Althena Book 2

90. Entertaining

I get off the plane in Eldervale and guards are everywhere. Cyrus takes us through the airport. We don't even have to stop at security. The 4 girls from the palace put some makeup and a dress on me in the bathroom. Chris gives me a few pieces of jewelry and I look like a queen finally.

Mike and Cyrus are standing by the door with some Eldervale guards.

Drogon hugs me. "You're with me, babygirl."

"Where too?"

"We have to get in the right car."

"Are they all going to the same spot?"

"Yes. But they're guarded differently."

"Fine."

Mike whistles. "When I say your name, get in the car right outside the front door. We're being transported by car. Nobody be surprised."

"Where we going?"

Cyrus kisses my head. "Moon Stone headquarters. There are enough apartments for everyone."

"I wanted to see things again."

"Monte and Glinda. This is your car."

"We can do things. This just keeps us in the same spot. What did you want to see?"

"I don't know. The nun trip museums were interesting."

They laugh and Drogon hugs me. "I love you, babygirl."

"Mary, you and your security are in this one."

Atlas goes outside, so I sneak away and follow him out. He looks at me and laughs. "You're going to make your security have a melt down."

"They're used to me. What are you doing out here?"

"Giving the press something to photograph." He points to the other side of the pickup area.

I wave at them and take a step. Cyrus grabs my arm. "No."

Chris comes running out. "Why are they keeping us in there? I need air."

"Same. I want to move around and breathe."

Chris points at Cyrus's hand. "You're not getting anywhere. He's got a death grip on you."

"I noticed. They're afraid I'll get kidnapped by nuns again."

Atlas cracks up laughing. "You should have brought your robes."

"I really should have."

"Get back in there." Conner points at the door. "You can wait 3 minutes."

I pass Clayton at the door. Him and Conner get in a car. Then Cyrus and his brothers. Then I get in one with Drogon. Chris and Akmae must be riding with Mike.

It's only about a 10-minute drive. I don't know why we had to go through all that.

The king and queen are standing right inside the door. "King Winter. Queen Sage. Welcome."

"Thank you." Drogon shakes the king's hand.

I stare off into space and wonder why we're being so formal.

"Of course. How was the flight?"

"Long." I run to Conner and Clayton. These people are boring. Clayton stands there laughing at me.

Mike comes in last and shakes their hands. Then they finally decide to give us rooms. I find Chris and lay on his couch. "We need to go out and do something."

"I know. Maybe we can take some guards and go shopping." Someone knocks on the door and Chris yells, "I'M NOT GETTING UP."

Clayton, Conner, and Akmae come in and sit with us. Clayton smirks. "You are the least royal person ever."

I shrug my shoulders. "Orphan mutt. Nothing about me is royal."

"Well, you can't walk away from a queen when she's talking to you. You should know that."

"How? People do it to me all the time."

Chris nods. "We're bad examples. There are a bunch of rules that are stupid though. Like no one can step in front of you. You don't have to wait in line. Your helicopter doesn't wait. Everyone has to stand when you enter a room. They can't turn their backs on you if you're talking."

"Nobody ever does that s**t. Well, my helicopter won't wait."

Clayton nods. "Yea, Darkburn is relaxed about that stuff. You should probably still know the rules though. So you don't upset other royals."

I crack up laughing. "King and Queen Stone are the last ones left, and I'm about to be their daughter-in-law."

"You do have a point. Maybe it doesn't matter for you."

Chris nods. "She's only going to be queen for a little over a year. It would take that long to learn the etiquette, and then she'll step down anyway. There's no point."

Clayton puts his feet on the table. "You know... You're about to be first in line for the Eldervale throne?"

"UGH." I rub my face. "I didn't even want to do this. I wanted to be normal."

Conner rubs my feet. "Go to school. We got this, babygirl. We'll be normal soon enough."

Chris smiles at me. "You're going to be a princess again."

"Wonderful."

"I'M NOT GETTING UP."

Mike and Dacious come in and stare at us.

"What?"

"All that time sitting on the plane, now you're refusing to get up?"

"These seats are a hell of a lot better than plane seats."

Clayton stretches. "Let's do something."

"What?"

"Get drunk and corrupt Eldervale."

I get up. "I want to take a nap and stretch out in a real bed. Y'all have fun with that."

I go over to Drogon's room. He's not here. He's probably off being king with the other royals. I order some stuff to make truffles off his laptop. I need some alone time. A girl brings it 15 minutes later. They are fast here.

I melt the chocolate and add the cream. Then I roll it.

I love Cyrus. I know I do. I want to be his wife. Everything is so easy with him. But I'm a liar. He doesn't know anything about the drugs or Edwardo. I'm hiding so much from him. If he knew the truth, he wouldn't want to marry me. Nobody would. I need to figure out a way out of drug smuggling. People are dying and it's my fault. After I get out of it, at least it will be over. The stress is really starting to eat at me. Why did I sign that paper? Did I really think my dad was a good man? I'm just like he was. We're horrible people. No one should be doomed to a life with me.

