Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3) (53 page)

Jacinda did and found Kia was right, as usual, the dress did flow better and was just off the floor enough so she wouldn't worry about stepping on it. "You were right."

"Of course I was," Kia told her absently her eyes still on the dress. "Turn. Good. Stop." Kia came up closer, inspecting the beading that flowed along the back of her hip. "The beading is a little loose back here. I will have it fixed and will personally deliver it to the Palace tomorrow."

"Alright." Jacinda turned giving herself one last look in the mirror unable to believe how beautiful the gown was. "Thank you, Kia, I truly love it."

"You are most welcome, Jacinda."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jotham sat in his living room and stared at the velvet box that he had placed on the table before him. He had personally gone into the Royal vault to retrieve this particular item, not wanting anyone else to know about it. He wasn't sure what he was feeling as he looked at the box. He never planned on using it again. Had believed Barek would be the next one to, but here he was.

Reaching out, he opened the front latches that held the box closed. Then swinging the sides out, opened it to reveal the betrothal circlet for the House of Protection. It was the sign that she willingly accepted the responsibility and duties that came with her Union to the heir. Or in this case, to the King.

It was a simple piece really, especially in comparison to the crown each Queen designed for herself. This was the only thing they
all
wore, made of gold mined many millennium ago and studded with large, square-cut violet gems that the House of Protection drew its color from. It glowed as it sat in its velvet home, but he knew it would glow even more when Jacinda wore it.

He thought about it before Deffand had informed him what happened with Adelaide Pajari. However, he and Jacinda had wanted to take this slow, even though he had insisted that she attend the Ball with him.
He
hadn't considered what accepting that would cost her,
she
had and yet she had
still
agreed. The moment he had moved Lata's portrait back to where it belonged, he'd known he was going to ask Jacinda to be his
next
Queen. Never to replace Lata, but to be his Queen on her own terms. Well, at least her own terms once she accepted him because they were not appearing at the Royal Ball until she was wearing this circlet.

He knew there would be those that would protest the Union because Jacinda wasn't born into the House of Protection, but the precedent had already been established with Cassandra's Union. It was only the
heir
to the throne, who must wed within his or her own House. He wanted Jacinda, and he was going to have her as his wife and as his Queen.

Closing the box, he went and placed it in his luggage. He wanted to be with Jacinda. He missed her and for once he was going to put his needs first. Walking over to his comm, he contacted Chesney.

"Notify everyone that we are leaving for Kisurri as soon as my shuttle is readied."

"Yes, Majesty. I will make the necessary calls."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jotham was shocked when less than two hours later every member of his travel staff along with his security were on board the shuttle, not one of them looking frazzled.

"Deffand!"

"Yes, Majesty?" Deffand was immediately at his side.

"You had no problem getting all the security force here?"

"No, Majesty." At Jotham's disbelieving look, Deffand's face cracked into a smile. "We have all been packed and ready to leave since Jacinda departed, Majesty. I actually won the pool."

"The pool?" Jotham quizzed.

"We all bet on how long it would take after Jacinda left, before you would be following her." Deffand gave him an unapologetic, smug look.

"Have I become that predictable?"

"Only in that you hate being separated from her. I hope to one day be that predictable." Deffand's expression became neutral again. "Was there anything else, Majesty?"

"No, Nicholas, and thank you for everything. I'll make sure Jacinda doesn't stay 'upset' for too long."

"Greatly appreciated, Majesty."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"Is my drawing
really
hanging on the wall in your house? Like one of those?" Brett pointed to the masterpieces hanging on the walls as they ate first meal.

"It
really
is," Jacinda told Brett. "My daughter-in-law framed it beautifully. You will have to come visit so you can see it."

"Can we, Mom? Can we go to Jacinda's house?" Brett turned excited eyes to his mother.

"We'll have to see. But you realize if we go you will miss your lessons with Mister Johns."

"Oh yeah, I like those," Brett frowned obviously conflicted.

"Maybe when there is a break, you and your parents could come visit," Jacinda suggested.

"Mom?"

