I had barely slept last night. I had gone back to the coronation easing everyone’s concerns. Jayde eventually returned too. She had personally made sure that everyone that had been in Sy’s castle had a guest room and fresh clothes and food. Isadora and Philip had left to help Jayde.
When Jayde returned she was all smiles. She greeted and introduced herself to more guests and toward the end of the night I noticed she and one of her seamstresses deep in conversation. I excused myself from the crowd and made my way to Jayde. I was sure I would have a black eye tomorrow but tonight all I wanted was Jayde.
“May I have this dance?” I said to her as she looked up at me with a wide smile lighting up her angelic features.
“Of course your majesty.” She said teasingly. “Excuse me, Cara, but I find it impossible to deny a king a dance.” She winked at her and took my hand.
A slow song started appropriately. I held Jayde’s waist and one of her hands slipped into my open hand.
“Everyone is settled comfortably including Sy.” She looked away for me as tears threatened. “He is so upset. I’m really worried about him, Kohl.”
“He will get through this he has something he has never had before.” I said matter of factly.
“What is that?” She asked curiously.
“You. A friend. He will benefit from having you around.” She smiled.
“Even while upset Sy came up with a solution to all of our problems with the treaty.” She whispered hoping no one overheard us.
“He accepts the fact that we want to be married.”
“Really.” I coughed out incredulously. The more she told me about Sy the less I believed. Sometimes I just thought he was saying things to get Jayde on his side. Yet, he knew he lost or had he? He was still king and he didn’t have to marry Jayde in the process. That sounded like a win for Sy.
“We marry our children. Make one ruling family.” Hmmmm. “Well?” Jayde asked when I hadn’t said anything.
“It could work.” I said tentatively. It sounded like a good plan we take care of the merging of my and Jayde’s line and we completely eliminate the tri-ruling families so no future wars could exist.
“What about love?”
“Love never factored into being a ruler.” I replied automatically. My uncle had reminded me of that my entire life especially in regards to the treaty. I thought I would never be happy with Jayde and here I was in love with her. Not seeing myself without her by my side.
She looked down avoiding meeting my eyes again. Damn I was an ass. “It’s different for us. We’re lucky. Normally, love is not what makes a ruling marriage work. Obligation, respect, mutual understanding that’s what our parents’ marriages were based on. Their parents had betrothed them to their spouse in hopes of maintaining royal and noble blood in our line and maintaining a steady income for the royal family.”
“So it was all about how rich you were?” She huffed disappointed. I may have disillusioned her parents’ marriage for her but it was what Sy and I had been raised with. Of course our parents cared for each other and loved us, it was just understood that there were greater things than true love. I didn’t know how to tell her this without further breaking Jayde’s heart.
“It’s about improving the kingdom. Everything we do is for the kingdom. Like your vows stated we are servants to the people of Encante.” She nodded still not meeting my eyes.
The song ended and eventually the guests left. I didn’t find Jayde at the end of the night. In the hopes of building some sort of mutually beneficial relationship with Sy. I stopped at his room. He answered a glass of scotch in his hand as he glowered at me.
“Are you here to say you did it?” He slurred angrily. He slammed back the remaining amber liquid in his cup.
“No, I am here to tell you personally, I didn’t. I also wanted to ask if you wanted Jayde and I to accompany you tomorrow to see the damage?”
He blinked and stared at me for a solid minute. He had obviously had a lot to drink.
“Thank you, Kohl.” He said slamming the door in my face. I wasn’t sure if that answered my question, but I doubted I would get more out of him in his drunken state. I could sympathize. I don’t think I’d be sober if I had lost everything that me and my family had spent so long building.
Dawn crept up as I laid in bed and thought of the colossal mess I had to clean up at this press conference. Sy’s outburst, Jayde’s speech. Hell, I wasn’t sure two hours was going to be enough time to answer everyone’s questions. I might have to clear my afternoon.
A knock came at my door around six. Jayde slipped in fully dressed in dark jeans and a flowy navy blouse.
“Are you ready?” She asked somberly.
“Ready for what?” I said sitting up in bed.
She looked at me oddly. “Sy said that you asked to accompany him to the castle. I thought you would be ready by now.” She said rolling her eyes letting a little bit of the old Jayde slip by.
I sat up in bed. He wanted me to go. “I’ll be downstairs in ten minutes.” I said sliding out of bed. Jayde came forward. She was glowing. She kissed me.
“As queen, I deem that I can do that whenever I want.” She said devilishly. I pulled her to me.
“Whatever you say my queen.” I said kissing her again only longer and more drawn out. She let out a soft sigh. “I have to get ready or we might not ever leave my room.” She nodded and with one last kiss she left.
The ride to Sy’s was quiet and uncomfortable. Jayde had sat between Sy and I as all three of our assistants made the trip and Sy’s well fed assistant nearly pushed Isa on Philip’s lap. No one said a word as we pushed forward, even Jayde kept surprisingly quiet as she seemed to take in the somber mood.
We stopped rather abruptly. Reggie and Sy were the first out. When I finally got out of the carriage I couldn't believe my eyes. We were staring at rubble. Nothing even resembled a castle. There were no remaining walls, furniture. It was a mess. As I looked at Sy take it all in with a cool detachment. I finally felt bad. This was horrible. Whoever had done this was going to pay. Jayde walked to Sy and slid her hand into his. Saying reassuring words to him. She seemed to have a way with words and knew exactly what to say to calm someone down. I walked toward them watching my steps.
“I’m sorry, Sy. We are going to find who did this.”
“How do we find a ghost?” Sy said darkly. Jayde and I looked at each other and then back at Sy.
“What are you talking about, Sy?” Jayde said as gently as she could. He started walking and Jayde was right beside him. Her hand still in his. I followed struggling to keep up.
Sy stopped and looked down. In the destruction was an unmistakable symbol. Inexpertly drawn was a hill with a flag rising above the hill.
“What does that mean?” Jayde asked waiting for either Sy or I to answer. When Sy made no motion to answer I did.
“It’s the sign of the uprising.”
Jayde’s green eyes widened. “The Uprising? Like the Uprising from twenty years ago? The Uprising that killed your mother?” Jayde said staring at Sy.
How did Jayde know about the Uprising? Killed Sy’s mother? I was missing a huge puzzle piece.
Sy nodded. “They would be one and the same, love.” His voice was hoarse with pent up emotion.
Jayde’s arms wrapped around Sy. “We are going to stop them. No one is usurping us.”
“I’m afraid we might be too late.” Sy replied darkly.
I stared back at the symbol. It was never too late. We hadn’t failed our people. We could gain back their support. We could win.
“We can do this together.” I said disrupting Sy’s dark thoughts. He looked up at me understanding my meaning.
“We really are going to try this tri-ruling thing again?” He asked.
“I don’t think we could fight the Uprising otherwise.” Sy looked at Jayde as she let go of him.
“
Okay.” Sy said after several moments of silence. “I’m in.”
“I guess now you both choose to listen to your queen.” Jayde snidely replied.
Looking for more by Lyza Ledo?
Encante Series
Enchanted
Enlightened (Coming in 2015)
Deserted Series
Deserted (Coming in Fall 2014)
Secrets Trilogy (Available at your favorite Ebook Retailer)
Secret’s Out
Hidden
Revelations
The Rena Files Series(Available at your favorite Ebook Retailer)
The Rena Files
Puzzled
Familiar
Return
Freefall
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