Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

  William understood what Jotham wasn’t saying. Few were allowed the honor of using just his first name. It was reserved only for those that truly mattered to him. Everyone else he kept at a distance by demanding they use his title. For him to request it of Jacinda meant his feelings were even more engaged than William had first thought.

  “She told me goodbye, Will.”

  Jotham’s softly spoken words brought him back to the conversation. “What?”

  “When she left, she asked me to thank Safford for a wonderful meal, called me Majesty, then said, ‘Goodbye.'”

  William’s mind was in turmoil as he tried to process everything his friend had just said. He knew Jotham, and as much as it pained him to say it when it came to women, Jotham was inexperienced.

  Yes, he was a King.

  Yes, he was used to dealing with women.

  Just not in his personal life.

  From the time Jotham had been a sixteen-cycle, Lata had been it for him. He’d never even looked at another woman, which was why he didn’t remember Jacinda from the Academy. He’d never strayed from Lata, not even with the many women his mother had thrown his way when they’d been out in the Fleet. William would watch Jotham go back to quarters every night to either talk to or leave a message for Lata, depending on the time back on Carina.

  It’s why what happened with Rani had been so shocking.

  “You need to contact her, Jotham. You need to explain.”

  “Explain? Explain what?” Jotham demanded. “That the son she thinks I should be grieving for was actually a traitor?”

  “No, but you could explain that you didn’t mean to frighten her, that the memories just overwhelmed you. From everything you’ve said about her, Jacinda Michelakakis is a very caring woman. She will understand.”

  “Then what? What’s the point? It’s not like we’re going to develop a relationship.”

  “Why not?”

  “Why not?” Jotham couldn’t believe what William had just said. “Will, I barely know the woman.”

  “Yet you have strong feelings for her. Jotham, it took you less than a day to know that Lata was the woman for you. Why would you think this would be any different?”

  “Because I’ve had my life mate.”

  “Yes, and so has Jacinda from what I’ve heard, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fall in love again. You both have your families, Jotham. You both have pasts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a future… together.”

  “Lata…”

  “Would want you to be happy. Just as I want Cassandra to be if something should ever happen to me. There are no guarantees in this life, Jotham, especially not ours. It’s what makes me cherish every moment I have with my wife.”

  “Cassandra would let you have it if she heard you talking like this, Will.”

  “She already has.”

  “You talked about this?” Jotham couldn’t believe it. “With her?”

  “Yes, and she hated the conversation. She refused to listen until I forced her into a chair and made her. I’m a good deal older than her, Jotham, it’s not a secret. The chances are good I will meet the ancestors before her and I know how she will react. She’ll do what she did during the Challenge. She’ll make sure everyone else is taken care of, our family, our friends, and our people, and she’ll forget to take care of herself. That’s my job, whether I’m alive or not, even if that means another man has to do it. I would do anything to make sure she’s happy.”

  “Just like you were willing to give her up so she could be Queen.”

  “If that would have assured her happiness then yes. I’m just glad it never came to that.”

  “Lata and I never discussed it.”

  “Why would you? You were both so young. It’s only as we get older that we begin to realize that another’s happiness could matter more than our own.”

  “I would give anything to speak to her one last time, to have the chance to settle all that was left unsaid.”

  “Then do it.”

  “What?”

  “Do you really think she isn’t listening, Jotham? That Lata hasn’t been watching over you all these cycles?”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that I’ve come to believe that the ancestors play a bigger part in our lives than we’ve ever given them credit for. I believe they watch and are willing to give us guidance if we are only willing to ask and listen.” William paused for a moment. “I used to have dreams of Kayden.”

  “He’s your son, William. It’s only natural.”

  “No. Not my Kayden but the Kayden that disappeared with the Princess from the House of Knowledge. We had several conversations, ones I didn’t always agree with, but in the end he told me something I couldn’t argue with.”

  “What?”

  “That I couldn’t ‘protect’ what was mine if I wasn’t ‘with’ what was mine. You can’t either, not if you let Jacinda go.”

  Chapter Nine

  Jacinda didn’t relax her grip on the steering wheel of her transport as she drove home. She didn’t let herself think about what had just happened back at the Palace. If she did, she knew she would have to pull over.

  There just ahead was her driveway. Pulling in, she slowly relaxed each finger then shut off the transport and leaned back in her seat. Finally, she allowed her thoughts free reign.

  Jotham was a complicated man with many facets. She’d always known that. He had to be to deal with everything it took to be King. Yet in all the cycles she’d known him, she’d never once heard of him lashing out like that.

  It had been a beautiful day, the gardens had been lush, and their lunch together had been wonderful. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so at ease with a man. She and Jotham had so much in common, had shared so many of the same life experiences that the conversation had just flowed. It had felt as if they were becoming more than just associates but truly becoming friends.

  At least until the talk had turned to Dadrian.

  Dadrian.

  Yes, there had been rumors that Dadrian could get violent, but never about Jotham.

  Could it have been kept hidden?

