Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

  "Thanks." She tossed the pill into her mouth then drank it down. "I couldn't have."

  "Why not?"

  "Because there is no reason for me to be there that late."

  "I'm not a reason?"

  Though he tried to hide it, she heard the hurt in his voice.

  "Jotham..." Rising she stepped into his slack arms, framed his face with her hands and looked him straight in the eyes. "Of course you are, but you can't possibly want it to become common knowledge that I'm visiting you late at night."

  "I can't?"

  Jacinda frowned up at him.

  Turning his head, he kissed the inside of her palm, "Can we go sit in the other room?" he asked.

  Nodding, Jacinda turned and led him into the living room.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham rubbed his hands on his thighs as he sat next to her on the couch, surprised to discover how nervous he was. Giving himself a moment to calm he let his gaze travel around the room he barely noticed earlier and his eyes widened.

  Sitting on the low table in front of them were framed visuals, in all different shapes and sizes of the Michelakakis family. One was of just the kids, young and obviously on a vacation somewhere, sitting in the sand, smiling up at whoever was taking their image.

  Another was of Danton, sitting on Stephan's shoulders, laughing as he pulled his father's ears.

  There was Stephan and Jacinda, the Academy building directly behind them, standing next to their daughter who was in her graduation uniform.

  As he continued to look around, he found more and more visuals documenting Jacinda's life with not only her children but with Stephan. Some were formal and he could tell they had been taken at an Assembly event. When he looked above the mantle, there for all to see was a portrait of Stephan looking down at them.

  "Jotham?"

  Jacinda's voice brought his eyes back to her. "Stephan was a very lucky man."

  Jacinda's eyes followed to where Jotham's had been and frowned. "I don't understand."

  "You still have his portrait hanging there. You still have visuals of him out."

  "Why wouldn't I?"

  "I couldn't. After Lata. It hurt too much to see her face and know she was gone."

  Jacinda was silent for several moments trying to organize her thoughts. "Every person grieves differently, Jotham. I would be lying if I said there weren't times when I look at that portrait and cry. Or that when I look at this visual," she picked one up that had all three of her children piled on Stephan's back as he crawled on all fours around the room, giving them a ride, "that I don’t rage he isn't still with me." Carefully she put the visual back. "But I could never pack them away. Stephan might be gone, but he will always be part of my life."

  "That is why he's a very lucky man. You remember him."

  "You remember Lata, Jotham. In your own way. You have her portrait hanging in your private office."

  "Which you don't approve of," he reminded her.

  Jacinda felt shame fill her as she remembered her words to Jotham. "I'm sorry, Jotham." She leaned over to squeeze his hand. "I should never have said that. It isn't my place."

  "Then whose place is it? If not someone who was her friend?" Jotham surged to his feet and found himself pacing. "I loved Lata. I still love her."

  "I know that." Jacinda's concerned gaze followed him.

  "But...." He looked at her, saw her concern, and finally admitted something he never had before. "She was growing unhappy with our life together."

  "What? She told you that?" Jacinda couldn't hide her shock.

  "Not in so many words, but I knew Lata. The constant pressure was getting to her and I wasn't helping."

  "I'm sure you were doing what you could, Jotham. You were under a lot of pressure too."

  "Yes, but not like Lata. At least I had some experience and training at what would be expected. Lata didn't. When she conceived..."

  "When she conceived?"

  "She was angry, so hurt."

  "I don't understand."

  "We talked about it, about waiting at least four cycles before we had children. She wanted to be more comfortable with her duties before she conceived. I agreed, then I got caught up with my duties and forgot to take the Ollali juice." Jotham tipped his head back looking up at the ceiling. "If only I hadn't forgotten."

  "Then you wouldn't have Barek, Jotham." Rising she went to his side and waited until he looked at her. "Lata loved Barek. She wouldn't have changed anything if it meant losing him."

  "You can't know that."

  "I can. Lata and I used to talk, a lot. I told you that. She and Barek used to come here, in those early cycles. We would sit and talk the way new mothers do and watch our sons grow. She made a comment once, I thought I understood what she was talking about, but now I see I didn't, not then, but I do now."

  "What did she say?"

  "That while it hadn't been how she had wanted it, she wouldn't have changed anything that happened. Not if it meant she didn't have Barek. It seemed a little strange to me, but I thought she was referring to being restricted to bed for so long."

  "She said that?"

  "Yes."

  "Why did you say 'early cycles'? She stopped coming here?"

  "Not long after Barek's first birthday." Jacinda went over to a multi-tier table on the far side of the room and picked up a visual tucked in the back on the bottom shelf before walking back to hand it to him. "We used the self-timer to take this. It was the last time she visited."

  Jotham looked at the visual and felt his eyes fill. Staring out at him was his Lata, sitting on the floor next to Jacinda, each of them were holding their sons and they were all smiling, even the boys.

  "Why did she stop coming?" he asked quietly.

  "There were grumblings about favoritism from some of the other wives."

  "So? She was the Queen. What they thought didn't matter. She could do as she pleased."

