Chapter Twenty Three

I turn to Xander, "ask to doctor for something for my voice please."

"Anything you need Ray."

I turn to the man, " let's go."

He nods his head and he runs off as I follow. He opens the door running to the genarals side. He looks at me as I enter.

"My princess, I'm glad you could come so quickly there's something that needs to be dealt with emeadetly."

"I understand general, dose it have something to do with King Seth."

"Yes princess."

I sigh sitting down in my chair. I lean forward to lesson as he spoke. Before he could say anything farther the door opened or Xander with a drink, and medication. He kneeled beside me placing the stuff on the table.

"That's for you voice," he wispers to me pointing at the drink, "and those are for healing."

I turn my focus back to the general waiting for him to speak.

"I think this is a matter he shouldn't be president for."

I take a sip of the drink, then place it down to speak to him.

"At this rate I'm sure you now that King Seth's line will never stop distorting kingdoms they'll need to know it later anyways. Bisides," I say looking to Xander, "this man right here will soon be king at my side, no need to hide things from him general," I finish to look back at him.

"She did-"

I stop him anger in my tone, "we have a more pressing issue at the moment correct?"

" Yes, my apolagys princess. King Seth and Prince Aamon have continued their spread. I had a feeling they were planing a move, but it was exelerated to happen sooner because of the rebel. Only this morning I was informed that one of our men was caught."

"Dame it!" I slam my fist into the table, " I told that woman not to get involved."

"I agreed with you your highness, but the queen instead on it."

I sigh swallowing the pills with a sip of the drink. I stand wich makes Xander stand as well.

"I think that-"

I was cut off by my mother walking in the room.

"Who invited this worthless-"

"Quiet," she demands, "get out child."

She gets in my face and I stair into her eyes.

"Make me whore."

Her face twist to anger, before anything else happens Xander grabs my hips pulling me out of the door.

"Xander!"

He pins my back to his chest and leans his head down to talk in my ear.

"Rayanna, you need to clam down before you'll do something you regret."

I huff angerly, he shakes me.

"Ok"

I sigh trying to eliminate my sudden anger. I think up something in my head. Once I'm calm and Xander let's me go I pull him with me walking to my room.

"Have you told your family yet," I ask closing my door.

"No?"

"Then this will be a surprise to them to," I shuffle though docufments in my desk.

"What are you talking about Ray?"

I stop and pull out the paper with the phone number.

"I know this is going to fast, but I don't have a choice this needs to happen emedietly."

I summon a maid to get the trailer and she runs off.

"Xander we have to get married soon. They fastest I can do in with in the beginning of next week. I'm going to make some call, I'll try to get a plane for your family and-"

"Whow Ray you need to slow down before I get whip lash," he walks over wrapping one arm around my waist while his other hand cups my face.

"I don't care when or were we wed, but I don't want you to just skip over it. I whant you to marry me the way you what to, why are you trying to plan it so soon?"

"I can't ascend to the thrown until my mother gives it up or dies. If I'm married and you become next in line with me as king, tetnicsly we have more power than her. Don't ask me why I didn't make the rules. If we get married with my mother there she would ubject."

"If that's the case then why don't we fly?"

"Huh?"

"We could travel to my home country we could get married there. That way there would be no reason to rush, and it's safe there."

I look up into his eyes, "are you sure?"

"Confident."

He leans down and kisses my lips. I melt into him, Xan will always protect me, no matter what. He lifts me up to place me on the bed.

"How's your foot?" He says slipping my boot off.

"It hurts, but it's numb."

"That's probably from those drugs you got."

"Most likely, they kicked in fast though."

He unwraps the bandage, " looks better than yesterday."

I flinch, remembering what he saw. He seems to read my mind and asks me.

"You knew what she was going to do."

I look away from him. I tilt my head to the side showing my tattoo.

