[[Until We Become Lions]]

Chapter 36

An hour later.

" Levanta esa cámara pronto. Tú, esa luz está en la posición incorrecta, ¿eres estúpido? "

Marquessa stormed through the top of Torre de Leon like a tornado, getting lights into position, and the decor just perfect, fulfilling the president's last-minute request to move his next presidential speech broadcast to tonight. It was always one thing Antón Castillo admired of her. Maria's determination, adamant personality, and high-born status among Yara's elite were just a few of the reasons he had chosen her to carry his heir. The mere act of preparing this room for his engagement announcement showed how far she was willing to go to please the president, even if it went against her own personal feelings. For El Presidente's heart belonged to, always belonged to, one woman. By the end of tonight, Yara would come to know their new queen - and Antón's plan for paradise could move forward with her by his side.

Antón stared at his reflection in the mirror held up by the maquilladora as he sat at his desk. The artist's brushes touched up the spots where purple and red peeked through, a constant reminder that his mortal body was failing with each passing second. He would be rid of one of his secrets come tomorrow morn, but this one, he vowed to never let Danijela know. He could not let her see how flawed of a man he truly was. How fragile he had become. Danijela viewed him as a God with the simple reason that he had given her something Amaia could never. She needed him to be a lion. Yara needed its lion - at least until Diego was old enough to take Anton's place and wed to Evee. Once that marriage was officiated, and with Diego on Yara's throne, Antón planned many a relaxing day with his beloved by his side on Ilsa del Leon . Perhaps a little bebé lion would be in their future. A reminder for Danijela of the man she loved for when he was ready to finally depart the paradise they would have built. He grinned thinking of the possibilities.

"Marquessa. Where is Miss. Rojas?" The president asked as he checked his watch. He had the Marquessa send one of her crew down to collect Danijela almost thirty minutes ago - but they had yet to return. Antón was not too concerned, but he did begin to tap his foot at the incompetence of Maria's staff, failing to locate one person. They had to get this announcement out now to take attention off that Libertad broadcast that had interfered with their own.

Maria threw her hands up into the air, cursing under her breath as she ordered another one of her crew to go retrieve the woman. Antón watched with steely eyes as the nervous staff member scurried to the elevator. The doors opened to four guards and Raul stepping off, nearly bulldozing over the frightened worker. Antón waved off the make-up artist and stood promptly as Raul approached.

" Señor presidente ." Raul said with a stiff nod, " Libertad has launched a full assault on Isla Santuario . Reports suspect at least sixty terroristas in total." Raul paused letting that sink in before continuing with a tilted grin, " Entre ellos se vieron Clara García y Juan Cortez. "

Antón's lip twitched as he inhaled deeply. At another time, this type of assault would have sparked concern. An outrage that a group of imbeciles thought they could stand up against Castillo's forces. Pride was a deadly sin to encompass though. As his mother used to teach him, simply because one was a lion, did not mean that all other beasts in the kingdom defaulted to submission. Sometimes they needed a reminder. In all honesty, it took every ounce of the president's willpower to stifle back a grin. Clara Garcia was acting out in response to his mandatory draft announcement - and now she had cornered herself.

"Send word to Admiral Benitez. I want a blockade set up immediately around Santuario . Then I want those guerillas picked off one by one until Garcia has no choice but to come out of her hoyo de rata ."