Chapter 19
After seeing Jimmy, who'd been slightly nervous yet incredibly happy, he had asked me to see to it that Emma's parents were being treated well, and were shown to their rooms. I'd decided to make sure it would be done right, so I did it myself. I'd been standing by the palace door the moment they arrived, and they seemed happy to be greeted by someone they'd heard of. 'You must be Emma's parents, I'm Drake, Jimmy's best man and Iris' boyfriend.' I'd shaken their hands, and after they had introduced themselves as well, I took them up to their rooms and showed them around in the meantime. They seemed incredibly impressed, and proud that their daughter would be the Queen of this palace… let alone this country. Mr Woodbury seemed quite daunting at times, and in some way I recognised Emma, even though she seemed sweet, yet was actually incredibly daunting when she had to be.
When I'd dropped Emma's parents off at their rooms, I walked back to Jimmy and Maxwell, and found them arguing… something I wasn't used to. 'Guys!' I said, as I walked inside, causing the both of them to look up, and look sullen. 'What the hell is going on?' I frowned. 'Maxwell told me that the wedding cake would be shaped like a massive apple!' Jimmy said, frowning at Maxwell. I sigh escaped me as I rolled my eyes. 'Jeez, and here I thought you guys were arguing about something important.' Jimmy's mouth fell open. 'It's important to Emma!' Maxwell raised his eyebrows. 'Is it, or did she ask me to think of a great cake?' Jimmy's eyes slightly narrowed. 'Don't tell me this was a joke!' I shook my head, slightly amused. Jimmy was always calm, and no one could ever get to him. Apparently wedding stress could.
'Before you continue this heavy discussion,' I said sarcastically, 'Emma's parents are in their rooms, and they send you their best.' Jimmy's face coloured slightly red. 'God, I'm getting in laws. I'm sure they're really nice, but it's all quite…' I chuckled. 'Mr Woodbury seemed quite scary, maybe you should whip out your sword, before he starts fighting for Emma's honour.' Jimmy grew pale. 'Jim, I'm kidding. They seemed nice, don't worry.' Jimmy nodded, still pale, yet a smile broke through. 'It's fine. I'm marrying the love of my life, I can handle it.' I smiled. 'You and Emma belong together.' Maxwell nodded agreeingly. 'I can only hope to find a love like the four of you have.' He looked up with a grin. 'And Tim and Hana. Damn, that was obvious.' Jimmy and I laughed and nodded. 'I'm curious to find out which girl could ever keep up with you, Beaumont,' I joked. He shook his head, a fake sad look on his face. 'I'm not sure that's possible.' He grinned. I put my hand on his shoulder and nodded. 'She'll be lucky.' Jimmy nodded agreeingly.
The rest of the afternoon flew by, arranging things for the afterparty. All guests had arrived, we're shown to their rooms, and then it was time to head to the church. Jimmy and Emma would be tying the knot in the church, and afterwards, the entire palace would be attending the afterparty in the ballroom. Maxwell, Jimmy and I stepped into the royal limousine. We had to be at the church before the girls would arrive. Jimmy had to take his place at the end of the isle, and Maxwell and I had to wait at the beginning of the isle. Maxwell would be escorting Hana, and I would be escorting Iris, of course. A few electric jolts went through my spine, thinking about Iris in her dress. I smiled slightly, it wouldn't take long before we'd see each other again.
Jimmy was talking to Maxwell, yet again starting up the apple cake discussion, I looked out of the window, and started thinking back of my first few weeks of living together with Iris. I wasn't normally the sappy kind of guy. Actually, I often hated being the sappy kind of guy, but I couldn't help myself around her. Our first weeks together had been like a dream, almost like I dream I didn't want to wake up from. We'd been living in a bubble, spending time together and going on small dates. I'd taken her on our first real date when we'd lived together for about a week, and I took her to a place I'd never taken anyone before.