"It had happened before for this, but that was not the first time. The first time was after my fathers death because of my outburst. Actually I had got the tattoo after the second time. Any ways the first time she did it," I use my left hand to hold my hair back and my right to trace the scar line down the side of my head, "she gave me this. People noticed to, that's when she leaned how to keep it a secret. She told them I had slipped, cut open my neck and head on a tray left on a table."

"What did she do?"

I sit there and tears drop from my eyes, I don't stop myself from shaking.

"Ray please."

"It was so cold there Xander," I wrap my arms around myself, " I didn't even know it existed."

He sits on the bed next to me holding my head to his chest, to comfort me without hurting me. I shake to the point that I curly my legs up, and my teeth involuntary chatter.

"The first time,.. she brought me there… I-I."

I shift my legs unconftbly.

"Well she made it clear that I better leasson to what I'm told, if I didn't what to go back there."

"Were is "there" Ray?"

I shoot my eyes to look at him.

"There are lots of secret rooms in the palace Xander, but that one that one at the time was brand new. I did a little digging to find out since when. I had found out that she had started building it when my father left, she had the bilders keep it a secret and only work at times when absolutely no one would be there."

"So how did you find out?"

"Even though she paid off the bilders, the maids picked up on it. They gossiped about it, and I put two and two together."

"Ray were is it."

"I. Well the location didn't used to be secret. She changed the room, and then made the entrance elsewhere. Xander it doesn't madder were it is, it's hard to get to, and trust me you don't want to see it."

"I disagree, I do. I want to know so I can make sure you'll never go there again."

He stands up his hand out to take mine.

"Ray I whant you to take me. Now would be perfured."

"Xander, if we get caught. I will definitely be getting a fast past there."

At that moment there's a knock at the door. I get up to answer pulling my self together enugh.

"Helow princess, you summoned?"

I look back at Xander. I sigh.

"Yes, but could you return later 2:30 maybe."

"I can do that my princess."

And with that he runs off. I turn back to Xander.

"If we're doing this, you don't touch anything."

"Ok"

"You don't tell anyone."

"Reasonable"

"And you will do as I say."

"Fine, let's go."

I take his hand and check the halls. When I see no one there I run pulling me biside me. We make it to the door and I open it pulling us inside of the thrown room.

"The thrown room?"

"No one patrols here, and unless it nesisary no one is allowed here."

I walk behind the center thrown, I lean agenst it pushing it an inch off the tile. I lift the tile and press the button in the hole underneath. The back wall pushes out and I run Xander following me into the passage as it closes.

"Lights!"

The lights turn on reviling the artifact room.

"Wow."

"No touching."

"Right, so what is all this stuff?"

"Very important history, but not now ok. We'll talk about it another time."

I touch the wall, and press down on the door, the passage open. I walk through and we make our way there. The path is quite long and has no sense of time. I step into the room, and wait until Xander pushes past.

"Why did you stop, what even could," he stops speechless at the sight of the room.

He looks around at all the different things hanging on the walls. All of which I had felt the blow of. He walks forward towards the desk in the back of the room. He opens the first draw and plops a folder on the top of the desk along with a camera. He opens it and looks confused.

"This has all, and I mean all, the info about you."

I stiffen as he reaches for the camera. I run over.

"No!"

He stops to look at me.

"I'm fine with the rest of it, but not that."

He respects my wish and puts both back. He walks to the hook in the center of the room.

"Rayanna what is this for?"

I stay silent and the stares at me.

"Me…," I wisper.

"What?"

"It's for me Xander."

He still looks confused. I walk over and look at it not whanting to be near it. I stand infront of it and turn around to look at him.

"Ok Xander. My hands are bond together, so how would you suppose it works."

"She's hanging you up by you hands?"

"I can't put myself on it, I can't get off of it.the point is to make it so I can't protect myself. Oh, should I mention this is a day punishment?"

"Day punishment?"

"Yes I have to stay there 24 hours. Before that man let's me go early."

"Dose she only hit you?"

"I uh. Most of the time that's the case."

"What else has she done here."

"It's less what she did, and more of what she asked for of other people to do. Anyways that's something I'd rather keep to myself."

