Two Princes and a Princess

Found

Lisa POV

I can’t believe that I have been gone from my palace for two weeks. I know any day now that my father is going to find me. He will not give up until I am found.   I have to be careful who I come in contact with. A man came to the palace yesterday. I was walking through the foyer to go back to the maid quarters, after cleaning the King and Queens bedroom. I recognized him from the palace. My father had a meeting with him once about making allies. My father and him got into an argument and he stormed out of the palace. After that close encounter,  I decided to stay mostly in the maid quarters unless I am doing my duties.  There aren't many people coming around the palace, but it would be my luck that someone I know shows up.

“Lisa, we are going out, do you want to come?” Asked Fatima.

“No, I am just going to stay here and watch television.” I say.  

“You can’t stay in the maid quarters forever, it’s not healthy.”

“I feel comfortable here.”

“Suit yourself.” Fatima says as she walks out the door. I want so badly to go out of the palace, but I can’t risk being found.  My father’s warriors are out there somewhere. They will search to the end of the Earth for the King. I laid on my bed watching a movie. I couldn’t focus for fear of one day being discovered.  I could hear a lot of commotion going on outside my window.  I sit up to look out and workers are putting up tents.  Another worker was getting chairs and tables set up.  I wonder what is going on. There must be some type of celebration that is going to take place.  I decide to turn off my movie and go to see what is happening. I went to the back garden where all the commotion was happening.

“Why are you setting up tents and tables?” I asked one of the workers.

“The prince is coming home from his alpha training, and the Queen wants to have a welcome home party.” He saids.

I did think it was odd that I hadn’t seen the prince the two weeks that I have been here.  I just thought he left early and came home late. No one said anything about the prince. 

“I see you finally emerged from the hole you keep hiding in.” A familiar voice saids in the distance. I turn to see John walking up the walkway to the garden. I try not to look nervous and my wolf is on guard.  I can tell that the other maids think I am strange. Especially since I want to stay in the quarters all the time.  I don’t try to make myself known among everyone.  This is the only way I can keep my identity a secret.  

“I am just trying not to be a bother.” I state hiding my blush. 

“If the Queen didn’t want you here, she would have told you.” John says.

I nod my head and turn to walk back into the palace to find Aurora in the maid quarters.  John followed me in and continued walking down the corridor.

“Lisa, just the person that I am looking for.”

“Hi, Aurora, how can I help you?”

“The Queen sees how good you clean the bedroom and is adding to your duties.”

“Oh, okay.” I said a little unsure of what to say.

“You will go with Fatima and Becca to the marketplace for groceries with the kitchen staff.”

I try to mask my nervousness and uneasiness.  I can’t leave the palace, but I can’t tell Aurora cause then she will ask a bunch of questions. I try to think of something to get out of this, but nothing comes to my mind.  I can tell she is waiting for my response.

“Yes, sure. I will accompany them to the marketplace.” I said, not too sure of how I would get out of going with them.

“Good.  Continue to do good work, and the Queen will be pleased.”

I nod my head and decide to go back outside and take a walk through the garden.  It always clears my mind.  My wolf wants to go for a run. We can’t shift into a wolf right now and draw attention to ourselves.   I continue to walk and smell the flowers.  

“It’s a nice evening. Isn’t it?” a voice saids.

I jumped in the direction of the voice, not sure who was talking among the trees.

“Yes, it is.” I said, a little uneasy.

The figure came from around a tree. 

“Hi, I am James.”

“Hi, James, I am Lisa.” 

I haven’t seen him around the palace yet I don’t get out much either for this very reason.  

“So, you finally come out of the maid quarters.” He saids.

I jumped at his remark. Thinking to myself has everyone noticed. 

“Don’t sweat it, people think you’re just shy and that’s the reason you stay in the maid quarters.”

I nod as I stare out into the garden. I tried to think of something to say.

“What do you do at the palace?”

“King David and Queen Sierra are my uncle and aunt. My father is Alpha John. The man that brought you here.”

I looked shocked cause I really didn’t know who anyone was in the palace.  

“For a maid, you act very differently from the other maids.  They are always trying to meet the royals and being seen.”

I think about the maids at our palace and how they were.  I remember three that were trying to get my brother’s attention.  They wanted to be his mate, but he was looking for his fated mate. 

“Hmm, well everyone is different. I just want to do my duties and not cause any harm.”

He nods his head in understanding.  I look in the direction of the tents and the decorations that have been put around the garden.  James follows the direction my head is pointed, also looking at the directions. I suddenly feel sad missing my brother then I get a mind link from Lance. I quickly cut it off. I try not to act nervous and listen to James talking.

“My cousin will be home tomorrow.  He’s been gone a month for alpha training. He will be our next king one day.” He saids with pride in his voice.

I turn to look at him smiling as I feel the pride he has for his cousin.  

