When You Return (The Lost Princess)

Chapter 1: The Truth

WARNING!!
If you have not read the first book, The Lost Princess, exit now. HUGE spoil alert.....
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Continue from previous book:
Eric
I open my eyes slowly, moaning in pain. I look to the right as my Kal lifts her head from her papa's shoulder, looking down at me.
"Eric?"she whispers. I struggle, but look her in the eye, managing a weak smile.
"Hello,"
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Akali
I look at him, shocked. He's... alive? I pull away from Papa, just looking into his eyes.
He groans, pulling a hand to his belly. I rush to his side frantically, tearing the end of my petticoat, wrapping it around his middle. A healer rushes to our side, helping his wound.
Eric places a hand on mine, squeezing tight.
Stilling my hands, I look into his eyes.
Pain shows just by looking into his face. But still, he manages a weak frown.
"I have just....died.....and I haven't even received a kiss yet?.... What kind.."
I stop him before he can finish, giving him his wish. My heart thrills. He's alive!
And if he can have his humor back, it must not be too bad. Unless he's trying to calm me.
I pull back, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Don't you ever try that again,"I tell him. He chuckles painfully.
"I don't plan on it,"he says. He lifts his hand to my hair, then groans again as the healer tighten a wrap around his wound.
"It hurts?"I ask softly. He closes his eyes, breathing slowly.
"No,"he groans. "Just different." I chuckle, leaning down, kissing his head.
"You're a terrible liar. I'm not leaving,"I say, squeezing his head. He opens his eyes, looking into mine.
"I love you so much,"he mumbles.
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Rathina
Luke walks towards me, his stride purposefully. All around us are the bodies of all the guards who died.
When he reaches me, he holds out his hand.
"If I may, I would like to speak with you,"he asks. I look into his eyes, smiling.
"Of coarse,"I say. I look over at Kallie, her and Eric in deep conversation. I turn back to Luke, placing my hand in his.
He smiles, leading me out of the room. I catch Papa smiling my way. Confused, I walk on. He leads me to a small room.
"Did they hurt you?"he asks.
I shake my head. "They only hurt my pride,"I say. He chuckles. He leads me to a seat, opening the shutters. The light from the moon shines in.
"Rathina, there is something I need to tell you,"he says. I look into his eyes.
"My sister Osanna of Shania. She met your brother-in-law two years ago at a dinner party. Immediately, she fell in love. Unfortunately, he wasn't looking for love. Determined to win his heart, she ordered me to get acquainted with him, getting him to notice her. I hated the idea, but did it anyway. I got to know Eric, but I couldn't do it. I knew in his heart, Eric didn't want marriage, and I knew the heart of my sister. Once she got sick of him, she would become distracted. I told her no, and she got angry.
However, at the time, his brother, Robert, was seeking a wife, so she took it. She married Robert, determined to win Eric over."
I shake my head. "Why would Eric fall in love with his brother's wife?"
He sighs. "Exactly what I told her, but she wouldn't have it. She didn't know Eric's heart as I did,"he says. He gets up and starts pacing. "After six months of trying to win him over, Lady Daphne came. She, too, was in love with Eric. Osanna was furious. She would have nothing of it. She had her framed, putting her in prison. But by then, Eric was off to Albis, visiting for your and Kallie's birthday." He comes back and sits in front of me, taking my hand in his. "And that's when Eric changed his whole being. He fell in love with your sister. But when Sonna heard of the marriage, she was jealous. What took your sister thirty days to accomplish, took her two years to fail. So she did everything to drive Akali away. She would say cruel things about her to the ton, she would send her letters "from Eric" to her, telling her he didn't love her and that he only married her for his father's sake, and then she would tell her to her face that Eric would never love a woman who had more siblings than you can count."
I gasp, covering my mouth, anger for Osanna only growing more. Tears stream down my face, realizing what my sister had to deal with. Luke reaches a hand to my eyes, wiping them away.
"It never worked though. Your sister and Eric were too much in love. This went on for months, but Akali told nothing to Eric. But when he found out all that was happening, he was furious. He confronted Osanna about it, but she just threw herself at him, begging him to leave Kallie for her. But Eric being the man he is, would have nothing of it. Then she had a brilliant plan to just kill her. On their way back to Albis, she had men ambush them. When neither Eric's nor Kallie's bodies were found, she went to Albis herself, making me come and pretend to be a guard to find out where she is." He looks down at our hands.
"When she found her, she found out she had lost her memory. Just like she did at Shania, she made the ton hate her, making her the only friend.
When they found Eric, she went to your parents. She wanted them to have a funeral for her so that she couldn't be queen of Albis. She.."
"Wait,"I interupt. "Why couldn't she be queen if she had a funeral?"
"Once a royal dies, it goes into the records. The records can never be changed, so when they had Akali's funeral, they put in the records her death. She could not be queen because of her great grandchildren were to look back at the past, they would see her die before she was queen, thus confusing the whole system.
So if Akali happened to live through all this, she would never be queen of Albis." It stays quiet for several minutes. My heart brakes over and over for my sister. How horrible to have your sister-in-law trying to murder you. And then I remembered Kallie's reaction when Osanna told us she was in love with Eric. She was furious! Never had I seen my sister angry. I sigh, rubbing my head.
"There is something else you should know." I look back up at him. He forks his fingers through his hair.
"I don't know how else to tell this than to just say it.... My parents are king and queen of Mytain,"he says. I look at him, stunned.
"So if your parents are... then you are... are a prince?"I ask. He nods. All angry thoughts dissolve. I grin, grabbing his hand. "This is wonderful!" I look at the wall in front of me, every missing piece about Luke falling into place. He is Eric's best friend, my mama and papa love him, and he is such a gentleman! And, if he's a prince... I look up at him, smiling like a fool. He smiles back, pulling me up.
"I didn't get your mother's permission, but, I did get your Father's. With your permission, I would like to court you."
I grin wider. "I would love that."