Love and War

15: Jonah

Jonah's POV:
As the quill wrote on the paper informing my father of my arrival my mind was elsewhere.

I couldn't get the image of Anastasia in the dress I'd gotten for her last night. She looked radiant and I've seen other women wear similar dresses to what she wore and most of the time the dress wears them but Anastasia... she wore the hell out of that dress.

It took everything in me to escort her to her bedroom and leave. I wanted to go inside and... it isn't even worth mentioning what I wanted to do to her.

Well not wanted because that would suggest in the past and frankly those feelings haven't disappeared.

King Nicholas being flirty with her the entire dinner didn't help.

I don't know why but I felt angry that another man was even thinking of her in that way. My hand stopped moving and turned into a tight fist around the quill. I shook those thoughts out of my head and willed myself to continue writing.

The meeting is later today and I didn't want Anastasia to go. She wanted to go just to find out what would happen and I don't think there's anything wrong with that... it's the fact that King Nicholas will be there that bothers me.

***
I walked into the courtyard where they had a circle of chairs one for each of us and one more for the ones that came accompanied by someone. This courtyard was isolated and so nobody would hear what we were saying.

The skies were clear and the only sound besides the thud of my boots against marble were the birds and the wind.

I walked in calmly with my hands behind my back. Landon and Anastasia walking behind me calmly too as if we had no rush to get to the meeting. Landon wore a yellow button down and pants paired with a black cloak. His long red hair was down and he didn't have his usual smile except a stone cold expression.

Anastasia wore a similar expression on her face and she wore another gown of my choice. It was green and simple because I knew she wouldn't like anything over the top. It was off the shoulder with a lace trimming. It swayed with her every step. Her long black hair was in intricate braids behind her. She looked like a queen and all she needed was a crown.

I turned my focus back to the meeting and sat down directly across from King Nicholas. He wore his most formal attire and had 3 guards behind him. He wasn't paying attention to us but watching the other kings who were also arriving. Anastasia found a seat to my side and Landon stood slightly behind us with his arms behind his back.

King Ian and King Rafael walked in side by side with their wives on each side. Well King Rafael brought his wife Queen Elaine not King Ian. King Ian's wife doesn't like to be brought into politics or really anything. She only stays in the palace with their children and doing god knows what. Or who knows maybe it's the husband who makes her stay behind...

I could never marry someone like that. If she's marrying me she will be queen, which means she will have just as much responsibility as I will because she will be my equal.

Not even my parents are like that.

My father is king and despite my mother being queen she will always be "below" him.

Anyways enough about my wretched parents, once everyone sat down we started the meeting.

"I believe we are here for a meeting... so let's have it." King Nicholas said rather impatiently.

"This is what happens when children become kings so quickly..." King Ian said more to himself than us.

King Nicholas turned to him glaring. "You're one to talk... hasn't your kingdom been declining? Perhaps you're too old."