  "We're talking about Lata here, Jotham." Reaching out she touched her friend's image. "She was a truly nice and loving person. She was still learning to navigate the self-centered and hurtful world that politics can sometimes be."

  "It is why she wanted to go driving so often. She needed to get away from it."

  "I wish I would have known it had gotten so bad, but after I had Ethan and Stephanie, she seemed to pull even further away from me."

  "That was probably my fault," he said sadly, handing her back the visual.

  "I don't understand," frowning she looked up at him.

  "After Barek was born I made sure to never forget the Ollali juice again. I didn't want to force another pregnancy on her, but as time went on, I began to push for her to have another child. I didn't want Barek to grow up alone and lonely like I did."

  "And?"

  "And she refused to even consider it."

  "I... I'm sorry, Jotham." Turning she went to put the visual back.

  "We argued about it the night before she died. Maybe if we hadn't..."

  "You can't think like that, Jotham. Not only is it wrong but Lata wouldn't want you to. She had an accident. A senseless accident. If she hadn't, you would have had more children together and a long, happy life."

  "But that accident did happen." Walking over to her he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, letting her warmth sooth him. "Lata’s and our chance at that long and happy life disappeared. I'm not going to lose that chance again."

  "Jotham..." She rested her hands and forehead on his chest.

  "I want you in my life, Jacinda." With a gentle finger under her chin, he tipped her face up. "In my bed. I planned on moving slower than this, planned on letting both of us get used to the idea first, but you had an accident last night and I'm not going to chance losing another woman."

  "I'm fine. Really."

  "That doesn't matter! What matters is that you could have been killed and no one would have known to notify me! That is unacceptable. I should have been the one you called. I should have been the one to
come get you. I want everyone to know that."

  "You want to make an official announcement?" Her fingers dug into his skin, her mind churning at what that would mean not only to her but to her children.

  "No, not official, because it’s no one's business but ours, but I don't want to hide it either. I want us to spend time together. Openly."

  Jacinda found herself relaxing at his words. She wasn't sure how this was going to work, wasn't sure it would, but she knew she wanted the chance too. "How open?" She found herself teasing as she slid her hands up and over his shoulders taking his shirt with them.

  "As open as you want." Leaning down, he captured her lips as his hands loosened the ties holding her robe together.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda leaned back against the door Jotham had just walked out of and she wrapped her arms around her waist. What an amazing, unexpected, exhilarating day it had turned out to be. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined what happened here today.

  It wasn't just the sex that had surprised her, although that had been incredible. Jotham's stamina had amazed her. He was an intense lover but not a selfish one. She couldn't remember the last time she'd come so many times.

  But it was more than that, it was the quiet moments, the looks he gave her, the words. She wouldn't have recognized that in her younger cycles, but she did now. Love was more than the physical act, more than those three little words, although they mattered too. It was the little day-to-day things that were the true signs of love, and Jotham had given her all those things today. Well, all but those three words, but then she hadn't given them to him either.

  The ringing of her comm had her pushing away from the door to answer it.

  "You will rest." Jotham's voice filled the room before his face could even fill the screen.

  Jacinda gave him an exasperated look. "I told you I would."

  "Then why aren't you?" he demanded.

  "Umm, because you left less than two minutes ago?"

  "Oh." Jotham had the grace to look contrite.

  "I am and will be fine, Jotham. Stop worrying about me."

  "Not going to happen. Especially when I'm not with you."

  "Jotham..."

  "Get used to it, Jacinda. Now I'm sending you my personal code. It will go directly to my wrist comm. Call me if you need to. For anything."

  Jacinda saw his eyes turn hard.

  "I mean it, Jacinda. You. Will. Call. Me. I can't go through what I did this morning again."

  "I will, Jotham." Jacinda's eyes softened as she looked at him. "I promise. I'm home. I'm safe and I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to make some calls. Reschedule some appointments and then rest. At least until you call me again."

  "I will unless you've changed your mind about coming to the Palace." He looked hopeful.

  "No, I haven't, so I'll talk to you later." Smiling, she disconnected the call.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham sat back, looking to Deffand, who sat silently across from him. "You understand what this means. Correct?"

  "Yes, Majesty. I will start the selection process to increase the number of Royal Guards, as soon as we return to the Palace. I will also make sure all guards know she has full access to the Palace."

  "Good."

  "I received some information earlier that you are going to want to know about the accident."

  Jotham's eyes sharpened on Deffand. "Tell me."

  "Because Jacinda is the mother of an Assemblyman, Pechora transit automatically did a closer investigation of Jacinda's transport, making sure nothing had been tampered with. They found something very interesting."

  "Her transport was tampered with?!!" Jotham sat straight up in his chair.

  "No. No tampering, but Jacinda's transport was no ordinary transport."

  "What are you talking about Deffand!"

  "It seems Stephan Michelakakis took his wife's safety very seriously. He special-ordered her transport. Its frame was reinforced. Its windows were impact resistant as were its sides. It should have easily withstood the speed of that impact."

  "Why didn't it?" Jotham demanded.

