What if's

Elliot was gone from our bed when I woke up this morning.

A part of me wanted to break through the wall that he had guarding his heart. We were stuck together for the next nine months. There was no reason we couldn’t be friendly. We would have to work closely to convince the people of Nymeria that there was some reality behind the fact that we’d chosen each other.

Every King and Queen was required to go before their Kingdom and pledge their loyalty to their people. It was a huge deal, and the entire Kingdom was in attendance as well as the Kings and Queens of surrounding realms.

I needed to talk to Elliot about creating a convincing front. People had to believe we were together in order to build trust. They wouldn’t just welcome him with open arms. Especially knowing my father's hatred for Valtarin and the Lakin's.

Sitting up, I rolled my neck, ready to tackle the task of today; Planning the ceremony, both mine and that of my father’s ceremonial burial.

My heart ached at