"We'll see, Brett. Right now you need to get going or you'll be late for class."

"Okay." Gathering up his things, Brett ran from the room. "Oh, sorry, King Jotham! I'm late," he said as his bag bumped into Jotham just entering the room.

"No harm done, Brett. Have a good day." But he was talking to empty space.

Jacinda spun around in her chair at Jotham's voice. "Jotham! You weren't supposed to be here until tonight!" She was immediately up and in his arms.

"Well, I came early." Leaning down he captured her lips in a hard kiss. "I missed you."

Jacinda felt her eyes go misty. "I missed you too. Have you eaten yet? I think there's some left."

"Right, after those four little monsters got done? Good luck with that." Will smiled at Jotham. "I'll contact Hutu and tell him to send up another plate. The usual, Jotham?"

"Actually, I'm good. I had first meal on the shuttle." He gave Will a hard look. "Do you have some time?"

"Sure. Here or my office?"

"Here is fine, I think Jacinda would like to hear this. Cassandra too."

"I need to get to my trainees. Will, you'll fill me in later?" Peter asked rising from the table.

"Yes."

"I have a meeting with Director Metaxas unless you need me here." Cyndy rose too.

"I see no reason for you to be here," Jotham spoke.

"Come on, Pixie, I'll walk you to your limisin."

"I can get there myself you know," Cyndy teased.

"Yeah, but then I don't get to watch your cute ass as you walk."

"Peter Chamberlain! What am I going to do with you?" Peter's response was lost as they walked away.

"It's good to see them so happy," Will said quietly. "We owe a lot of that to you, Jacinda."

"You would have figured it out yourself. I just sped up the process."

"It would be nice to think that, but I'm not so sure." He looked to Jotham. "Let’s at least have some coffee. I need it. It seems Sabah is getting her first tooth and she only wanted me to hold her."

"And you savored every minute of it," Cassandra challenged sweeping into the room.

"I did, but I still need coffee. Pittaluga’s coffee."

"You have totally ruined him, Jacinda. When I met him, William would drink sludge. Now... it's Pittaluga coffee or nothing."

"I'm so sorry," Jacinda responded without a hint of remorse in her voice.

"Yeah, I can tell." Picking up the coffee tray before William could pour a cup, Cassandra carried it to the sitting area that overlooked the garden.

"I could have done that, Cassandra," William protested.

"Before or after you drank half the pot?" she asked.

William had the decency to blush.

"That's what I thought. Jacinda?" Cassandra looked to her.

"I'd love some. Thank you, Cassandra."

"Jotham?"

"Please."

"Cassandra...."

"Guests first, William." Slowly, very slowly Cassandra poured William a cup of the so desired brew, then handed it to him laughing. "You are so bad, William Zafar."

"I'll show you bad," he told her before taking a long sip of the coffee. "Later, when we're alone."

Cassandra just blushed in response.

After several moments of everyone enjoying their coffee, William finally spoke. "Well, I have some news concerning those transmissions between Pajari and Stannic."

"Transmissions?" Jacinda raised a questioning brow at Jotham.

"Yes, you know that Rogue Stannic, an Assemblyman for the House of Knowledge was arrested."

"Yes, but mostly it has been pretty hush-hush," Jacinda admitted.

"He wanted me dead," Cassandra informed her bluntly. "Me and all my children."

"I..." Jacinda looked at Cassandra in shock before her eyes pinned William. "Why is he still alive?"

Jotham started to chuckle. "I didn't know you were such a blood-thirsty thing, my love."

"I'm not. Not normally, but Stannic has always been a fucking little foabhor. I just never thought he'd take it to such extremes."

Silence greeted Jacinda's heartfelt statement.

"What?" she asked looking at the three shocked faces.

"Where did you ever learn a phrase like that?" Jotham finally asked.

"Oh please," Jacinda waved a dismissive hand. "I did go to the same Academy you did
and
I served in the Coalition. It's not like I haven't heard it or said it before."

"Yeah, but you are usually so... polite and... tactful," William said.