He seemed to disagree, but he didn't push further.

"I think you've seen all you need, it's time to go."

"Right."

We proceeded to make our way back. He make it to the hall and we go to the common room. We walk in together and see that Lillian and Colin aren't there.

"Umm, were is Lil and Co?"

Erin looks over at me.

"Your mother released them, we couldn't find you so they left. They told me to tell you goodbye."

"Oh. I can't believe we missed them."

Xander frowns,"I'm sorry I kept you Ray."

"Oh Xan, it's not your fault."

"But it is-"

I take his face in my hands.

"Xander it's not your fault, it's ok. If you need me to say it, I forgive you."

I release him from my hands. I turn back to them.

"I was hoping Lillian would still be here but I need you to to come with me. Oh and all you boys can go together, I'll be sending a tailor."

I take the girls hands, "Come on, let's go!"

We make our way to my room I ask for my maid and tailor. When they arrive I lock the door.

"Ok girls, Xander and I are getting married, sooooo."

"Soooo?" Erin asks.

"We have to make the dress and I want your help."

They squeal.

"This is so exciting!" June says a twinkle in her eyes.

My maid brings in fabrics, together we decide on a silky one. After a while sitting down with my maid to prefect the dress, the girls leave and I stand looking into the mirror as the tailor starts on the first layer of fabric. A knock go through the room. My maid goes to open up see June.

"Welcome back June bug."

"Hey Ray, how's it going!"

"Fine, so what did you get up to without me."

"Well the boys left the room a little after us. Erin and Leo are hanging out, I was going to do the same with Gray, but he had work."

"Don't worry he'll be back to see you soon."

"I hope, it's like everytime there's a good moment or a chance for one he gets work."

"Things are funny like that June. I've been working, but not as much as I was before you guys showed up. I've been tying to make time in the day, and still sleep at night you know."

"I guess…"

"So how is Leo and Erin coming along."

" I think they like each other, but I think they're both trying to hide it, witch, is not working. I think it got more obvious on are trip, when we slept on the floor we woke to find that they had like, gravitated to each other."

After about an hour my maid brought a mirror and set it infront of me.

"Wow."

I put my hands over my mouth, as I see myself. The top was a split sleeve it had a silk band around my waist that tied in the back. The skirt was silk on the inside surrounded by a sheer fabric with the same bank of silk on the sides, the sheer fabric was folded over in many spots giving it volume.

"That so beautiful Ray."

I slid away the small tears that formed at the corners of my eyes.

"Is it ok my lady?" My maid says panicked.

"It's perfect, thank you Alina."

"Ah," She says surprised?" Anything is a pleasure to do for you Milady."

She then starts to take it off smiling pridefully. I steep out of it and sit on my bed next to June wearing a tank top and baggy pants.

"How are you doing with your injuries Ray?"

"There better now I can actually speak."

"Are you excited!"

"Ya, I guess,I never thought it would happen."

She smiles at me.

" you are really lucky, you found him so quickly."

"I would say it's more chance than luck."

"Well whatever it is I need some."

"Well you are coming to the wedding, you do have a chance of catching my flowers."

Her face lights up as she hears my words.

"Speaking if that, June I have something very important to ask of you."

She tilts her head slightly in confusion.

"I've been thinking about it for awhile, if I had a sister I would want her to be my bridesmaid. You June have really been like a sister to me, and I wanted to know if you would be my maid of honor?"

At the reaction I got I thought she would pass out from lack of oxygen. She started jumping and clapping her hands while yelling "OMG" over, and over.What have I done? When she finally stops, I talk.

"Wow you not exited at all are you?" I say sarcastically," while we still have the help of these talented people, I think we shoud get you your dress."

"AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

Well, If I go def in my forties I'll know the cause.

"We'll get up there you little bridesmaid," I give her a little push and she practically skips over to the mirror.

My maid starts cutting the fabric to June's size. While June waits, she looks like a bubbly drink that's been shaken. My maid stitches it together and slips it over her head.

"It's great!"