“Are you and your cousin close?”

“Yes, we are like brothers more so than cousins.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

I quickly changed the subject, afraid of giving away too much information.

“Well, it’s getting late.” I say as I stand to make my way back through the garden. James stands along with me.

“Do you mind if I walk back with you?”

“No, I enjoyed our conversation.”

We walked back to the palace admiring how beautiful everything looked for the celebration. The light poles were decorated with streamers. Paper lanterns were hung inside the tents. “I guess they will finish decorating tomorrow.” James opened the door to the palace and we talked in.

“Thank you for the conversation.” I said.

“Thank you for the company.” He said.

I walked to the maid quarters and James went in the opposite direction.

In the morning, I made sure Prince Gray’s room was cleaned for his arrival.  The King and Queen were still in their room.  I cleaned Alpha James' room and his parents' room. It was soon time for me to go to the marketplace with Fatima and Becca.  Queen Sierra planned a special dinner for Prince Gray.  Fatima and Becca were waiting for me in the foyer. Two people from the kitchen were also coming along.

“Good Morning, I say to everyone.” 

“Morning.” Everyone said.

Fatima made introductions with the kitchen staff.  Yau was the head chef and Terry was second in charge. I learned that Fatima and Becca accompany the kitchen staff to the marketplace to help get the food for the palace as their duties. They would normally go on Saturday, but they were making a special trip today. We piled into the car and Terry drove. Yau sat in the front passenger seat and we sat in the back.  The whole drive I was trying to figure out a way to go undetected.  Fatima could tell I was nervous.

“There is no need to be nervous. We have a list and it’s easy to find the things we need. I was nervous the first time I went to the marketplace.” she saids.

I looked straight ahead out the front window and took a deep breath.  We arrived at the marketplace. It was crowded with people. We all got out with our list in hand.  I stayed with Fatima and we did our list together. My wolf caught a familiar scent. It was faint but I knew it was my brother’s scent.  I told Fatima that I needed to use the restroom and gave her my list to do while I was gone.  My wolf continued to sniff the air for  his scent.  I started walking toward a fruit stand leading me further toward the back of the marketplace. His scent was getting stronger. Then I stopped as he was in front of me talking to a lady showing her my picture. He turned around quickly sensing that I was there.  We ran to each other embracing in a hug.  He spun me around. We were both trying to talk to each other at the same time. I quickly remembered that I couldn’t let the people I was with know who I was. I grabbed Lance’s hand and pulled him toward the storage doors. I peeked in before we both entered. 

Lance POV

I decided to get my pack involved in the search for Lisa.  We had a meeting where we were going to search around a fifty mile radius in all directions.  I know she couldn’t be far cause I looked up the area code she called me from.  I tried to dial the number back but all I got was a recording. Another dead end, but I was not going to give up. Father had his warriors looking for Lisa at hotels and resorts. They were keeping an eye on her bank account to look for spending. Lisa is not into fancy places and being treated like a princess.  So knowing my sister she was living the lowly life. I know she was not going to kill her food and cook it. I had my pack to check every fast food restaurant and marketplace.  We went everyday in hopes of finding her.  I decided to get a hotel instead of making the hour drive back.  It was getting late. I sent a mind link to my pack to get a hotel, and we would try again in the morning. As I laid on the bed, I sent a mind link to Lisa. I quickly sat up knowing that I made a connection before she cut it off.  I informed my beta Steve that I made a connection and that Lisa was in the area.  I told him to tell the rest of the pack to come to Stirling.  I couldn’t sleep knowing that I was close to finding her.

In the morning, I called Steve.

“Hey, Steve, is the pack all here.”

“Yes, Alpha, waiting for your orders.”

“Great, we will search every inch of this place. I know that she is here.”

“Lance, not to sound like a broken record, but Lisa may not want to be found.”

I massage my temples knowing that he is probably right, but I have to see her.  I need to know that she is okay.

“I know.” I muster up to say. I ended the conversation with Steve and got dressed.  I was going to the marketplace.  Steve and the others were checking at every restaurant and other places. As I drove up to the marketplace, I had a strange feeling.  I began showing people a picture of Lisa to which nobody had seen her.  Then I smelled a familiar scent. My wolf was happy. I quickly turned around to see Lisa standing in the marketplace. I quickly ran to her, embracing her in a hug. She started looking around nervously and then she grabbed my arm dragging me to the storage room.  I couldn’t convince her to come home.  

She exited the storage room looking for someone. I followed her as she met up with another girl dressed like a maid.  I kept following them until I ran into one of my father's warriors. 

“Prince Lance, what are you doing here?” Warrior Ken said.

“I was shopping.” I told him. 

Then he began to sniff the air and me.  

“You have Princess Lisa’s scent on you. Did you see her?” He said grabbing my shoulders.

