Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3) (57 page)

"It is what I want, for everyone to see the women I love, on either side of me."

"I... Alright... if that's what you want."

"It is."

A knock on the door had them all turning before it opened and Deffand entered, followed by Green. The hall behind them was filled with the men from both guards.

"Majesties," Deffand bowed to all three. "It's time."

"Why is Kort here?" she asked looking to Jotham. "He and his men were supposed to have the night off."

"That was before we were informed of your change in status, Majesty," Deffand spoke first.

"But..."

"It's necessary, Jacinda," Jotham informed her. "Let them do their job. It makes them feel needed."

Jotham's words caused every man to stiffen.

"They are needed!" Jacinda immediately defended the guards. "They perform a very important and dangerous duty!"

Barek hid his smile. He knew exactly what his father was doing. Not only was he causing Jacinda to accept the guards presence, but by her defending them, he was cementing their loyalty to her.

"Then what are we arguing about?" Jotham asked gently and watched Jacinda open her mouth to only close it again, her expressive eyebrow shooting up.

"Sneaky, my love, very sneaky. I see I'm going to have my hands full with you."

"That you are," he agreed. "Shall we go?"

Taking a deep breath, she nodded, "Yes."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Deffand and the King's guard took the lead while Green and the Queen's followed behind, surrounding the Royals with their protection. Jacinda and Jotham walked in front while Barek walked to her left and just slightly behind.

Jotham could feel the tension growing in Jacinda with every step they took, her grip on his arm tightening.

"Relax, my love. It will be fine."

Jotham's words drew Barek's gaze and he too could see her tension. He didn't like it, and raised his gaze to his father but found Jotham had stopped and turned Jacinda toward him causing everyone to stop.

"We don't have to do this right now if you want more time to become comfortable with everything before we announce our engagement," Jotham told her. "I just felt this would be the easiest way. I'm sorry. I should have consulted you first. Barek can represent the House of Protection. Jotham's hands went to the latch on his robe, ready to remove it to give to Barek.

"No," Jacinda covered his hand with hers stopping him, her eyes full of love but firm. "You have nothing to be sorry for and now is the perfect time. I'm the one who's sorry. I shouldn't be this nervous; I have you at my side." Stretching up slightly, she gently kissed his lips. "Let’s do this." Turning, she nodded to Deffand and they started to walk again.

As they exited the more secure wing, Jacinda could hear the music change announcing the arrival of a Royal, and knew her life was about to change forever. Smiling, she knew she was ready for it too.

Chapter Thirty-Four

The guards parted and moved to the side and slightly behind as they reached the entrance to the Ball. Their move allowed the Royals to be seen, but they could still react quickly if the need arose.

The applause that immediately began as the guards parted started to dwindle as people realized that someone was standing
between
Jotham and Barek. A low murmur began to ripple through all of the Houses, and even the Royals, as people began to not only recognize
who
stood between them but that she wore the betrothal circlet.

Doing something never before done at the entrance of a King, Jotham turned Jacinda toward him and kissed her, so there would be no doubt that she was to be
his
Queen.

Jacinda put a startled hand on his chest but returned the kiss whole-heartedly. Her nerves had passed and she was now ready to take her place next to the man she loved.

When the kiss ended, Jotham held out his arm and Jacinda confidently placed her hand on it allowing him to lead her through the crowd and toward her new life.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"Oh, my...." Evadne Terwilliger's faintly spoken words seemed to echo the feelings of the entire contingency from the House of Protection especially those that recognized Jacinda. Never, had the House of Protection shone so brightly or appeared so regal and it was all due to Jacinda.

The embellishments on the gown she wore resembled the well-worn gold of the House of Healing, but when combined with the House of Protection violet, it seemed to represent something more, the healing of a House.

Evander spun around to give Danton an assessing look, one that Danton silently returned. "You have some explaining to do, young man."

"I don't think there's anything that needs to be explained. Do you?"