'Drake,' she chuckled as I helped her into my car. 'Where are we going?' I grinned. 'I'm taking you out on a date, that means I get to be slightly mysterious.' She shook her head, smiling amusedly. 'And you're nailing it.' I sat down behind the wheel, and handed her my phone. 'You get to pick the music.' Her mouth fell open, 'you…' I chuckled. 'Emma did warn me about the Jonas Brothers, though.' She let out a soft laugh and shook her head. 'Don't worry, I won't put you through that.' She started scrolling through my Spotify, and nodded. 'I do agree with your music style, Walker.' She ginned, 'but there seems to be something missing.' 'Don't tell me it's any other boyband,' I said with a frown as I drove off.
She grinned bigger. 'Besides a certain lack of Maroon 5 which I deeply and sincerely regret seeing… no, I'm missing this.' She turned on a song by Keith Urban, Somebody Like You. She started singing along, and looked at me happily. I chuckled and I felt a warm feeling spreading though my body as she put her hand on mine, which was resting on my leg. I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it, making her smile. 'I can't even explain how happy you make me, Valentine,' I said, as I directed the car towards a scenic route instead of the highway. I saw her cheeks colour rosy from the corner of my eye. Before she could reply, we had already arrived, and I told her to stay put.
I walked over to her side, and pecked her lips before blindfolding her. 'You're actually blindfolding me?' She giggled, and stumbled slightly when I helped her out of the car. 'You know I'm already having trouble walking while having full sight, right?' I chuckled. 'I'll make sure you won't fall.' She frowned. 'Ho-wow!' I lifted her up, bridal style, and she quickly wrapped her arms around my neck. 'Drake,' she giggled. I knew she couldn't see me, but I knew my eyes had probably never been more loving than at that certain moment. 'I won't drop you, Valentine. Ever.' My voice sounded slightly hoarse, and she seemed to notice it too. Her hand searched my cheek to cup it, and she leaned in to kiss me. 'I trust you with my life, Drake Walker.' I smiled into our kiss, and deepened it slightly. My heartbeat quickened, and I knew that, before I'd lose myself into her lips, I had to keep moving.
Once we'd arrived, I put her down on the ground gently. 'I'm going to untie the blindfold,' I said, and put my hands on the knot. 'Close your eyes and wait for my sign.' She nodded, and smiled. I untied the knot, and slipped the blindfold off. I smiled, she'd love the sight. 'Open your eyes, baby.' Her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped. 'Oh my goodness, Drake!' Her eyes lit up as she saw our beautiful surroundings. I'd taken her to a riverbed which almost had a magical glow to it. I'd once stumbled upon it as I'd been swimming, getting lost during my train of thought, and I'd found myself in this exact riverbed, hoping to one day share this with the one I loved. 'Drake, it's beautiful!' She turned around, and her smile lit up the world. All of a sudden, even the amazing riverbed seemed to fade away in her beauty.
My eyes were drawn to hers, and my hands pulled her closer. 'You are beautiful, Valentine.' She leaned closer to me, her gaze on my lips as she bit hers softly. I pressed my fingers into her hips, feeling the tension rise between us. 'Kiss me,' she whispered. 'Gladly,' I said, my voice low. I closed the gap between our lips, and kissed her until it grew heated. I pulled away, panting as I put my forehead against hers. 'This wasn't how the date was supposed to start.' She let out a soft laugh as she tangled her hands into my hair. 'You don't like where this is going?' I raised my eyebrows. 'Where is this going?' She bit her lip mischievously. 'I was hoping you'd lift me up again in those strong arms of yours, and take me to the riverside where you'd let yourself undress me.' A wave of electric jolts flushed over my body, heating every fibre. 'How could I say no to that,' I said, with a small grin on my face as I lifted her up again, and carried her to the riverside.
I smiled at the thought of the memory. After our dire instincts had worn off, we'd spent the entire afternoon getting to know each other better, sharing stories of our youth and taking a swim in the water. I'd known that I wanted to marry Iris one day for a long time by then, but that afternoon, I wished I'd had a ring. It would have been perfect.
