2021, February 17th
(Capital City, Caspira)
NATHAN
"I'm standing in Imperium International Airport, awaiting the return of the Archduchess of Imperium, Her Grace, Keira Dormer. The excitement coming off the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of Her Grace, is riveting. Perhaps more so owing to the rumours that Her Grace brings with her the future Archduke of Imperium, His Highness, Prince Aiden Condron. Will Stormhold and Caspira join hands in the form of marriage? Stay with me and the astounding crowd that's gathered here today to find out," said the reporter on the TV.
"You can't be serious," John exploded, turning away from the TV to look at me. "I think I would know if my brother was about to marry Stormhold's archduchess," John said with a scoff, the look of surprise and shock deepening on his face.
"Would you? None of us has really seen that much of Aiden since he left for Maine," Lord Bart, Princess Caroline's husband and Princess Jane's brother, argued.
Both women gave him annoyed looks.
"Just saying. Stranger things," a nonchalant Bart said with a shrug.
Positively giddy with amusement, I slapped John on the shoulder.
"I know, I know! Me too! Bated breath! The reporter lady's super compelling. I mean spoiler, it's true, but still. I can't stop watching," I said, playing it up.
Queen Cassandra and I exchanged looks and my smile faded.
"Not happy, number six?" I asked, aware of the power the new queen of Caspira held in her country and my own.
"This wasn't part of the deal. I'm not letting this marriage happen," Cassandra answered flatly.
"What deal?" King Henry asked, looking at his wife.
"Your idiot kid, no offense John, screwed up the handover and we lost Kate. You know how this works, Cass. We don't ask questions, we just fall in line," I said, my voice taking on an icy tone.
They needed to know I meant business. I wasn't trying to mess with their heads. Just keep things civil. My job was to protect The Queen of Assassins', even if I was staring down an entire royal family.
Before Cassandra could respond, my eyes fell on Keira and Aiden emerging from our private jet on the TV screen.
"Here they come," I said, the giddy grin back on my face.
This was a complete shitshow. Good thing I lived for shit like this.
(Imperium, Stormhold)
AIDEN
I had no clue what I was doing as Keira and I stepped off the plane arm in arm. I turned my head to take her in. Her face was set in a rigid, flawless mask, completely devoid of anything that might give away how she felt. Gone was the woman who had spent the last few hours crying in my arms. The Keira next to me held her head high like the archduchess she was. I could let go right here and now and walk away from her. She wouldn't stop me. Who knows what kind of scandal that would invite though?
"All you have to do is keep walking. Just walk with me Denny," said her steady, controlled voice.
No sooner had she said it than I stopped and disconnected my arm from hers. I tossed her a look over my shoulder. Her mask stayed perfectly intact as she watched me walk out to the crowd that had gathered to welcome us.
Despite reporters surrounding both her and me, her face wasn't the only thing frozen in place, all of Keira stopped. I looked back at her and her face broke out into a smile. That fucking smile hurt like a bitch. My world was okay as long as I could see her. Still I couldn't stay. We just weren't meant to be.
When I turned away in an attempt to keep going, my gaze landed on a bouquet of flowers. I saw them and instantly knew I was about to do something stupid.
Surely I wasn't being rational as I knelt in front of the little boy with the bouquet of Irises and Lavender in hand. That single child holding that specific bouquet yanked me right out of my present and took me back to a simpler time. What the bloody hell was I doing?
"I'm Aiden. What's your name?" I asked, offering the child my best smile.
"John," the little boy answered shyly.
"No kidding. That's my brother's name."
My brother John, who was going to blow a gasket when he saw this. There was still time. I could just go back and walk with Keira like she said. I didn't have to do this very idiotic thing. Whatever the hell it was.
"Are those for me?" I forged on, ignoring my impulse to flee.
Little John shook his head no.
"They're for the pretty lady. I'm going to ask her to marry me."
I chuckled. I've been where you are, kid. It doesn't end well.
"You're a little young for her, don't you think?"
John shook his head no.
"Has to be her, huh? Yeah, I know how you feel."
John stepped closer to me and poked at one of two chains around my neck. I froze, almost yanking his little fingers right off the chain only Keira had the right to touch. Instead, I took a deep breath and shook it off. I was long overdue to take the damn things off. I just… didn't know how.
Determined not to frighten a little boy, I smoothly replaced the chain he latched onto with the other.
"You like that? How about a trade? The flowers for the chain."
Again John shook his head no, but his eyes shined as he reluctantly withdrew from the chain.
"No go huh? Well alright then, let's go and meet your future wife," I said, taking the chain I was willing to part with, having won it at some random poker game, off and putting it around the kid's neck.
Giving Keira Mary's ring in a similar way played out behind my eyes, furthering the delusions in my head that what I was doing was harmless.
"Thank you," the little boy beamed, then happily took my hand in his.