Chapter 30

"Eliena, sweetheart, wake up," Jonathan murmured, gently shaking his sleeping daughter. Eliena rolled over and opened her eyes.

"Father? How long have I been asleep? What day is it?" she asked.

"Its April sixteenth. You've been asleep for a day," the king replied. "But its understandable, dying can take a lot out of person." Eliena smiled. "But you need to get up. We're riding back to Corus." She sat straight up in bed.

"What? But, father, they need me here!" Eliena insisted.

"No, Eliena. They don't. I've sent the dragons back. We ride home to Corus in two hours, so be ready," Jonathan told her firmly.

"No, father!" Eliena protested. "I need to stay and command!"

"Eliena. You almost died. I will not let you stay," he said. Eliena frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Fine." As the king got up to leave, he turned back to Eliena.

"Leo returned the ring to your mother. I hope you'll tell us what happened on the way home," he remarked.

"Not with Leo there!" she retorted.

"Leo isn't coming. He's staying as a squire to Raoul." Jonathan left the room, shutting the door.

Eliena was shocked. Was Leo really so mad that he wouldn't even ride home with her? She was hurt, but more than that, she was angry. How dare he just walk out and say their engagement was off! He couldn't do that! Well she'd show him!

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Upon arriving in Corus, Eliena sought out Neal. She burst into his rooms, catching him shirtless. "Hello, Eliena. Ever heard of knocking?" he wanted to know. She closed the door behind her and held up her left hand. "Something seems to be missing there…no!" Neal's green eyes bulged. "He called off your engagement when you told him?" Eliena nodded.

"But it doesn't matter," she replied with a shrug and a toss of her silky black mane. She sat on the edge of Neal's bed. "We never would've worked anyhow."

"Eliena." Neal sat down next to her, still without a shirt. "You and Leo are possibly the greatest couple I've ever seen—second only to your parents. What do you mean you never would've worked?" Eliena crossed her legs.

"He's not good enough for me." She turned her violet eyes onto him. "But I know someone who is." She ran her index finger down his torso—right through the middle of the eight raised bumps of his abdominal muscles. (AN- I know, I used that in another story. I loved it though!) Leo only had six.

"Eliena." Neal's voice cracked as he said her name. He pushed her hand away. "You're mad. You don't know what you're—" Her face was drawing closer to his, pulling Neal's head to her. It was like a magnet.

"Oh, I think I know perfectly well what I'm doing." That said, Eliena kissed him. Neal put his hand behind her head and pulled her closer to his mouth, deepening the kiss. He'd been waiting for this for so long. Eliena had finally realized that he loved her. She'd finally come to her senses…

"Neal!" Eliena and Neal sprang apart as someone banged on the door. "Neal! Come on! We're going to be late for lunch!" Neal hurriedly pulled on his shirt and tunic. Eliena smoothed her hair and took a deep breath.

"You ready?" she asked, eyes dancing. She rose and opened the door, revealing six very surprised pages.

"Neal, you didn't tell us you had a guest," Cleon managed, still looking very surprised.

"Neither did I. She just showed up," Neal replied. Eliena and Neal exchanged a glance. Kel caught it and noticed visible sparks between them. She looked away. "You coming to lunch with us, El?" Neal asked the princess.

"I wish I could, but I promised my parents I'd eat in the royal dining hall." She pecked his cheek, driving the six pages' eyebrows up. "See you all later!" She left with a wave.

"Something to share, there, Neal?" Cleon asked coolly. Neal smiled.

"Not a thing," he replied. "Let's get to the mess before the Stump sends a search party."

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Eliena slid into her seat at the dining table. "Hello. Sorry I'm late."

"No trouble, Eliena. We have all day," Thom teased. Eliena gave him a playful glare.

"Eli, what's this I hear about your engagement to Leo being broken off?" Rose wanted to know. Eliena looked at her. Rose was Leo's mother. She swallowed. She told her parents that she and Leo had a "misunderstanding."

"We had an argument, that's all," she replied, taking a sip of water from her glass. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Understandably," George said with a nod. "Losing the one you love can be hard." Eliena caught the glance he gave her mother, who blushed slightly.

"And arguments can ruin relationships," Jonathan remarked, not seeing or ignoring his spymaster's glance at his queen. "Goddess knows it almost ruined ours." He looked at Alanna, who was glad for a reason to avoid George's gaze.

"Yes," she said. "But you can't let them get in the way of true love." She and Jonathan locked eyes and smiled at each other. Eliena made a gagging noise and motion.

"Please," she told them, "save us the lovey-dovey stuff." She took another drink of water. "Besides, I don't think I was really in love with Leo anyway." Liar, she mentally scolded. You were head over heels about him! Thank the gods Daine isn't here! Everyone exchanged a glance, but said nothing.

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After dinner that evening, Eliena found herself lying on her back in the same clearing that she, Leo, and Neal had ridden to several years before. Before all the dramatics, before the Immortals War, before everything. They'd gone there when all Eliena had to worry about was getting out a ball.

Neal was lying beside her. Eliena rolled onto her side, putting her arm around his body. Neal looked at her. "What's that for?" he asked.

"Marking my territory," she replied, kissing him. "You're mine now."

Neal raised an eyebrow. "So soon after Leo?"

"Neal, Leo's been an after thought since we slept together," Eliena told him. Neal's eyebrow went up higher.

"Considering your reaction when you woke up, I find that hard to believe."

"Do you find this hard to believe?" She swung one leg over him and sat up, leaning down to kiss him passionately, her black hair curtaining their faces. Neal pulled her down on top of him and rolled over. Eliena broke the kiss, laughing.

"You're beautiful, Eliena." He kissed her neck and Eliena melted into the lush grass.

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