Evander turned back to look at Jacinda walking up to the other Royals, the bridal circlet seeming to glow on her head and smiled. "No, I guess there's not."

"No!" Adelaide gasped not caring who heard her. "No! That is not possible!"

"And why is that?" Danton asked, watching as Adelaide Pajari's face became nearly as violet as her obnoxious gown as her gaze followed his mother's progress toward the other Royals.

"Because she's not even
from
the House of Protection," Adelaide spat out her eyes still on Jacinda.

"I believe
the King
is well aware of that," Evander told her.

"Then he should know that this breaks the Law!" Adelaide rounded on the elder Assemblyman and Danton quickly stepped between them.

"There is nothing in the law that states
the King
must wed within his House." Danton's eyes were hard as he looked down at the woman who he now realized was poisonous to his House. "Only that the
heir
must. That was established with Queen Cassandra's Union to the High Admiral."

"
That
doesn't matter! In addition, someone like
you
will not lecture
me
!
This
is the House of Protection and that
woman
," her arm arrowed out to point at Jacinda, "doesn't belong in it.

Danton's eyes narrowed, "I'm sure the King would
love
to hear your opinion of his future
Queen
, Madame Pajari, and before you say anything else let me remind you that she is also
my mother
and I will not tolerate you speaking ill of her in my
presence
."

"How dare you!" Adelaide puffed out her chest indignantly. "I'm..."

"The
wife
of an Assemblyman." Danton's eyes were hard as they met hers. "While I
am
an Assemblyman. Perhaps you need to be reminded of
your
place in this House."

"How
dare
you! Elliott!" Adelaide turned to her husband for support.

"Shut. Up. Adelaide." Elliott told her in short, sharp sentences causing everyone there to look at him in shock, including Adelaide. "Assemblyman Michelakakis, I apologize for my wife. She has been unwell for some time and I believe it would be for the best if we were to excuse ourselves."

"I think that would be best," Danton agreed and watched as Elliott dragged his struggling wife away, the other members of their Assembly parting to allow them a rapid exit.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Cassandra didn't try to hide her smile as Jacinda and Jotham approached, even though she was as surprised as everyone else. She had never doubted Jotham's feelings for Jacinda, but she thought it would take him a little while longer to propose. It seemed Jotham was a lot like William, once he found the woman he wanted, he didn't waste any time making her his.

"I, Queen Cassandra and my King, High Admiral William Zafar, would like to formally welcome the House of Protection to the House of Knowledge. Welcome, King Jotham, future Queen Jacinda and Prince Barek." Cassandra recited the formal greeting that was standard at the Royal Ball. Cassandra found the rhetoric tedious, and it was only because William's hand lightly squeezed her waist, that she stopped her eyes from rolling as she spoke.

"Thank you, Queen Cassandra.
King
William." Jotham's lips twitched as he used the title he knew irritated his life-long friend. The slight narrowing of William's eyes was William's only response, but it told Jotham he would get even as he recited the required reply. "On behalf of the House of Protection, it is an honor to be here."

"Thank you, Queen Cassandra. High Admiral Zafar," Jacinda used the title Cassandra had used, knowing it was what Will preferred. When she automatically went to bow her head, Cassandra's quietly hissed 'No' stopped her and Jacinda's eyes flew to hers.

"You are a Queen now, Jacinda," Cassandra whispered for her ears only. "You bow to no one."

"She's right," Jotham leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I'm sorry, I should have said something."

"Queen Cassandra. High Admiral Zafar. I also wish to thank you." Barek spoke, drawing everyone's attention as his father quietly spoke to Jacinda. "It is truly an honor to be here."

"Prince Barek," Cassandra stepped outside of protocol and gave him an honest, open smile. "The pleasure is all ours."

"Thank you, Queen Cassandra, and might I just ask, how is it you grow more beautiful every time I see you?" His words had the High Admiral grunting at him in displeasure as Cassandra laughed.