  "That's what Pechora transit wanted to know once they discovered the modifications to Jacinda's transport. After talking to the manufacturer, they realized that the boy had to be going at least four times the legal limit to cause that amount of damage and it was not the first time he’s caused an accident."

  Jotham paled at the thought and thanked Stephan for seeing to Jacinda's safety even when he was with the ancestors. "How does he still have a license? How was the boy able to walk away unscathed?"

  "I don't know, Majesty. He should have been killed instantly at that speed. The ancestors must have been watching over him."

  "And Jacinda."

  "Yes."

  Silence reigned as the limisin traveled through the gates of the Palace.

  "I want the boy charged, Deffand."

  "The process has already been started, Majesty. Majesty," Deffand hesitated.

  "What's your question, Deffand?"

  "Do you want him charged as an assassination attempt?"

  Jotham eyed Deffand, seriously thinking about it. He wanted to. He wanted that boy to pay for the harm he'd caused Jacinda, but he also knew Jacinda would never see it that way.

  "No. Let it run as an Assemblyman's mother, that will be harsh enough."

  "As you wish, Majesty."

  “And Deffand.”

  “Majesty?”

  “Make sure he never drives again.”

  “Yes, Majesty.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham was surprised when he entered the outer office and found Chesney sitting at his desk.

  "What are you still doing here, Chesney?"

  "I was notified that you were returning and knew you would want to be informed of the changes to your schedule."

  "Yes, well come into my office, Chesney and we'll discuss how my schedule is going to be changing.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Chesney looked at the schedule in his hand in disbelief. When they had entered Jotham's office, the King walked behind his desk, sat down and picked up a pen and had begun making alterations to the schedule it had taken him all day to arrange. After several minutes, he handed it back to him.

  "You... you are no longer going to be taking meetings after six?" Chesney looked at Jotham and knew the shock in his voice was easily heard.

  "Unless they are official dinners or events then no. Also, I will eventually be cutting back on my early morning ones also."

  "I... I will immediately start reorganizing your schedule, Majesty."

  "Tomorrow is early enough, Chesney. I'll keep what you have in the morning."

  "Yes, Majesty."

  "Also, Chesney, Jacinda Michelakakis is going to be spending a great deal more time here in the Palace. Anytime she arrives, calls or sends a message I am to be notified immediately."

  "I... Yes, Majesty!" Chesney couldn't keep a smile from breaking out across his face.

  The King and Jacinda Michelakakis.

  They would be the perfect couple.

  Jotham watched the smile break across Chesney's normally stoic face and remembered Chesney telling him of his affection for Jacinda.

  "Do you have something to say, Chesney?"

  "I... Just that I'm very happy for you, Majesty, and I will see to it. Madame Michelakakis is a wonderful woman."

  "She is." Jotham sat back in his chair forming his fingers in a temple and putting them against his chin. Chesney was someone he trusted. Never in all the cycles that Chesney had served him had he ever given Jotham cause to doubt his loyalty or discretion. He would need to rely on him even more now. "When Jacinda was returning home last night she was involved in a transport accident."

  "What!" Chesney shot straight up in his chair. "Is she alright?" he demanded forgetting for a moment who he was talking to, making Jotham smile.

  "She is bumped, bruised and a little sore
but otherwise fine. It's where I've been today."

  "Completely understandable, Majesty. Is there anything I can do? Helen would be more than willing to go over and stay with her if you like."

  "Thank you, Chesney, and thank your wife, but Jacinda has assured me she is fine. I will be calling her tonight to verify that."

  "Good." Chesney nodded his approval. "Do you need me to prepare any official announcement?"

  "No, there will be no announcement."

  "Yes, Majesty." Chesney rose then paused.

  "What is it, Chesney?"

  "Majesty, while I know Madame Michelakakis is a wonderful, warm, caring woman there will be many that will not approve of this relationship. Some in your own Assembly."

  "What are you talking about, Chesney?"

  "She is not from the House of Protection, only the widow of someone who was."

  "She has been a member of this House for nearly forty cycles. She is the widow of one of our most important Assemblymen!"

  "Yes, Majesty, but for the purists that still doesn't make her from the House of Protection, especially with her heritage."

  "You mean because her father and grandfathers were Assemblymen in the House of Healing?"

  "Yes."

  "I understand what you are saying, Chesney, but I don't need their 'approval' and neither does Jacinda."

  "Of course not, Majesty. I just wanted you to be aware."

  "Thank you, Chesney. Is there anything else you feel I need to be made aware of?"

  "No, Majesty." Bowing Chesney left the room.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "Did you rest?"

  Jacinda smiled at Jotham's question. She had taken her portable comm to bed with her, something she hadn't done in cycles because she knew Jotham was going to be calling.

  "Hello to you too and yes I did."

  Jotham had the grace to look abashed for a moment then she saw him reach out as if he were touching the bruise on her face.

  "It's gotten darker."

  "It's going to, Jotham, at least for a while. You can't tell me you've never had a black eye."

  "I have, but that doesn't mean you should. Can't Portman do something?"