Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3) (21 page)

"Of course I do! And that day will come and then it will be forever, but you still have so much life to live. There is still so much you need to do."

"What are you talking about?" She gave a slight yank on the hair he liked to let grow just to feel her fingers in it. "I've lived my life. I've had my life mate. I've had my children. What else is there left for me to do?"

"To do? To live. To love. To make a difference in the lives of those to come."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"By being who you are. By becoming who you were always meant to be. You've already started down the path, my love. There will be difficulties and trials. That's life, but I know you will weather them because when you love, it is always strong and pure."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jacinda awoke and felt a sense of contentment she hadn't felt in cycles. Those first few cycles after Stephan's passing she'd hated going to bed. It was so empty and when she'd wake, for just a moment, she always expected to find Stephan there.

Jacinda had always been able to feel Stephan’s presence when she really needed it. Had always known he was watching over her. Still it had been hard. Her mother had taught her to believe in the ancestors, to believe that they watched over those they loved. Many Carinians didn't. They thought it was nonsense. Maybe when she had been younger she had been one of those people, but not since her mother's passing.

Jacinda still remembered how she heard her voice that day, telling her she needed to check on Stephanie. Stephanie had somehow managed to climb out of the day crib she had put her in while she'd dealt with a service man. When she rushed in to check on her, she'd found her prying off the safety cover for one of the power sources in the room. Had she succeeded, she could have been killed. From that day on, she never doubted that the ancestors watched over them.

It had never been like this.

To feel Stephan's touch. To really hear his voice. But what was he really trying to tell her?

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jotham tried not to rush his meeting with Pajari. The Assemblyman drove him crazy. He had never known Elliott to have an original thought, to make a stand, yet he always seemed to end up on the most popular side of any issue and get re-elected.

"I understand your point, Assemblyman Pajari, but until all the facts are in I refuse to pass judgment on what might just be an honest mistake."

"Honest mistake! Majesty, that's just not possible! Have you not heard what is being said by the House of Growth?"

"Rumors, Elliott, and I will place no substance in them. Now, if that's all. It's been a long day and I'm ready to retire for the night." Jotham reached for the button that would signal Chesney.

"Of course, Majesty. I will discuss this with you again later."

"Do that." Jotham looked to the door as Chesney entered. "Please see Assemblyman Pajari out, Chesney."

"Of course, Majesty. Assemblyman Pajari." Chesney gestured for him to proceed to the outer office then turned back to Jotham. "Majesty, I had a variety of refreshments delivered to your chambers. Will you be needing me any longer tonight?"

"No, Chesney, thank you. Have a good night."

"You also, Majesty."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Pajari quickly moved away from where he'd been eavesdropping near Jotham's office door, pretending to look at a painting as Chesney entered the outer office closing the connecting doors.

"If you'd follow me, Assemblyman Pajari, I'll escort you to the Public Wing so you can get to your transport." Chesney turned off the light on his desk and moved to the door.

"Thank you, Mister… Chesney."

Chesney heard the slightest of pauses and knew Pajari had to search for his name. Even though Chesney had been Jotham's assistant for over twenty cycles and Pajari had been an Assemblyman for all of them.

"No thanks necessary, Assemblyman Pajari." He waited for the Assemblyman to proceed him then closed the door.

"King Jotham is meeting with someone else tonight?" Pajari waited until they were outside the King's Wing before asking.

"Pardon me?" Chesney looked to the Assemblyman.

"He seemed distracted during our meeting. As if something else was on his mind."

"I'm sure you’re mistaken, Assemblyman Pajari. The King takes every meeting he has seriously, especially one with an Assemblyman."

"Is that who he's meeting with now?"

"I wouldn't know, Assemblyman."

"But you schedule all his meetings!"

"Yes, I do."

"So you would know."

"I am not at liberty to discuss the King's itinerary with you, Assemblyman Pajari. Ahh, here we are." Chesney opened the door that separated the Public Wing from the hallway that led to the inner Wings and nodded to the guards. "Have a nice evening, Assemblyman Pajari."

