-Chapter 9 -

I raised my hands from my lap, covering my face to mask the shock and fear that now consumed me. The happiness that Ben and I had found together, and the future of my life and that of my unborn child, could be ruined now. "Ben...I am so sorry. I was careless."

He reached up, gently drawing my hands away. I looked down with my eyes still closed, as if they could shield me from my terrifying realization. My face flushed warm with embarrassment. I felt like a complete fool for allowing myself to get so swept away that I disregarded the basic laws of nature. I felt his fingers under my chin, trying to lift my gaze. "Evie, please look at me."

I inhaled shakily, and looked up at him with desperation. "If this is the way of things...what am I going to do?"

Ben brought his hands up to cradle my face and moved in closer, locking me into his crystal-blue gaze. "If this is the way of things, love, you do not apologize. You weren't exactly taking me against my will, after all." He smiled, but when he saw my eyes filled with worry, his face straightened. "Evie, if you are carrying our child..." He paused, pondering the thought for only a moment before his mouth turned up into another—much wider—grin. "...I can't help but be thrilled."

I looked back at his smiling face, as my brow knitted in confusion. "You're...thrilled?" My heart began to swell and kindle with a budding elation. The feeling urged my hands to gently touch my still-flat belly with a fleeting feeling of amazement that there could be a life growing inside. I should have celebrated in that moment. Any normal woman would have rejoiced. Instead, my hands reminded me that my stomach would begin to swell. People would know, soon enough, that I had done something dishonorable.

I rested my hands back onto my lap, feeling deflated. "Ben, don't you see? This is about so much more. My child is to inherit the throne, and there are rules...Rules that I have broken." I shook my head. "You cannot be thrilled about this. I am in a great deal of trouble. This is scandalous, Ben. I've disgraced the crown."

Ben's face dropped and his eyes filled with a profound sadness that made my heart ache. His tone dropped, and he spoke softly. "I was thrilled by the thought of starting a family with you. Don't deny me that. I once thought there was nothing I'd want more than to love you forever. That was until tonight. Tonight I want nothing more than to love you...and our child, forever. Don't call this a disgrace. It breaks my heart, Evie."

His words brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't believe I had hurt him so. I decided to bury my apprehension, if only for his sake right now. I reached for him and he pulled me into his lap before wrapping his arms around me so tightly I felt my breath forcefully leave me. His hands clung to me as if he were holding on for his life. My stomach still ached terribly and my mind was still racing with panic, but I needed to comfort the man that I loved.

I turned my face to whisper in his ear, "Forgive me, Ben. There is nothing we want more than your eternal love."

He buried his face in my shoulder and his body shook against me. I leaned back to regard him, finding that his eyes were welled up and he was shaking with laughter. Seeing him this way brought an amused smile to my face, and I shook my head as my brow raised in a bit of confusion. "Ben?"

He pulled me back into his embrace, letting out a sigh. "Everything is going to be wonderful, sweetheart."

I wanted so badly to believe him. Light above, I wanted nothing more than for him to be right. But right now, I felt utterly drained. My body was still aching from being sick, and my head was so dizzy I could barely hold it up any longer.

Ben tightened his embrace and I let out a faint whimper. "Ben..."

He leaned back with a look of concern. "What's wrong, love?"

I gulped. "If you keep squeezing me like that I am going to be sick again."

Ben chuckled and cupped my face, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "Sorry...guess I got carried away, love. It's not every day you find out you've made a tiny human."

I shook my head and my lips turned up into a faint smile. "We still need to confirm that I am in fact carrying a...tiny human." My smile faded and I spoke softly. "And Ben, this could get very complicated. You must be prepared for opposition."

Ben helped me under the covers and laid me back onto my pillows. He leaned forward to kiss me gently on the forehead and sat along the edge of the bed to take my hands in his. "You just rest for tonight. I'll speak to Logan. He'll need to go to Industrial in the morning so that you can relax and feel better."

I opened my mouth, but he raised his hand to silence my protest. "He's certainly capable of gathering the information we need, and it may also give the ol' grouser something more exciting to do. You just worry about resting yourselves." His face lit up with his adorably crooked smile.

