The Five Princes

Marriage Part One

October of 19XX

Keone has been sending assassins once again. It's been years since he's done so which makes me wonder what is happening in Lux. I rarely send letters to Lux because of Avant. He didn't go away. In fact, he has taken the late Xen Aiki's place as the royal advisor to Leone which I was greatly opposed of. Leone refuses to let him go though stating he has Xen Aiki's wisdom.

Wisdom my ass.

All he has is a big mouth that stays open and beady eyes that never close. I'll get rid of him soon but right now, I need to concentrate on why these assassins are suddenly showing up. I've decided to go visit Lux on my own. I wonder about mother sometimes. Rhett hasn't informed me of anything about her but I would like to know if she stopped caring for me. I miss her despite our falling out. Keon has a high position on the council that we'd like and I think it's gotten to his head. I have to stop him, talk to him, get him to understand that he's trapping himself in an unreachable past. Or he may never stop and I don't want Serene within that contaminated mindset of always looking over her shoulder.

She's grown so much, reading and writing. Her tutors say she's brilliant. I hope that continues. I want to see her grow up alongside her father. But my brother is making that so much harder each day. I'm tired of shooting assassins out of trees and catching them before they try to poison him in the middle of the night. I'll have to leave for Lux soon. It'll be hard. I haven't left Dominic without him since his Coming of Age. I couldn't even get away when father was ill.

I'll think of something, anything. Even if I have to sneak out on my own. I'm starting to wonder if I should just tell Leone the truth about me, about who I was before, and hope he continues to love me after. We've been through so much, he wouldn't just throw that all away. It would break my heart to pieces but I must make things right even if my sacrifice myself for others to live peacefully. Especially for my sweet little Serene.

Sincerely, your dearest friend, Queen Lalita of Dominic

It was much easier to charm and stick Avant with the truth serum than it was with Zeph. Avant was in a crowded place and although he yelped when I stuck him quickly with the serum, he brushed it off as a bug bite, looking around on the floor around him. It was quite hilarious seeing him get so distraught about a "bug bite" muttering that it was probably a huge bug that couldn't have been missed.

I removed myself from the ballroom with Trinity to get the other needle. By the time I checked back with Ajax, he'd already left. There were only minutes to spare before someone would realize that the main focus of the show was absent for too long so I said my goodbyes, hoping that he'd be back soon. To be frank, I felt dismal as I walked out the door, knowing he'd be leaving me. I asked him to go back home for me and my kingdom, I knew he'd be back, but still, it hurt.

Stabbing Zeph was a bit harder than I expected. I ended up having to do it while he was sleeping by my side that night. He woke up in a flash and I had to remove it before the needle ripped off in his skin. Throwing the serum behind the bed frame without his notice, I climbed on top of him, masking my true intentions.

"What's wrong, Zeph? Are you alright?" I asked, exaggerating my drowsiness.

He pulled me into his chest. He was extremely hot, I noticed, him kicking off the covers with his feet. "Just felt like I got stabbed or something," he muttered, still holding me close as if it were soothing the sudden pain. Sorry, I thought, every time I tried to get the serum in you, you dodged it. This was the only way.

Our faces were inches apart, his breath caressing my cheeks as his eyes held mine. He rolled me over and I felt his member grow on top of me. "Serene, I still can't believe it." His hand touched my face, trying to figure out if this was all a dream.

"Can't believe what?" His touch reminded me of the times we spent in the beginning and I wanted to melt in his warm embrace. There was something eerily soothing about him that made me want to just stay here. He was the past. The times I had been blinded by foolishness and innocence. Back when my father was around when I didn't have so many responsibilities. He made me feel like I did only a week before, the idiotic girl he saved in the woods.

"That you chose me. I missed being with you like this."

He pressed his lips to mine gently and all my body seemed to crave was Ajax's roughness. HIs hand skimmed my body until he reached my core, his touch pleasantly warm. I could feel myself getting wet, which he smiled at. I kissed him harder, feeling needy for a touch that could replace the touch of Ajax for a bit. I couldn't turn him away.

A piece of me wanted them both.

When we came up for breath, I muttered, "Condom." The birth control we were both given at the beginning of this competition would be wearing off soon and I'd rather be safe than sorry. Reaching over to my bedside table, I unlatched the draw as Zeph trailed kissing down the back of my neck. I turned on my knees, ripping the package open with my teeth before handing it to him.

I looked over my shoulder when he stopped for a second. "We'll have plenty of times without it after but I can't be a pregnant princess before I'm a queen."

He nodded, understanding, but I knew he wanted to feel the full effect. So did I.