'Drake, we're here,' Maxwell said, breaking my train of thought. I nodded quickly, and opened the door, as I was sitting next to it. Maxwell and I got out first, and Jimmy came out last. The reporters down at the church went crazy as they saw Jimmy, yelling questions. He finally answered some to Ana and Donnie, and after he'd finished, we walked inside. Even Maxwell had had to answer a few questions, but those were about his suit… which had a few burgundy squids on it. He'd been proud to say that those squids were the symbol of House Beaumont… as to where House Valentine had lions, and Piloude had wolves. I had no idea why someone would choose a fucking squid. But that was none of my business.
Inside the church, people were being taken to their seats, and Jimmy had to greet a lot of people, dividing his attention between the guests. Maxwell and I spotted Jimmy's brother Leo, so we walked over there and greeted him. It had been a while since we'd seen each other last, and it hadn't been the best of circumstances either. When we saw him last, he abdicated the throne, leaving Jimmy in charge of becoming King one day. 'Drake, Maxwell!' Leo said happily and pulled us in his embrace. 'Hey, Leo, how are you doing?' I asked. I didn't have any brothers myself, but Leo and Jimmy had always felt like family to me, and Leo had always treated me like that as well.
'I'm fine. Doing so much better since I've broken with all of this,' he said, and I smiled. He hadn't sounded that happy in a long time. 'Glad to hear that,' I said. 'What did I hear, Drake,' he said with a massive grin. 'I thought you hated court, and now you started dating a Duchess?' I felt a blush rise to my cheeks and I rubbed my neck. 'Yeah, I didn't plan for that to happen.' Leo laughed as he put his hand on my shoulder. 'I'm pretty certain no one does.' His laughter faded and he smiled. 'So this Duchess, making you happy?' I nodded and smiled. 'She does. Not your average kind of Duchess.' Leo nodded. 'The girl who breaks through the walls of Drake Walker has to be special.' I let out a laugh and nodded agreeingly. 'That's true. I've never seen Drake this happy. It's almost scary,' Maxwell said jokingly. Leo chuckled.
We chatted for a while, until Olivia walked up to us, greeted Leo and leaned closer to me. 'Hana, Iris and Emma will be arriving soon. Everyone has to take their places.' Maxwell nodded. 'On it!' He scraped his throat, and called everyone to order. 'THE BRIDE WILL BE ARRIVING SOON, SO PLEASE TAKE YOUR PLACES!' A small chaos occurred when everyone tried to go to their seats all at once, and it made Leo and me chuckle. 'These moments are the only moments I actually miss,' he snickered. Once everyone had taken their places, Maxwell and I wished Jimmy good luck, and we quickly took our places near the doors. The bridal mars started playing, to indicate the girls were coming in. I glanced at Jimmy, who was smiling big. Nervously, yet his eyes looked excited. A minute passed… but the doors still hadn't opened. Jimmy's smile had disappeared, and it had made room for a calm expression, which I knew to be a complete façade. He was freaking out. Where were the girls? My heart was beating in the meantime too, and my palms were getting sweaty. Were they late? Why weren't they ready?
Olivia had gotten to the back rooms, to see whether the girls were even there in the first place, but she didn't return soon. A few minutes passed, and nothing happened. The bridal mars stopped playing. I saw Emma's mother looking worried, and so were Iris' parents. Jimmy's face had grown terrified now. Everyone was dead silent, waiting for the doors to open… which didn't happen. Maxwell and I frowned at each other. I was about to open the door to sneak through, when I saw Olivia appearing next to me. 'Don't freak out in public, but…' She whispered, with a terrified look on her face. 'We have a problem.'