With a huff, Pajari walked through and Chesney rolled his eyes as he shut the door. This wasn't the first time Pajari had tried to pump him for information on the King. Nearly every Assemblyman did to a point but they were at least subtle. Pajari was always obvious, sometimes painfully so. Some things never changed.

Thinking about how Pajari would react if he discovered just
who
Jotham was meeting with Chesney smiled. He couldn't wait to get back to work tomorrow to see how the night went. Whistling, he walked to the secure area where his transport was parked.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jotham found himself eagerly striding toward his private chambers, something he hadn't done in cycles. Jacinda should be arriving soon and he wanted to make sure everything was perfect. Entering, he came to an abrupt halt finding Jacinda already there, studying the label on the bottle of wine.

"You’re early," he said letting the door close behind him and stepping deeper into the room.

"I am." Jacinda put the bottle back on the table and smiled at him. "I hope you don't mind."

"No. Never. I was just hoping to be here to greet you."

"I asked Nicholas not to say anything. He said you were in a meeting and I know how those can go. I didn't want you to feel like you needed to rush."

"It was with Pajari," Jotham found himself sharing something he never shared.

"Oh." Jacinda grimaced slightly. "You have my sympathies. I don't know how you put up with that man."

"He isn't that bad." When Jacinda raised an eyebrow, he laughed. "Okay, yes he is, but over the cycles I've learned to zone him out."

"You would have to."

"Would you like something to drink? Chesney said he sent up a variety, but I only see the wine."

"That's because I sent the rest back and yes, I'd love a glass. I always looked forward to having your House wine when there was a dinner at the Palace."

"You did?" Jotham expertly opened the bottle.

"Yes, it’s very good."

"It is, but I was referring to you sending the other beverages back."

"Oh, well, for some reason they sent up caffeinated coffee and energized tea. If you were to drink that this late at night, you would never get to sleep. I told... I'm afraid I didn't catch his name, to replace both with decaffeinated."

"That would be Morven. I... thank you. I never gave that a thought."

"Chesney should have. It's one thing to drink it when you’re up early and have a busy day, but after a certain time you need to switch so you can shut down and get the rest you need."

He poured a generous amount of wine into a crystal glass. "In his defense, Chesney knows I usually work late into the night."

Jacinda took the glass he extended before turning to sit on the couch. "That's no excuse."

Jotham liked her sitting there, so comfortable and at ease on his couch. She tucked a leg under her and rested one arm along its low back. Did she know how beautiful she looked sitting there? But it was more than her looks, it was her concern for him. She sat there as if she were always meant to be there. Maybe she was.

"So are you going to instruct him in how to properly handle his duties?" Jotham asked as he poured himself a glass of wine.

"Of course not," she immediately replied. "I would never presume like that."

Jotham gave her a sharp look, but her amazing blue-green eyes sparkled and her lips hinted at a smile as they touched the rim of her glass to take a sip of wine.

Moving to the couch, he imitated her pose laying his hand over hers. "What if I want you to presume?"

"Jotham...."

"Do you know how long it's been since someone has done what you just did for me?" While he looked her in the eye, his fingers ran over the top of her hand, gently caressing the soft skin.

"What did I do?" Jacinda was surprised to find herself slightly breathless.

"You took care of me. You saw something you felt could adversely affect me and corrected it. You didn't ask. You just did it."

"I believe your staff does that too."

"Not like this. They know I like my coffee strong and sweet. When I ask for it, that's what I get, day or night. I am the King after all."

"You're also a man."

"I honestly think you are the only one that sees me that way."

Jacinda's eyes searched his face and saw he was serious. "As a woman, I find that hard to believe, but I do understand how you might. Stephan was always being approached by people, no matter where we were and no matter if it was appropriate. He was their Assemblyman and they felt that gave them the right to interrupt, to intrude, and to ask things they'd never ask someone else. Your position is much more powerful, more important. It's... more comforting for some to see you as a figurehead rather than a man. Men make mistakes, have bad days. Figureheads don't, they're just there to serve us."