When he finally slipped it on, I climbed on top of him, his member all too ready for me. He held my hips into position as he began to thrust himself inside of me. I circled my hips, wanting to feel more of him as I leaned onto his chest, kissing his lips passionately. He thrusted harder inside me. I moaned, needing to keep pace with him.

My insides were hot as he filled me up as much as possible. The sensation made me think of Ajax for a split second. If I closed my eyes, I could see his devious smile as he'd pull me into him even more, separating my legs until every part of my core was connected with his. I screamed in pleasure, riding Zeph harder with such ideas clouding my head.

"Harder," I begged. He pushed me down to the bed, lifting my legs on his shoulders as he hit my core much harder than I expected. An explosion of ecstasy went off in the pit of my gut, causing me to cream even more. When I saw his face beneath the moonlight, everything in my heart was telling me that I wanted it to be Ajax. A wave of shame sudden coursed through me like a flood as I looked away from him.

Whether or not Zeph was innocent, I knew I wanted Ajax to be the one inside me, by my bedside, stroking me gently as Zeph was doing right now. Realizing that made me hate what I was doing right now. The competition was over, I made my choice so I could get closer to Zeph and find out for myself who he was.

But no matter what, I knew Ajax had won my heart the moment Zeph lost it.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"What is the meaning of this, Your Grace?" Avant shouted, wrestling his way out of the guards' arms. I nodded and they released him. Avant straightened his attire before looking up at me as I sat on my throne. It was early morning, the underbelly of the sun still touching the horizon when I called for the guards to wake Avant and bring him to me. I would have Trinity by my side for this but when I checked her room, she wasn't there and I figured she was spending some time with Sam before he left.

"Avant, I have a few questions for you and I want you to answer them honestly? Can you do that?"

He scoffed and smiled deviously at me. "No, I can't," he blurted before clamping his hands over his mouth in surprise. It was obvious by the redness of his face that he didn't mean to say that. The serum was working. That's good to know. "What I meant to say was no, I can't." He clasped his mouth once more, not understanding what was going on.

"That'll do. I would like to know where you were while my father was being served his poisoned food."

He bit down on his lip, trying not to speak. But I wasn't going to let him just stay silent. I nodded to one of the guards and he quickly elbowed him in the gut. Avant gasped, coughing at the momentous shock, understanding that he wasn't going to wiggle himself out of this.

"In the kitchen."

"Why were you there and not by his side?"

He hesitated for a moment before one of the guards rose his hand, Avant flinching away. "Because I did not want to be by his side those few moments."

I could feel wrath begin to course my veins, clutching the arms of the throne chair. "Was it because you knew there was poison in his food?"

He trying to hold his tongue more tightly. I could tell the words wanted to flood out his mouth but he wouldn't allow it. I nodded again at the guard and he hit him on the back of his neck, causing Avant to fall to his knees. Fighting through the pain, he willed himself to not utter a word. The guard hit him again, Avant grunting at the pain. He refused to release his answer although I knew very well what it was and for that, I wanted to ring his throat. When he looked up at me with such discontent and rage, I knew that was a sign of his defeat and I was the reason he kept telling the truth.

The guard was about to hit him a third time before Avant screamed a startling. "YES! I knew there was poison!"

I stood up, glaring down at him. He looked so pathetic. After years of watching him flaunt around he like he was royalty himself, now he was on his knees getting what he deserved. "Did you put it in?"

"Yes! I put it in!"

I stepped down the stairs, keeping my eyes locked on him like a snake about to catch its prey. "How? According to you, his food was cold. Did you use one of Hayden's patches?"

He nodded, no reason for him to struggle to lie anymore. "I did. I wouldn't melt at first so I placed it on my tongue and when I pretend to try some of the food, I placed it under the spoon for the soup. When the servants left to deliver it, I quickly rubbed the residue of it off and spit the rest of it out with water."

I was standing directly over him now. So close I could very well rip every strand of hair off his receding hairline or tear out a beady eyeball if I wanted. "How'd you know about Hayden's patches? How'd you get them in the first place?"

He chuckled, no longer afraid of the repercussions. "Oh, Princess, after working here for so long, you find friends all around. Even in different kingdoms. One informed me of their existence and stashed some in Prince Hayden's luggage just in case he didn't bring any himself. And a servant here brought them to me."

I couldn't hold back any longer. Without think, I slapped into his face with all my strength. His head went whiplashing as the sound of my brutal force cracked through the room. When he turned back to me, there were three distinct scratches on his cheek, each starting to bleed. "Guards, please escort Avant to the cells. Make sure he is chained to the wall and by sundown, I'd like to see his head on a silver platter, as an early wedding gift."