The doors were thrown open, and Olivia quickly ducked into the side room again. At first, Hana was being pushed in, being held at gunpoint by a man in a guard outfit. It wasn't a Royal guard… but something told me that he was an assassin, considering the mask he was wearing… My heart skipped a beat. No… no! Second, Iris was pushed through, and finally Emma. My heart was thumping. Please let this be a nightmare. God please let this be the worst dream I've ever had…
'NO!' Tim, Jimmy and I yelled, and we wanted to run up to the girls, but we stopped dead in our tracks when the assassin holding Emma yelled at us to stop moving, or they would pull the trigger. 'What is this?' Jimmy called out, his voice heart wrenching. He sounded raspy, and he'd let go of his royal calmness. 'You should have listened to your father, King Jimmy,' the assassin holding Iris said, his voice extremely low, as if he were growling. He pressed the gun harder against her head. 'And now it's all too late.' I caught Iris' eyes, and where she'd looked strangely determined and angry before, her eyes now betrayed her, almost going lucid. No… this wasn't happening. I'd just gotten her back… we'd just started living our lives together… I still had to propose and we still had to build our lives together! I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.
No. They would have to go through me.
Before I could even do something, I saw strands of red hair sneaking up behind the men, and a tall blond guy. Leo! 'NOW!' Olivia yelled, and Leo and she started fighting the assassins, giving Iris, Hana and Emma time to realise they could break free. They got out of the grip, and started fighting along. Jimmy, Tim and I ran up to the girls and helped fighting the assassins, managing to take down two of them when… the lights went out.
My heart started pounding. 'Iris!' I yelled, trying to get to her. 'Drake!' She said, her voice sounding slightly desperate. She sounded quite close. 'Keep talking baby, I'll find you,' I said, and finally found her by the closeness of her voice. She fell in my arms, and wrapped hers around my neck. 'Drake,' she said softly, her voice raspy as she pressed her lips onto mine. I couldn't see her, but I kept her incredibly close. 'Iris…' We heard a gunshot… echoing through the church. A few people started screaming. 'Are you okay?' I asked Iris, feeling scared. She nodded, I could feel it.
'I'm okay. Hana, Emma?' 'I'm okay!' We heard Emma and Hana say. 'Get down, Iris, we should keep lo-' I started, when the lights suddenly turned on again. 'GUYS!' Maxwell yelled. I gasped, the entire church was full of assassins, and a massive fight broke out, all nobles having to defend themselves. 'MOM, DAD!' Iris and Tim yelled, but Mark and Bree were already kicking ass and defending those around them. Emma's father ran up from the backroom, and started fighting alongside Jimmy and Leo. Jimmy threw an assassin over his shoulder, while ducking to avoid a knife. 'NOBODY RUINS MY WEDDINGDAY!' Emma yelled, while taking a knife out of her dress, and fighting another assassin. Iris and I shot one more look at each other, our eyes telling us how much we loved each other, and we ran up to our friends to fight.
We were all wrapped up into our own fights, until I heard Emma's scream. 'NO!' I almost twisted my back while turning to see what was happening… until I felt a raging fire. Iris and Jimmy were standing next to each other, cornered by two men with guns. No, no, no! I heard Bree's scream for Iris as well, and Queen Mother Regina was yelling against her own guards to save Jimmy… but from that distance, they would be too late.
Emma and I started running, and were just in time. I saw Emma doing the same thing for the man she loved… as I was doing for the woman I loved. We jumped in front of them as the assassins pulled the triggers. A massive force pushed me back and knocked me down, knocking both Iris and me to the ground. 'DRAKE!' Iris screamed, immediately jumping up to support my head. 'EMMA!' My vision became blurry. 'Iris watch out,' I said, using all my power to warn her that the assassins were still behind her. The guards Regina had sent covered the assassins, and Iris and Jimmy immediately hovered over Emma and me. Iris' face wasn't clear anymore, and I felt like I was losing a lot of blood.
'Drake, please… please,' Iris said, her voice begging as a few of her tears fell down onto me. She pressed her hand onto the wound, getting blood all over her. 'EMMA, SAY SOMETHING!' Jimmy yelled, his voice cracking. My eyes started to flutter close. 'No, no please Drake stay with me… I NEED YOU!' Iris screamed at me, her eyes now fully doused. 'I… love… you,' I said, fighting the excruciating pain right above my heart… finally losing the battle.
My surroundings grew dark, until I didn't hear anything anymore.