"You, Prince Barek, are truly incorrigible. Just like a few other House of Protection men I know." Cassandra's eyes traveled from Barek to her husband.

"I do not believe it is just the men from the House of Protection, Queen Cassandra," King Yusuf stepped up now that the formal greetings had been finished. "The men from the House of Healing can be just as incorrigible, given the chance. Prince Barek, wonderful to see you again."

"King Yusuf," Barek acknowledged the greeting.

"Jotham," Yusuf turned his attention to him.

"Yusuf," Jotham returned the greeting already knowing whom Yusuf really wanted to speak.

"And Jacinda...." Yusuf let his eyes travel over her, lingering a little longer than was polite. "It's been a long time."

"It has Yusuf," Jacinda acknowledged. "Over fifteen cycles, if I'm not mistaken. When the Royal Ball was held at the House of Healing."

"Yes, you attended it with your husband. An Assemblyman from the House of Protection?"

"Yes. Stephan. He's been with the ancestors for ten cycles now."

"He has?" Yusuf frowned. "I'm sorry. I wasn't aware of that fact."

"Why would you be? As you said, Stephan was from the House of Protection."

"Yes, but you are from the House of Healing, the daughter of one of
our
Assemblyman. I should have been made aware of such a thing. After all, our families have been close for generations." Yusuf moved a step closer invading Jacinda's personal space. "Had I known, I would have assisted you in your time of need."

Jacinda felt Jotham stiffen at her side and knew he understood exactly how Yusuf meant to 'assist' her. "While I
appreciate
the sentiment, Yusuf," Jacinda gave him a hard look. She wasn't going to let anyone, King or not, talk to her like that. "It is unnecessary and
unwanted
. While honored to say I was born in the House of Healing, my true destiny has always been tied to the House of Protection. It's where I belong. Standing beside the man I love." Jacinda's gaze traveled to the woman who was coming up to stand behind Yusuf. "Hello, Pima, you are looking as wonderful as ever."

"Jacinda." Pima put a hand on her husband's arm not acknowledging the compliment. "This is a surprise."

"It's good to see you too," Jacinda answered as if Pima had given the appropriate response. "How are your children?"

Manners finally kicked in forcing Pima to reply. "They are well. And yours?"

"Fine. Just fine."

Cassandra signaled for the music before turning to William, "I believe that we should start the Ball. Shall we, my love?"

Lifting her hand, William kissed the ring he placed there at their Union. "It would be an honor, my love." With that, he led her to the floor.

"Jacinda?" Jotham held out his arm.

"That would be truly lovely." She took his arm and let him lead her away.

Soon every Royal followed and the Ball officially began.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"What do you think you are doing, Elliott?!!" Adelaide demanded ripping her arm from his as he pulled her from the room.

"I am stopping you from making a complete idiot of yourself. King Jotham knows
exactly
what he's doing and he is within the law! Do you want to be arrested for threatening the King and his future Queen?"

Elliott's mind was flying. He needed to get out of here and disappear. Tonight! Everything was now making perfect sense. The in-depth investigation into the Sokol Corporation had to be because Jacinda told Jotham about Stephan's investigation. An investigation he'd stopped after Stephan's death. If that was true, then they were much closer to discovering his deceit then he ever imagined.

"No one would
dare
arrest
me
," railed Adelaide.

"You truly believe that, don't you?" Elliott looked at her in disbelief. "That the
King
is going to defer to
you
? You have lost your mind, Adelaide.
No one
will support you against King Jotham including me."

"I always knew you were
weak,
Elliott."

"Better weak than crazy, Adelaide. Now I am leaving. Are you coming?"

"No! Someone has to keep this atrocity from happening." With that, Adelaide stormed back into the Ball.

Elliott watched Adelaide leave in disbelief. He moved toward one of the guards to inform them that she could be a possible threat then paused. If he warned them, they would prevent him from leaving and he needed to leave, get Bebe, and get off this planet.

Spinning on his heel he pulled his comm out of his pocket and left the House of Knowledge.