A Game of Crowns
Chapter 17-I do

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”

—Elizabeth Foley.

“My lady, Mr. Carter is here for you. I told him to come back at a reasonable time but he insisted you knew he was coming,” Georgiana whispered.

“Tell him to go away,” I grumbled.

We had only been given the go-ahead to return to our living quarters hours ago. The sweet pull of my bed did not want to release me.

I heard Georgiana’s soft footfalls retreating from my bed. I sighed. What the heck was I doing? I peeled open my eyes, sat up, and leaned back onto my elbows. I looked at her beneath heavy eyelids that threatened to close. “Georgiana, wait. Tell him I’ll be ready in an hour.”

She smiled happily. “He’s given you thirty minutes to get ready.”

I grumbled and pulled the covers over my head again. A minute later, Georgiana pulled back my sheets and pulled me out of bed. She had so much energy. “Why are you in such an energetic mood today?”

“I am to accompany you and Mr. Carter today.”

Oh, maybe she knew where we were going. “Do you know what he has planned?”

“Yes,” she said with a sly grin. What was going on?

“Would you care to enlighten me?”

“No,” she giggled.

“Georgiana,” I whined.

This made her bust out in a fit of giggles and sighs. “I’m sorry, My lady. I gave my word.”

“Very well. I’ll get dressed,” I said, opening my closet door. Georgiana’s excitement was contagious. Her bubbly nature was taxing in the morning but it seemed to be working its magic on me. I wondered if I could get away with jeans and a sweater today. I pulled them out but Georgiana took them out of my hands and replaced them with something far more beautiful. I guess comfort was out of the picture today.

I pulled on a pair of black, high-waisted, silk pontoon pants that flared out beneath the hips down to my feet. I paired it with an off-white long sleeve blouse that had a small ruffle at the chest. It was gorgeous and comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised by the outfit but it also made sense. It covered all my bruises from training with Trixie and all the new ones from yesterday. Thankfully, I had none on my face or neck. The outfit was new. It seemed my closet had new items in them every other day now. My closet would be full before I knew it.

Georgiana braided my hair around my head in the form of a crown with wisps of hair framing my face and neck, sporadically. I instantly fell in love with the style. I had to make sure she’d show me how to do that. The woman was quick. She had my hair and makeup done in no time. It helped that I hardly wore any makeup but still. She was a wonder.

As she finished rewrapping the bandage on my arm she gave me a thumbs up. I took a seat on one of the couches in my room and waited. Georgiana packed a bit of makeup, a brush, and other little items into a small backpack.

“Let’s go, my lady.”

We walked down the quiet halls of the east wing. All the other female participants were no doubt still in bed. The lights in the wing were cast to a dim setting. At the end of my hall, stood a soldier in a uniform I had never seen. He was clad in black with a gun at his side. Georgiana did not react so I guessed she knew of the changes but his presence was new me. It must have been a new security protocol since the events of yesterday. It was like a punch to the gut when I remembered Ruby’s death.

“Georgiana, who are they?” I whispered as we passed.

“Mr. Cavaughn has so graciously lent his private security forces to the crown while the game is ongoing. At least until a better solution is afforded.”

“Who is that?”

She raised an eyebrow. “It’s the gentleman you had lunch with a while ago, King Stefan’s enforcer.”

A cold chill filled my body, as the implications of a small private army belonging to Thelonious residing in the palace, sank in. I wondered if the others knew. Rowan and the twins had to know. They were basically part of the group that was keeping the territory running right now. How could they have let this happen?

“I’m surprised you’re telling me anything at all. I figured everything was being hushed around here.”

She smiled. “I normally would but you seem to replace ways to replace out the information anyway.”

I laughed. She had a point. The next question I asked was one I didn’t want to ask but knew I needed to know.

“Georgiana, what about Ruby’s body? Will there be a funeral?” I asked somberly.

“There will be. It’ll be held here in a couple of days. They are bringing her family here so until then preparations are being made,” she replied in an equally subdued tone.

We walked the rest of the way to the main entrance in silence both of us lost in our own thoughts.

Just as we were about to arrive at the turning point that led to the entrance hall we ran into Lucas. He looked terrible. He was covered in bruises. The darkest one was right on his cheekbone and few others were scattered around his face, jaw, and neck. His eyes widened when he saw me. We hadn’t talked since Tobias punched him. “Hey, Lucas. What happened?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I was trying to be a hero yesterday and my face was rewarded,” he said trying to make light of the situation.

What was wrong with these guys trying to play the hero?

“What about you, Penny? Are you okay? I heard you had a few injuries yourself.”

“I’m okay. Thanks, Lucas.”

He nodded and we stood next to each other in awkward silence.