  “No!” The sound of her own voice had Jacinda jerking slightly in the seat. No, there was no way that was possible. She’d known Jotham nearly her entire life. She had seen him in too many tense situations and he’d never become violent.

  She should have realized he wouldn’t want to talk about the loss of his son. He still rarely talked about Lata and it had been nearly thirty-five cycles since she’d met the ancestors. It had barely been ten cycles since Dadrian had.

  She had overstepped her boundaries talking about Dadrian. She could see that now, but in that moment, she’d felt so close to Jotham. He hadn’t been a King to her then. Jotham had been a friend. A man. A man, she was surprised to discover she was beginning to have strong feelings for.

  He had been on her mind since that meeting when she had stormed out of his office. If she were honest with herself, she would admit that it was why she let Kia talk her into that dress.

  Okay, it hadn’t taken much talking, but still.

  She’d wanted to look amazing last night, not just for Danton but for herself, and maybe just a little to see Jotham’s reaction.

  When they danced last night, she still had to look up at him even in those heels, it had just seemed so right and a feeling she hadn’t felt in cycles returned. It had grown during their lunch today as they discovered more about each other. Walking through the garden with him had seemed so natural, as if they’d been doing it for cycles.

  Then it had all gone wrong and she still didn’t fully understand why.

  Exiting her transport, she moved up her walk. Entering her home still fuming, she barely stopped herself from slamming the door. Still, for him to treat her that way, to speak to her that way. King or not, no man did!

  “No one!” Jacinda muttered.

  “No one what?”

  Jacinda’
s eyes quickly scanned her living room looking for the source of the voice.

  “Stephanie!” Jacinda was immediately across the room wrapping her arms around her daughter. “I thought you weren’t going to be on planet until after the next moon cycle!”

  “Yes, well plans change.” Stephanie hugged her mother back before she ran a critical eye over her, taking in the angry slash of color across her cheeks. “Who’s got you so upset?” Whoever it was, Stephanie would make sure he never did it again. Her mother was a very special, precious woman and no one was allowed to anger her, not when Stephanie was around.

  “What? Oh no one,” Jacinda waved a dismissive hand. “It’s not important. What’s important is that you’re home.” Jacinda wrapped her arms around her again. “Oh, I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too, Mom.”

  As one, they moved to sit. Jacinda looked at her daughter and while part of her heart broke that she was no longer her little girl, another part swelled with pride at the strong, independent woman she had become.

  “So when did you get in? How long can you stay? Do your brothers know your back?”

  Stephanie found herself laughing as her mother fired questions at her. It was good to be home.

  “I landed just a few hours ago. I’m going to be on planet for several moon cycles and no I haven’t contacted Danton or Ethan yet.”

  “Several moon cycles?” Jacinda didn’t try to hide her shock. Ever since Stephanie had joined the Coalition, she’d never been on planet longer than three weeks and that had been when her father died.

  “What’s wrong? Are you alright?” Jacinda ran a more critical eye over her daughter taking in the stress around her eyes and the nearly faded bruise on her cheek. “What happened?”

  “Nothing happened, Mom.” Stephanie knew the instant her mom noticed the bruise for her eyes narrowed. “It happened during a training exercise. Honestly, I’m fine.”

  “Then why are you here for so long?” Jacinda demanded.

  “Gee, Mom, it sounds like you don’t want me here,” Stephanie teased, knowing it would distract her mother.

  “Oh stop that! You know that’s not true!”

  “I know, Mom,” she quickly reassured her. “And actually I’m only going to be in Pechora for a week, then I’m off to Kisurri.”

  “Kisurri?”

  “Yes. I’ve been accepted into a new advanced training program being taught by Peter Chamberlain. He’ll be teaching it in the training facility within the House of Knowledge.”

  “Training program?” Jacinda frowned. She hadn’t heard anything about it.

  “Yes, on Earth, Peter Chamberlain was the leader of a Shock Troop.”

  “They had Shock Troops on Earth?”

  “I believe they called them Special Forces, but it is essentially the same thing. He taught some moves to his sister and daughter. They’re now taught to every cadet at the Academy. To learn directly from him though… it’s a great honor.”

  “One I’m sure you’ve earned. You’ve always worked hard, Stephanie, and while I’ll admit your choice of career has always worried me,” Jacinda held up her hand to silence the mouth she saw open. “I’m your mother. It’s my job to worry. That said, I also know you wouldn’t have advanced so far, so quickly if you didn’t excel in your chosen field. So I’m not at all surprised that you were accepted into this new program.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “You’re welcome. Now tell me everything you’ve been doing.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  “Majesty.”

  Jotham looked up from the report he’d been staring at blindly for the last thirty minutes. “Yes, Chesney?”

  “Did you need me for anything else tonight?”

  “Tonight?” Spinning around in his chair, Jotham looked out the window to find the garden bathed in moonlight. When had it gotten so late?

  “I’m sorry, Chesney. I didn’t realize it was so late.” He turned back to face Chesney. “Go home, I’m sure Helen is wondering where you are.”

  “She’s used to it, Majesty. If you need me to stay longer, she would understand.”