I smiled with my lips pressed together, shaking my head at his persistence. "You're lucky I love you so much, Benjamin. I don't believe anyone else could get away with bossing the Queen around like this."

Ben smirked back at me as he reached the door. "Expect plenty more of that, now that I have more to protect, love. I'd be a rather rubbish father if I didn't step in."


Logan walked down the streets of Bowerstone Industrial with two royal guards closely following. The former King stood tall and commanding as he paused in the center of one of the city's many bridges, looking around to survey for any suspicious activity. He was determined to find the source of the recent spike in crime, not only for the people of the city, but for his sister. He had been watching her as she went down the same path that he once had. He knew that she would sacrifice anything, down to her very soul, for Albion…and he knew it would be her undoing, as it was his own.

Industrial had not changed much since he last visited. The town that he had placed Reaver in charge of was, to no surprise, declining. He wondered if the narcissistic deviant even knew of the recent happenings here. Perhaps he was off drowning himself in lust, drinking, and murder now that his propositions for slave labor and a whore house had been denied. Logan contemplated his own level of responsibility for the current state of things in Industrial.

Before he could think too long on how much blame to place on himself, he reached the factory-turned-school building. The door was open, and through it he heard the shuffling of pages and the screeching of chairs dragging along the floor. He turned to his guards and ordered them to remain posted just outside.

He thought to knock, but since the door was wide open, he entered. He stood just inside the threshold, hoping that he'd be recognized before having to awkwardly approach the unsuspecting teacher. Just as he drew in a breath to clear his throat, he saw her. She crossed from one side of the room to the other, carrying a disheveled stack of papers in one arm, and dragging a small chair with another. He wanted to announce his presence, but in that moment he found himself at a loss for words.

She wore a flowing linen dress in lavender, and he found it quite pleasing that she seemed to prefer wearing variations of his favorite hue. He tried to tear his eyes away as he watched her straighten her classroom, but he could not find the will. He felt so guilty, staring at this stunning woman who was completely unaware of his presence. He drew in another breath, preparing to announce himself, just as she reached up to pull a hairpin from her bun. As her hair softly fell and cascaded down to her waist, he felt almost tormented by her beauty. He closed his eyes for a moment.

Now is not the time. This is foolish. Stop this.

He opened his eyes as she turned toward him, finally realizing she had a visitor. Her face lit up in surprise and she smiled as she approached him. He tried with all of his strength not to watch the sway of her body as she glided across the room.

"Your Highness!" Marina curtsied, quickly returning her gaze to Logan. "I was expecting Her Majesty. Is everything alright?"

Logan straightened, nodding back. "Yes, Miss Engel. My sister is under the weather, I am afraid, so I will be seeing to her business today. I do apologize."

She bit her lip, trying to stifle a smile. "There is no need for that, Sir. I am most grateful for your presence." Her smile broke through and her smooth ivory skin blushed ever-so-faintly.

He was torn between feelings of enchantment and a need to remain within the bounds of propriety. He had been successful for a great many years in preventing such complicating emotions from rising within him. He found himself angered by the fact that this one woman seemed to instigate them so effortlessly.

He walked past her with his hands clasped behind his back. "That is quite unnecessary, Miss Engel, it is my duty. Now, what can you tell me about the recent surge of crime?"

Marina turned to speak to Logan as he stood reserved, his back still facing her. She looked down, concerned that she had said something to anger the Prince. "Sir, I can tell you with great certainty that the streets are no longer safe. Before, we only had to worry about the areas surrounding sewer entrances, as their activity was hidden well underground. Since they were eradicated from their former headquarters, their numbers seem to have multiplied. I am sorry to say, things have gotten much worse, Your Highness."

Logan reached a hand to his face, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, as he closed his eyes in thought. Once he realized what must be done, he placed his hands behind his back again, and turned to face Marina. "This school is to be closed until further notice, effective immediately."

Marina's eyes widened as her hand went to her chest and her lips parted. "I..." She looked around the empty classroom, nodding her head. "Yes, of course, Sir. I know that's what's best for the safety of the children. I will close today and notify the parents."

