’t that innocent.”
We sat through a pause and Adele and Jaylyn looked at Troy and myself.
“Okay.” Troy said, trying to get away from the conversation now. “What’d father want with you, Zayden?”
“Oh, just that I was right.”
“Was I right?” Darius asked.
“Pretty much. He felt he needed to make sure that I remain focused on my future and not let myself get attached to things that might affect the proper outcome.”
“You mean me?”
I looked at Adele and even hated myself for giving the answer. “Yeah, he’s forbidden it because you’re not—well, never mind.”
“A Princess.”
“Correct.”
“Well, not yet anyway.” Ruby smiled. “Did you tell him that?”
I laughed, trying to keep the situation happy because it really wasn’t. Nothing was happy about my future. “Oh, yeah. I’m definitely going to do that. Not only would he find out that we lied but just mentioning from where she’d be Princess of would still cause it to be forbidden and you’d all be killed!” I sighed from it to calm myself and started to get up. I didn’t mean to get stressed about it but it was always a stress I thought of. “All right, come on. We should probably be getting out of here.”
“Why?” Jaylyn asked.
“Dinner is in thirty minutes and my father has requested your presence.”
“What?!” Adele looked up at me with extreme worry. “Tell me you’re not serious!”
“That’s what I was thinking but it’s at his request, you have to go. If you don’t, it would be seen as a great disrespect and that’s the last thing we need while we’re trying to get him to like you.”
“No, the last thing we need is having to spend quality time with the King! What if something happens?”
“Don’t worry. This is dinner. It will be just us and him so just watch your mouth and everything should be fine.”
She sighed and put her head down like she didn’t believe a word I said. “This is going to be bad.”
“Think positive.” I climbed out of the pool for the very last time. “First things first, we have to get ready. We don’t have much time now. We’re heading upstairs to change again and you three need to do the same. There will be someone waiting for you in your room to dress you for dinner.”
“Dress us?” Ruby asked. “You mean in like actual dresses?”
“Yes. It’s dinner with the King and you’re expected to look elegant for such an occasion. Everything you need will be provided. Just say the word and you’ll have it but you should hurry because now we only have about twenty minutes.” I turned with Darius and Troy and we walked out of the bathhouse to leave them to get out with privacy.
“You really think this is a good idea?” Troy asked.
“No but what can we do? It’s what he wants and he’s really doing it for you.”
“What do you mean?” Darius asked.
“He said he wanted them to join us to know why his sons are so intrigued and I doubt he was talking about me.”
Darius laughed. “That’s not obvious?”
It may have been for us but the truth of it didn’t make me laugh. “He’s seen something with you even though he hasn’t been around us when we’re with them. Do you have any idea what that could mean?”
I let it sink in and watched Troy’s expression change first. “He’ll ask them to stay.”
He was right. They made them happy and my father already knew that. He would ask them to stay here and as much as that sounded perfect, they never could. He could never find out who they are. It would be the death of us all.
Chapter 10
Adele
“Good evening, my lady.”
I looked up when I entered the room and a maid was standing inside just like Zayden said. She was older with medium brown wavy hair and blue eyes much like my own but she was beautiful too, almost unusually for being Senian.
“Shall we get you ready for dinner?”
I sighed and put my stuff down on the floor, still not up to the idea that we had to join the King for dinner. “If we must. What’s your name?”
“I’m Kathryn. I usually assist the King but he requested that I dress you tonight, my lady.”
“Oh, please don’t do that. Just call me Adele. I’m no lady.”
“You shall be tonight.”
She opened up a large case by the bed and pulled out a black dress of silk with a train behind the skirt. It had a strapless corset-like top, covered in blue jewels. I couldn’t believe it. Was I supposed to wear that?
“Nothing says evening like black. You’ll look ravishing in this one.”
She set it on the bed and my eyes were on it. I wasn’t blinking, I was just staring. The dress was gorgeous.
“Even enough to impress the young Prince.”
My eyes snapped up and my voice was inconstant. “What? Oh, I don’t know. I mean, he’s—well—and I’m just—”
Kathryn laughed. “It’s all right. Tonight you shall put it aside as love will hold you to his right arm.”
“Love?” I was paralyzed as that one little word consumed my mind. Was that truly what it was? The reason I needed to have Zayden around was because of love? Deep down I’ve thought of it from seeing him in my dream of my test mission but was it real? Here? Now? Did I really love him?
“Let’s put this on. There’s not much time.”
I slowly nodded and dropped my towel. Kathryn approached me with the dress and helped slip it over my head.
I stood in front of a mirror while she was lacing up the back and couldn’t believe I was wearing this. “This is amazing.”
Kathryn smiled and held out a pair of black heels. “You look beautiful and with these shoes, you’ll look even more.” I smiled back and balanced myself to step into the shoes placed in front of me. “A perfect fit. Now we need to get your hair done and with a dress like this, you’ll wa
nt to show off your shoulders so we’ll put it all up.”
“Sounds perfect.” I picked up the dress at my sides and walked over to a chair sitting in front of the vanity mirror.
I sat down and Kathryn approached me from behind, brushing my wet hair. “If it’s not wrong of me to say, you have simply beautiful hair.”
“I suppose so. I’m just used to it, I guess. It’s always been long since I was a child but thank you. People commenting to my face isn’t really something I get.”
“Oh, I couldn’t believe that. Maybe they’re just scared to address such beauty in person.”
I laughed quietly but didn’t reply while I let Kathryn do my hair. I was never really one to talk about my looks but hearing it come from someone who didn’t even know me felt kind of nice. I didn’t know what else to say and waited, watching her concentrate on my hair. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing for someone who attended the King.
My hair was pulled tight and gathered high on my head, spun around in itself to make a beautiful large bun. She put a few pins around it to keep its fullness shape then wrapped a black wire with blue crystal beads around the entire bun, giving it an even more elegant look.
“There. It’s perfect. Now, let’s go see if your friends are finished.”
We walked to Ruby’s room and Kathryn knocked on the door. The maid inside came to it.
“Is she ready? The King is waiting.”
The maid only nodded and stepped aside to let Ruby through.
She was dressed in a black velvet dress with a ruffled skirt that was open in the front with a red silk ruffled layer underneath and was embellished with hundreds of tiny red jewels. The top of the dress had a large red silk collar wrapped around the shoulders and was also covered in hundreds of tiny red jewels. Her hair was left down but twisted back on the sides and pinned back with red flowers.
Deciding Skies (Fate's Intent Book 2) Page 4
