Erondale

Chapter 20

Christopher

Today is the today that I return home. I can not wait. It has been a hard year. Learning that something killed a large amount of subjects, in such a short time, during Raleigh’s birthday almost made me come back. I was panicked.

Erin assured me that she, meaning Raleigh, was fine. The amount of injured and dead was staggering though. I had lost a few friends in that attack. My father sent word that I was to stay put, no matter what I felt.

A few weeks later, I got word that the Regent, Reginald, was in charge because my father had passed. To say that I was livid, is an understatement. I knew this day was coming. That didn’t lesson the pain and anger any.

He didn’t want me to come home. It hurt. It hurt that I didn’t get to see him off. It hurt that I didn’t light his pyre. It hurt that my Mother had to handle it all by herself. It hurt that..it just hurt.

I didn’t visit Erin after that. I worked on my training. I worked out, perfected my sword fighting skills, perfected my navigation skills, and perfected my cooking skills. I don’t think that I look like the same me. My clothes that I brought no longer fit.

I definitely caught the ladies attentions. I couldn’t walk anywhere without one of them practically drooling all over me. It was sort of annoying. That’s not to say that I didn’t use that to my advantage. I am a single male after all. Who wouldn’t want to have a little fun to blow off steam?

I tried dating a few times. I couldn’t get Raleigh out of my heart. I figured that if I found someone that I could get close to, I would be able to get over her. Rachael was my first attempt. She was sexy. She had long, smooth legs, that made her the same height as me at six feet. Her long wavy brown hair reached the middle of her back and I loved wrapping my hands in it. Especially as I took her from behind.

However, she ended up being a possessive psycho. Ever girl that even looked at me would end up with at least a broken tooth, if not a few broken arms. They didn’t even have to be flirting with me. It could have just been an accidental glance. It didn’t help that my heart wasn’t into the relationship.

I just couldn’t get Rae out of my heart. It’s not like Rachael and Kim didn’t try. Kimberly was the complete opposite of psycho Rachael. I broke up with Rachael after the third girl was hospitalized. She didn’t take it too well. Her brother eventually took her back to their home. That’s when I met Kim.

She was sweet and gentle. She had soft, short, blonde straight hair. She loved to be romantic. So, I set up candle lit dinners for her at least once a week. We could be in bed for hours. Her sweet little moans told me how well she thought I was doing. Yet, again, I could not get Rae out of my system. I felt doomed to never be happy. Kim broke it off with me when she realized that I harbored feelings for another.

I know that I am supposed to meet my powerful queen. However, that isn’t supposed to happen until a specific night. Selene, the moon goddess, and apparently whoever I am descended from is supposed to give me a visit the night that it happens.

It’s just that I’m lonely and I really need to get over Rae. I don’t want her hurt, especially from my Queen. What if she is as possessive as Rachael? Not to mention that Raleigh has her own secret. A secret that we all know about. She’s the only one that doesn’t know. I don’t know why her mother is afraid to tell her. For that matter, I don’t know why my own father never told me who we were descended from. Why is it all such a secret?

Now, it’s time to return. Since I haven’t talked to Erin in a year, I don’t know what to expect when I get home. I hope Reginald has done a good job. I know that my father chose him for a reason. It’s just that it’s been so long. I’m nervous that I will fail.

The carriage stopping brings me out of my thoughts. This is it. We’re here. I take a deep breath and look out of the window. Everything looks the same. Except that my father isn’t here to greet me. That thought almost brings tears to my eyes, almost.

“We’re here, your Highness.” David says.

“Yes, I know. Give me a minute, please.”

“As you wish.”

I take a few moments to get my bearings. Tonight, there is going to be my coronation. I hope it’s a small private party. There are some people, namely Rae, that I don’t really feel like seeing. Deciding it’s time, I step out of the carriage. That’s when I see my new friend Preston, also known as Rachael’s brother, walk down the steps.

“What are you doing here, man?” I ask him, surprised.

“You didn’t think that I would actually miss your coronation, did you?” He asks, pretending to be offended.

I chuckle. “Of course not.” I look around to see if Rachael is with him. “Um, is..”

Before I finish my question, I hear a squeal. My heart seizes. I turn around just in time to catch a jumping Rachel.

“Rach! What a surprise!” I say, instead of saying what’s really on my mind.

She peppers my face with kisses. “Oh, I missed you Chris.” She jumps down and looks at me. “Wow, you’ve gotten bigger.” She says as she licks her lips.

I push her away gently. “Rachael. We are not together anymore, remember?”

She pouts. “Aw, I thought that was just temporary. You know you missed me.” She says as she rubs up against me.

I glance over at her brother, trying to convey with my eyes that he needs to take a hold of her.

“Rachael, you’re a princess. You need to start acting like one.” He brother scolds.

“Shut up, Pres. You really need to stay in your own business.” She snaps.

“I am your elder, and will be your King. Do not presume that just because you are my sister that I will not punish you.” He scolds.

She rolls her eyes, in annoyance, and places her hands on her hips.“You won’t be King for another few years.”

“Alright, fine then, how about I tell Father all about your little excursions.”

Her eyes almost bug out of her eyes.“You wouldn’t!”

“I would. Now, leave the young soon to be King alone. He has a coronation to prepare for.”

She glances back at me and smiles a predatory smile. “See you later, Handsome.” She winks at me. “Besides, I need to get ready as well.” She runs a finger down my chest. “You will want to eat me up after you see what I am wearing.”

I doubt that, I think. I just smile at her. “I’ll see you later, Rach.”

Preston guides her back to the castle and I glance at my guards. They are looking away. You can tell that they are disgusted by that interaction but they don’t say anything. It’s just as well, I really didn’t want to hear their opinions. I am disgusted with myself enough.

It’s time to get ready.

A few hours later, Preston has come. His pacing is about to drive me insane.

“Are you okay, Pres?”

“No! My sister is driving me insane. How can we even be related?”

I chuckle. “You mean, your sister is insane.”

He glances at me. “Lord help me for saying this but yes, yes, she is.”

“I’m really sorry that I ever got mixed up with her.”

“You and me both. You know that you’re not the first guy that she was with. I don’t know what you did but she is completely obsessed with you. You better watch your back.”

“I told her from the start that it would never be final. I already have a queen somewhere.”

“Yeah, well, she thinks that it’s her. She is adamant that it’s her and that you’re just being stubborn.”

I shiver. I hope that it isn’t her. A knock sounds on my door, and Preston answers it.

“Good evening, Reginald.”

“Good evening, Prince. Is Christopher ready?”

“I am ready, Reginald. You may come in.”

Reginald enters with a smile on his face. He walks over to me briskly and wraps me up in a hug.

“I am so proud of you. I have always felt like you were my nephew. I can not wait to make you King.” He glances over at Preston. “Also, Prince, you’re father has sent word.”

“Oh?”

“He has requested that you stay here for the next few years. He says that it is only fair considering that Chris has spent the last few years in your Kingdom.”

“Well, that is true. Though he wasn’t the only one.”

“I guess he feels that the two of you have bonded. And, seeing as you are here, it seems to me that you have as well. He wants you to enjoy your last few years and enjoy your time in another territory.”

“And what about Rachael?” I ask.

“Oh, that wretched girl is going to be headed home right after your ceremony Christopher.”

We all chuckle.

“It’s time for the ceremony, Chris. It’s only a small attendance as per your father’s request. Only enough people to witness.”

I nod. It’s time to do this. “Lead the way, Reginald.”