Authors: Ruth Ann Nordin
Tags: #romance, #fantasy, #greek mythology, #time travel, #clean romance, #atlantis, #romantic fantasy, #sweet romance, #hades and persephone myth
Royal Heiress
Enchanted Galaxy Series:
Book 4
Royal
Heiress
Ruth Ann Nordin
Royal Heiress - Smashwords Edition
Published by Ruth Ann Nordin at
Smashwords
Copyright © 2015 by Ruth Ann Nordin
All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by
any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places and incidents are either the product of the author’s
imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any
actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely
coincidental.
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Wedded Bliss Romances, LLC
http://www.ruthannnordin.com
Other Books in the Enchanted Galaxy
Series
Books by Ruth Ann Nordin (Chronological
Order)
Dedication: To Mrs. Harner, my 8th grade teacher
who inspired me to write. This one’s for you.
Chapter One
Location: Royal Throne Room
Planet: Raz
Galaxy: Enchanted
It was time to announce the new Queen of
Raz, and many of the creatures living on the planet eagerly
attended the ceremony. Ann and Hathor had two daughters, so they
couldn’t help but wonder who the next queen would be. Matthew,
their brother, would be the one to escort the new queen to her
throne where Queen Ann would make the announcement. Matthew waited
between his two sisters at the entrance of the Throne Room.
Queen Ann stood between the queen’s and
king’s thrones. She glanced around the room. Her gaze fell to
Hathor who gave her a knowing smile. She returned his smile with
great affection. She looked forward to spending her remaining years
on Raz with him. It had seemed that during her reign, she never had
as much time with him as she wanted.
She turned her gaze to her two daughters.
Katherine was the oldest, but she’d known, even before Amanda was
born, Raz had selected Amanda to be its next queen.
She considered the difficulty this would
likely cause for the two sisters, who were already competitive with
each other, especially since Katherine often felt inferior to her
more attractive and outgoing younger sister. She just hoped the two
could find a common ground and resolve their differences soon. It
wasn’t up to her to interfere. They were grown women now. Katherine
was twenty-seven and Amanda was twenty-three. They had to be free
to make their own choices.
Hathor requested silence among the crowd and
went to stand next to Ann.
She took a deep breath then exhaled before
she announced, “I wish to welcome Queen Amanda to the throne.”
Ann noted the disappointment in Katherine’s
eyes and momentarily winced because of it. It was a bittersweet
moment. This was Amanda’s shining moment, and as happy as she was
for Amanda, she also ached for Katherine.
Matthew took Amanda’s arm and led her to
Ann.
Amanda knelt before her while Matthew put his
hand on Amanda’s right shoulder.
“Queen Amanda, it gives me great joy to pass
the title of queen to you,” Ann said as she took off her crown and
placed it on her daughter’s head. “May you faithfully serve Raz and
everyone who lives here.”
Amanda stood up, walked over to the throne
and sat down. Everyone cheered. Their future was secure with
another queen.
Ann glanced at Katherine, who slipped out of
the room. She quietly excused herself and followed her eldest
child. “Katherine,” she called out after the slender figure who was
quickly retreating down the hall.
Katherine immediately turned around and
stopped. Her shoulder-length brown hair fell gently to her
shoulders, and her light blue eyes hinted at the sorrow she seemed
determined to hide.
Ann sighed as she put her arm around her
daughter’s shoulders. “I know this news has upset you. The planet
chooses the one it wants, and there’s nothing anyone can do about
it.”
“I know,” she replied, her voice soft. “Raz
made the right choice. I’m not queen material. I’m not as
attractive or as brave as Amanda.”
“Well, courage isn’t necessarily a
requirement for being a queen. I didn’t exactly feel courageous
when I began my reign.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Believe it.”
The two walked outside into the gardens and
sat down by the daisies.
“I love daisies so much,” Katherine said. “If
I were a queen, I would decorate the entire Throne Room with
them.”
Ann hesitated a moment then said, “You have
every right to be disappointed. Being the queen is a role any young
woman would love to have. But perhaps you have something better
waiting for you, something only you can do that Amanda can’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, Mom, but I
find it hard to believe I’m going to accomplish something
monumental.”
“Queens can’t do everything.” Ann picked up a
daisy and handed it to her. “It doesn’t look like much, but this
flower brings a sweet fragrance wherever it goes. The daffodils
smell good too, but the daisy has its own special scent. Some
people would say the daffodil is prettier. You prefer daisies. The
daffodil and daisy are equally important, though different.