Logan saw the sadness in her dark eyes and curtly nodded before walking by her. "Very well then, Miss Engel." He made his way to the door, turning back to her before taking his leave. "I can assure you that we will find and rid this city of every last gang member. This school will be open again."

Marina's face fixed with worry as she dropped into a curtsy. "Thank you, Your Majesty."


"Woah! This is quite a rock, sir! Where ever did you find such a thing?" The jeweler stood in awe of the gem he had just been presented with.

"I would like the setting to be very unique…one of a kind, if you will." Ben grinned back at the man, proud of the precious stone he had secured for Evelyn.

"Anything I craft to hold a diamond this large is sure to be one of a kind, sir." The jeweler spun the brilliant stone around under a light, mesmerized by its beauty.

"Outstanding." Ben smirked, riddled with excitement. "How long do you think this will take you, mate?"

The man tilted his head, looking at the rare gem from a few different angles. "Well, a setting this elaborate could take me around three weeks, sir. I would hate to rush something that could prove unworthy of such a stone."

Ben nodded in agreement. "Fair enough, but I should also add that this ring is to be handled with the utmost discretion. It is not to be discussed with or shown to anyone but me. Do we have a deal?" Ben held out a bulging purse of coins.

The jeweler smiled at his profits. "Yes! Yes, of course, sir! I shall get to work right away on this for you!"


I sat at the desk in my study as I went through my correspondence. Ben may have ordered me to take a resting day, but my sickness had been quite unpredictable, so I saw no reason to lie in bed all day just waiting for it to happen. I had plenty of things to catch up on that were well within my ability, and I was determined to go about my duties normally despite recent developments.

I yawned as I neared the bottom of my pile of letters. Most of them were cards of thanks from citizens whom I had assisted in some way. I was certainly glad to have their gratitude, but I almost wished that they wouldn't formally send it in a card, as my gracious nature then bound me to write back responses to each one.

There was a knock, and judging by the feeble, splintery sound of it on the other side of the thick mahogany door, I guessed that it was Hobson. I sighed, knowing it would be unreasonable of me to expect myself to personally like all of my assistants and advisors. "You may enter!"

He trotted in with another letter. "Your Majesty, there was one last letter for you." He placed it on top of the one I was currently writing. "It seems to be of some importance, Highness, as you can see from the gold seal there."

I rested my pen alongside the ink pot as I spoke back in a facetious tone. "Thank you ever so much, Hobson."

I lifted the new letter and turned it over. Sure enough, it had a brilliant gold wax seal. Gold seals were reserved for use among monarchs and royal families, as it was an easy way to quickly spot a letter of higher importance. However, due to the fact that all but one of my royal family members took up residence in a crypt, I usually did not see many of these seals. Seeing as Hobson was waiting for me to open it, I decided to put what I was writing on hold to appease the bugger.

To Her Majesty, Queen Evelyn of Albion:

On behalf of my people, I present my congratulations on your recent victory against a threat that, if left unchecked, would have proven fatal to us all. I now write to you in the interests of peace, with the intention of joining together our nations in a prosperous and auspicious union. My brother, Prince Omari of Samarkand, is unwed, and it would be my honor to formally present him at your court, so that together we might seize a great opportunity for our people. Samarkand has many natural resources that Albion would surely find helpful as it recovers from the ravages of war, and an heir born of our joined bloodlines would ensure the continued safety of both nations. We are a strong people, a warrior people, and our traditions have endured for hundreds of years without suffering the decay of corruption. We still respect the old ways; Heroes like yourself are not myths, to us. You have the undying admiration and support of my people. They will accept you without hesitation, and our cultures will be the stronger for it. I urge you to consider this proposition, for the sake of your people, and mine, as we face the future together.

Respectfully,
Bakari, King of Samarkand

I folded the letter and placed it back into its envelope. Hobson stood in front of my desk as if he warranted a response from me. I looked up and asked, "Is there anything else, Hobson?"

He folded his hands together and lowered his head slightly. "Do you require my assistance in responding to your letter of heightened priority, Your Majesty?"