Now that everything had been spoken, Avant no longer kept his words to himself as the guards chained his arms behind his back and pulled him out the doorway. "I did everything for your father! And just like you, ungrateful bunches of swine! I will be free and I'll make you pay for everything you own me for my years of servitude! EVERYTHING!"

The second he was gone and out of ears reach, I sunk to the floor, feeling the weight of everything hit me at once. I finally found Avant guilty of my fathers' murder. My father was truly dead, murdered at his hands and he tried to pin it on Hayden. Although I'd won, I felt as though I'd just been defeated, my tears pouring out uncontrollably as I wailed in the room alone. I was now completely alone. I couldn't even trust some of the servants if what he said was true. And I didn't know how many were in on it. How many of them would try to kill me next?

I cried for I don't know how long but once I found the tiniest bit of strength, I wiped my tears away with my sleeve and stood up. This wasn't over. Avant was just the first and now, I had to do something even more difficult. It's so easy to hate Avant for what he did but Zeph was another story.

He was the man I could still feel on my skin, ravishing me in his arms. This would be the moment of truth. If what my mother wrote in her journal was true and if he didn't have the right excuse for having the journal with him, then he'd also have to follow in Avant's footsteps. Inside, I still decline my mothers' warning as a fluke. Even she thought she'd die when she returned to Lux but she returned and soon died of a broken heart, sad and alone.

All I wanted after was to not end up like her and die the way she did. Feeling my heart strum, I thought of Ajax and wondered if he'd really return in time to help. Maybe there wouldn't be any need for it. Maybe Zeph would prove his innocence.

So many questions raced through my head. I straightened myself out, knowing I couldn't trap myself in here and sulk. I had to get answers no matter how much they pained me.

November of 19XX

This will be my last entry and in due time, I hope it passes into the hands of my sweet daughter, Serene. Serene, listen carefully, I will be heading to Lux but I'm afraid I will have to tell your father the truth so you both will be safe and have more guards to protect you in case they come while I'm gone.

There's so much I want to say to you. I hope I return to grant you a tight hug and never let you go. I wish that your father will only be angry with me for a few days and understand that I still love him and I wish him no harm. You two are my greatest accomplishments in life and you always will be. Serene, always be respectful to others, keep your head held high, never let the someone else dictate your future, and always know that I love you to the world and back a billion times over. I know I don't tell you often enough and your father only says the words in private like it is something to be ashamed about. That wicked man I love. Hopefully, he'll grow less stubborn and open up to us both a bit more.

Love is a precious thing to find and I know you will find someone who loves you, raises you up to be better than you ever dreamed, and who trusts and supports you no matter what.

After I write this, I'll inform your father about me and tell him to hold more guards as I travel to Lux to fix all of this and stop Keon's multiple attacks on his life. Your father's illness was probably an attack on his life. I hope not. That would only mean that my own father...no, surely not. Keon isn't that greedy for power, is he?

I must go now but I will be taking this journal along with me and giving it to Rhett, my oldest brother. He knows he is the only one a trust to deliver this to you when you are older. He knows that even his son isn't allowed to touch this journal and deliver it to you. If he does so, then do not trust him. Rhett has sworn this and he hopes it never comes to that. I've sent word of my return and he has informed me that he wishes to welcome me with open arms, however, there is a lot of tension at the palace. Keon is getting out of control, his wife has become a concern as well, and Zeph has been spending more than his fair time with his uncle.

I worry that one day he will use Zeph to get to you. May that day never come. Do not take this warning lightly. I know very little of my nephew but I know of Keon and if he's sunk his claws into him, they'll be hard to pry out.

Take care my sweet one. I wish to be by your side when you read this but, if I'm not there, if your father exiles me for my betrayal, please know that you are my world, my everything, and I returned to Lux to make sure you and your father stayed safe. I couldn't let my brother continue this ridiculous feud for the governmental throne. He will try to kill me the moment I step into court but I will do what is necessary to protect the ones I care for no matter how much they'll eventually hate me for it.

I love you.

Sincerely, the mother who adores you, the Late Queen Lalita

I entered Zeph's room hesitantly. He was standing in front of the mirror with one of the servants tailoring the hem of his suit for the wedding. I hadn't told him yet. The wedding wouldn't commence until next week though under my orders. Avant was no longer a problem so I had no reason to rush into this and the council would be arriving tomorrow. I'd be able to ask them for a coronation without the need for marriage. And that was only if I wished for a wedding next week after I spoke with Zeph.

"Zeph, may I speak with you for a moment?" I asked.

"Yes, I actually wanted to speak with you, Serene."

