Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Aleksei took my hand before he said, “Laura has yet to decide if she’ll join us.”
“Pish,” the queen returned. “She will stand with her family.”
Stand with her family.
Oh yeah.
I was feeling a lot.
Aleksei’s voice was inflexible when he started, “Mother—”
“She’ll stand with her family, son,” she repeated.
“I’ll go,” I said softly.
And I would go because, one day, I was going to be Queen Calisa.
One day, I was going to stand for the values of this realm.
No, I already did.
I couldn’t hide from this. I couldn’t let others face it for me.
I had to stand for myself.
If this family intended to stand for me, I would stand with this family.
Aleksei’s hand squeezed mine.
“You don’t have to, darling, no matter what my mother says,” Aleksei assured.
I looked to him. “I’ll go, honey.”
His study of my face was a veritable examination, and I knew he wasn’t certain of his conclusions when he asked, “Are you sure?”
No, I was not.
Though, I also was.
I nodded.
“If you’re uncomfortable in the slightest,” the king said, “you shouldn’t go. Or if you feel uncomfortable while it’s happening, you should feel free to leave.” He looked to Aleksei. “Comm Allain. Tell him to wait outside the door. If Laura needs to leave, he can escort her to your suite.”
Aleksei pulled out his Palm.
“I’ll be fine,” I asserted.
The king sat on the arm of the sofa by his wife, his focus on me. “My dear, there will be many times in the service of the throne you’ll be uncomfortable. When some old windbag has your ear and doesn’t want to give it up and you can’t get away. When some pompous ambassador pontificates ad nauseum, and you don’t agree with a single thing he says, but you have to keep your mouth shut. When some aristocrat gets on a tear of self-aggrandizing, and all you want is to tell him to be quiet, but you cannot. However, this is not one of those times.” He peered down at his wife. “And no, Caly. I don’t care what protocol dictates. These beings aren’t meaningful. If she wants to leave, she’ll go.”
“I didn’t say a word, Fillion,” the queen replied. “Goodness, of course, if she wants to leave, she’ll go.”
Aleksei and Aleece were exchanging meaningful glances, but my parents were right then being processed to enter the castle (whatever that entailed, I’d ask Aleksei later).
I needed to focus on the fact I was going to see them for the first time in over a decade, that they probably weren’t expecting me, and the reason they were here was because I’d landed myself the mate to end all mates, so they were probably going to ask for something.
I also had to focus on the hope that Aleksei wouldn’t go back on his assertion he wasn’t going to literally tear them apart.
“We should address what has so far been left undiscussed,” the queen declared.
I pulled myself out of my thoughts and focused on her.
“Timothee and Errol,” she went on.
Oh dear.
The king seemed to tense. Aleece was gazing with great interest into her teacup. Aleksei sighed.
“First, our apologies to you, Laura, for how terribly they’ve behaved in your presence. Twice,” she said.
“Family is family, these things happen,” I replied.
“They do, but the apology is deserved, nevertheless,” she returned.
I nodded.
She looked to Aleksei. “Your father and I have spoken to them. They understand you have our full support. As I can never predict their behavior, I can’t say how they’ll react. I do know both of them have kept to the Palace, because Timothee is sequestered here, but even Errol has done the same. It seems Timothee is sulking, but I have hopes that Errol is considering the error of his ways, and I have further hope for good things.”
“Perhaps they’re not too old to learn,” the king murmured.
“They’ll have to be, because they have no choice,” Aleksei stated.
Aleece was watching me with unhidden curiosity mixed with concern.
I smiled at her, though I wasn’t sure how effective my smile was.
I became sure when her concern visibly deepened.
The queen lifted her hand and looked at her watch.
She then lifted her head and said, “Your parents have arrived.”
Ugh.
Here we go.
Dang.
Chapter 30
Home
There was nothing informal about the way we promenaded to the throne room (for your information, that room was down and just beyond the majestic sweep of the stairs, situated at the back of the grand foyer at the main entrance of the Palace, and unfortunately, in these circumstances, not too far of a hike).
The king led with the queen on his arm.
Aleksei, with my hand in his elbow, came next.
Aleece trailed behind.
I saw Allain loitering outside the tall double doors to the throne room.
However, before we entered, when it felt like my lungs had forgotten how to breathe and each step was an effort at endurance—this meaning Aleksei tensed more and more at my side, my beast was jittery, and his was pitching aggressively—the king stopped.