THE BLOOD ROYALS Book 2: Long Live The Queen!

Chapter Nineteen: Party For Two

Sain Neane
Renee's POV
At exactly 4pm, I was in the hotel lobby as the gentleman's agreement between Barlowe and I stated. The hard faced man was waiting.

"I like you. You showed up."

"I take things I have shaken to seriously." I smiled at him.

"This way." He left the way to the elevator.

He accompanied me to a heavily guarded hallway after we left the elevator. We stopped at the door. A female guard approached me for a pat down before Barlowe approached the woman who looked stunned to see Reli and I kissing. He spoke to her in a hushed tone. She immediately closed her book and looked my way.

"Renée St Patrick, this is Queen Mother Nesrin of the House of Kaelan. You can refer to her as her majesty or Queen Mother. Curtsey." Barlowe made the introduction.

I already practiced how to curtsey before I came here. I did just that.

"Join me." She addressed me. "Thank you Barlowe."

I took a seat in an arm chair. Her room is just as glamorous as Reli's. There are two guards at the window. Two at the door and more outside.

"Don't you feel crowded?" I asked her.

"It's for my own good. Do you feel crowded?"

"Nah." I shrugged. She has an intrusive gaze. "About the other night, I'm so sorry I ran away. My feet and my mid weren't in agreement."

"All you were missing is a ball gown and a glass slipper and we could have reenacted a scene from Cinderella! Tea?"

"Yes please!" I agreed eagerly. A servant approached and served the tea. She is still looking at me. Man she can stare! "Is something wrong?"

"No. I'm in awe over how beautiful you are."

Her compliment made me blush. "Thank you."

Her eyes dropped to my feet. "How tall are you? I was sure you were wearing something other than flat boots!"

"Pretty tall." I laughed. Of my sisters, Charle is the shortest at 5'5". I think it's my mother's genes. She's 5'3". Laila and I are the tallest of the four of us at 5'7". My older sister is 5'6". I strongly feel we get our height from our grandmother who is 5'7" like Laila and I. "I think 5'7". How tall are you?"

She laughed at my teasing. "I made it to a whole 5 inches over 5ft. So..." The laughter died down. "How did you two meet? You'll find me nosy where my grandson is involved."

"We met in Carperia, during a festival." This is what I say to anyone who asks me how I met Reli. I can't start narrating Thalia, the hackers and what not.

"A few weeks ago." She noted. "Cute. You're not from around, are you?"

"Nope. Just visiting."

"Just visiting? I know Saine Neane is popular for the white caps. Thrill seekers visit to ski on those dangerous slopes. Is that why you're here?" She tilted her head.

"A little exploring here and there. I didn't count on running into the prince but it happened."

"Which is a great thing!" She passed me a plate of cookies. I picked one. "He likes you."

She observed me under her thick long eyelashes.

"He does?"

"Yes!" She answered with a lot of certainty. I suddenly felt warm and fuzzy on the inside. I smiled rather brilliantly. "You can't tell?"

"He's not the easiest person to read QM. Can I call you QM?"

"It sounds cool." She smiled at me. "Yeah, he'd closed off. You know that he was engaged and she passed away, right?" I nodded to keep my mouth from blabbering too much information. "He is fighting to heal from it. I was never in love with my husband but when he died, it hurt."