Chapter 43

"Father, where's Leo?" Eliena asked casually, spearing a bite of food with her fork.

"He said he was tired," Jonathan replied. "You'll see him at lunch."

"How come?" Alanna wanted to know, taking a sip from her cup.

"Just wondering," the princess responded with a shrug. Her eyes were blank as she added, "He seemed a little drunk last night."

"Eliena!" Jonathan reprimanded. "That isn't kind."

"But its true," Eliena told her father sweetly. "Might I go see him after breakfast?"

"I don't see a problem with that," Jonathan agreed. Alanna kept her mouth shut—she had a feeling she knew what Eliena was going to do. Daine, who sat beside the princess, elbowed her friend in the ribs. Eliena turned amused violet eyes to her friend.

"Daine, please don't elbow me, its painful." Eliena pushed her chair back. "If you will excuse me, I've finished." She inclined her head to her parents and walked out.

"You have to give her credit—she has style," Numair whispered to Daine, who sighed.

"She reminds me just a touch too much of Roger sometimes," Alanna murmured to Jonathan. Jon looked at his wife.

"She's Conté, Alanna. So was Roger," he reminded her.

"Yes, but Roger was an evil man. And Eliena's quickly turning into an evil teenager."

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Eliena knocked on Leo's door. "Who is it?" he called. Eliena cleared her throat quietly.

"Its th' maid, sir. I've come t' clean yer room," she called back, smiling at the brilliant commoner accent she'd picked up from her time at the Dove. The door opened and Eliena walked in.

"Oh, no, not you," Leo muttered. Eliena turned to look at him.

"What was that?" she asked. Her face twisted in disgust. "Ew. What happened to you?"

Leo's eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, his hair mussed, and his clothes wrinkled. He reeked of alcohol and sweat. When she looked around, his room was a mess—there were bottles all over, his bed was unmade, and there was clothing strewn on the floor.

"Are you sober?" she demanded. "Because I refuse to speak to a drunk man. Squire. Whatever." She planted her hands firmly on her hips, drawing Leo's brown eyes down her shapely figure. Eliena rolled her eyes and made a disgusted sound. "Don't do it, Leo. Don't you ogle me." He tore his eyes from her body and to her face.

Somehow, Eliena looked more beautiful every time he saw her. Today, her pale pink day dress seemed to cling to the curves of her bust and hips like a second skin. She seemed more tan than ever; her hair glossier and blacker; and her violet eyes brighter. Leo wished he could feel the softness of her skin—she was always blemish free.

"Say what you've come to, Eliena. I'm sober," Leo said, barely managing to keep from begging her to take him back.

"Fine, then. I suppose you want to know why I broke off our engagement and all that. I can tell you quite simply why—and it isn't because I'm interested in girls, or that I want to be celibate, or any of that. And it isn't that I don't love you, because I do." Leo seemed to brighten at this. "But not in the way you want me to." His face fell. "Leo." Eliena took her longtime friend's hands. She held his searching eyes. "I love you the same way my mother loves your father. As a friend, and nothing more. You've been my friend as long as I can remember, and I want it to stay that way. I can't marry you because, frankly, you're boring." Leo looked flabbergasted. "You let me run everything without complaining, you never fight me on anything, and you seem content just to say, 'Whatever you want, Eli,' more like a subject or a servant than a friend or husband. And I want the relationship my parents have—they're madly in love with each other, the best of friends, and know each other through and through. But they aren't afraid to fight with each other—they do it all the time." She released his hands. "You mean the world to me, Leo, and I want you close. I want you to stay my best friend, my brother, my protector, just like when we were little. When I would play the damsel in distress and you would be the valiant knight saving me—before my mother yelled at us for being so conservative in our games." They both chuckled at the memory. "Father often said that if he hadn't married mother, she would've been his Champion. That's what I want for you. I want you to be my Kin—Queen's Champion. When the time comes, I wouldn't want anyone else defending the Crown in my name. Do you understand?" She looked hopeful. Leo nodded.

"One question—who has you looking so in love?" he wanted to know, showing her only a fraction of the pain he felt. "Is it Neal?" Eliena saw how crushed he would be if she said yes…thankfully, she didn't have to crush him.

"No," she replied. "You don't know him. He's not from our circle." Leo looked puzzled. "You'll know when you need to, I promise." She embraced Leo. "You'll be one of the first to know when I've found my true love, I swear." Eliena went to the door.

"Eli?" Leo asked. She turned.

"Mm?"

"Can I have one last kiss?"

Leo's question moved her so much that Eliena felt tears in her eyes. She nodded and walked over to him, allowing her friend to take her into his arms and kiss her deeply. When she felt his tears on her own cheeks, Eliena began to cry. She knew this would be the last time Leo would kiss her to comfort her. She couldn't fall into his kisses for comfort the way she had for so long. She would have to be content with Leo's hold and kissing her forehead in that older brotherly way, or the way her father did.

Then Eliena remembered how Sam's kisses made her heart soar and she pulled away, wiping her tears. "Friends forever?"

"Forever and ever," Leo promised. He kissed her forehead. "I love you, El." Eliena smiled.

"I know you do, and I love you too. Always." She went to the door.

"Are you sure you can't tell me who the man is?" Leo asked once more. Eliena smiled, her back still to him.

"I'm sure."

"Does he treat you right?" Her smile grew.

"He treats me like his girl—his princess, but not in the royal way. Like I mean the world to him, and no one else could replace me. But he also treats me like his best friend, to have drinks with."

"He sounds perfect," Leo murmured.

"He is."

Author's Note- I think I'm going to cry. I'm so sad! REVIEW.