The seedy little man never ceased to amaze me. I wondered if he was just bored or if he really did enjoy trying to weasel his way into all of my personal affairs. I sighed as I lifted the letter back up and held it over the others. "If you are so insistent on responding to all of this monotonous correspondence, Hobson, than do not let me deny you the pleasure." I dropped the letter back onto the pile and rose from my chair. I walked past him and turned at the door to give him his instructions. "You may answer all of my thank you letters with eloquent graciousness, and you may tell King Bakari that, while I appreciate his interest in our people's future, I must gracefully decline his proposition."

Hobson turned to face me, looking perplexed. "Your Majesty...You would turn down an offer from King Bakari? I-"

"Gracefully, Hobson. Gracefully turn it down. We don't want to interrupt a peaceful foreign relationship with poor manners, now do we?" I opened the door to excuse myself and as I turned to close it I made sure he would be out of my way for the rest of the evening. "And Hobson, I should like these letters stacked alphabetically and ready for me to sign in the morning."


I sat waiting for my tea by the large kitchen window that overlooked the gardens. I recalled that Helena had brought me ginger tea in the morning, and it had helped immensely with the nausea. When evening came and went, and I started feeling slightly queasy again, I decided to make some more for myself, not wanting to wake my poor friend.

It was quiet and peaceful. I looked out to the gardens as I waited for my kettle to boil. The moonlight bathed everything in a soft blue glow, and all I could hear was the sound of crickets and raindrops. It was then that I realized I had finally been able to regard the gardens without any heartache. In fact, I felt rather soothed.

The whistling of the kettle caught me off guard and I jumped out of my stool. I sliced a nip of fresh ginger into my mug and filled it to the brim with boiling water. I inhaled the steam that rose from my cup and smiled softly. I found the ginger vapors almost as soothing as drinking the tea. I pondered how long I might be plagued with such a sick stomach, but I was determined to find ways to fight back. I still had a job to do, and I couldn't let anything keep me from doing my duty.

I heard the sound of approaching boots against the marble floor. I had seen neither Ben nor Logan since this morning, so I was a bit curious about what the two men had been up to. The door swung open and I saw my brother approach with a perplexed look on his face. I was immediately worried about what had happened or gone wrong in Industrial. "What's the matter, Logan?"

Logan walked silently over to the still-steaming kettle and poured himself a cup of tea. He came to sit beside me and placed his mug down, staring at it as he ran his thumb over the rim. He spoke quietly. "It is not good, sister."

I leaned forward, placing my hand over his in an attempt to break him from his entrancement with his tea cup. "How bad is it? Please, tell me the truth. I cannot bear that I may have failed the citizens of Industrial."

He looked up at me, nodding. "Very well. My guards and I canvassed the entire area today. We were unable to find anything of significance. It was as if they had known we were coming to investigate the claims." He raised his mug, taking a slow sip. "I met with Miss Engel. She informed me of the extent of things and I was forced to order the closure of the school in light of the threat." He looked back down into his mug.

My brow knitted with worry and I stood to pace in an attempt to calm myself. "Logan, there must be a way to find and stop the source of this threat. It got worse after Ben and I attacked the gang in their hideout, so perhaps they are striking back now. Perhaps they are even bringing in reinforcements from other areas. This could mean that if we play our cards right, brother, we could wipe them out." I stood, looking to Logan for approval.

A look of anger crossed his face as he slashed his eyes over to me. "My thoughts exactly. They could be their own undoing, Evelyn. But that would require a great deal of planning and patience. If we keep going in and blasting the stragglers then they will keep returning in greater numbers, like the cockroaches that they are."

I stopped pacing, realizing that we had an opportunity, and with Logan by my side I had every reason to believe we could do away with this threat once and for all. "So we are in agreement then?"

He nodded. "We are in agreement, sister. I will call for a meeting of strategy with General Finn. We will need to draw on all of our resources when the time comes."

"Thank you, brother." Confident that we would soon have a strong hold on the situation in Industrial, my mind drifted back to the letter I'd received today. I resumed my pacing as I wrung my hands together. "...Logie?"

He looked silently back at me.

