The Kingdoms Arrangement [H.S]

XXIV

Harry

It has been a week since we received our last note from 'a friend', a week since Reagan and the kingdoms strongest men went to Duke Aciano's land to find Heinrich, and a week since I beat Percy bloody. We haven't been able to do much this past week, Artemis and I have been very happy with being married under the circumstances. I still haven't had the chance to tell her about the arrangements our parents made to stop the war between both kingdoms, there just hasn't been a good time. Hyacinthus has stayed with us this past week, his help has been needed with Reagan being gone. Aurora has been opening up to Artemis and I, and I think she is liking the idea of us adopting her more and more. "Harry?" Artemis whispers, as she is waking up.

"Yes babe?" I smile at her, and she groans knowing that I've been watching her for some time now. I run my hand over the small of her back in a circle, and I feel her relax under my touch.

"What do we do if Aurora doesn't want to be adopted?" She asks, turning to look at me.

"Well, she can have any room in the castle and live out her days there or she can go back to the orphanage if that is what she chooses and we will make sure her and the other children there are cared for." I tell her with a smile, trying to hide the hurt at the idea of not being able to make her ours.

"You would still want kids of our own?" I see pain flash across her face, and I put a finger under her chin to lift it up so she'll look at me.

"That is the second part of that plan of course, having kids the old fashioned way." I wink at her.

"Okay because I-" A guard walks into the room without knocking and I quickly cover Artemis with a blanket.

"Your majesties, I am sorry to intrude but Prince Hyacinthus has received a note in his suite." Art and I exchange looks as the guard leaves and we jump out of bed to get ready.

We reach Hyacinthus's room and he is sitting at the foot of his bed with the note. His face looks haunted, almost and Art runs to him and drops to her knees.

"I know who his partner is." Hyacinthus has a serious tone to his voice and I walk over quickly and grab the note from him.

"Who is it?" She whispers and he meets her eyes.

"Read the note Harry." He tells me while he stares at Artemis. Hyacinthus walks Artemis into the hallway to make sure she doesn't see or hear anything, and then walks back into his suite.

SINCE MY CLUES HAVE NOT PANNED OUT FOR YOU. TRY CHECKING WITH DUKE BARON AINSWORTH, HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FAR LONGER THAN ANYONE THINKS. HE IS THE REASON THE KIDNAPPINGS SPREAD TO KINGDOM AINSWORTH TO BEGIN WITH.

A FRIEND

I look up at Hyacinthus, shock all over my face. Did Reagan know this? Is that why the investigation is taking so long? Hyacinthus nods like he knows what I am thinking.

"That is why I made her leave. She is going to want to go directly to her father and we need to investigate this just us until we know for sure. Do you think she can handle keeping something from her father?" He asks, eyebrows raised.

"I will talk to her." I say, handing him the note and walking to the door to get Artemis. When I open the door, Artemis falls inside the room, she must have been trying to listen in on the conversation. I help her up and she glares at Hyacinthus and I stop her from storming at him.

"Art, he had his reasons." I tell her and she turns her glare to me and continues to fight me, still trying to get at Hyacinthus.

"Explain then!" She says, wiggling out of my arms and sitting down on the couch in the room.