I should disappear to Edwardo's house and never talk to anyone again. At least I couldn't hurt anyone else. No more lies. Just me surviving on my own. I feel like that's what my life was supposed to be anyway.

But I can't go into this marriage lying to Cyrus. I have to tell him the truth. If he runs away, so be it. And I have to get out of the deal with Akley before the stress kills me.

Tingles flow from my shoulders. "Why are you so upset, babygirl?" Drogon kisses the back of my shoulder and wraps his arms around me.

"I'm tired, Drogon."

"Let's go to dinner, then we'll have an early night."

The dining room is done up fancy. Mike sits at our end and the rest of us sit down the sides of the table. King Stone is at the other end. His mate, Arrow, some people I don't know, and his boys sit with him. I stare at my plate while he gives a speech. He's happy we can all have dinner together. I guess my dad and King Gold never tried to make contact unless it was that annual ball. This is special. "As kings and queens we should do this more often. We can learn from each other and share technology. It will better our cities. Again, thank you all for coming."

Then Queen Stone stands up. This should be interesting. "Thank you all for coming. As you know, my son went and fell in love." She smiles at me. "Not with a royal girl like we were all thinking." Everyone starts laughing. "But I know..." I stand up and glare at her. She shuts right up.

"I know I'm not royal. Hell, even the news tells me that at this point. I'm a terrible queen. I know. But I don't care. I never wanted the throne in Darkburn. But my dad went and got himself killed and guess what? The oldest heir is nothing but an orphan mutt. Now we're all fucked." Mike grabs my wrist and I yank it away from him. "I have never wanted the throne in Crystal Falls. I'm never even going to acknowledge it after I bond with Mike. What is so completely messed up though, is that you know this. But yet, you are pushing for me to marry Cyrus, the heir of the Eldervale throne. Your own firstborn son. You are going to put me, the orphan mutt, as the heir to Eldervale." I cross my arms. "At this point, I believe, royal means crazy. You are crazy. My dad was really f*****g insane. Mary had to be crazy. If she wasn't at first, I'm sure my dad made her that way eventually. We all know the Golds were nuts. Clayton..." I rub my eyes.

Clayton cracks up laughing. "You really are royal. You're just as crazy."

I roll my eyes. "I'm going to bed. You people make me crazy."

"I thought you already did that?"

"No, Chris. I made 400 truffles instead. They're in my room. Good night."

"We're going to eat dinner first. Bring the truffles." Chris pushes me into my seat.

"Yes, sir." A girl runs out.

Mary fills my wine. "You're not wrong."

I stare at her. "The crazy is rubbing off on me."

Every single person bursts out laughing.

Then Queen Stone stands up again. "That was the best speech I've heard in a very long time. But the truth is, I see how much my son loves you. He is completely in love with you and I don't want him to get hurt. I don't understand or believe your blood tests. The entire situation is a lot to accept. Because of that, I was pushing for the 2 of you to get married as soon as possible. United in the eyes of the Moon Goddess. Should nothing go to your plan, if the blood test is wrong, if everything you planned for goes wrong, you will already be his wife. He will still have his happily ever after. And now, I will stop. Marriage is a decision the two of you have to make. Not me. But he is my son and I will do anything I can to protect him. I may have gone a little overboard with this one."

"A little?" Atlas laughs.

King Stone rubs her hand. "It wasn't that bad, sweetheart. They're soulmates after all. It's not like it changes anything."

Cyrus comes down to my seat and drops to his knee. "Will you marry me on Saturday, baby?"

I fall off my seat and hug him. "Yes. A thousand times, yes. I love you."

"I love you too." He helps me up. "The wedding is still on."

Dacious stands up and dings his glass. "Congratulations to my brother, he finally got our mother to back off on the crazy."

I crack up laughing.

She jumps up again. "GRAND BABIES."

"NO." I point at her. "NO. I am on birth control. I am not doing that yet. Sit down. No. No babies yet. Don't even think about it."

She sits down and pouts.

Dacious looks at Cyrus. "I may have spoken too soon."

Cyrus laughs and sits beside me in the middle of the table. Then he signals for the food.

We snuggle and eat until the king stands up. "And now you need to separate."

"What?"

Cyrus kisses my head. "It's a custom. People getting married don't see each other the entire day before the wedding. It's supposed to bring good luck."

"What do you do?"

"No idea. If you don't want to do it, we don't have to."

The queen jumps up. "You have to. It's the way it is."

Dacious nods. "I really spoke too soon."

"We can." I lay my head on his shoulder. "I'll miss you. I was hoping to talk to you later."

She shakes her head. "You can talk after the wedding. You'll miss each other by Saturday, and it'll make your first time seeing each other even more special."

"Alright."

Cyrus gives me a kiss then leaves with his brothers.

"Where's he going?"

"He's still here. You just don't see each other until Saturday." His mom sits down. "He'll probably work all day tomorrow. Don't go to his office."

I wonder if this seems as crazy to anybody else as it does to me. "Well, good night everyone. This has been entertaining."

Clayton shoves a truffle in his mouth. "It really has. Good night."