"If you were still King, and a letter happened upon your desk...one that say, proposed a business agreement that would benefit both Albion and a foreign land." I stopped to look at him and ask nervously, "Would you do the right thing, even if it broke your heart?"

Logan tapped a finger against my empty stool. "Sit down, and I will tell you."

I moved to sit back down beside my brother, picking up my mug and sipping to ease my unsettled stomach.

He stared out the window as he began. "Evelyn, I have sacrificed more than you know, all in the name of Albion." He paused to take in a deep breath. "When Mother died, I sacrificed any hope of being a carefree young man. I was plunged onto the throne, and I was also left to take care of you."

"Logan, I-"

"Please, sister. You need to hear everything." He paused and I nodded. "I did the very best I could to protect you and the country. For several years, I was regarded as a benevolent ruler. I put them all above myself. Yet I was still labeled a tyrant in the end when all I did was what was necessary to save Albion. Do you understand?"

I shook my head. "Logan, I'm trying, I just don't-"

"The decisions I made after the Darkness took hold of me were necessary. But the Darkness also blinded me to a part of myself—a part that would have stopped some of the more egregious acts of cruelty I committed. I would never have been tainted by it in the first place had I not gone to Aurora. I was sent on that expedition, along with an army of royal guards who died there, in the interest of our country. So you see, it all comes back to Albion. What are you willing to give, knowing that in the end you could end up sacrificing everything until...until you are just a hollowed out shell of a person?"

I looked into my brother's eyes and found them filled with sadness and regret. I had never seen this side of him before, and I wasn't sure why I was seeing it now. "Brother, I never knew...I am so sorry. It breaks my heart that you feel this way, because I know you are not hollow. If that were the case, you wouldn't be sitting here trying to help your sister."

He placed a hand on top of mine and looked back out the window. "It may be too late for me, but you still have a chance. I see you going down my path, sister. It is killing me inside to watch. It is as if I am replaying all of my own mistakes over again." He sucked in a breath. "Judith was a commoner. She worked in the tailoring shop down in Bowerstone Market. I loved her very much, even more than myself...but at that time I placed Albion above all else. I will never erase the sound of her cries from my memory. The night I sent her away and demanded she move on without me. I crushed both of our hearts." He paused to swallow and then his sad eyes met mine. "I knew that it was not an acceptable match, so I turned her away. I denied myself her heart just so that this kingdom could chew me up and spit me out a man who could never love again."

I sat respectfully silent, but my heart broke for my brother.

"By the time letters started rolling in with courting propositions, I resented the price that I paid for my duty so much that I refused marriage altogether. Looking back, Evelyn, if I had married Judith I might still be a dethroned ex-tyrant. But I would not be alone." He drew his hand back away from mine and ran it through his hair as he stood up. "Do not let Albion claim your soul too, sister. I could not bear to watch."

My heart sank and my eyes welled up with tears as I sprang to my feet behind Logan and threw my arms around him. I knew I was taking a big risk, but I needed to hold him right then and there. He had wounded himself to tell me all of those things, and he did so to answer my question as only a former King who'd sacrificed everything could. For a moment he stood rigid and silent, facing away from me, and I feared I had gone too far. Loosening my grip, I let my arms drop. "I'm so sorry, Logie...I didn't mean-"

He quickly turned into me, and to my surprise, he wrapped his arms around me. I was overcome with emotion. I had not known my brother's embrace since I was a child. I was so grateful for this moment. Rising to the tips of my toes, I wrapped my arms back around him and buried my head into his shoulder.


A/N: I hope you all enjoyed a bit of a deeper look into our beloved Logan. I spent a great deal of time working on a plan for him, and what you are seeing now is only the beginning of his character's development in this story. Hugs to those that follow/favorite this story, and more hugs to those that follow/favorite me as an author, it is such a wonderful source of support and encouragement to know my work is being enjoyed and watched! I can't say enough just how precious reviews are to me. Your reviews fuel me to write more, so please take a moment and allow your gaze to descend down to that bright white (empty) box, and make it not so empty! Thanks you guys!

Credits: I would like to credit and thank Bishou no Marina for her amazing contribution, the letter from King Bakari of Samarkand. Thank you, Marina!