“We should be going, my lady. We are running late,” Georgiana said, thankfully interrupting the awkwardness.

“Yes, of course. I’ll see you around, Lucas.”

He waved goodbye as we made our final turn. One of the new soldiers nodded as we passed. I refused to acknowledge him. A familiar attendant opened the door for us. It was the man I helped up after he fell to the ground from being the mouthpiece for the Trinity.

He smiled kindly. “I am glad to see you are well, Miss Tate.”

“You too...I’m sorry, what’s your name?” I asked before walking outside, where Tobias stood dreamily waiting by the car.

“You can call me, Phillip, my lady,” he said bowing.

A warmth flooded my face. He had just bowed. Was that normal?

I smiled once more before I turned towards Tobias. His clear blue eyes danced with an emotion I couldn’t name but it warmed my heart.

“Penelope.” His voice said my name the way I’d imagine a lover would. His voice pulled at something deep within me and it really wanted to answer.

“Tobias,” I said in a sultry voice, playing along.

“Killian,” piped in another voice from inside the car. He stepped out and his gorgeous face smiled down at me.

I swear I didn’t mean to stare so openly but Holy Priestess. The thin line of his lips broke out into a rakish grin.

“Sorry, buddy,” he said to Tobias as he laughed deliciously.

Priestess, what was wrong with me? I blushed and looked over at Tobias who I expected to replace fuming but found him laughing. Ugh, what?

Georgiana giggled. Killian’s dark eyes shifted to her and he winked. The color to her cheeks was instantaneous.

I couldn’t blame her. The man had a rakish grin and smoldering eyes. His dark looks induced knee trembling and thigh quivering. Oh, holy heck, my thoughts were in the gutter.

“What’s with you two?” I asked, eyeing Tobias and Killian, trying to regain my composure.

“Georgiana. Penelope, this is my best friend, Killian.”

Oh....

“How is that possible? How did both of you manage to get into the game?” I asked.

“Luck of the lottery, honestly,” replied Killian.

I was truly starting to doubt the effectiveness of the lottery in the first place. I mean what were the possibilities of the illegitimate child of the king being selected and not to mention his best friend. They got themselves selected somehow. I was sure of it.

“Right,” I said.

“Shall we?” Tobias asked.

I let Georgiana glide in first; Tobias and Killian quickly followed. They sat across from us. Tobias knocked on the window that connected us to the driver, signaling him.

“Where are we going?” I asked. “Or am I still not allowed to know?”

Tobias cracked a grin. “We’re going to the small town nearby. It’s at the bottom of the valley.”

“To do?”

“You’ll see,” he said.

“I’m surprised they let us out considering everything that happened yesterday.”

“About that, I asked for a favor. We’re being tailed by three guardians. It wasn’t going to happen but I spoke with Rowan and he pulled some strings when he found out what I had planned.”

I could see it irked him that he needed Rowan’s help but it meant the world to me that he put his pride aside while trying to do something nice for me.

“What are Guardians?” I asked.

“They’re the new security we saw this morning,” piped in a quiet Georgiana.

“What?” I asked astonished.

Before I could say anything else Tobias replied. “I know, Penelope. Rowan told me but we’ll be fine. Trust me.”

“I do,” I said. The confined space of the vehicle became so charged I was sure Killian and Georgiana could feel it. Tobias blue eyes darkened as they narrowed onto my lips. My stomach tightened deliciously. We were terrible at being friends.

Killian coughed a couple of times, reminding us of their presence. I tore my eyes away from Tobias. Killian’s amused grin was aimed at Tobias. Tobias was still looking at me. Georgiana was looking at Killian. She was utterly smitten. I grinned.

“We’re here,” said Tobias. His eyes were still on me.

The drive down to the valley had taken twenty minutes at most. The small piece of the territory outside of the palace grounds was beautiful; rolling hills and flower-filled acres of land as far as the eye could see. We hadn’t passed much of the city but what I had seen wasn’t what I expected. It was clean and well kept. Maybe because of its proximity to palace. I wondered if the rest of the city was just as nice. The building we were at was nearly at the entrance to the city.

I tried to look at the window but the building gave nothing away. Killian hopped out first and offered Georgiana a hand which she gladly took. Now that I was paying attention to them I noticed a familiarity between them, a sort of comfortableness. I had to make sure to remember and ask her about it.

Tobias stepped out and held out a hand for me to grab onto. He was staring intently at me. A gleam of happiness ran wildly through his eyes. He shuffled back and forth between his feet. He tilted his head and nodded towards the building we stood in front of. I smiled at his antics. He was being adorable.

I looked up at the medium sized building made of white limestone. It wasn’t grand, it wasn’t eye-catching, but it was the best thing I’d ever seen.

The hand I held onto squeezed my own. My heart soared.