Cassandra snorted causing Jacinda to look at her and the silent look they exchanged said.
'Men!'

"So back to this transmission?" she queried.

"After going through his comm it was discovered he was communicating regularly with someone in the House of Protection."

Jacinda didn't even hesitate, "Pajari."

Everyone in the room looked at her in shock once again.

"What
now
?" Jacinda demanded.

"How could you possibly have known that?!!" William demanded.

"Because they are both purists. They believe anyone who isn't from a 'pure' bloodline is beneath them."

"That is absolutely ridiculous!" William scoffed. "There is no such thing as a 'pure' bloodline, not even their own."

"I wouldn't try telling them that." Jacinda gave him a long look. "So I assume the communications were related to Barek and whom he would choose as his Queen."

William looked at Jotham. "Why did we even bother? We wasted the last moon cycle when all we had to do was ask Jacinda."

"Moon cycle?" Jacinda looked at William in shock. "You mean you've been working on this since we left?"

"Yes," This time Cassandra spoke. "The transmissions were complicated to track."

"I'm sure they were. Pajari might be a foabhor, but he's a smart foabhor. So at least now you have the proof."

"Yes," William agreed.

"Why were you so sure the transmissions were related to Barek?" Jotham asked, giving her a questioning look.

"Because Adelaide Pajari is just as sure her daughter is meant to be a Queen, as mine was."

"Your mother thought you were destined to be a Queen?" Jotham asked stilling.

"Oh yes. She and Queen Rea were just sure Yusuf and I would be perfect for each other. It's one of the reasons I was so adamant about going to the Academy, to get away from them and
him
."

"Yusuf has to be at least six cycles younger than you," Jotham said.

"Nine. Can you imagine? They were trying to set me up with a
five
-cycle. And a snot-nosed, spoiled one at that." Jacinda shuddered at the memory.

"He's not now," Jotham informed her quietly, his face blank causing Jacinda to give him a strange look.

"True, but I wasn't interested then and I'm not interested now. The only man I'm interested in is
you
." Leaning over she gave him a kiss.

"Good." When Jacinda would have pulled away, Jotham gripped the back of her neck, keeping her close as he nibbled on her lips, coffee mingling with her unique flavor. Finally, after William cleared his throat for the second time, Jotham released her. Pleased to see her face was flushed with desire.

"Alright you two, you can do that later, back to the matter at hand," Cassandra teased.

"If we must," Jotham said grudgingly. "So Adelaide thinks Barek should be interested in Shosha." It was Jotham's turn to shudder. "My son has better taste than that."

"He certainly does," Jacinda agreed, knowing he was talking about Amina.

"Elliott Pajari did contact Barek though," Jotham told them. "It seems Sokol jumped all over him when Ethan showed up to inspect his Central site."

"Ethan?" Jacinda gave Jotham a sharp look, the soft look in her eyes gone. "
My
Ethan?"

"Umm...
well yes," Jotham told her carefully.

"Oh-oh, Jotham's in trouble." Cassandra's off-key singsong voice had Jacinda and Jotham both glaring at her while William cringed as she tried to carry a tune.

"Cassandra, now may not be the right time...."

"You will explain to me
exactly
what one of
my
sons is doing anywhere near Keane Sokol! He's worse than Pajari because he just plays at being a purist. All he cares about is his credits."

"Actually," Jotham figured he better tell Jacinda everything. "Danton is involved too."

The silence filling the room was deafening after Jotham dropped that bomb.

"Excuse me?" The ice that dripped from Jacinda's words chilled everyone in the room.

"Jacinda, Danton has the right to help finish what his father started. So does Ethan. They both want to be a part of this. A part of making sure that
their
House is safe for
all
who live and work there."

Jacinda rose and walked onto the balcony, gripping the railing as she looked out over the garden. She understood what Jotham was saying. She even understood that her sons would want to be a part of this, especially Ethan. He didn't think she knew about what he and the Zhao family had to endure because Kasmira had married him. It was one of the reasons she hadn't complained when Stephan had told her he was going to chair yet another committee. She understood, but that didn't mean she had to like it.