THE ROSE
Gaia was Ahe’ey’s most cherished maiden. The last unwed and childless royal lady, a fact she was not allowed to forget for one single moment. Her older brother, Michael, had married Amalia as soon as he entered manhood. They always knew they were destined for each other. The responsibilities set upon them fit them well. They were born to, one day, rule the people of Ahe’ey, and they wore the burden of responsibility with great pride, joy and dedication. The blood of the royal family of Ahe’ey had to be preserved, and with only five royal descendants left, they had little time to lose. They started a family as soon as their young bodies had developed fully.
Gaia was left with the difficult task of selecting one of the two final royal suitors—Sathian or Angha, Amalia’s younger bro