"It seems that way sometimes."

"But you are a man, Jotham." She turned her hand over to squeeze his hand. "A powerful, important man, yes, but still you have the right to just be a man too. You have the right to have a life beyond your position."

"I'm not sure I know how to any longer."

"Well, let’s start with this. Tell me about your day."

"What?" Jotham frowned at her.

"Tell me about your day. It's a normal conversation to have at the end of the day and you've obviously had a long one."

"Are you subtly trying to tell me I look tired?" He enjoyed the darkening of her cheeks as he teased her.

"Maybe a little." She instinctively reached out with the hand holding her wine, only to stop just shy of touching him.

"Please. Do." The words were out before he could stop them and he was rewarded by the light brush of a finger against his temple.

"I watched the ceremony on the Bering today. You didn't speak until ten, even though the ceremony started an hour before. That means you were there, at the latest, by eight. Which means you were on your way to the Bering by six."

"Half past six," Jotham corrected. "I've recently acquired a new ship designed by the House of Knowledge. It's shortened my travel time immensely."

"I'm glad, but you've still been going all day, without a break from what I can tell, and now you’re sitting here with me."

"It's the best thing that's happened to me today. The only thing I've had to look forward to since our lunch together if you want to know the truth."

"I always want the truth." A knock on the door stopped her from saying more.

"Enter," Jotham ordered and tightened his hand around hers when she tried to pull away.

Jacinda watched as the man she'd ordered about earlier, wheeled in a new cart.

"Morven, this is Jacinda Michelakakis. Jacinda, Morven Blac."

"It's nice to meet you, Madame," he nodded to her slightly.

"You also, Morven. I apologize for not introducing myself before. It was very rude of me."

"Think nothing of it, Madame." He looked to Jotham. "Would there be anything else, Majesty?"

"No, Morven. Thank you and thank you for seeing to Jacinda's request so quickly."

"I..." Morven's eyes went from the clasped hands on the couch to Jacinda, then back to Jotham. "It was no problem, Majesty. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Morven."

Jacinda finished her wine, then leaned forward to set the glass on the table. "I should be going."

"What? Why?"

"It's getting late and you need to rest." She went to rise.

"Please. Stay a little longer. Tell me about your day."

"Jotham..."

"Please?" Leaning over, he refilled her glass and handed it back to her and waited.

"You are incorrigible sometimes, Jotham Tibullus." Jacinda took a sip of her wine. "Let’s see, what did I do today?" She tapped a finger from her freed hand against her lip. "I started out by having coffee in the garden and catching up on some correspondence until the Christening Ceremony started. After that, I ran a few errands then spent the rest of the afternoon weeding the garden."

"You don't have someone to take care of that?"

"I have a gardener. He comes in every couple weeks to do the majority of the work, but I like to putter in it too." She smiled at him. "After that I got a call to have drinks and here I am."

"And I'm glad you're here." Jotham captured her hand again, this time lacing their fingers together.

She tipped her head to the side slightly. "Why am I here, Jotham?" Her eyes sharpened. "Tell me it has nothing to do with Amina and Barek because I'm not going to help you with that."

Jotham looked at her and found himself chuckling. "No, it doesn't. You know, Will was right about you. You don't play games. You say what you think."

"Will? You talked to William Zafar about me
?
Why would you do that?" Jacinda jerked her hand from his, hurt by the thought that he would do that.

"Jacinda," Jotham quickly set his glass down as she did and grabbed her arm to stop her from rising. "It's not what you think. Well, it might be because I don't know what you are thinking. All I know is that I needed to talk to someone about what I was feeling, about
you
. Will is the only person I could do that with."

Jacinda stopped trying to pull away and looked at him. "I don't understand."