He unbuttoned his vest and handed it to the servant. "Can you adjust this a bit?" He gestured for him to leave. He obliged, bowing to both me and Zeph before taking his leave, closing the door behind him. Zeph continued to fix his sleeves, rolling them up in the mirror. "You look nice. Why do you have a sword with you?"

"Thank you." I was wearing trousers and an over-the-shoulder blouse of sheer navy blue. I hadn't seen Trinity all morning so I had to get dressed and I just set my hair in a ponytail. Matter of fact, I hadn't seen any of the Princes but Zeph today and no one had prepared the breakfast feast I'd intended for their departure. What was going on around here?

I touched the sword at my side in its leather holster. At my side was my fathers' sword I asked one of the servants to get from his chambers before they began their renovations. It had the family crest on the handle of four spheres all surrounding a star in the middle, meaning unity and harmony. "It was my fathers. I'm thinking of wearing it for the wedding. Just to have a piece of him with me."

He still wouldn't turn around at me, fixing his hair delicately in the mirror. "Your father will always be remembered." He was acting a bit different than usual, now crossing his arms, only looking at me through the mirror. I felt like his gaze was exposing my every little secret which made me cross my arms as well, feeling vulnerable all of a sudden. Why was that? "I know what you want to talk about and I'm telling you now, I will comply with everything truthful."

"Oh, and why would that be?"

He pulled out something from his pocket that made my gut drop to my knees that second. The serum I dropped behind the bed frame. "I see Ethan's been experiment again. I say that because I doubt you have the mental capacity of formulating a concoction this delicate as a truth serum. And a potent one at that." He finally turned to me, stepping away from the mirror with a smile I'd never seen before on him. It was filled with menacing chaos stretching at the corner of his mouth as he smoothed back his hair victoriously.

"I knew something was amiss when I saw you poke Avant at the party. You didn't know I was watching you, did you? I see everything that you do, even before this competition."

Words wouldn't form in my mouth as I kept opening and closing. I took a step back from him, now feeling the sting of betrayal. What else did I not know? He spoke more confidently.

"I kept dodging you when you made your pitiable attempts. I thought you gave up until I fell asleep and you poked me with it. But I knew it wouldn't work immediately. It never does."

My voice seemed to tremble when I asked, "What do you mean?"

He chuckled wickedly. "I've made this serum a dozen times before. I recently had to use it on my own father, trying to figure out where he stashed that stupid journal your mother gave him years ago."

I didn't want this to be true. There were a plethora of soiled emotions rushing through me as he continued. When he said he was going to tell me everything truthful, he wasn't lying.

"It was a type of last resort. After I realized I was losing you to that big lout, Jax-ass, I knew if I gave you that journal, you'd come around. I'm guessing something she wrote told you to be wary of me." He shrugged. "Should have known."

My hand slipped to the handle of the sword, now grateful that I brought it along just in case. I had my suspicions but I wished on everything that they wouldn't be true. I took a breath, pushing everything I once felt for him to the side. "She told me that if anyone but Rhett gave me that journal, to be cautious of them. And that included you. Why would you...do this?"

He c****d his head to the side questioningly as if it were an obvious as the sun rising. "For the throne, of course. That's the entire point of this competition. You had the position of taking the Concord throne, the highest position in all the six kingdoms, and all I needed to do was woo you."

Every word that ran of his tongue was hurting me more than I wanted to admit. This was the man who rescued me, who made me feel safe and warm, who embraced me for the first time, now spouting his betrayals like an award speech. "I would you like to know something else because I've been aching to tell you this since the very beginning. Your gullibility was so hilarious when I think back on the day we met. You didn't even realize I coerced the entire rescue. Nothing gets a girl's panties wet more than a knight in shining armor saving her. I didn't think you'd find me out so soon, maybe during the honeymoon phase."

I positioned myself like during combat training, pulling to sword halfway out of the sheath. "There won't be a honeymoon because there will be no wedding."

He covered his laugh with his hand. "Oh, Serene, how wrong you are. The wedding will be commencing...right about now in the ballroom. I didn't want you to get cold feet. And don't worry, there will be plenty of guests to witness our union."

I jeered at him, taking to sword out completely and pointing it at his throat. Only a few inches were spared between us. "There will be no wedding."

The door immediately swung open and I turned around in surprise. It only took Zeph a fraction of a second to knock the sword out of my hand and hold my hands behind my back. I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared into the barrel of a gun pointed at my head.

"As always, you are right on time, cousin," Zeph commended, holding me to his chest tightly.

"I try my best to be punctual," Ethan grinned, his stance unwavering with the gun ready. "Sorry, I up the dosage on the serum but I didn't think you'd mind."