  “No. We’ve done enough for the day and thank you for clearing my schedule earlier, Chesney. I know it wasn’t easy.”

  “I was happy to do it, Majesty.” And Chesney really was. As far as he was concerned, the King worked too hard. He might cancel a meeting, but it was always because something more important needed his attention. It was never for a personal reason and never because of a woman. A wonderful woman, as far as Chesney was concerned. “If you’ll forgive me for saying it, but you should do it more often. I’m just sorry I had to interrupt and that Madame Michelakakis had to leave.”

  “Yes… Well… it was for the best.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t understand, Sire.”

  “You had to have overheard what was being said as you walked up, Chesney.”

  “Yes, Sire.” Chesney looked at his feet. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

  “I know that, Chesney. You have always been loyal and discrete. I don’t know what I would do without you after all these cycles.”

  “Thank you, Majesty.” Chesney beamed at him.

  “Go home to your wife, Chesney. I will see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes, Sire.” Chesney turned to leave then paused. “She’s a wonderful woman, Sire.”

  “She would have to be to put up with you for all these cycles, now wouldn’t she?” Jotham smiled as he teased his assistant.

  “Yes, Majesty, my Helen is, but I wasn’t referring to her. I was referring to Madame Michelakakis.” Chesney watched his King’s smile immediately disappear.

  “I’m aware of that, Chesney.” Jotham hoped that would end the conversation. It was one of the things Jotham most appreciated about Chesney. He rarely said unnecessary things. Apparently he felt this was necessary.

  “I will never forget the day she came to the aid of my youngest,” Chesney continued.

  “What?” Jotham gave him a confused look.

  “It must be more than twenty cycles now. Helen was out shopping in the market with all three children and Tara wandered away from her. Helen was frantic and was just about to call me when Madame Michelakakis came walking up to her with Tara in her arms. It seems Madame Michelakakis found Tara crying behind some crates and was able to coax her out. I hadn’t even realized she knew I had a wife, let alone children.” Chesney remembered how shocked he had been when his wife had told him how Jacinda had stayed and talked to her. How she had made sure that Helen was okay too. Assuring her that the same thing had happened to her with her youngest, Stephanie, and that it didn’t make her a terrible mother. “So many Assemblyman’s wives tend to ignore the families of the House staff.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jotham had never heard this before, had never noticed it happening. “Why have you never said anything?”

  “It never occurred to me, Sire. The only reason I mention it now is so you know that Madame Michelakakis isn’t like that. She is a wonderful, caring woman. She still inquires on my family.”

  “I see. Well, thank you, Chesney.”

  “She will understand and forgive the… sharpness of your words,” Chesney pressed further.

  “Thank you, Chesney. Goodnight.” This time he made sure Chesney couldn’t mistake he was finished discussing this.

  “Yes, Sire. Goodnight to you too.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  “Are you ready for a coffee?” Jacinda switched the bags in her hands as she looked at Stephanie. They had been shopping all morning and made a good attempt at clearing out the shops of Pechora.

  “I’m always ready for coffee,” Stephanie declared, silently wondering where her mother got her energy. They had been out all morning and her mother showed no sign of slowing down. Stephanie got less of a work out during a training session.

  “Pittaluga’s? It’s just down the street and they still have that Torte you love.”
br />   “How do you remember stuff like that, Mom?”

  “Oh, I guess there are just certain things a mother never forgets. Like how you’d always beg to go there for your birthday.“

  “True, but it’s been cycles since I’ve been home for my birthday.”

  “I know, but I still come here on that day and have a piece for you.”

  “Seriously?” Stephanie stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned shocked eyes to her mother. She never knew her mother did that.

  “It always made me feel like I had a little piece of you with me, even though you were so far away.”

  Before Stephanie could say anything, she was bumped into from behind.

  “Pardon me,” the deep voice said as strong hands gripped her elbows.

  “Captain Deffand?” Jacinda’s tone was welcoming.

  “Madame Michelakakis?” Deffand’s eyes ran from her to the woman who was quickly pulling away from his grasp. She was beautiful and he knew he had never seen her before.

  “How wonderful to see you again. Stephanie, this is Captain Deffand, Captain of the King’s Guard. Captain Deffand, my daughter, Stephanie.”

  “Captain,” Stephanie gave him a cool nod, silently cursing.

  “Miss Michelakakis,” Deffand nodded to her slightly.

  “It’s Lieutenant actually.”

  “Excuse me?” Deffand’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “It’s Lieutenant Michelakakis, sir. I serve in the Coalition. Security.”

  “Security? Which ship are you serving on?”

  Stephanie stiffened as Deffand ran a disbelieving eye over her.

  “I just finished my tour on the Retribution. I’m now investigating other options for my skills.”

  “I see.”

  Jacinda raised a brow, her gaze going from Deffand to her daughter. “Captain, we were just about to go to Pittaluga’s for coffee. Would you care to join us?”

  “Thank you, Madame Michelakakis, but I’m afraid I can’t. Maybe next time?” He bowed and turned to go.