I look over at the fabric and cut one out. I make it vertical over June's chest resting on her right shoulder as I hold it together at the ends.

"What about that, this way they'll know your my maid of honor."

I look up into the mirror at June as she smiles brightly.

"Even better!"

"RAYANNA!"

I turn to see Erin flinging my door open looking disheveled.

"She's sending use tomorrow!"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

I knock on the door connecting Xander's room to mine. He opens it and I grip onto his shirt.

"Xander,"

"Ray what's wrong."

"I have a plan."

"Umm, Ray are you sure?"

"Yes, get the others please."

"Alright."

I let go of him and he jogs off, soon returning with the boys.

"Okay everyone, I think it's about time I tell you what's going on."

———

"Ray," Xander whispers gently shaking me awake,"it's time you have to get up."

"Noooooooo," I say clenching my eyes closed as he turns on the lights.

He walks over to my bed and I can tell he's in front of me.

"Oh come on R-"

I pull him onto my bed hugging him.

"No, I take you as my prisoner you shall not leave."

He laughs and pulls me out of bed as he stands up taking me with him. It's too early to be alive.

"Uuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhgggg,"I protest.

"Come on get dressed."

"Why couldn't they have a later flight!?"

I open my eyes squinting blocking the light with my hands. Xander starts plucking clothes out of my closet for me to wear. I flop backwards onto my bed. I sigh. I sit up putting a pillow on my head to block the light. I shuffle through the cloths picking something comfortable and warm. Xander hands me a hoodie saying I'll need it. He takes the pillow of my head and puts it under the sheets. He takes my hand and we make our way outside. I grab a horse from the pasture and I tack it up as Xander packs our bag. Because were sneaking out of the castle to get on the plane with Erin and Leo, we're going to need a steed to help us there. Yesterday after I talked to everyone we found out that June and Gray were leaving today as well so there on the same plane.

"Ready."

"Alright," I jump up onto the horse, and Xan follows.

The horse gallops at top speed, and I take us the only way out of the grounds. We jump the fence to Aldin's pasture running through the large field. We reach the other side and we go down the mountain towards the city. The horse jumps onto the pavement and we make our way to the plane strip. The streets were empty, but the holiday lights strung on the houses and over the road lit the path. We arrive and Xander jumps off taking our things to the plane. I slid off the side of the horse, I pat her on the neck.

"Good girl, Go home."

The horse turns around running back. Someone's going to be confused when they find her in the pasture with tack on. I make my way over to the plane with everyone there. I enter the cabin and hug Erin.

"I'm going to miss you," she says.

"I'll see you soon you are coming to the wedding after all."

She smiles and lets me go. She looks at something and I track her gaze to see June. June has fallen asleep on Gray who looks out the window face red. I lean over to Erin.

"He's not going to wake her up is he," I wisper to her.

She shakes her head pursing her lips. I giggle.

"Sshhh!" Erin says putting a finger to her lips.

I smile and try onto to be loud as I wisper to her again.

"How long do you think he'll last?"

She shrugs," longer than if she was ranting."

"Your better be glad she can't hear you, I have a feeling that wouldn't have gone so well."

"HA!" She says.

The copilot opens the curtain and tells us to get a seat so that we could take off. Xander sits with me and Erin takes Leo near Gray, to poke fun at him. We take off, and I make myself comfy leaning on Xander to prepare for the looooooong trip. I close my eyes to sleep. I mean who's idea was it to make the flight at 4 in the morning?

When we landed I jolt awake. Xander was a little spooked at my sudden movements.

"Nice nap?" He asks

"Only with you as my pillow."

I see Leo turn around to use and make a gag sound with his finger in his mouth.

"Leon!" Erin says lightly slapping him.

"What? We're in a public place, flirting is for the bedroom."

"It was cute."

"Suuuure."

I look over to Xan and shrug. When we get off the plane, the plane takes off empty to go home. We all say good bye to Erin and Leo as we all get on the next plane to Xander's kingdom. When we sat down I let myself take another nap on Xan.