Alexa Hollen, Second Command of the King's Guard

"Any more questions on the development of the clean water system?" asked Nolen.

The Council remained silent.

"Without further discussion, I move to close the topic and hereby adjourn council until tomorrow. Do I have a second?"

A series of 'ayes' rang around the room.

My gaze bounced around the room as the Council members collected their papers and one by one, proceeded to file from the room. I allowed my gaze to land on Damian last. I saw the back of his head as I stood behind him, just to his right. The tall back of his chair would have hid the majority of his figure from me had I not been tall for a woman.

My gaze shifted from Damian to Rylan who stood directly across from me, just to our king's left. I continued to watch him as he stared straight ahead. If Rylan sensed me staring, he didn't let it on. He'd taken his new position on the King's Guard rather seriously when he was on duty. We are the only members of the King's Guard who are granted attendance to the council meetings; not even Captain Deron is allowed.

As the last of the council members disappeared from the room, I took notice that only Rylan, Nolen, Damian, and myself remained. Finally, Damian rose to his feet and turned in my direction, his collar of office swaying from the movement. I held back a grin as I noticed Nolen clumsily scrambling to his feet, simultaneously knocking his papers from the table, resulting in a mess on the floor. Assuredly aware of Nolen's misgivings as he was, Damian didn't even so much as acknowledge the slight commotion behind him.

Rylan and I flanked Damian as he moved from the room, his robes trailing on the marble floor of the palace. He set as quick pace as he continued into the hall and back to his chambers.

Following Damian's coronation, he had relocated to an older wing, at least until alterations could be made to his previous rooms that would better suit him as king. His new rooms, however, were much different and not just in size.

Mateo and Asher stood at attention at the doors leading to the king's chambers. Whenever I saw them I could not stop my eyes from lingering on their scars, the vertical line extending from eyebrow to just about the corner of their mouth on the left side of their faces. They had received such scars during King Hector's rule, for not protecting their prince from Blevonese intruders. Every day I was grateful that they did not lose their lives since the entire plot for the Blevonese to take Damian prisoner had been his own idea.

I was almost unaware as my fingers reached up to stroke the left side of my own face, the side that would be forever scarred from Iker's fire. My hair had grown since then, past my breasts. I hadn't had the heart to cut it, and when I was off duty, it did a good job of masking my face from unwanted glances, when I wanted nothing more that to be simply Alexa. However, I kept my hair in a tight bun when on duty, wearing it with pride.

Asher's head tilted slightly in a nod. I smiled back. He and Mateo opened the doors and Damian stepped through.

"Excuse me," said Nolen as he brushed past me.

I nudged Rylan with my elbow and he responded with simply rolling his eyes.

"Your Majesty, there is the matter of your upcoming birthday that needs tending to."

Damian stopped to remove his heavy robes, tossing the offending garment over the back of the nearest chair. A maid quickly appeared to retrieve his robe and disappeared just as quickly.

"Ah, yes."

"You asked me to remind you, Sire," put in Nolen.

"It is not often a king forgets to plan his birthday celebration when his time is consumed with running a kingdom, which up until a few months ago, was one of the poorest and most unwell kingdoms on the continent."

Nolen kept quiet and Damian took his seat behind a massive desk in the outer chamber. He gestured for Nolen to sit across from him.

He gaze slid to Rylan. "You may go, Rylan."

He nodded, albeit reluctantly, his eyes shifting from Damian to me before he left the room. I turned around before I heard my own name pass through the king's lips.

"Alexa," said Damian. The way he said my name still sent shivers down my spine, filling my body will need. I tried to clear my mind of that, or at the very least, keep it from showing on my face.

I spun back around. "Yes?"

"Stay." His blue eyes pierced through my very core. It was the first time since leaving the Council meeting that I allowed myself to really look at him. "Unless you have other matters you wish to attend," he continued.

I shook my head. "I'll stay."

I had persisted to call him "Your Majesty" and "Your Grace" for some time until he made me promise that I would only call him Damian. That being the case, I avoided calling him by his name entirely whenever I could.

"Good. Sit."

I took the seat next to Nolen, shifting my sword on my belt so that I would be more comfortable. Damian gestured for Nolen to start.

"Well, being that this is to be your first birthday since your coronation, it is expected that you will host a grand celebration. Your twenty-seventh birthday is the most anticipated in all the three kingdoms. I have detailed a suggested guest list, complete with all of the who's who of both Blevon and Dansii."

"Stop right there," said Damian. "What makes you think I'd invite anyone from Dansii."

"Dansii still remains one of our neighboring kingdoms, Your Majesty."

"My uncle Armando is king of Dansii."

"And a major source for most of our trade. All the more reason that we should try to regain a peaceful standing—"

"Peaceful standing? I killed his brother, my father. Just because he hasn't sent troops to our gates doesn't mean he desires peace. Don't forget, he sent Iker to protect my father and now both of them are dead and gone. And as for our trade, if you've been paying any attention during the Council meetings, you would be well aware of how we have begun to phase out Dansii in trade."

I heard the gulp of Nolen's throat as he swallowed.

"The list is, of course, up to your final approval."

"What else?"

Nolen began rifling through his papers. "Ah, um. There is a rather personal matter I had wished to bring to your attention."

I saw the corner of Damian's mouth twitch. "And what personal matter is that?"

Nolen's gaze slid to me before jumping back to Damian. "It is the matter of whom you would invite as your personal guest."

"My personal guest?"

Damian was toying with Nolen and I rather thought that he was enjoying it.

"Yes." Nolen cleared his throat. "You have been king of Antion for three months now. Numerous letters have come in from Antion and Blevon alike from potential suitors, young women of noble birth that are eligible for marriage."

I suddenly felt uncomfortable and stiffened in my chair.

"What exactly are you suggesting, Nolen?"

"Well, a king needs a queen. It would be wise to invite these women to attend your birthday celebration in hopes that one may catch your eye, perhaps resulting in a marriage of political advantage and further solidify your position as king."

Damian's right hand came to rest of the desk. I noticed that he held his mother's locket between his thumb and forefinger, the pad of his thumb rubbing in a circular motion over the metal. He eyes met mine. The blue of his eyes stood out against his dark skin, his Blevonese skin; just like me own.

"When do you desire an answer from me."

Nolen shifted in his chair. "As soon as possible, Your Majesty."

Damian hadn't taken his eyes off me, but that did not stop me from seeing the look of his face. He was plotting something, that much was obvious.

"I seem to be in a good mood today, for I already have an answer. I've already made a decision on whom will be my personal guest to attend my birthday party." The intensity of his gaze held me in place.

Nolen reached for across the table for quill and ink. He paused, waiting for Damian to continue.

Damian's eyes finally slide from my face. I exhaled, not realizing I'd been holding my breath.

"Alexa Hollen will be my personal guest."

My jaw opened and my lips parted but nothing came out.