Hello there! It's been a while! Welcome back, to you and to me!
Jalissa Chase
Sienna mentally prepared herself to meet the Queen. The two guards were silent the rest of the car ride, but the tension in the car was thick. Sienna was almost royalty. With the engagement came a title and a promise of a crown. Sienna would be a princess for a short time and then queen. That was what Matt had said. No wonder the Queen was quick to sweep her up in the arms of bodyguards and transport her to the palace. She was a walking liability.
Surprisingly, when the car door opened, it wasn't a bodyguard or Matthew. In fact, it would have been less surprising if it had been the Queen. Instead, Sienna was nose to nose with James.
She wanted to speak, to say anything that would make things all right, but she couldn't. The look in James's eyes told her so: she had what he never could. They were moving in two directions. Their paths would never meet on the same plane again.
"Lady Carlton," James said, his voice surprisingly gentle. He offered her a hand.
Sienna wanted to weep. There was no anger in the gesture; James showed his regret. They both knew each other's secrets and they had never truly spoken to one another. James had seen her fall into a trap and he could not save her. The least he could do was hold her hand.
Sienna took it gracefully and let James guide her out of the car. The two bodyguards returned to her sides as soon as she hit the pavement.
"I can take it from here, gentlemen," James said.
"We are not to leave her," one said.
James was unfazed. "As we are on palace grounds, you can remain outside. The Queen's guard will take over on the inside."
The second one didn't want to argue. "Very well." He turned to Sienna. "Call us when we can be of assistance, your majesty."
Sienna didn't react to the comment. She bowed her head in a respectful manner and took James's arm. He didn't show any emotions, but his arm tensed at the touch. Some nonverbal communication passed between them and he led her inside the palace.
"You are making a mistake," James said once they were out of the guards' earshot. "You need to stop this before it becomes official."
"They need me," she said. "I couldn't live with myself if I left Matt in his time of need and something horrible happened. I have an opportunity to change things. I want to."
James stopped and faced her. "But you will never love each other."
"There's more to this then love, James," Sienna said.
"You would give everything up for this country that has done nothing but despicable things to you?" He demanded. "Is this really about them or is it revenge?"
"I know they didn't ask for my help, but I would never treat them in the manner they treated me!" Sienna snapped. "I am not that kind of person!"
"Then you're being stupid!" James yelled. "Please don't do this! I have seen you in your lowest, and you deserve more!"
Sienna couldn't read the emotions between them. They were raw, bitter emotions. Sienna had never felt so completely broken to a stranger. James and Sienna weren't friends; they couldn't even say they knew each other. The links drawn between them were broken and complicated. Sienna was marrying James's boyfriend. That in itself was a reason for anger and blame, but she wasn't marrying him to hurt James, she was trying to save him. That was another issue that reversed the blame, but it brought them spiraling towards each other on a collision course that would never end well.
"You should leave here," she said, trying to keep herself composed. "This will not end well. Your heart will never recover if you stay."
"How does one even fight this?" James demanded. "Even if I leave, how do I move on knowing this is all set into motion?"
"You can't stop it," Sienna said.
James looked at her in disbelief. "But you can."
Sienna didn't speak. She had an answer, but her gut told her that James didn't want to hear it. Instead, she looked at the floor. James took this as an end to their conversation and led her towards the back of the palace.
To the throne room.
It was time to meet the King and Queen.