“No, it’s an old shirt. That must have her scent on it.” I say quickly trying to convince warrior Ken.

“Really, and it just so happens that her hair is on your shoulder.” He informs me.

“Look, she doesn’t want to be found. Can you just leave her alone.”

“I have orders from the King to find her.”  He turns and heads out of the marketplace.  I mind link Steve.

“We have a big problem. Warrior Ken has Lisa’s scent and knows that she is in the area.  He is headed back to the palace to  inform my father.”

“There isn’t anything we can do. He has to follow the King's orders. He’s commanded to obey.” Steve says.

“I know, but I feel like I betrayed my sister.” 

“You have to tell her so she knows what is about to happen.”

“I can’t go to the palace and blow her cover. I don’t know which one she’s at either. If I try to mind link her, she will just cut it off.” I didn’t know what to do. 

“Calm down. You have to try to reach out to her, Lance.” We cut the mind link. I head to my car and send a mind link to Lisa.

“Lisa, Warrior Ken has your scent and is looking for you.  He is headed back to the palace to informed father that he has found you.”

“What! No, I will not go back. I won’t marry Collin.”

“I’m headed to the palace to talk to our father and try to convince him to end the arranged marriage.”

“Please do. I can’t marry someone I don’t love.” she pleaded.

I ended the mind link and started the car to head home. When I arrived home, my mother was the first to run out the house to greet me.

“You found Lisa.” She said jumping for joy.

“I did. But I have to talk to my father.  Lisa is going to run again if he makes her marry Collin.” My mother covers her mouth in  astonishment.

“I can’t lose my daughter. We will both go and talk to him.”  We ran in the palace to my father’s office where he is sitting at his desk.  Warrior Ken and father were coming up with a plan to search for Lisa in Stirling, when my mother and I entered.

“You have to call off the wedding Odin.  Lisa is going to run again if you try to bring her back to marry Prince Collin.” my mother states.

“Father, it’s true. Please end the arranged marriage.” I pleaded.

“I am bringing Lisa home, and she will marry Prince Collin,” my father growls and storms out the office with warrior Ken behind him. I ran out of the office following them.

“Father, please can we talk.” I shouted.

My father stopped walking. “Okay, let’s talk.” He motioned for me to follow him into the living area.  He excused Warrior Ken. He nodded and left my father’s side. We sat across from each other on the sofas.

“Father, I know you have made a contract with King Vlad for you two to unite kingdoms through the marriage of Collin and Lisa.  But has anyone considered how they are feeling.”

My father took a pause and it seemed like he was thinking.

“I will contact King Vlad. But we will have this union. I love Lisa and I want her home also.”

“If you loved her you wouldn’t be making her do this.”

“This union is for the betterment of our kingdoms. Your sister is past the age of finding her mate. She may never find her mate.” 

“So this is about Lisa finding a mate? Can’t you make allies without marriage.”

“Son, this is a complicated situation.” 

“What is complicated about it?”

“You are not at liberty to know.”

“Fine. If I can get Lisa to come home, will you at least delay the marriage.” I said with hope. He put his hand on his chin and began to rub it thinking.  

“Alright, I will give you a chance to bring your sister home. If you’re not successful then Warrior Ken and the other warriors will and I don’t care who they have to kill to do it.”

“Will you delay the marriage?”

“I will give time for Lisa to get to know Collin.”

His response wasn’t what I wanted but it would at least give us time.  Now I needed to come up with a plan to get her home.

“What are you doing here? I asked.

“I’m looking for you.” Lance says.

“I told you that I don’t want to be found. I’m not going back if I have to marry Collin.” I stated firmly.

“I understand but I had to find out if you were okay.” He looks at me from head to toe and gets a smirk on his face.

“You’re a maid.” He says almost laughing.

“Yes. How do you think I got out of the palace. I left late in the night. I figured the dew would mask my scent.”

“Yeah, it did. We have been searching everywhere.”

“What made you decide to come to the marketplace?”

“You have to eat. I come every day. Father has the warriors looking in the obvious places.  I have my pack checking all the places you would eat. So we go every day to restaurants and marketplaces.”

“What if I didn’t come to the marketplace?”

“I would keep showing your picture around until someone recognized you.”  

I wanted to stay longer with my brother. I didn’t realize how much I missed him until I saw him, but I didn’t want Fatima to come looking for me.

“I have to go.” I said quickly.

He grabs my arm before I can get away.

“I love you and miss you. Please come home.” he pleads.

“I won’t if I have to marry Collin.” I say with confidence.

He let go of my hand and I exited the storage room.  I found Fatima. She was almost done with the list.  We gathered the last of the items and headed to the checkout.  She gave the name of the palace, and we left to catch up with the others.  We put all the groceries into the car and piled in.  Terry drove back to the palace.  I tried not to show any emotions as a tear slid down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away before anyone noticed.