Likewise, you are just as important as Amanda. You need to find
what it is you do well and do it. I guarantee you that what Amanda
cannot do, you can. Just because you’re not the queen, it doesn’t
mean your life isn’t just as significant.”
Katherine shrugged. “I hope so.”
“It’s true.” She hugged her daughter. “Only
time will tell what your gift is.” She pulled away from her and
rubbed her back. “I have to get back to the celebration. Would you
like to stay out here for awhile?”
“Yes. I want to be alone.”
“Alright.” Ann patted her shoulder. “I love
you, Katherine. You’re very lovely.” Then, with a smile, she turned
and left.
***
Meanwhile, Amanda was enjoying her new
position on Raz. She often suspected she was due to be the next
queen since her father had spent more time training her than he did
training Katherine. She used to get upset when he seemed unusually
insistent she master her skills while Katherine was allowed to take
more breaks from her studies.
Amanda brushed aside her long golden hair
while people came up to her throne to congratulate her. She was so
caught up in the adoration and attention she barely notice her
sister’s absence.
“This is your day,” her twenty-five-year-old
brother whispered in her ear. “It was bad enough you had a line of
men coming by to see you before. Now it’ll be impossible to keep
them away.”
“It’s nice to have my pick of any bachelor I
want,” she replied, not hiding her pleasure at his comment.
“Too bad they tend to bore you.”
“There’s got to be one who can hold my
interest.”
“One can only hope.”
She frowned, sticking her lower lip out in a
pout. “Are you trying to aggravate me?”
“No. I’m sorry.” He paused. “I just feel
sorry for Katherine. Now that you’re the queen, she won’t have any
chance with the men in this room.”
“Oh, she’ll be fine. Once I marry, they will
go after her. After all, she is the queen’s sister.”
Matthew looked as if he was ready to say
something but decided against it. Instead, he turned away from her
and assisted their father in answering the guests’ questions.
Amanda quickly dismissed the flicker of guilt
that threatened to dampen her good time. Katherine could handle
herself. Surely, there would be one male out there who would gladly
pick her. It wasn’t Amanda’s fault men were more attracted to
her.
She scanned the room and saw which of the
available human males in the crowd were especially interested in
getting a chance to talk to her. They had all dressed up and
carried gifts. It was a great honor for a man to be chosen as the
king, for his position of serving the queen was the best position
any male could hope for.
She watched with delight as each male
presented himself before her, congratulating her and offering their
gifts. Some gifts were elaborate jewelry. Others offered her
simpler gifts such as flowers or candy. But regardless of how much
they could afford, they brought her gifts all the same.
She bit her lower lip apprehensively when the
fiftieth man approached her. Until now, she had treated her
prospective suitors with amusement. Her heart sank in dread as she
realized she wasn’t attracted to any of the men in the room. How
was she going to choose a king when they looked dull to her? They
seemed the same. Each one put his best foot forward to please her,
promising her he was the best choice for the kingship.
She almost considered sending them all to
Katherine, who would probably be more than overjoyed by the
selection, but she doubted they would want to court her sister.
She took a deep breath, realizing just how
serious this matter of selecting a king was. Raz’s future depended
on her getting married so she could have a daughter to secure the
line of queens on the planet. How was she supposed to choose
someone when no one looked suitable to her? Would she have to
settle for someone just because she was the queen? She suddenly
wondered if she should envy her sister, who could spend the rest of
her life single if she wished.
***
Apartment in Italy, Rome
Planet: Earth
Galaxy: Average
The man in white sat idly in his apartment.
He wore a white suit, white shoes, and white socks. Even his hair
was white. His eyes were light gray. His apartment, though, was
full of color. It was a startling contrast to anyone who would walk
in. No one ever did, though. He had learned long ago to spend his
life alone.
He was created by the leaders in Atlantis,
the infamous city that sank into the ocean long ago. The leaders
had departed from Earth to become the gods and goddesses on planet
Olympia, but he remembered them in great detail. They had created
him with a perfect memory. He could recall every word ever said,
every expression that flickered across someone’s face, and every
action that ever took place. Such an ability was a blessing and a
curse, and his immortality only magnified the problem.
He longed to return to Atlantis, to see it
resurrected to its former glory. It was a magnificent city before
it sank into the ocean. Twenty-four years ago, he thought he would
get his chance to bring it back up from its watery grave and help
make it the greatest city on Earth. He stared at his white cane as
the memories of that time came flooding back to him.
He’d thought his partnership with William
Nichols was the answer to his prayers. He’d thought that, together,
they would put Atlantis back on the map. But it wasn’t meant to
be.